Verizon 5G’s New York City launch later this month, in parts of three boroughs
5G iPhone in 2020 enables Apple to wait for next-gen tech, with two benefits
While rival smartphones may tease Apple over launching a non 5G iPhone as its flagship this year, the reality is that there is so little coverage as yet that it’s almost irrelevant.
Waiting a year also enables Apple to benefit from two upcoming developments in 5G chips…
US and Poland urge stronger checks for spyware in foreign-made 5G equipment
The United States and Poland have signed a joint declaration calling for stronger checks on foreign-made 5G equipment to ensure it doesn’t contain spyware…
Sprint’s 5G coverage rolls out to NYC, LA, Washington, DC, and Phoenix, hotspot device an option for Apple users
Sprint is bringing its 5G cellular coverage to more users today as the network expands to NYC, LA, Washington, DC, and Phoenix. For now, Sprint’s 5G network works with a few Android smartphones but there’s also a hotspot device that could be an option for Apple users who want to give the next gen network a shot.
Verizon’s latest ‘unlimited’ plans are still limited, but more flexible
In a world in which words meant anything, there would be one unlimited plan per carrier. In the real world, meanwhile, Verizon has four ‘unlimited’ plans. These don’t get any less confusing in their latest incarnation, but at least you do get more flexibility…
Apple to launch MacBooks with 5G cellular data connectivity in 2020, according to Digitimes
Apple is apparently preparing to debut its first cellular MacBook models next year, with 5G-enabled MacBooks coming in the second half of 2020 according to Digitimes.
Apple will purportedly be using a ceramic antenna component for better 5G performance.
Verizon 5G service switched on in four more cities — with the usual caveat
Verizon 5G service has today been extended to four more cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis. and Washington, DC. However, the extremely short-range coverage of the latest mobile data tech means that the usual 5G caveat applies…
Kuo: All three new iPhone models in 2020 to support 5G
In June, Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple would launch three new iPhones in 2020, two of which would feature 5G connectivity.
In a followup to the same report today, Kuo now says that all three iPhone models will support fast 5G cellular data. The 2020 iPhones are expected to feature significant redesigns compared to the current lineup, coming in new 6.7-inch, 5.4-inch, and 6.1-inch screen sizes.
Intel’s losses forced it to accept Apple’s ‘lowball’ $1B offer, say analysts
Apple yesterday confirmed reports that it was acquiring Intel’s smartphone modem business, to aid its efforts to create its own 5G radio chip. Apple said it was paying $1B, but analysts say that this was a lowball offer …
Report: Apple wants to ship its own custom 5G modems in some devices by 2022
Last night, Apple officially announced that it was buying Intel’s smartphone modem division in a $1 billion deal. Apple will acquire a patent pool and around 2,200 employees.
Naturally, Apple wants to use this talent to accelerate the development of its own modems. A Reuters report quotes sources that says Apple wants to ship an in-house 5G modem in its devices as soon as 2021.
5G on O2 coming to six UK cities in October, with three-phase rollout plan
With three of the UK’s four major carriers having already announced their 5G plans, the remaining question was when we’d see 5G on O2. The company has today provided a partial answer: it’s said the initial switch-on will happen in October but hasn’t yet provided a specific date …
Apple and others want extra Wi-Fi band, for use by AR goggles & more
Apple and other tech giants are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make available an extra Wi-Fi band, arguing that it is needed for new technology categories like mobile AR and VR goggles.
The FCC last year provisionally approved the use of the 6GHz band for so-called unlicensed use, which would mean it could join 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands in being used for Wi-Fi. But there has been pushback from the cellular industry and others …
Hotspot device lets iPhone owners experience 5G right now
Verizon has launched its first 5G hotspot device today, giving users in select US cities the ability to take advantage of the next-generation cellular network. This also means Verizon customers will be able to try out 5G with an iPhone before Apple includes built-in 5G modems expected in 2020.
NYT explains how one mistaken graph created the 5G health hazard myth
Look in the comments section of pretty much any piece on 5G — here or elsewhere — and there’s a good chance that the 5G health hazard myth will be raised by someone. Sometimes with colorful claims, like 5G tests killing birds in mid-flight…
Bipartisan bill calls for more US investment in 5G to combat China’s dominance
A bipartisan bill is calling for greater US investment in 5G technology in order to combat China’s current dominance of the technology.
Specifically, it calls for US companies to have a greater say in setting standards for the 5G network, though would not allocate additional funding to facilitate this…
Real-life 5G test burns through data plan in less than an hour
We’re going to have to wait until 2020 for a 5G iPhone, but a real-life 5G test shows that may not be a bad thing. There are quite a few issues for carriers to address with 5G performance and plans …
5G on Three will launch in the UK in August, after EE and Vodafone
A third UK carrier has announced its launch plans for 5G service. 5G on Three will launch in London at some point in August, with 25 other cities and towns by the end of the year …
EE 5G service will beat Vodafone to market in the UK, starting next week
Vodafone was first to announce its 5G rollout in the UK last week, but it’s been beaten to launch by a rival network. EE 5G service will start next week, well ahead of Vodafone’s July date …
UK 5G rollout begins in July with Vodafone in seven cities, with home router to follow
We’ve heard about the 5G plans of US carriers, but UK 5G rollout has so far remained an unknown. That changed today when Vodafone announced its launch plans …
Justice Department seeks to intervene in remaining Qualcomm antitrust case
The US Department of Justice is seeking to intervene in the remaining Qualcomm antitrust case, expressing concern about the penalties that might be applied if the chipmaker is found guilty.
While what was to have been the world’s biggest antitrust battle between Qualcomm and Apple ended with a whimper rather than a bang, we’re still awaiting the outcome of a federal case against the chipmaker …
Apple engineer in charge of 5G efforts exits following Intel hire, Qualcomm settlement
As drama related to Apple’s 5G modem efforts continues to unfold, the company has reportedly lost one of its lead hardware engineers on the project. According to The Information, Rubén Caballero has departed Apple in wake of the company’s settlement with Qualcomm and a notable Intel hire.
Comment: Intel’s claim about Apple/Qualcomm settlement is clearly a face-saving exercise
There has been much speculation about what led to the Apple/Qualcomm settlement at the eleventh hour.
Did Intel tell Apple it was unable to deliver 5G modems by 2020? Did Apple reach its own conclusion that Intel wasn’t up to the job? Or was there some other factor at play that mysteriously led Apple to have a change of heart about a massive lawsuit centred on Qualcomm’s business practices, despite a long history of vehemently objecting to them … ?
AT&T CEO expects its 5G prices to be tiered, more expensive for faster speeds
AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, said during the company’s earnings call today that its 5G plans in the future will likely be tiered with customers paying more for faster speeds, similar to broadband home internet plans (via The Verge). The expected future change will be notable for AT&T customers as current LTE plans give users the fastest speeds possible for one price.
5G iPhone using Qualcomm and Samsung chips, Apple could ship 200 million iPhones in 2020
With Apple’s months-long patent royalty battle with Qualcomm settled as of last week, the pathway to reliable 5G iPhones seems clear. Now reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities has new predictions about what to expect for iPhones including new details about 5G iPhone chips.