Samsung to power 3’s 4G network

Samsung to power 3’s 4G network:

Samsung today announced it would be providing the backbone for 3 when it rolls out its 4G network in the UK.

The deal is Samsung’s first commercial mobile network deployment in Europe, which will see it install an LTE radio access network (RAN) along with a number of key back-end infrastructure components necessary for 4G roll-out.

It will also be responsible for installing new base stations across the UK and all the kit involved with making them operational.

“[Our] customers will start benefiting from this investment in our core network early next year, and those benefits will grow further as we deploy new spectrum,” said Dave Dyson, CEO of 3. “Samsung’s advanced network technology will help us to continue to deliver the most enjoyable smartphone experience.”

Samsung and 3 will trial the network as early as this year, but it won’t be fully operational until later in 2013. This works with the operator’s schedule for roll-out of its 4G network though, which isn’t expected to begin until September next year.

It was announced this week that 3 had secured a portion of 1800MHz spectrum from Everything Everywhere, just afterOfcom had announced it would allow the spectrum to be liberalised and used by the operator for 4G services.

EE had to sell off some of the band following a European Commission stipulation, put in place when the company was formed out of the merger of Orange and T-Mobile back in 2010.

However, even though it has to sell it off, the spectrum doesn’t have to be cleared and made ready for 3’s use until September 2013, meaning that although 3 has spectrum ready for 4G, it can’t incorporate it into its network for at least another year.

This isn’t stopping 3 from being prepared though.

“This contract is a demonstration of 3’s desire to provide the best possible service and solutions for its customers,” said Mark Thompson, sales and marketing director for Samsung’s European network operations – the division formed in 2011 to push for more mobile deals in the region.

“Currently, one in four LTE connections globally are brokered through Samsung’s LTE infrastructure. 3 will be the first of many European operators to benefit from this wealth of experience.”

Samsung Galaxy S III: 10 Million Sold

Samsung Galaxy S III: 10 Million Sold


Samsung reached its 10 million unit sales goal for the Galaxy S III smartphone more than a week early, an executive says.

Samsung predicted that it would sell 10 million Galaxy S III smartphones by the end of July, and it appears that it has already met this goal. Speaking to the Yonhap News Agency, Samsung's mobile chief J.K. Shin said, "It appears that (accumulated sales) has exceeded 10 million units."


What's not clear is if Shin meant sales to end users or shipments to retailers.


The Galaxy S III went on sale across Europe in late May. It reached some U.S. carriers in late June and others in early July. None of the individual carriers has offered any information about sales of the device. In the United States, some wireless network operators are prone to making grandiose 


announcements when devices have a particularly strong opening weekend. So far, there have been no such announcements.


Though the distinction between devices shipped versus devices sold is an important one, even if Samsung has only shipped 10 million devices, it won't be long before they are sold. In 2010, Samsung sold 20 million Galaxy S smartphones, and in 2011, it sold 30 million Galaxy S II smartphones. 


Surely the Galaxy S III will surpass both phones by a significant margin.

The Galaxy S III is one of the strongest devices to reach the market this year. Not only does it boast one of the most impressive spec sheets, its performance is unrivaled when compared to other Android smartphone the market.

In the U.S., the device is available from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless. The GS3 comes in white, blue, and red (AT&T exclusive), and costs $199 for the 16-GB version and $249 for the 32-GB version.

The GS3's main competition, the Apple iPhone 4S, is nearly 10 months old. It is also sold for $199 for the 16-GB model, but the 32-GB iPhone 4S costs $299, giving Samsung a bit of a price advantage for the higher capacity version.

Beyond the pricing, the GS3's 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display is significantly larger than the iPhone 4S's 3.5-inch display. Apple is expected to increase the size of the iPhone's display with the next-generation model, but reports point to a modest increase, to just 4 inches across the diagonal.

However, the GS3 will have about a four-month lead on the iPhone 5 by the time it reaches the market. Apple is due to report its second-quarter earnings this week, and expectations for the iPhone are dampened as analysts see slackening demand ahead of the iPhone 5's arrival.