Want a 4G tablet? If you want built-in 4G, you’ll have to go Android. (The iPad can get 4G only with a MiFi device.) There are about half a dozen 4G Android tablets in various sizes and price points available from the four major carriers. Most of these tablets have the latest Android 3.0 (aka Honeycomb) operating system.

AT&T sells two 4G tablets: the Acer Iconic Tab A501 ($330 with 2 year contract) and the HTC Jetstream ($700 with 2 year contract). Both have 10.1-inch, 1280 by 800 screens, dual-core processors, front-facing cameras for video chat and can accept memory cards up to 32 GB. There are a few differences between the two tablets, but whether they’re worth the $370 price difference is up for debate. While both tablets have Android’s Honeycomb software, the Acer Tab has version 3.0, and the Jetstream has the slightly upgraded version 3.1. The HTC Jetstream has the most recent Bluetooth standard (3.0), Wi-Fi, an 8-megapixel camera and a 32 GB drive. The Acer Iconic Tab has Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera, a 16 GB hard drive and no Wi-Fi.

There are also two 4G tablets available from Verizon. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes in two hard drive sizes: 16 GB ($530 with 2 year contract) and 32 GB ($630 with 2 year contract). The Motorola Xoom ($500 with 2-year contract) has a 10.1-inch screen, but a 7-inch model is expected to hit store shelves soon. The 10.1-inch Xoom can accept memory cards up to 64 GB; the Galaxy Tab does not
accept memory cards. All of these tablets have front-facing cameras and Android 3.1. The Xoom has a 5-megapixel camera that can capture 720p video; the Galaxy Tab has a 3-megapixel camera.

T-Mobile has just one 4G tablet available, the 32 GB LG G-Slate ($400 with 2-year contract), though two more models, the Galaxy Tab and the SpringBoard, are due out soon. The G-Slate has an 8.9-inch screen, a front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel camera that can capture 3D images and 1080p HD video. Video playback is limited to 720p.

Compared to the other 4G tablets, Sprint’s offering is rather modest. While the other three carriers all offer at least one 10.1-inch tablet, Sprint only offers a 7-inch tablet, the HTC Evo View ($400 with 2 year contract). It’s also has an older Android OS: version 2.3. The View has a front facing camera for video chats and a 5-megapixel camera for taking photos and video – its memory slot can accept cards up to 32 GB. One feature that sets it apart is HTC’s Scribe Technology, which, when used with a compatible pen accessory, enables you to take handwritten notes on the tablet and upload them to Evernote software. Weighing less than a pound, the HTC Evo View is the lightest of this bunch.

There has been quite a bit of news in the last week concerning the 4G revolution. I reported in a past article to expect some news from Sprint. Then just last week, Sprint says it will not be embedding or supporting WiMax in their devices in 2012, or Clear for that matter.

Now I wouldn’t read into that too much. What I got from that press was this: They are not supporting WiMax any longer–LTE is another entity. I also reported that Clear would be making some big news. So, right after Sprint came out in favor of LTE, Clear shares some of the same spotlight with their new LTE path.

I also read some press about Sprint devices being embedded with both TD-LTE and FD LTE. To me, that says Sprint and Clear are moving away from WiMax. They are certainly not washing their hands of Clear. If Sprint has learned anything, they know the value of that spectrum and the future of true 4G speed is in that massive 2.5 GHZ pipe. They also know the value of being able to utilize that network to offload data and keep their network flowing. In fact, Sprint learned that from watching what happened to AT&T, and how their network was not ready for prime time. As a result AT&T took a nose dive from the introduction of the iPhone and all that data flow crashing, or crushing their legacy voice gear.

Sprint is ready to go forward, and they’re saying get on the LTE train, or get left behind. I also wrote an article last year about how Clear should have made this decision back then. But because of the Sprint ties, and an in-place echo space that needed no disruption, they waited, and that cost them an LTE run-away that’s put them in a last place position. There are many reasons for this, and they’re all corporate. There are also many other investors and let’s just say, they did not want to upset the apple cart.

If Sprint really wants to make some 4G news, try offering a 4G-only plan on WiMax-embedded devices for $45 a month. Here’s my recommendation for Sprint: You’re paying Clear $10.00. At $45 a month, that makes $35 profit, and you didn’t even have to build the network. You might just get the attention of investors, and you and Clear will be off and running with the fastest LTE available.

Then, after the news of Sprint treating Clear like a red headed step child with no more WiMax, Clear is in talks with PCS, which is Sprint, and Verizon. This brings us back to all that spectrum. There are so many ways Clear can contribute in this space, by providing an off-load port for all the telecoms, or being the backhaul to devices. And it’s not even dependent on Clear being built all the way out.

This is how I see the situation morphing into an awesome path. If Sprint starts to build out their LTE, while Clear continues to get their truck roll on, they would be building at twice the speed. Now, if these devices are on either a TD or FD LTE network, this is some common ground. At some point their paths will meet, and bam, they have not only caught up but have passed the competition, as this is the realm of true 4G. And if the goal was to build out advanced LTE, the fat lady will have sung.

It looks to me like all the carriers are going to find a way to access the Clear spectrum. Clear may well become an integral part of all things 4G, on all devices before this is over.

In a bid to remain cutting edge and on par with the world’s most industrialized cities, Nigerian officials have tapped Indian broadband and internet services provider Spectranet to implement their own 4G network. The commercial service was rolled out over the weekend and aims to provide small and medium businesses, corporations, and individuals with reliable and cost-effective broadband service.

“We see tremendous potential in delivering high quality reliable broadband services increasingly as consumers in Nigeria increasingly demand  high quality internet connectivity but at an affordable price,” said Spectranet Executive Director Ezekiel Fatoye. Fatoye also maintained that, if the government only got its act together and marshaled every IT and broadband resource at their disposal, Nigeria could well be a wholly wireless country.

As reported by Nigerian newspaper The Sun News, Spectranet has opted to run its 4G network on Clearwire’s WiMAX due to its ability to easily swell its coverage to encompass other locations. This is good news for WiMAX providers, who can at least rest assured that they are still expanding abroad even if the network is struggling domestically (WiMAX was recently jettisoned by Sprint, its largest client).

Initially, the launch will be confined the former Nigerian capital Lagos, but will eventually broaden in range to include other major cities. But an broadband launch in Lagos, which has a population similar to that of New York City and is rapidly growing, is not to be viewed as any mean feat.

The launch is slated to include provisions for internet access for hospitals and schools as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Sprint Nextel Co. announced Friday that it will cease selling devices compatible with Clearwire’s network at the end of next year. Clearwire is a wholesale provider of WiMAX 4G wireless service and is majority owned by Sprint, who is also currently their biggest customer. This revelation came on the heels of Sprint’s decision to move into LTE territory, WiMAX’s biggest 4G competitor.

Sprint was the earliest of the major wireless carriers to offer 4G service. Back in September of 2008. their decision to opt for WiMAX technology gave them a competitive edge over their rivals. Recently, however, LTE, the next generation standard of choice for big guns Verizon, AT&T, and T Mobile, has been enjoying rapid gains and is set to overtake WiMAX in the near future. Sprint has thus elected to cut its losses and throw in with the Long Term Evolution Club.

This seems like the kind of thing that would leave Clearwire in the lurch, a hypothesis supported by the company’s dipping stock value. The Clearwire brass don’t seem unduly perturbed, however. “I don’t think anything fundamentally changed for us after today,” Clearwire CEO Erik Prusch said. “Sprint is still dependent on us for their network.”

Clearwire’s relative nonchalance may have something to do with LTE plans of their own. The spectrum operator is looking for funding to convert their vast holdings to support LTE, a task made easier with rival LightSquared tied up in Washington over GPS signal interference allegations.

Sprint, for their part, has begun constructing a network of their own. Their holdings are expected to exceed that of Clearwire by the end of 2013.

Today, Tim Cook, Apple’s new CEO, finally made the long-awaited announcement about the new iPhone. Apple fans and iPhone addicts were expecting the iPhone 5 with a new design, 4G technology and great technical improvements. However, much to our disappointment, the iPhone 4S, introduced by Phil Schiller, Senior Vice President of worldwide product marketing at Apple, only features the latter.

The new iPhone 4 S features the new A5 chip, a dual core processor & graphics allowing for two times faster CPU and seven times faster graphics.  Apple’s smartphone now has an 8 Mega pixel camera (3264 x 2448 pixels) and a generally improved lens and color caption system, that enables HD videos and great picture quality on the same levels as commercial point and shoot cameras.
One of the main issues that the iPhone 4S had to overcome was the battery life and how those new capabilities would affect it. Phil Schiller bragged about the “fantastic battery life”: eight hours of 3G talk time, 6 hours in 3 G browsing, 8 hours when using WiFi, ten hours of video and 40 hours of music.

In terms of connectivity, the iPhone-4 S now supports both GSM and CDMA networks (the iPhone 4 only supported either one at a time). 4G was never mentioned, neither LTE nor WiMAX considered advanced enough for Apple to implement in their brainchild.

Also presented was “Siri”, the new voice recognition system that allows you to set alarms, check the weather and more by simply talking to your phone in an almost conversational way. Asking “How do I get home?” would prompt the GPS system to guide you home and when inquiring about who Siri is, the answer comes out as “I am a humble personal assistant.”

At the end of the technical presentation of the new iPhone 4-S, commercial information was also delivered. The iPhone 4S will be available in black and white versions with prices depending on the internal memory — 16GB: $199, 32GB for $299, 64GB for $399, while distribution will depend on carrier agreements with Apple. Verizon, AT&T and Sprint will offer the new iPhone 4s on the US market.

This ended the presentation and left all iPhone enthusiasts with more expectations about the arrival of the iPhone 5, supporting 4G.

The USA is failing our schools. As a result, our students are behind in all aspects of learning. In a study including 35 developed nations, the US placed 14th in reading, 17th in science and 25th in math. I am writing this as NBC is broadcasting their 2011 Education Nation conference this week. Could 4G broadband be the answer to our current educational woes?

One of the biggest problems is tenure. Some teachers are not ready for the classroom of tomorrow. The teachers of tomorrow will be younger with skills in IP, IT, marketing. They will be ultra computer literate. The same reason we are behind in technology, 17 th in the world of broadband, is the same reason we are behind in education.

Whatever the reason for the lack of smarts these administrators have about how best to educate, bringing technology into the classroom is not a difficult task. One thing our students have is computer and social networking skills. This is what they know and like, so why not build around that.

Facebook has created an education platform. Schools need to be using it. Every school needs a page and every student should be utilizing this social platform for its intended use. Let these students and teachers build on this, and make their class the best it can be. Some teachers may want to broadcast live to other schools or classrooms via livestream, or ustream. Let the students push out the video to other classes–you will find out what is and is not working through the social media aspect.

The concept is really very simple. Find a class–let’s say a science class in Anywhere, USA–that is excelling for whatever reason. Broadcast this class to classrooms around the US, and see what students are saying about it. The students will grade their curriculum, not the administrators. Now you know what is working. Students and classes can interact with this broadcast by Q&A.

This is also an area where public safety can benefit. Schools are always used for shelters during times of disaster. If a disaster hit a community and communication was down from wired infrastructure, schools with broadband could open their network to the public for emergency use.

It’s time to get technology into the hands to those that already have a grip on it. Then, school’s will have a new path that students will actually be excited about. In essence, broadband is the key to technology becoming the fix for education–not new books. Put broadband in the budget, or our students will forever loose their futures.

With their vast spectrum holdings, Clear will become the main player where 4G is concerned. Bandwidth consumption is exploding and the need for speed is the here and now. I don’t think all the spectrum from all of the carriers combined would total what Clear has to offer.

Clear is talking to all the major carriers about providing capacity to operate their networks as well. I have often said how important Clear is to this space. They started this wireless data as a portable service, and have moved on to give it wings. Their policy has always been take all you want, no caps, and that is what 4G is really about.

To stay competitive, Clear finally made the move to go with LTE. I think they should have made the news about six months earlier, as this would have made their case for needed funding much easier. So what we are calling the 4G of today is not the 4G of tomorrow. And tomorrow’s 4G is fast, and unlimited.

I wrote articles back in 2008 about how tough it was going to be for Clear to compete with the recurring costs of the many licenses they lease. There is a trade off here: it costs much more to build out 2.5 GHz, than it does 700 MHz. However where I see this going: more towers, closer together, with 140 MHz per market, means a more robust network, and that is where the speed demon Clear will excel. If Clear can get the funding they are seeking to build out their LTE side, they will be hitting the 100Mbps threshold long before any other carrier can. And that is true 4G.

This Sprint-Clear relationship is complicated, but I don’t see Sprint cutting loose their ties with Clear. Sprint had to distance themselves from Clear so that Clear’s problems didn’t become Sprint’s as well. They are married through devices, and that will not be changing any time soon.

Consumers have more power today thanks to Clear, and tomorrow only gets better. However there is this little 600 million dollar thing that has put the brakes on it for now. I am certain that they will get their funding. Clear is the only true 4G carrier, not just in terms of speed but the entire concept of what 4G is meant to be: open, unlimited, no borders, fast, and mobile.

Last year Clear abandoned the development of their mobile device as they were in a cost cutting mode. Now, they are talking to China, who is also TD Wimax at 2.5GHz, about building a smart phone for their network. This creates an easy path for Clear to obtain a device for their needs, with just some software tweaks. This is an important area for Clear and is what they need to re-establish themselves as a major 4G competitor and to help tear down the walled garden model of minute monopolies. This is the making of some very good news for the Clear brand and could get the company more than enough funding to build out their 4G network. The major carriers are going to be in a transition for a long time with 3G, slowly moving to 4G. Clear is only 4G, no transition needed. However a good mobile device is needed to help spank some sense into Clear’s competition. This is where 4G starts to really gain some traction, as an all you need technology. I cannot re iterate how important Clear is to us moving forward and firmly establishing what 4G is supposed to be. Clear’s growing pains may well be behind them as this device becomes a reality.

This China collaboration is some huge news for Clear, since they share the same 2.5GHz band and WiMax. In addition, the device they are building is a smart device. Notice I use the term “smart device,” because 4G is not in the same family as the cell phones we know. Clear’s collaboration with China will produce a dual mode device with TD WiMax, and TD LTE. The closer this device gets to market, the closer we all come to true 4G. Then, Clear can finish their TD LTE network and true 4G will be born. Even if Clear’s network only works at 1/3 the speed advertised, 33 Mbps is still giddy up.

Investors should not be scared to take a real hard look at this. It looks very promising to me, that a new smart device will make all the difference in the world and will serve to chum the investor waters.

The privately owned Canadian company Eion Networks, Inc. has acquired the WiMAX division of the California based Aviat Networks. Eion, which markets wireless broadband equipment for businesses, seeks to expand its technology portfolio through this acquisition. In May 2011, because of fiscal difficulties stemming from greater than anticipated losses in Aviat’s WiMAX business, the company had decided to streamline its operations and sell its WiMAX business. For Eion Networks, the purchase presents an opportunity it to expand into the American market, and more specifically to launch its upgrade solution to LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 4G technology. The sale is another growing indication of the burgeoning influence of LTE over that of WiMAX. Aviat Networks has chosen to focus on other aspects of its company rather than spend additional funds in reviving its WiMAX business. Eion, on the other hand, hopes that the acquisition paves the way for sales of its upcoming WiMax- to LTE conversion gear and products.

WiMAX equipment makers have had to face flagging sales, dampening any incentive there might have been to invest further in the technology. But, in many developing countries, where phone lines are not ubiquitous, WiMAX is successful in providing wireless technology. The majority of Eion’s WiMAX sales are based outside of North America. With the acquisition of Aviat’s WiMAX business, Eion now has the opportunity to present Aviat’s customers (many of whom are service providers) its WiMAX- to LTE conversion products as they look to eventually upgrade to LTE. As companies such as Eion Networks broaden their technology portfolios to include LTE, the waning influence of WiMAX, at least in North America, becomes apparent

Mobile phone carriers worldwide will be rolling out 4G smartphones by the end of this summer and BlackBerry lovers on the T-Mobile and AT&T networks will definitely have much to look forward to. Research in Motion has unleashed two smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 to be offered by T-Mobile and the BlackBerry Torch 9810 which has been nabbed by AT&T.

T-Mobile will be selling the 4G Bold for $299.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year data plan. The smartphone will be made available to everyone on August 31. This particular handset is the most expensive of BlackBerry’s mobile releases. It runs on the BlackBerry OS7 which is the best operating system currently available for BlackBerry phones. By early next year, RIM is expected to release phones running on the more advanced QNX platform used by the BlackBerry Playbook tablet.

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 provided by AT&T will be priced at $49.99 with a two-year contract. AT&T has fallen behind rivals Sprint and Verizon when it comes to LTE deployment but they are expected to roll out 4G LTE services later this year and cover about 70 million Americans by the end of 2011. They are also expected to offer a total of 20 4G devices by the end of this year including several other smartphones. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is the first RIM smartphone to be offered by AT&T and it will certainly not be the last. AT&T is also expected to offer RIM’s BlackBerry Torch 9860 later this year.

Although they seem to be making choice selections about which BlackBerry smartphones to offer on their respective networks, both T-Mobile and AT&T are snatching up devices that expand their involvement with 4G. By catering to BlackBerry fans and loyal customers, both mobile carriers are aiming to provide the best of the best when it comes to 4G service.

It appears to be that Sprint will no longer be offering Blackberry maker Research in Motion’s 4G-enabled Playbook, which the duo first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show back in January of this year. The tablet was supposed to be made available on the Sprint network this summer but the decision was withdrawn for what seems to be, a mixture of several different reasons.

The device did not seem to garner much enthusiasm and Paget Alves, president of Sprint’s business markets group, told the Wall Street Journal that the tablet’s concept was “interesting” but hadn’t caught on well enough. Although the Playbook received some positive reviews, it was chastised for its lack of apps. Users will also need to have a Blackberry phone nearby in order to access certain features of the tablet.

Although the relationship between Sprint and RIM has not curdled, the decision is still a major blow to RIM since Sprint has the largest 4G network in place right now. Losing such a major supporter leaves the device’s future looking even more uncertain than before now that the Playbook 4G is left without a carrier. Sprint’s decision was most likely based on the fact they would have had to pledge their own resources to furthering the Playbook 4G’s development. Such light shed on the venture probably made it appear unworthy of making. RIM’s Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis also stated that the company’s interests are geared more towards LTE rather than Sprint’s WiMAX based service.

Blackberry and RIM’s future is not over however, and Sprint along with a handful of other retailers will continue to offer the Wi-Fi version of the Playbook. Because RIM finally ditched the antiquated Blackberry operating system and incorporated a new QNX-based platform, perhaps consumers and carriers alike can expect a new line of more confident products in the near future, including Blackberry phones. For the time being though, eyes are on the future of RIM’s first tablet and its future with 4G.