Three telecommunication giants, Verizon, Motorola and Samsung, have shared some good news and provided updates regarding progress with the long-awaited 5G network. Verizon has announced that they have successfully accomplished the connection of a 5G-upgradeable Motorola smartphone using a Qualcomm 5G modem and Samsung’s 5G technology to their 5G network. The team performed tests that included video calling and Internet browsing by means of a 5G link. According to Bill Stone, vice president, Technology Development and Planning for Verizon, “In the past two years, we have consistently led the world in 5G, including launching the world’s first commercial 5G service last month”. Obviously upbeat about this successful test using an actual smartphone, he assured, “We will be the first to offer a 5G upgradeable smartphone on our network in 2019.” Verizon’s 28 GHz spectrum and Samsung 5G New Radio solutions were employed to complete the transmissions. The 5G-enabled…
The tech giant Apple has publicized the launch of a new screen replacement program for iPhone X users, who have experienced touch problems with the gadget. In some cases, the screen on the iPhone X units does not respond or responds irregularly when touched, and there are also reports of units having displays that react even when they aren’t touched. In both cases, the problems present an unquestionably annoying experience for a device that costs up to 1000 dollars. Customers having issues such as a non-responsive or over-reactive touch screen will be able to get a new screen replacement free of charge from Apple, or at one of the company’s official service providers. The replacement program is specific to this fault, and applies only to the iPhone X device. Repairs will be limited to the original country of purchase, and the warranty of the phone will not be extended. Moreover,…
The world’s top smartphone manufacturer, Samsung, has provided the first tantalizing glimpse of their very real, foldable phone at the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 in San Francisco. This advancement in display technology has been widely discussed throughout the year, and Samsung has finally revealed their highly-anticipated version of the technology called the Infinity Flex Display. “When it’s open, it’s a tablet offering a big screen experience. When closed, it’s a phone that fits neatly inside your pocket,” explained the senior vice president of Mobile Product Marketing at Samsung, Justin Denison, while demonstrating the device. The prototype boasts a 7.3-inch tablet display that can be folded over and over again without any signs of wear or degradation. The device is supported by the Android OS, allowing users to run up to 3 applications simultaneously, driving smartphone functionality to the next level. “The Infinity Flex Display represents an entirely…
The Finnish telecom equipment manufacturer Nokia has officially announced that its plant in Chennai, Southern India, has started manufacturing their 5G New Radio (NR) based on the 3GPP 5G New Radio Release 15 standard. “This is another big leap towards the ‘Make in India’ vision as our factory continues to contribute to the Indian economy and the country’s growing profile as a manufacturing and engineering hub. Nokia was the first to leverage the skills and capabilities in India and start manufacturing telecom networks equipment in the country in 2008, and develop the local supply chain for various components. We are now pioneering 5G manufacturing in the country, making India and the world ready for 5G,” commented the senior vice president and head of the India Market at Nokia, Sanjay Malik. Nokia’s factory in Chennai has maintained its position as one of largest and leading plants in the country by…
The global ridesharing and taxi company, Uber, has rolled out a new VoIP calling feature as another method for drivers and riders to communicate with each other. Similar to other VoIP communication applications such as Skype, this feature will require an Internet connection instead of a mobile voice service in order to make calls. Riders and drivers on Uber can already communicate by using in-app chats, sending SMS or making voice calls over their mobile service provider’s network. Yet VoIP calling caught Uber’s attention when the company noticed that in some countries, particularly when traveling abroad, data calling is cheaper than calling over a mobile voice network. Besides this new feature assisting the company to expand their services on a global scale, this advancement will be of great assistance to drivers, as they will be able to stay within the Uber app while handling voice calls. Moreover, the…
Vodafone New Zealand recently announced it will be the first telecommunications company to launch an Intelligent Digital Human in cooperation with a Kiwi company, FaceMe. While the identity of the Digital Human should be revealed within the next two months, it is already clear that the AI-based assistant will be of great benefit in improving the self-service experience for Vodafone’s customers, and allow staff to devote time working with more complex customer demands. “Great customer experience happens through meaningful conversations. FaceMe has evolved AI technology to create Intelligent Digital Humans that are human-like in their appearance and interaction. Thanks to machine learning, they are capable of continuously learning how to anticipate our customers’ needs and better serve them,” explained Vodafone’s director of Customer Operations, Helen van Orton. Orton emphasized that this initiative is not a replacement for front-line customer service, but will rather aid in maximizing staff…
The communication and technology giants AT&T, Samsung Electronics America (SEA) and Samsung Austin Semiconductor (SAS) have announced that they will join forces to create America’s first 5G Innovation Zone, focusing on the use of 5G in manufacturing. The Innovation Zone will be located in Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s 160-acre campus in Austin, Texas, one of the most advanced semiconductor facilities in the world. The goal behind this innovative project is to explore the futuristic idea of a Smart Factory, powered by 5G technology. “This is a first. We’ll be testing the real-world impact 5G will have on the manufacturing industry,” commented Mo Katibeh, the CEO at AT&T Business. “Ultimately, we plan to use what we learn from this 5G Innovation Zone to help create better technology experiences and improvements in Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s plant along with creating a future blueprint for people and businesses across all industries.” By…
A German mobile network testing company, Rohde & Schwarz, have announced in their recent press release the upcoming launch of the first commercially available 5G New Radio (NR) measurement solution. The product will be displayed at the Mobile World Congress Americas taking place from 12 to 14 September, 2018 in Los Angeles. This pioneering developer of test and measurement equipment for 5G will present their 5G NR network measurement solution, that allows 5G users and regulators to measure 5G NR network coverage accurately. In addition, users will have the ability to verify the correct operation of beamforming and interworking between 5G and other technologies. This new solution consists of a network scanner with 5G NR scanning software, and the unique R&S ROMES4 Drive Test Software suite. Users will have two options for the test scanners: the compact R&S TSME6 Drive Test Scanner, or the R&S TSMA6 Autonomous Mobile Network Scanner…
Nokia has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a loan of 500 million Euros (572 million US dollars) to accelerate the development of cutting edge 5G technology. This loan, supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), will present opportunities for the Finnish telecom equipment manufacturer to invest in the research, development and innovation of the soon-to-be telecommunication standard technology, thereby expanding the market and displaying the potential of 5G in Europe. “We have to understand that China and the US have moved fast with the 5G. It is very important to have European companies going in for this competition,” commented the EIB vice president Alexander Stubb in the online Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. While the specific uses for the funds have not yet been identified, it is clear that Nokia’s end-to-end network will greatly benefit from this loan by ensuring the connectivity and reliability…
The global telecommunications solutions provider ZTE and the mobile operator Hutchinson Drei Austria announced another strategic step to expand their partnership in preparation for the 5G rollout in Austria. The cooperation between mobile operators and telecommunications equipment providers is fundamental for the implementation of this cutting-edge technology, and a Joint Innovation Lab initiative was launched to develop, test and optimize the latest 5G technology solutions. The ten-year partnership between ZTE Austria and Hutchinson Drei Austria has already shown great results in upgrading the network for higher quality standards and service improvements, as demonstrated in the most recent Pre-5G trials in Austria. “The first result of the joint innovation initiative was the successful evaluation of the Pre-5G technology, which enabled us to create a commercial Pre-5G in Vienna already at the beginning of this year. This move was a breakthrough in the European telecoms market, which made Austria a true 5G…


