How to maximize free space and battery power on the BlackBerry smartphone

Monitoring available memory

To see the approximate amount of occupied flash memory on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps.
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Options.
2. Select Status.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All, then open Options.
2. Select Device.
3. Select Device and Status Information.

The File Free field shows the approximate amount of available flash memory available for data. To make sure that this value is as accurate as possible, restart the BlackBerry smartphone to initiate a full garbage collection. For instructions, see KB02141.

From the Status screen, press the Menu key, to the right of the green phone key, and select Database Sizes to view the number of objects and size of databases on the BlackBerry smartphone.

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What is considered low flash memory?
The BlackBerry smartphone's Java® operating system has a complex and dynamic way of determining exactly how much available flash memory it should have before starting the Low Memory Manager application. To determine if it has low flash memory, the BlackBerry smartphone takes into account a number of factors, such as the BlackBerry smartphone hardware model, the operating system version, the number of installed applications, the frequency at which BlackBerry smartphone user data is added and removed, and so on. Generally speaking, the more the BlackBerry smartphone is used, the more memory the operating system sets aside for normal, efficient operation.
Note: When the BlackBerry smartphone has determined that is has low flash memory, it automatically starts the Low Memory Manager application, which reclaims memory.
The File Free field shows 0
When the File Free field shows 0, it most likely means that the BlackBerry smartphone is full of data. The BlackBerry smartphone determines that it has low flash memory and performs more extensive garbage collections in order to make room for any new data. However, even when the BlackBerry smartphone is full of data, it is designed to operate properly. The Low Memory Manager application starts recovering flash memory when data is added that requires additional flash memory.
How the Low Memory Manager application works
The Low Memory Manager application works to recover flash memory by removing old and unimportant data; when the Low Memory Manager application is running, it does not affect the regular operation of the BlackBerry smartphone, so you are not aware that it is running. The Low Memory Manager application makes requests to all applications on the BlackBerry smartphone to recover memory. However, third-party applications must be specifically designed to interact with the Low Memory Manager application.
The Low Memory Manager application makes requests of the applications on the BlackBerry smartphone in the following order:

1. The Low Memory Manager application first asks all applications to remove low priority data (for example, transitory data such as browser caches). If step 1 does not recover enough free flash memory for normal operation, the Low Memory Manager application asks the applications to remove medium priority data (for example, very old messages, cached map data, and out-of-date calendar entries).
2. If step 1 and 2 do not recover enough flash memory, the Low Memory Manager application prompts the Messages application to remove email messages starting with those that are the least frequently accessed.

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How to maximize free space

It is a good idea to take active measures to maximize the BlackBerry smartphone's available flash memory, and thus, prolong the time before the operating system starts the Low Memory Manager application.
The following are suggestions on how to maximize available flash memory on the BlackBerry smartphone.
Use a media card
Media cards are especially useful for BlackBerry smartphone users who want to store media files like songs, pictures, videos, voice notes, and ring tones, or who want to store pictures they take with the built-in cameras. Built-in video cameras on BlackBerry smartphones require a media card to function.
To make sure the built-in camera is set up to save picture files on the media card, complete the following steps:

1. Install the media card in the BlackBerry smartphone.
2. Open the Camera application (for BlackBerry Device Software 6.0, tap All, then open the Camera application).
3. Display the menu and select Options.
4. Set the Store Pictures field to On Media Card. You can also change the folder setting to the particular folder in which you want to save pictures.
   Note: For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0, this option has been removed. However a different location can be specified when the file is renamed after image capture.

Remove unnecessary items
Removing features and applications that are underused increases the available flash memory on the BlackBerry smartphone.

• Use the Setup Wizard application to remove languages that you do not use from the BlackBerry smartphone. Removing languages is highly recommended because it is one of the most significant ways to increase available flash memory.

To remove languages from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps.
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Setup Wizard.
2. Select Languages.
3. Select the language you want to use on the BlackBerry smartphone and click Next. The BlackBerry smartphone deletes all languages that you do not select.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open Setup.
2. Select Languages.
3. Tap Manage Languages to expand the option.
4. Select the language you want to use on the BlackBerry smartphone and click Update. The BlackBerry smartphone deletes all languages that you do not select.

Remove underused applications.

• To remove applications from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps.

For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Options.
2. Select Advanced Options.
3. Select Applications. The BlackBerry smartphone takes time to build a comprehensive list of the installed applications.
4. Highlight the application you want to delete, display the menu and select Delete.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open Options.
2. Select Device, then Application Management.
3. Tap the application you want to delete. The Application Properties screen appears for that application with a Delete option to remove the application.

• Minimize the number of contacts stored in the Address Book on the BlackBerry smartphone.
  One way to minimize the number of contacts stored in the Address Book is to use the remote address lookup feature when you need to send an email message rather than store company contacts in the Address Book. You can use this feature if your BlackBerry smartphone uses BlackBerry Device Software 4.0 and later and one of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 3.5 or later for Microsoft® Exchange or BlackBerry Enterprise Server 2.2 or later for IBM® Lotus® Domino®.

Delete old items
The BlackBerry smartphone user can delete old and unused items and also adjust settings so that the BlackBerry smartphone deletes old items as part of its regular routine maintenance.

• Delete Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages that are no longer needed. Because MMS messages can contain large media files and cannot be stored on a media card, MMS messages can use a lot of flash memory. If you do not want to delete the media files in an MMS message, open the MMS message and save the media files on the media card before you delete the MMS message.
• Change the Keep Messages setting on the BlackBerry smartphone to reduce the number of old messages using flash memory.

To change the Keep Messages setting, complete the following steps.
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Messages.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select General Options. For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0, select Message Display and Actions.
4. Set the Keep Messages field to either 15 Days or 30 Days.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open a message list.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Tap Message Display and Actions.
4. Set the Days To Keep Messages field to 15 or 30.

• Change the Keep Appointments setting to reduce the number of old calendar events using flash memory.

To change the Keep Appointments setting, complete the following steps:
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Calendar.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select General Options.
4. Set the Keep Appointments field to either 15 Days or 30 Days.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open Calendar.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Calendar Display and Actions.
4. Set the Keep Appointments field to either 15 Days or 30 Days.

Note: Email messages and appointments are only removed from the BlackBerry smartphone. The email messaging application and the appointment application the BlackBerry smartphone is associated with will retain the email messages and appointments that are removed from the BlackBerry smartphone after the time period that is specified.

• Clear the browser cache often.

To clear the browser cache, complete the following steps:
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Browser.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Cache Operations.
4. Select Clear for Content Cache. (You can increase the amount of flash memory by also selecting Clear for Pushed Content.)

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open Browser.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. At the bottom, select the Cache check box below Clear Browsing Data and tap Clear Now.

Adjust settings for optimal storage efficiency
Adjust the following settings for optimal storage efficiency on your BlackBerry smartphone:

• In BlackBerry® Desktop Software, set messages to stop being forwarded to the BlackBerry smartphone when it is cradled. To adjust this setting, complete these steps:
  
  1. In BlackBerry® Desktop Manager, open Email Settings.
  2. Select the check box beside Disable message redirection while your device is connected.

Note: This option is not available in BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0

• Set messages to prompt you when deleting an email message on the BlackBerry smartphone. The prompt allows you to choose to either delete the message on the BlackBerry smartphone only or on the BlackBerry smartphone and the messaging server, which deletes the email message on both the BlackBerry smartphone and the email application with which it is associated.

To adjust this setting on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

1. On the Home screen, open Messages.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Email Reconciliation.
4. Select Prompt for the Delete On setting. (You can also select Handheld rather than Prompt, which will delete messages on the BlackBerry smartphone without a prompt, when you choose to delete messages.)

Note: If you position the cursor on a date field in the email messages list on the BlackBerry smartphone and select Delete Prior, you will only delete the messages on the BlackBerry smartphone no matter what the setting is in the Delete On field, which leaves the email messages saved in the email application with which the BlackBerry smartphone is associated.

• Flash memory is used to download and display email messages on the BlackBerry smartphone. Set the Auto More option to No to make sure that only the sections of the email message that you want to read on the BlackBerry smartphone are downloaded, displayed, and thus, stored in flash memory. By setting the Auto More option to No, the BlackBerry smartphone displays approximately the first 2 KB of an email message; you can display more of the email message by selecting More on the menu.

Note: If the Auto More option is set to Yes, scrolling automatically displays more of the email message. Be aware that you may be dowloading large email messages by scrolling through an email message on the BlackBerry smartphone.

Note: The size of the entire email message is displayed at the bottom of the email message screen. Average messages are usually no larger than 2 KB.

By setting the Auto More option to No, you can make sure the flash memory is not unnecessarily used on the BlackBerry smartphone by disallowing the automatic download option.

To set the Auto More option to No, complete the following steps:
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Messages.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select General Options.
4. In the Auto More field, select No.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open a message list.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Message Display and Actions.
4. Remove the check from the Auto More option.

Caution: The More All option on the menu gives you the choice of downloading the entire email message at once, no matter how the Auto More setting is configured.

The More All option should be used with caution since the BlackBerry smartphone uses flash memory to store email messages that have been displayed.

• For BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry Device Software 3.8 or 4.0, set the BlackBerry smartphone to allow content compression. Although content compression causes the BlackBerry smartphone to work harder (thus, using more battery power), it will make sure that email messages use the least amount of flash memory that is possible.
  To set the BlackBerry smartphone to allow content compression, complete the following steps:
  
  1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Options.
  2. Select Security Options.
  3. Select General Settings.
  4. Set the Content Compression field to Enabled.
• For BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry Device Software 4.5 to 6.0, turn off HTML support since plain text messages are smaller in size.

To turn off HTML support on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:
For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Messages.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Email Settings.
4. Change the Enable HTML Email field to No.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open a message list.
2. Display the menu and select Options.
3. Select Email Preferences.
4. Remove the check from the Enable HTML Email option.

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How to maximize battery power Battery power can be maximized by following these simple suggestions.

• Use BlackBerry smartphone shortcuts to access common system features quickly. For instructions, see the Getting Started Guide for your BlackBerry smartphone. Using shortcuts allows you to do the same things on your BlackBerry smartphone more quickly and efficiently, while saving battery power.
  Some common shortcuts include the following:
  
• • To delete a highlighted item, press the Delete key.
  • To select or clear a check box, press the Space key.
  • To view available values in a field, press the Alt key.
  • To switch applications:
    1. Hold the Alt key and press the Escape key.
    2. Continue to hold the Alt key and highlight an application.
    3. Release the Alt key.
  • Set the Auto On/Off option to turn off the BlackBerry smartphone at a time of day when you are not using it (such as at night), and turn on again at a time of day that you are ready to use it (such as in the morning just before you wake up). Battery power is saved by turning the power off at times when the BlackBerry smartphone is not being used. To set the Auto On/Off option on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:
    
    1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Options.
    2. Select Auto On/Off. For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0, select Device then Auto On/Off.
    3. Specify the on and off times.
    Tip: Set the BlackBerry smartphone to turn on just before you need to use it, (such as a few minutes before you wake up in the morning) so that the BlackBerry smartphone has a chance to receive the email messages sent to you during the time that the BlackBerry smartphone was turned off. This way, the email messages have already been received when you are ready to read them.
• When a particular wireless connection is not needed, use the Manage Connections application on the BlackBerry smartphone to turn off the connection. For example, if you do not need to use Bluetooth® technology, you can use Manage Connections to turn the Bluetooth connection off.
  To turn the Bluetooth connection off on the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:
  
  1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Manage Connections. For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0, tap the Network Indicator area of the screen in top right corner.
  2. Click Bluetooth.
  Note: Using Manage Connections, turn the mobile wireless transceiver off when you know you are out of range of the mobile network. Turning the mobile wireless transceiver off prevents the BlackBerry smartphone from continually attempting to locate the mobile network, which uses a lot of battery power.
  
• Adjust the backlight settings to conserve power

For BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and earlier

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, open Options.
2. Select Screen/Keyboard.
3. Change the Backlight Brightness to a lower number.

For BlackBerry Device Software 6.0

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, tap All and open Options.
2. Select Display then Screen Display.
3. Change the Blacklight Brightness to a lower number.

Battery power saving tips for the BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone 

In addition to the BlackBerry Battery Power Savings Tips listed here, the following additional tips can help you to optimize battery life performance on your BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone with BlackBerry® 6:

• Close your Browser when not in use; ensure all Browser tabs are closed (close with the Escape key, not the red End key).
• Exit your media player when not in use (or set the default timeout to a shorter interval within media > options).
• Press the lock button (top left) before putting the device in a pocket (to avoid unnecessary display battery consumption).
• Exit/close applications when not in use (especially any applications that utilize the GPS functionality).
• Monitor/be aware of the frequency of Podcast and Social Feeds updates (you may want to disable automatic refreshing).

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Flash memory requirements for optional applications
The following table outlines the approximate amount of flash memory used for each optional application on the BlackBerry smartphone.

Optional application	Approximate space required*	Approximate number of equivalent messages*
BlackBerry Attachment Service	120 KB	120 messages
Help	65 KB per installed language	65 messages per installed language
Instant Messenger applications	350-400 KB per application	350-400 KB per application
Language Support	100-120 KB + per language	100-120 KB + per language
BlackBerry® Maps	500-1000 KB	350 messages
MemoPad	10 KB	10 messages
Password Keeper	25 KB	25 messages
Tasks	25 KB	25 messages
Third-party applications	Variable	Variable

*The approximate space required for an optional application always depends on the model of the BlackBerry smartphone and the version of the BlackBerry Device Software that is installed.
Note: Removing unused languages in the Setup Wizard is one of the most effective ways to increase the available flash memory.

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Environment

• BlackBerry® smartphones
• BlackBerry® Device Software 

• Back to top

Additional Information

The BlackBerry smartphone is designed to operate properly with a modest amount of available flash memory. However, you can keep the BlackBerry smartphone operating at peak efficiency by maximizing its available flash memory. To maximize flash memory and battery power, you should know both how to monitor the available memory and what strategies help preserve flash memory and battery power.

Causes for decreased performance

BlackBerry smartphones based on Java technology depend on available flash memory for many tasks. Having low flash memory can lead to delays in processing information on the BlackBerry smartphone because the process for recovering blocks of flash memory, known as garbage collection, happens more frequently, which takes time. Java garbage collections automatically reclaim flash memory that is no longer being used by the Java operating system. Java garbage collections may also rearrange blocks of flash memory that are in use to create larger contiguous blocks of available flash memory. Just as a computer uses the hard disk as a source of virtual memory, the BlackBerry smartphone writes out lesser-used portions of its operating flash memory (normally held in fast static random access memory (SRAM)) to the slower flash memory. As the BlackBerry smartphone's flash memory begins to fill up, the BlackBerry smartphone must work harder to rearrange the flash memory to allocate the storage space it needs for normal operation. Therefore, low flash memory causes garbage collections to happen more frequently and take a longer time to complete, which also uses battery power.

BlackBerry BlackBerry

My dear,
Long time how I long to be with you guys.
I have interesting topic : how to configured your BlackBerry phone.
Is your blackberry phone come with a wap browser or none. The native browser does not response when u don't have money for BB plan? Don't cry again.
Following this step:
1) go to options and click advance options
2) click TCP/IP and put your preferred network c
onfigurations.
3) you can downloads any of your preferred browser like bolt or popular Opera Mini. Etc.
Try out my guys.
Thank. For more information. Comments on the like.

MTN Mobile Internet Plans and Data Plans/Bundles (laptops, desktop and phone ask a Modem)

MTN Mobile Internet Plans

You can now do more with your mobile phone and experience endless possibilities with the all new MTN Mobile Internet plans. Take the web in your hands with any of our affordable and flexible Mobile Internet Plans specially designed for use on your mobile phone.

What’s more? With MTN´s extensive data coverage which spans the lengths and breadths of Nigeria, you can be sure MTN´s got you covered everywhere you go; whether it´s in the ever-vibrant cities or in the peaceful quiet of your hometown.

You now have the whole world at your fingertips; relax and explore it with any of our MTN Mobile Internet Plans which best suits you.

Mobile Internet Plan	Daily	Weekly	Monthly
Data Volume	10MB	25MB	100MB
Price	N100	N400	N1,000
Validity Period	24hrs	7 days	30 days
To activate:	Text 104 to 131	Text 105 to 131	Text 106 to 131

Data Plans/Bundles (laptops, desktop and phone ask a Modem)

Whether you are an occasional, regular or heavy user, MTN has a data plan that suits your lifestyle

Once you have identified the prepaid bundle plan that best suits you, simply text the migration code for the plan to 131 (see table below) or select your preferred bundle from the Fastlink user interface and you will be switched immediately to the bundle plan of your choice and the corresponding activation fee deducted from your account. You will also receive an sms message on your phone or laptop confirming successful bundle activation.

Bundle Plan	Inclusive Data	Validity Period	Price (N)	Activation Codes
Daily	150MB	24hours	500	103
Night	3GB	9pm-6am	2,500	102
Weekend	3GB	9pm(Fri )-6am (Mon)	3,000	108
Daytime	3GB	9am-9pm( 30days)	6,000	107
Monthly	5GB	24/7	8,000	101
Out of bundle rate 5kobo per kilobyte applies.

Data Usage Guide

ACTIVITY	USAGE GUIDE
1 hour instant messaging	0.25MB- 1MB
1 hour of web browsing	1.5MB-25MB
Download 100 e-mails	1MB-10MB
1 hour on Facebook	2MB- 80MB
Download 1 photo	0.05MB-2Mb
Download 1 MP3 file	3MB- 8MB
1 software download	70MB-800MB
1 hour of video streaming ( e.g. YouTube)	250Mb-500MB

DATA SPEED

Signal	Peak Speed	Average internet browsing speed
GPRS	115 kbps	33 – 35..8kbps
EDGE	384 kbps	Not Yet  Fully deployed
3G	384 kbps	100 - 240kbps
3.5G (HSDPA)	3.6 Mbps	800kbps

Notes: The table above represents the Peak data rates across the MTN network, and also shows the average transfer rate of data when accessing popular internet sites using the MTN Network. It should be noted that the actual speed experienced by the end user could be different from the table above due to other limitations outside of MTN’s control, such as:

• The resource used (e.g device type) being used to access the mobile data service.
• The availability of the server being accessed (internet site, mail server, etc.)

MTN 3.5G Settings SETTINGS Any device you use needs to be configured to use MTN’s Data Network (the same settings apply to GPRS and 3.5G). Account Name = MTN GPRS IP Address = 10.199.212.2 Port = 9201 (for WAP) or 8080 (for HTML) Username = web Password = web Access Point Name (APN) = web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net Not to worry, your MTN-branded USB modem or MTN-branded Data Card is already configured with the above settings. Also, if you currently enjoy browsing using your 3.5G enabled handset on the MTN GPRS network, then chances are that your handset is already configured for MTN Data with the above settings. If you are not sure, then simply text SETTINGS free of charge to 3888 – for all handsets that are manufactured to allow over-the-air updates, you will automatically receive the required settings for your handset. For handsets that cannot be configured in this way (e.g. most Windows-based handsets), you will need to configure the data settings on your handset with the settings information provided above.

SOURCE:www.mtnonline.com

4G is a myth (and a confusing mess)

By David Goldman, staff writerFirst Published: December 1, 2010: 8:42 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- You've seen the 4G advertisements from T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon, bragging about a much-better wireless network with blazing fast speeds.
Here's the secret the carriers don't advertise: 4G is a myth. Like the unicorn, it hasn't been spotted anywhere in the wild just yet -- and won't be any time in the near future.
The International Telecommunication Union, the global wireless standards-setting organization, determined last month that 4G is defined as a network capable of download speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps). That's fast enough to download an average high-definition movie in about three minutes.
None of the new networks the carriers are rolling out meet that standard.
Sprint (S, Fortune 500) was the first to launch a network called 4G, going live with it earlier this year. Then, T-Mobile launched its 4G network, claiming to be "America's largest 4G network." Verizon (VZ, Fortune 500) plans to launch its 4G network next week, which it claims will be the nation's largest and the fastest. AT&T (T, Fortune 500) is expected to unveil its 4G network next year.
Those networks have theoretical speeds of a fifth to a half that of the official 4G standard. The actual speeds the carriers say they'll achieve are just a tenth of "real" 4G.
So why are the carriers calling these networks 4G?
It's mostly a matter of PR, industry experts say. Explaining what the wireless carriers' new networks should be called, and what they'll be capable of, is a confusing mess.
To illustrate: Sprint bought a majority stake in Clearwire (CLWR), which uses a new network technology called WiMAX that's capable of speeds ranging from 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps. That's a different technology from Verizon's new network, based on a standard called Long Term Evolution (LTE), which will average 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps.
Seeing what its competitors were up to, T-Mobile opted to increase the speed capabilities of its existing 3G-HSPA+ network instead of pursuing a new technology. Its expanded network -- now called 4G -- will reach speeds of 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps.
No matter what they're called, all of these upgrades are clear improvements -- and the carriers shelled out billions to make them. Current "3G" networks offer actual speeds that range from between 500 kilobits per second to 1.5 Mbps.
So Sprint and Verizon have new, faster networks that are still technically not 4G, while T-Mobile has an old, though still faster network that is actually based on 3G technology.
Confused yet? That's why they all just opted to call themselves "4G."
The carriers get defensive about the topic.
"It's very misleading to make a decision about what's 4G based on speed alone," said Stephanie Vinge-Walsh, spokeswoman for Sprint Nextel. "It is a challenge we face in an extremely competitive industry."
T-Mobile did not respond to a request for comment.

0:00 /0:55Sprint's 4G challenges iPhone

One network representative, who asked not to be identified, claimed that ITU's 4G line-in-the-sand is being misconstrued. The organization previously approved the use of the term "4G" for Sprint's WiMAX and Verizon's LTE networks, he said -- though not for T-Mobile's HSPA+ network.
ITU's PR department ignored that approval in its recent statement about how future wireless technologies would be measured, the representative said. ITU representatives were not immediately available for comment.
"I'm not getting into a technical debate," said Jeffrey Nelson, spokesman for Verizon Wireless. "Consumers will quickly realize that there's really a difference between the capabilities of various wireless data networks. All '4G' is not the same."
And that's what's so difficult. The term 4G has become meaningless and confusing as hell for wireless customers.
For instance, T-Mobile's 4G network, which is technically 3G, will have speeds that are at least equal to -- and possibly faster -- than Verizon's 4G-LTE network at launch. At the same time, AT&T's 3G network, which is also being scaled up like T-Mobile's, is not being labeled "4G."
That's why some industry experts predict that the term "4G" will soon vanish.
"The labeling of wireless broadband based on technical jargon is likely to fade away in 2011," said Dan Hays, partner at industry consultancy PRTM. "That will be good news for the consumer. Comparing carriers based on their network coverage and speed will give them more facts to make more informed decisions."
Hays expects that independent researchers -- or the Federal Communications Commission -- will step in next year to perform speed and coverage tests.
Meanwhile, don't expect anyone to hold the carriers' feet to the fire.
"Historically, ITU's classification system has not held a great degree of water and has not been used to enforce branding," Hays said. "Everyone started off declaring themselves to be 4G long before the official decision on labeling was made. The ITU was three to four years too late to make an meaningful impact on the industry's use of the term."
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/01/technology/4g_myth/index.htm

Internet TV sales up - but no one uses it

By David Goldman, staff writerDecember 31, 2010: 2:00 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The long-promised and never delivered concept of bringing the Internet to the living room is finally here.

Internet-connected TVs made up 21% of all television sales in 2010, according to a recently released report by NPD Group's DisplaySearch. Sales are expected to more than double by 2014.
The only problem is hardly anyone is using them to surf the Internet. Just 45% of those who say they have an Internet-connected TV use that feature, DisplaySearch found.
"It's not something they're looking for, but it's there," said Paul Semenza, senior vice president of NPD Group's DisplaySearch. "It's being included more and more as a standard feature in high-end sets."
In other words, people are picking up Internet-connected TVs without knowing it or caring. It's kind of like buying a car with rain-sensing wipers.
It doesn't help that accessing the Internet on TV is a maddening experience. There are a bazillion different options, from Wal-Mart's (WMT, Fortune 500) Vudu to Hulu Plus-ready TVs, to, yes, Linux-based Nokia (NOK) MeeGo TVs.
None allow the user to just kick back and zone out like they want to.
Only 57% of those that use the Internet features said they found the experience on their connected TVs "satisfying."
The latest attempt, Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) TV, has been criticized so much for difficulty of use that Google reportedly pulled its new TVs from appearing at the annual Consumer Electronics Show next month.
Internet-connected set-top boxes have had some degree of success, including Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) TV, which reached the 1 million sales milestone last week. But stand-alone connected TVs are expected to be a big part of the coming CES showcase.
"It has got to be easy in order to broaden adoption," Semenza said. "What's most crucial is that TVs automatically detect a wireless connection and quickly guide the user through the process."
For those that do use the features, 57% are using it to access Netflix, and 47% view videos on YouTube.   
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/31/technology/connected_tv_sales/index.htm.

BlackBerry Browser Tips

The current BlackBerry browser may not be exactly a wonder, but that doesn’t mean that it has not got user-friendly features.
Here are some BlackBerry browser tips for you BB users out there. While browsing, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts for faster (or easier) web browsing:

1. Bring up the Enter Web Address field from any Web page by pressing the G key.
2. Insert a period in Web address by clicking the Space key.
3. Insert a back slash in Web address by clicking either the Left Shift or Right Shift keys and then hitting Space.
4. Add an item to bookmarks list by clicking the A key.
5. Bring up your bookmark list by clicking the K key.

1.  

Tips courtesy of The Jared Company – Smartphone Specialists

NIG champions govt subsidy on broadband access for Nigerians

NIG champions govt subsidy on broadband access for Nigerians

By Benjamin Amu
Lagos. September 29, 2010. Nigerians may have broadband access as a right if a proposal that by an internet advocacy group that the government should provide subsidy for broadband access to citizens is adopted in the planned review of the National Telecommunication Policy.
The Federal Government has set up a Committee comprising various stakeholders to review the policy and the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) says its key input is the need to offer government subsidy to foster the rapid development of broadband services across the economy.
President, NIG, Lanre Ajayi says that the group has made inputs into the review of the Policy recommending that government should provide subsidy to ensure that Nigerians enjoy high speed internet access to foster innovation and economic growth in the country.
According to him, pretty much the same way government provides subsidy on petrol so that Nigerians can “put fuel in their cars”, it is now time to offer subsidy on broadband access because of its implications for economic development.
Ajayi, who is also CEO, Pinet Informatics, told a broadband forum at the Nigeria Com conferences and exhibitions in Lagos that NIG made the input into the proposed review of the nation’s policy.
President, Mobitel, Johnson Salako, who was also a panellist at the forum says that it has been issued its contentious licence by the regulatory agency paving way for the planned rollout of its services in the country.
Mobitel, one of the three companies at the centre of the controversial 2.5GHz licensing tussle that pitted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) against the Ministry of Information and Communications won a court battle to be awarded the spectrum.
According to Salako, Mobitel has now been awarded the licence and the company is set for rollout before year end he told attendees at the first NigeriaCom conference and exhibition that opened yesterday at the Eko centre in Lagos, with 600 telecoms professionals gathering to discuss the major trends and opportunities in Africa’s largest market.
In the opening sessions of the conference, speakers (including senior representatives of MTN, Etisalat, Starcomms, Pinet Informatics, Zoom Mobile and Mobitel) identified the major areas of opportunities in the market as: wireless broadband, infrastructure improvement, innovative services and competition.
The imminent entry of Bharti Airtel following its acquisition of Zain Africa is creating a lot of hype and the major question is how the Indian operator will adapt its model to Nigerian market conditions.
Alongside the conference, the exhibition provided many opportunities for the participants to discover the latest technologies and solutions for their businesses. Major companies such as PCCI, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Corning and Huawei among others had stands there to showcase their products.
The exhibition area also provided a great place to network in an informal environment, in particular in the refreshment zone sponsored by MTN, and at the Networking Drinks sponsored by Ericsson at the end of the day.
Commenting on the launch of the event, Julie Rey from organisers Informa Telecoms & Media says: “it is a pleasure to see such support from Nigeria’s telecoms community to this event, as it is designed to help them to share their experiences and ultimately to provide better telecommunications services to the Nigerian population; we are delighted to hold this event in Lagos which is such a business hub in the region”.
Today’s event will include sessions on regulation, value-added services, and subscriber acquisition and retention strategies, with more contributions from MTN, Zain, Globacom, Etisalat and other leading companies.
http://www.technologytimesng.com/2010/09/29/nig-champions-govt-subsidy-on-broadband-access-for-nigerians/