Alcatel is looking to bring hardware to the US through O2 Wireless (not to be confused with O2 in the UK). The Alcatel E206a will be offered as a super-basic (read: cheap), dual-band GSM handset. The Alcatel E206a doesn't offer Bluetooth or even GPRS (let alone EDGE) data services, and is aimed at the entry-level [...]

CTIA Las Vegas 2008 is slow, at least from a hardware/handset perspective. There haven't been many new announcements and even less new hardware on display. Still, some of CTIA's exhibitors really know how to entertain. Take Alcatel, for example. The Alcatel booth wasn't the biggest or glitziest booth on the show floor. Not by a long [...]

Following on MetroPCS’s successful launch in the c oveted Los Angeles market , the “unlimited” carrier has announced that they’ll be working with Alcatel-Lucent to bring 3G data service to seven key markets in the US. MetroPCS won the 3G spectrum in last year’s AWS spectrum auction, and will be upgrading their CDMA network from 1xRTT to EV-DO speeds in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dallas. MetroPCS also plans to launch in four new markets with 3G from the get-go - New York, Las Vegas, Bostson, and Philadelphia will see MetroPCS’s 3G EVDO network go live in the near future. “Our customers want the most value for their dollar and our unlimited flat-rate service offers a compelling value proposition, which is evident by the remarkable continued growth of our subscriber base,” said Roger D. Linquist, MetroPCS’ Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The upgraded 3G MetroPCS network will bring advanced data solutions to its subscriber-base. MetroPCS customers can expect the same “unlimited” rate plan model with even more service options - services like “advanced multimedia, mobile data, unified communications, video mail, speech-enabled and real-time voice portal applications.” MetroPCS did not outline their 3G-rollout timeline, but we assume it’ll be completed before the end of 2008. Unlimited wireless plans just got a bit more interesting. We’d love to see a 3G GSM network with an unlimited rate-plan model - now that would get us to bite. [Via: Mobile Tech News ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:MetroPCS goes live in Los Angeles, CA.Alltel and MetroPCS gun for 700Mhz spectrum; Newly opened spectrum to be auctioned soonFCC: Huawei M318 headed to MetroPCSLeap wireless to MetroPCS: No thanksMetroPCS puts in buy-offer to acquire Leap Wireless for $5.12 billion

Being completely mobile endows a sense of freedom that no cubicle can match. There’s nothing like traveling all over the place with a wireless data connection ready to do your bidding. That is, until you get jacked for your laptop. The one problem with rocking the mobile warrior lifestyle is that you have to essentially make your portable device your main rig - which means that your hard drive, full of sensitive data, is up for grabs whenever you take your eyes off your laptop. Sprint’s coming to the rescue with the new SprintSecure Laptop Guardian service - which will work with the OmniAccess 3500 PCMCIA EVDO card from Alcatel-Lucent . The new card not only pulls down sweet, sweet wireless data from Sprint’s extensive EVDO network, but also serves as an anti-theft device. The card has its own “small operating system, a CPU, memory and an SD slot” and must be inserted into the laptop before the laptop can be used - all the while your IT administrator can keep tabs on the laptop’s data and the user’s access to corporate networks. When lost or stolen, the data on the laptop can even be remotely wiped. And, with integrated GPS, the laptop’s whereabouts can be constantly monitored. Subscriber’s to Sprint’s unlimited data plans can order up their very own OmniAccess 3500 for $250. The SprintSecure Laptop Guardian service will cost an additional $10 to $12 per month. [Via: Infoworld ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple iPhone: Anti-Theft Feature Revealed in Apple PatentApple patent application hints at theft-detecting, security-enabled power adaptors for iPhonePhone Guardian for S60 3rd Edition devices releasedJuniper Research claims that 80% of Mobile Phones will have some sort of secutiry application installed on them by 2011First Anti-Virus protection for S60 3rd edition