| Sony Xperia i1 could be the next cameraphone king Jun 27th 2013, 10:29 
Obviously not content with the Sony Xperia Z and the mammoth Xperia Z Ultra, more details have emerged claiming the Japanese firm is indeed working on another flagship smartphone in the form of the Sony Xperia i1. A snap of the Xperia i1 has apparently made its way onto Brazilian site TechTudo, showing the handset sitting in between the giant Z Ultra and Xperia Z, sporting a shiny white body. However its white gloss finish isn't the big talking point here, oh no. It's actually the camera lens plastered onto the back of the Xperia i1 which has really grabbed people's attention with the leak claiming it's a 20MP offering. It could be Sony's cameraphone answer to the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and the much rumoured, 41MP-toting Nokia Lumia 1020. Aka HonamiThe site claims it managed to get a brief hands on time with the Xperia i1, which has been referred to as the Xperia Honami in earlier reports. 
It's said that the Xperia i1 was running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, with virtually no border around the screen and a slim body which mirrors its brothers. Although the site reckons it has spent time with the Xperia i1 it wasn't able to furnish us with any more specs, so we're still going on the 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, Walkman audio chip and Carl Zeiss lens we've seen attached to the Honami name. The 5-inch display looks unlikely though as the leaked image clearly shows the Xperia i1 - if that really is the device - is larger than the 5-inch Xperia Z, so we may be looking at a screen which is more in the region of 5.4 inches. There's no word on a potential Sony Xperia i1 release date, so we're going to have to wait and see whether this mighty snapper is fact or fiction.     |  | Google Now for Android can now tune into your favourite TV shows Jun 26th 2013, 21:44 
Google has added new functionality to its Google Now app for Android, with one new card allowing users with connected TVs to learn more about their favourite shows. The popular personal assistant app has been updated for US users to include a 'Listen in for TV show' button, which pulls in data about the programme the user is currently watching. In a post on Google+ the company explained: "Just connect your Android device to the same network that your TV is on and tap 'Listen for a TV show' in Google Now. We will show you information, like where you've seen an actor in the cast before, or more information about the people mentioned in the show. "So if you were watching Nik Wallenda cross the Grand Canyon this weekend, with Google Now, you could learn that the 'King of the Wire' in fact holds seven Guinness World Records, including highest bike ride on a high-wire." Offers when you need themThe update to the Google Search app, which brings access to Google Now for Android phones on Jelly Bean 4.1 and above, is rolling out to the Google Play store today. The new version of the app also includes a Google Offers Card, which will appear whenever users are in the vicinity of cafes, restaurants or retailers where they have valid vouchers. "Now you can get reminders for your saved offers when you're near the store - right when you need it. Google Now will pull up the offer so you can use it quickly and easily" the company said. The updates are only for U.S. users at the moment and Google did not offer a hint about when the new version of the app would be available in other territories.     | | Microsoft teams with O2, expect Windows Phone shoved in your face Jun 26th 2013, 19:58 
Telefonica, the owner of O2 in the UK has announced a 'strategic marketing agreement' with Microsoft, in order to push the merits of Windows Phone devices to punters. Telefonica said the deal is aimed at giving more choice to customers beyond the iOS and Android 'duopoly,' as Windows Phone struggles to build significantly on its slowly-growing 8 per cent market share. However, as pure as meritocratic, it seems more likely that Microsoft has just thrown a chunk of cash at the mobile operator and said: 'Here, see if you can shift a few more of these, eh?' The official stance is: "With this arrangement Telefónica reinforces its commitment to improve the current balance of mobile operating platforms on the market, encouraging it to be more diverse and less of a duopoly." Benefitting customers"Promoting the use of Windows Phone 8 will benefit customers, as there will be more options to choose from while diluting the polarisation of installed base in operating platforms," the company added in a press release. So next time you try to upgrade your phone over the phone or in store, don't be surprised if the mobile do to offer you a Nokia Lumia handset instead of a HTC One or an iPhone. The arrangement doesn't just cover O2 in the UK, but all of Telefonica's territories, including Germany, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Chile. Is it really the business of a mobile operators, who're supposed to be pushing customers towards the best device for them, to help Microsoft secure a bigger slice of the pie? Let us know in the comments section below.   | | Nokia's PureView EOS gets a name, maybe: Lumia 1020 Jun 26th 2013, 19:57 
The Nokia EOS, rumored to feature a 41-megapixel camera, might ultimately be called the Nokia Lumia 1020. That's the name that will be revealed when the EOS is unveiled at a New York event on July 11, claimed Twitter tipster @evleaks yesterday. "EOS = Nokia Lumia 1020," the frequent leaker wrote in a brief tweet. @evleaks has a history of being right, but besides this potential name, little is known about the Lumia 1020 for sure. How many megapixels is too many?The Nokia EOS, codenamed "Elvis" and real-named potentially Lumia 1020, has a 41-megapixel camera - that much is practically for sure. Nokia even hinted at the spec recently by posting a "41 million reasons" teaser on its official site. Rumor has it Nokia is taking the PureView tech from its Symbian Nokia 808 PureView and putting it in this new Windows Phone shell. In supposed leaked images that emerged recently, you can see the alleged Lumia 1020's aluminum body and its massive camera hump. The Nokia EOS/Lumia 1020 is also rumored to pack a 4.5-inch, 720p display, a quad-core processor and 32GB of storage. With the Lumia 925 and Lumia 928 only just coming out and what just might be the 1020 about to be revealed, it seems Nokia is making good on its promise to offer a wide range of devices this year. - Want all the latest Windows Phone news? Check out TechRadar's coverage of this week's Microsoft Build 2013 conference.
    | | 10 essential education and kids apps for the Note 8.0 and S4 Jun 26th 2013, 19:40 
One of the coolest things about the Samsung GALAXY S4 and Note 8.0 is how simple they are for children to get to grips with. After a few minutes of prodding and swiping they usually pick up the basics of how to use a touchscreen and before you know it they will be mithering you to play with your favourite gadget. Rather than just let them loose on your emails, both devices have a huge library of apps aimed at kids that combine education with fun. Here is our pick of the best. 
Famigo - Kid LockFree 7-day trial - get it here Handing your phone or tablet to a toddler can be a nerve-wracking experience. Even assuming they don't work out how to send confusing texts to your boss they could accidentally delete something you haven't had a chance to back up yet, make an alarmingly-expensive in-app purchase or just stumble upon something you would rather remained private. Famigo will temporarily replace your home screen with a kid-friendly list of approved apps (don't worry, you get to chose, not them) and lock down everything else. They won't see incoming notifications or be able to do anything on your S4 or Note 8.0 without your say-so. Once the phone is back in your hands you can quickly enter a code and disable Famigo until next time. 
HomeWorkFree – get it here Trying to plan your studies is a lot for a kid to cope with, especially if you add exams into the mix. HomeWork is an app that can help. It works like a scheduler, logging homework assignments and keeping track of the weekly timetable - either for students or teachers. The app is flexible enough to be used by teachers, pupils and their parents to help manage a busy school year. 
iStoryBooksFree – get it here iStoryBooks is a complete tablet-or-phone-sized library of picture books. Books range from history and facts (the life of Helen Keller or a guide to Dinosaurs, for example) to fairy stories and folktales with plenty in between. All books are well illustrated and can be both narrated page-by-page or left to play through in 'movie mode'. If the free books aren't enough to keep your kids occupied, you can subscribe to an iStoryBooks Monthly for 99p/month and get access to a catalogue of extra titles to download as you need them. 
NASA appFree – get it here Any child with the slightest interest in space will love this, the official NASA app, which is packed with more interesting facts about the solar system and beyond than you can shake an asteroid at, as well as details on all current NASA missions. There is a brilliant gallery of the latest images from NASA's many eyes in the sky, which you can share with friends or save for later. It will even work out where you are based on GPS and give you the instructions you need to spot the International Space Station with the naked eye. 
How To Draw – Easy LessonsFree – get it here An app just made for use with the Note 8.0's S Pen, How To Draw aims to show you exactly that - clear instructions to help you draw anything from Hello Kitty to Justin Bieber. Inside the app you are faced with a 'graph paper' background upon which it will show you step-by-step lines to trace around using your fingertip or the S Pen. Once you have finished tracing the app will show you where you went wrong. Your masterpieces can be saved to SD card or shared by email from within the app. 
Green Eggs And Ham£2.67 – buy it here Dr Seuss' classic nonsense rhyme comes to your GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0 with the complete text and illustrations from the book, ready for bedtime. The app works in three ways - as a simple storybook that you can read through by flipping the pages, an automated and fully narrated version of the tale or a combination of the two where you cant run the pages and have the book sound out each word as you tap. The illustrations can be tapped to make the narrator say the name of a character or object and the same is true of any word in the story, which can be read aloud simply by tapping it. 
LEGO DUPLO ZooFree – get it here LEGO's Duplo bricks are geared towards simple fun for younger builders and this cute app takes the form of an interactive (and wordless) story in which you must help Giraffe and Rabbit to deliver a parcel to Mr Lion. There are plenty of interactive elements to tap on screen and each stage features simple Duplo builds which work more like shape-matching puzzles than anything else. You can also unlock movies featuring the characters from the story. A great way to entertain small children. 
The Icky Mr FoxFree – get it here A charming, lightly interactive storybook for young readers. The narrator reads the story of Mr Rabbit and Mr Mole trying to have a tea party while the Icky Mr Fox tries to burrow into their underground hiding place. As the story progresses your child can tap almost every object in the book to hear what it is called. There are also hidden characters to be discovered by careful tapping. There are plenty of 'tappy-tap' moments where your child must help things along by tapping characters to make them move. A simple but fun diversion for young children. 
Monkey Word School Adventure£1.24 – buy it here Monkey Word School adventure is an educational game designed to help with spelling, reading and writing with a focus on phonics. Your monkey guide will take you through minigame after minigame, all with a simian theme. Children will need to spell words by dragging letters around, trace the outline of letters to practice writing and tap gems containing certain words or letters as they fall from the sky. 
Color & Draw: Super Artist Ed.£1.96 – buy it here Colour and Draw is another app just begging to be used with the Note 8.0's S Pen, although finger painting on the S4 works just fine as well. Children can jump straight into drawing on a blank canvas or can instead pick outlines from a library of 100+ pictures to colour in or embellish with new detail. Photos can be imported to use as image backgrounds or just be scrawled on.     | | In Depth: 10 reasons why the S Pen beats touch on the Note 8.0 Jun 26th 2013, 18:07 
To paraphrase Edward Bulwer-Lytton's famous adage: "The pen is mightier than the sword", we'd say that the pen, or more specifically, the S Pen is also mightier than the finger. At least it is when it comes to the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0. With its pressure sensitivity and smart feature-set, we've got ten examples of S Pen beating the finger hands-down. 1. Air View
Air View was such a cool S Pen feature on the Note II, that Samsung decided to include it on the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0. Transforming your S Pen into something of a magic wand, Air View turns a hover into an input. Generally used to preview elements of the interface, it works in the gallery for example, as a means of peering into an album Air View also works in the Video Player, with a hover over a point in the timeline popping up a preview of that specific frame. The Samsung email app takes full advantage of the touch-free tech, previewing body copy of messages, while in S Planner, Samsung's calendar app, Air View gives you an insight into your agenda for any given day you hover above. 2. Pressure Sensitivity
The Wacom digitizer inside the Note 8.0 is S Pen exclusive, detecting up to 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity. Using the same technology as found in professional graphic design tablets, it gives the tablet some real creative credibility. Why would you want a pressure sensitive tablet? Because, when combined with pen input, writing and drawing feel much more like the real thing. The harder you press your S Pen on the screen, the thicker the stroke it makes. The S Pen actually supports the same degree of sensitivity found in Wacom's Intuos range of design tablets, the number one choice for most professional design studios – neat stuff eh? 3. S Note
What good is a swanky Wacom Digitizer without some apps to take advantage of it? Samsung kits the Note 8.0 out with plenty of these, but none more fit-for-purpose than S Note. Supporting multiple note styles, S Note is perfect for a quick jot, doodle, mind-map or work of art. With an extensive array of brushes and input modes, it's simple to navigate around and as fully functional as you need your 8-inch jotter to be. 4. Quick commands
There are a couple of quick commands on the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0 that result in slicker S Pen input. These involve the S Pen button, so hold it down and lets get to it: The first is related to the wonderful S Note we just spoke about. Double tap anywhere on the display with the S Pen button held down and you'll pop up an on-the-go Post-it style note for a quick bit of S Pen action. These are then saved in your S Note app for your convenience. The next gesture involves a vertical motion up with the S Pen button held down. This opens a Quick Command dialogue box, where you can then enter a predefined symbol to do handy things like search the internet or send an email. These symbols can be customised and you can even add your own new ones, breaking down the walls between your S Pen and gesture input. 5. Handwritten emails
There's nothing like a handwritten letter or email, and there's no finger that can match the precision of the S Pen in creating one. The Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0's Mail app makes this nostalgic, heartfelt means of messaging possible. Once your new mail account is set-up, just open a new email, enter your recipient details, a subject, and then finally, tap on the handwriting icon in the toolbar. Here, you can handwrite your well-wishes, complete with doodles, heart dotted 'i's or signatures for work related correspondences. 6. Handwriting recognition
You've gotten a taste for writing haven't you? We're not surprised, there's nothing quite like putting Pen to paper, or putting S Pen to panel in this case. Fortunately, the writing aspect of the Note 8.0 isn't restricted to the email app – it pervades throughout the entire UI. Just tap inside a text entry field to pull up your keyboard. You should see a cog icon on the bottom left side. Once tapped, you'll be able to choose your input method, and low and behold, handwriting recognition is an option. So advanced is the feature on the Note 8.0, we found it replaced the keyboard 90 per cent of the time, proving to be an accurate and satisfying way of Googling, messaging and note taking. 7. Clipping
Any Android tablet or phone can take a screenshot, it's not a big deal, but only S Pen clad GALAXY Notes can snip a portion of the screen, cutting out the laborious step of cropping your screenshot. To clip an area of the screen, just hold down the S Pen button and draw around an area of the UI you want to clip. This saves the exact shape you draw as a transparent PNG file that you can quickly send. What makes the clipping even more time-saving is that clips are saved to your clipboard database. These can be pasted into S Note and various parts of the UI with just a few taps. 8. Sketchbook Pro
The S Pen is indeed mighty thanks to everything Samsung does to make it so, but there are a couple of third party apps out there that make the whole experience even more superior to the humble finger. The first is Sketchbook Pro (£3.35). This artist's app is the ultimate sketching tool on Android. Not only does it support the S Pen's pressure sensitivity, it also couples this it with support for layers. You can even import images from the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0's camera to work from. Once done, save your creation as a picture file such as a JPEG, or as a PSD file. You can then work on your masterpiece later, either on the go using Photoshop Touch on your Android tablet or the full Photoshop when you get to your computer or laptop. 9.Sudoku - S Pen
With Sukoku – S Pen Jam has put together the most natural way of playing Sudoku since the humble newspaper became the go-to for the mind-bending game. What's so special about this version of Sudoku? You write in your numbers using the S Pen. It doesn't hurt that the UI looks charming, with a Far Eastern theme and a clean Sudoku board. The app requires a quick set-up in which you scribble down the numbers 1 to 9. Once it's figured out your handwriting style, you can select your difficulty and get playing. 10. Your brain
There's plenty of evidence out there supporting the theory that handwriting stimulates your brain in a way that typing simply can't. To quote the Wall Street Journal, "The practice helps with learning letters and shapes, can improve idea composition and expression, and may aid fine motor-skill development." The same article goes onto highlight ways cursive input also activates "massive regions involved in thinking, language and working memory". So there you have it, the S Pen is indeed mightier than the finger – it's fun, creative and it even makes you smarter.     | | Build 2013: Microsoft Windows 8.1 preview version available for download now Jun 26th 2013, 16:20 
Windows 8.1, the first major update to Windows 8, is available to download now in a free preview version now, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced during the Microsoft Build 2013 keynote. Ballmer took the stage to greet viewers and audience members at the keynote kick-off to Build 2013 with a casual, friendly speech. He announced that Microsoft's Visual Studio 2013 is also available to download now. It turns out the rumors about Windows 8.1 were true; the update "blends the desktop and the modern experience," Ballmer said, and includes the return of the start button and a boot-to-desktop option. Windows 8.1 also includes improved Bing integration "to improve the fundamental usability" of Windows, he revealed. Microsoft's rapid release cycleBallmer also talked about how quickly Microsoft's transformation from a software company into a hardware maker with a "rapid release cycle." He said that a rapid release cycle is necessary for Microsoft to transform into a successful hardware maker, focusing on hardware "driven by software." That software, of course, is Windows 8, the main topic of today's keynote. He didn't leave out Windows Phone 8, either, promising that Windows Phone devices are subject to the rapid release cycle plan, as well. - Microsoft's Build 2013 conference is going on now - get all the latest news at TechRadar's Build 2013 hub page.
  | | Symantec provides tool to bung leaky Android handsets Jun 26th 2013, 16:10 
Symantec has revamped its Norton Mobile Security app to include new intelligence technology that focuses on protecting users' privacy. Dubbed Norton Mobile Insight, the proprietary tool scans smartphones in real-time to unearth apps that could potentially put personal information at risk. Symantec says it has gathered knowledge of potential security and privacy risks by analysing more than 4 million apps in more than 200 app stores. 30% of those were found to leak information, such as personal data or call logs. Potential risksThe tool is now processing 10,000 apps every 24 hours and has identified 300,000 malicious apps to date, the company claims. That's in addition to 1.5m apps found to be associated with greyware, such as aggressive ad networks, or potential privacy risks. Norton Mobile Security can be downloaded now from Google's Play store.   | | Updated: Motorola X Phone release date, news and rumours Jun 26th 2013, 15:58 
Google acquired Motorola Mobility a year ago but we're still yet to see a handset slide out bearing the search giant's brand and Moto's design. Rumours surrounding the X Phone (or Moto X as some reports suggest) have been around since December 2012 and, while neither Google nor Motorola has officially revealed anything about a potential handset, it hasn't stopped the speculation and leaks. It would make sense for Google to use Motorola as the manufacturer of its next Nexus-branded smartphone, as this would give the firm greater control at every stage of production - but that's something which is far from certain. Over in Australia, carriers have apparently already seen details of the X Phone, prompting one network head to say the handset will be a "real breakthrough, a game changer that will put pressure on Samsung and Apple". We've pulled together all the internet chatter surrounding the Motorola X Phone and stuffed it into one manageable article, just for you. Motorola X phone release date and priceOriginal reports surrounding the Motorola X Phone release date seemed to point towards the annual Google IO conference which took place in mid-May - although no such product was announced. This means that initial reports suggesting the X Phone would arrive in stores in either June or July are way off, and word that it's been delayed until August or later look more likely. When the X Phone actually does launch consumers may still have a lengthy wait before the handset lands in their sweaty palms - especially if the Nexus 4 is anything to go by which sold out in minutes when the first stock was made available, leaving many waiting for more units to turn up. Update: The latest on the X Phone release date hunt is word from Motorola's CEO Dennis Woodside, who spilled the beans to reveal the firm's next hero device would be called the Moto X while hinting that it could see an October launch. If the Motorola X does carry Google's name, we could also see some rather competitive pricing as the search giant looks to undercut the top phones of the moment - such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One. Pie or BeansGoogle-branded handsets usually usher in a new version of the Android operating system, so if the Motorola X Phone does eventually end up adopting the search giant's name you can expect it to arrive running the latest Android platform. Key Lime Pie seemed to be on the cards for the X Phone in the swathe of early rumours although more recently there's been a change of tack. Update: We've seen reports saying that Key Lime Pie has been delayed, with an updated version of Jelly Bean, known as Android 4.3 possibly gracing the Moto X. However a few leaks have popped up claiming that the Motorola X Phone is actually packing the current version of Google's mobile platform - Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Look at thisThe X Phone might build on the 4.7-inch display found on the Nexus 4 and rock up with a 5-inch screen with almost no bezel. Another "tipster" doesn't agree though, claiming the Motorola X will stick with the 4.7-inch format and instead up the resolution to Full HD, for a truly eye-popping display - something which has also been "confirmed" by a separate source. We're not done there though, with 4.65-inch also being bandied about as the potential screen size for the X Phone, although the unconvincing renders this information arrived with makes us question it. Maybe we should ignore all that though, as a source which claims to actually have an X Phone states it sports a 4.8-inch display. Update: The 4.6-inch argument has been given more fuel after an image leaked apparently showing the Moto X, claiming it had a 720p screen around the 4.5 to 4.6-inch mark. SpecsIn terms of power the Motorola X phone is hotly tipped to pack a 1.7GHz quad-core processor - various sources say the same thing - along with 2GB of RAM. That's not the only processor which has been linked to the X though, with Android World claiming it's been told it could carry a powerful 2.3GHz Nvidia 4i chip. The same leak also points towards the Motorola X packing a punchy 16MP camera which would put the handset head and shoulders above the current crop of flagship smartphones, plus it could measure a pocket friendly 131.2 x 66.7 x 7.9mm. Another rumour claims that the new UI that will feature on the X phone will integrate a host of new features to rival Samsung's S-Beam, S-Voice and the like. In terms of storage we could well see the Motorola X offered in a 32GB guise, which will be music to some people's ears after being left frustrated that the Nexus 4 was only available in 8GB and 16GB variants. Update: The 2GB of RAM looks like it's pretty much nailed on to be inside the X Phone after another source revealed the RAM for the handset, and it was also mentioned in a report in mid-June which also highlighted a 1.7GHz dual-core chip, 16GB of internal storage and 10MP and 2MP back and front cameras. Real or render?In terms of what the Motorola X Phone could potentially look like we've had a few leaks claiming to show the handset. First up are a set of images picked up by Vietnamese site Tinhte and while the handset in question looks pretty impressive in terms of style, they appear to be renders instead of photos of the actual device. 
The next set of images come courtesy of @evleaks and apparently show the X phone with a prototype chassis in order to protect its identity. Comparisons can be drawn between the handset in these images and the renders above - with the front facing Motorola logo sitting in the same place. 
The latest image appears to show a handset which bares far more of a resemblance to previous Motorola handsets such as the Razr HD and Razr i - and we hope this isn't the design as we're rather fond of the curvaceous render above. 
Update: Another day, another Moto X phone leak, and by looks of it another design too. The image appears to mirror the earlier renders we saw - sporting a more rounded finish. 
  | | Motorola X Phone gets papped again Jun 26th 2013, 14:20 
The Motorola X Phone seems to have been a long time coming; and it's still not here, emerging only as a spy shot as the handset is tested on the US network Sprint. Running on the network's 4G network, the handset looks like a fairly standard Android affair, with the screen estimated to be around 4.7 inches. Previous rumours have pegged its HD at 720p variety, with a 1.7GHz Snapdragon processor under the hood alongside 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. XT CThe pictured device is referred to as the Motorola XT1056, which Phone Arena's source says is indeed the X Phone.
This anonymous figure also added that the handset shown is running Android 4.2.2, has the rumoured 16GB of storage and reckons the screen is around 4.5 or 4.6 inches - not too far off the expected 4.7-inch affair. The handset has been tipped for a launch "by October", although more recent rumours suggest that it could be unveiled as early as August 1. Motorola and its step-daddy Google are keeping quiet until then; but we'll bring you the news as it's announced, whenever that may be.     | | Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini release date reveals it's arriving this weekend Jun 26th 2013, 14:00 
We're just days away from the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini hitting shelves, and you'll be able to get your hands on it starting at £365. The official Galaxy S4 Mini release date has been set as June 29, which is this Saturday, and Unlocked Mobiles has announced it will be offering it from then at the £365 price tag for SIM-only. Phones4U, meanwhile, which has priced the phone a bit higher at £420, and won't be shipping preorders until Monday. Price fightHandtec, meanwhile, is offering the phone for £390. While Phones4U is pricing itself a little higher than the others, it's likely that it will bring it down in the near future. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini hosts a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor with 1.5GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch AMOLED display, 8GB of Storage and an 8-megapixel camera.   | | Explained: What to consider in choosing a 4G provider for your business Jun 26th 2013, 09:44 
Shared data bundles and increased speeds on the move make 4G a good option for many SMBs. It's a fairly new technology, only available on the EE mobile network so far, but adoption is ramping up. After launching 4G last year, EE now covers more than 50% of the UK. But by 2014, SMBs will be able to choose from a range of targeted options from many more providers, including solutions from Vodafone, O2, BT and others, who will launch packages alongside additional services such as broadband. Interesting 4G business options are already appearing. 'Shared data' tariffs, aimed specifically at SMBs, allow you to buy a large bundle of 4G to share between devices such as iPads, mobile phones and mobile Wi-Fi. With more options appearing all the time, it's tempting to dive into 4G immediately; and SMBs with a specific need - such as the ability to transfer large files on the move – could find it worth looking at a plan with EE now. For a more tentative or less urgent requirement, a minimal pay-as-you-go consumer option might be better; leaving you free to move your contract next year. Making the choiceBusinesses that need to send data back and forth, such as those in insurance, estate agents and construction, would benefit from early 4G opportunities using EE, says Chris Nicoll, Principal Analyst, Wireless Networks at Analysys Mason. But SMBs should research 4G coverage in their area before taking out a lengthy contract, especially if they are based in a remote location. This is because it takes up to two years to roll out a wireless network entirely, says Nicoll. London is the starting point for 4G roll out, with the nearby suburbs and other big cities coming next. Networks are currently on their way from all the 4G operators, who plan to come close to catching up with EE's coverage by next year. However, it is thought EE's 4G network - which runs off re-farmed mobile spectrum - will not work as well inside buildings as those of some of its rivals. "And you could soon end up with offerings from BT, which has also bought spectrum, as well as from Three, O2 Vodafone and others," Nicoll says. 4G in actionFaster 4G technology can become a replacement for broadband if you can't get a good connection in your area, or as backup if your fixed line goes down. One UK SMB, digital marketing firm TopLine Communications, is using a consumer 4G option for working on the move, and as a back up solution. Heather Baker, Managing Director, says the company has 4G dongles for use when people are out of the office or as a "plan B" for when broadband goes down. Baker is currently looking at expanding to a full 4G business solution. "We use a number of cloud services, so fast internet is a necessity," she says. "When you have 10 people in the office, if the broadband goes down for an hour, that's 10 hours of downtime." 4G is also good for office moves or initial set-up as it makes it easier to implement an internet connection in the first place. "For the first time, we have genuine choice," Baker says. "Previously, a small business that needed an internet connection had to go through a complex application process and then wait for eight weeks for BT to install a line. "Now, you can just walk in to an EE store, buy a bunch of dongles, and be up and running within an hour. This makes starting up, moving office and taking your business mobile dramatically easier." Types of solutionsVodafone's upcoming 4G offering, expected to launch to businesses in early 2014, could suit SMBs looking for a combination of broadband and LTE. It's likely the operator will package 4G with fixed broadband through last year's acquisition of Cable & Wireless Worldwide - a solution well suited to firms with staff travelling in and out of the office. This type of a package could also be offered by other operators in the future, including BT which already has a business-ready broadband solution. Meanwhile, shared data plans could provide the ability to buy upwards of 50GB of data to use across multiple devices. This allows SMBs to control expenses by buying one plan and sharing it across employees' smartphones, tablets and laptops. The US market, which launched 4G two years ago, is likely to be the model for the UK, according to Nicoll, who says: "In the US, 4G started with unlimited data, then it went to shared data plans." In the US, operators including Verizon Wireless and AT&T have launched 30, 40 and 50GB shared data plans starting at $300 per month, aimed at SMBs. "It's ideal as you have one fixed cost so you can control your expenses," says Nicoll. Faster 4G services can benefit many SMBs, and the options are already starting to grow. But Nicoll advises to proceed with caution and assess the options, rather than entering a long term contract just yet. He says: "I would caution SMBs not to jump in too soon and don't enter into a long term plan, so you can keep your options open if a better offer comes up." Check out the business productivity potential for 4G.   | |
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