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Telstra’s Gigabit LTE testing brings on unbelievable speeds for mobile internet

Telstra’s Gigabit LTE testing brings on unbelievable speeds for mobile internet

If there is anything that can make our inner “nerds” very happy, it is the possibility of faster internet!

TELSTRA has tested their world’s first Gigabit LTE mobile network capable of unprecedented mobile broadband speeds.

LTE technology

Published on: Feb 2, 2017

The new LTE technology – which stands for “Long Term Evolution” and is a term used to denote improvements in mobile broadband – means Telstra’s network will soon be capable of download speeds of up to one gigabit per second. Now wouldn’t that be great!

At such speeds users could download an hour-long high definition TV show on their phone in less than 20 seconds.

In partnership with Netgear, chip maker Qualcomm and infrastructure provider Ericsson, the Telstra network will allow its customers to receive downloads speeds of up to 1Gpbs and upload speeds of 150Mbps over its 4G network.

By comparison, the top home broadband packages currently offered by the NBN reach speeds of up to 100Mbps, about one tenth of the peak speeds Telstra says its new mobile network can achieve in “laboratory-like” conditions. However the NBN’s fibre connections will soon boast reliable 1Gbps fixed line connections and be much cheaper than mobile broadband.

Telstra impressed media and industry members in Sydney when it tested the network and unveiled a new router to let customers tap into the super fast speeds.

Nighthawk M1 mobile router

Netgear and Telstra launched the world’s first Gigabit LTE device, the Nighthawk M1 mobile router.

According to Telstra, the pocket sized device will allow customers to download a 300MB hour long TV episode in as little as 16 seconds and a 3GB HD Movie in as little as three minutes.

The Nighthawk M1 device uses one SIM card and uses multiple 4G bands. It can connect up to 20 devices to the internet at once and will be available in late February for $360 upfront or on a range of plans.

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 device can be used to deliver download speeds up to one gigabit per second from the mobile network.

In a demonstration for assembled media on Monday to demonstrate the new technology, a computer was connected to Gigabit LTE and performed several tests on speedtest.net, reaching speeds of 900Mbps.

“We showcased the incredible customer experience a gigabit class LTE mobile device and network can deliver,” Telstra’s device management director Andrew Volard said in a blog post yesterday.

“It’s going help people further embrace a new breed of mobile applications and experiences including immersive virtual reality, connected cloud computing and rich entertainment,” he said.

“And it brings us one step closer to introducing 5G in Australia.”

However there is a few things to iron out. At this stage the speeds have only been delivered in “laboratory-like” conditions and, as Telstra admits, will likely be considerably slower in the real world.

It’s understood that Telstra has begun to launch part of the network in selected Australian capital city CBDs but it won’t be available throughout Australia for some time.

And mobile users will definitely need a bulked up mobile data plan if they intend on taking advantage of the improved broadband, as Telstra has indicated that mobile downloads may cost significantly more than those from a fixed line connection.

Telstra said it will look to make gigabit LTE technology available on more devices, including smartphones, sometime this year.



Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones banned at Australian airports

Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones banned at Australian airports

There is a total ban on flights for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone. If you plan to travel, please make sure you do not take a Galaxy Note 7 with you.

Samsung plans to collect banned Galaxy Note 7 smartphones at Australian airports.

Samsung revealed it would set up a series of customer service points at domestic and international terminals in Australia to prevent their customers flying with the banned Galaxy Note7 smartphones.

The former flagship device, recalled after a series of fires was banned from being used or even carried on flights by Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Tigerair over the weekend due to concerns it could catch fire while in the air. Virgin Australia even advised Note7 users not to bring these devices to an airport when travelling.

The total ban in Australia followed a similar move by the United States Federal Aviation Authority.


If you need assistance with your mobiles or business phone systems, call the Key Technologies team on 1300 662 209 for information.

2G time has run out

2G time has run out

2gstops
2G Exit – Important information about SIM only/M2M plans.

Telstra will be discontinuing the 2G (GSM) 900MHz network on 1 December 2016 Australia-wide.

As a result, any SIM cards and/or devices, including wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) services that only operate on the 2G network will stop working from this date. In addition, International Roaming will stop working for services affected by the 2G network shutdown. To minimise any interruption, all of our impacted customers will need to upgrade their  services to operate using 3G or 4G technology on the Telstra Mobile Network. As a minimum, devices and SIM cards must operate on 3G 850MHz.

Important information for customers acquiring sim only and/or M2M plans

If you have any SIM only plans you must ensure that you tell us what  devices you are using to ensure that you are 3G/4G compatible.

Do not source equipment that is Quad Band GSM only – these services will cease operating on our network from 1 December 2016.

What to Do?

1. We recommend migrating your devices as soon as possible, to enable a transition before the 2G network closure.

2. Closure of 2G (GSM) 900MHz network is on 1 December 2016.

New! Pixel Google Phone announced

New! Pixel Google Phone announced

Introducing Pixel, Google’s new phone made by Google


Published on: Oct 5, 2016

google-pixelOn October 4 2016, Google announced for the first time a family of products that brings people the best of Google through hardware and software made by Google. We’re excited that the lineup features the first phone made by Google inside and out — Pixel.

For those of you who have followed Google closely, that name may sound familiar to you because they’ve used the Pixel name in the past for consumer hardware products that represented an overall premium Google experience.

Many of you may also be familiar with the Nexus program. Since 2010, they’ve partnered closely with mobile handset partners around the world to bring you the best of Android. Through Nexus, the goal was to work with these various partners to push the boundaries of what’s possible with a smartphone. They’ve now decided to take the next step and provide their take on the best Google experience, by bringing hardware and software design together under one roof.

Introducing Pixel, a new phone by Google. It has the highest rated smartphone camera. Ever. A battery that lasts all day. Unlimited storage for all your photos and videos. And it’s the first phone with the Google Assistant built in.*


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rykmwn0SMWU


We found some specs on the blog released by Google:

Meet your Google Assistant

Pixel is the first phone with the Google Assistant built in. With your Assistant, you can have a natural conversation with Google to find answers or get things done on the go. Say “Ok Google” or touch and hold the Home button and your Assistant is ready to help. Ask it for a brief update on your day or to play a video on YouTube. Look up traffic on the way home from work or when the nearest pharmacy closes. You can even say “show me my camping photos with Andrew” and it’ll instantly display the photos you’re looking for. Your Assistant can also offer help with what’s on-screen in any app. So if your friend texts you to meet up at a new restaurant, you can just say “navigate there”.

The best smartphone camera. Ever.

phone_design-module_design-image_1440_2x
The Pixel camera is not only the best smartphone camera Google has ever made, it’s the highest rated smartphone camera anyone has ever made. Their DxOMark Mobile score of 89 is a great example of what’s possible when great hardware meets great software. Pixel puts cutting-edge computational photography in an ultra-fast and easy-to-use camera.

Pixel has a 12.3MP camera, featuring an f/2.0 aperture and big 1.55 micron pixels to capture lots and lots of light. Google’s team of photography gurus and image processing experts have spent the last year designing and tirelessly optimizing our entire camera stack.

Pixel’s camera lets you take stunning photos in low light, bright light or any light. Catch action shots as they happen with Smartburst, which takes a rapid-fire sequence of shots and automatically selects the best one. Use Lens Blur to achieve shallow depth of field and bokeh effects, making your subject pop. You can capture dramatic landscapes or make faces glow with new exposure controls.

And as a special bonus for Pixel owners, Google is including free unlimited storage for original quality photos and videos at full resolution in Google Photos.

More to love

Pixel ships with the newest Android operating system, Android 7.1 Nougat.

Phones will get software and security updates as soon as they’re available, directly from Google. Google has also made the update process easier. When a new update is available, it can download and install in the background — no more waiting around for your phone to update.

The Pixel also comes with Google Duo and Allo pre-installed so you can video call and text with all your friends, whether they’re on Android or iOS.


tech improvements to boost your business

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 adds beauty

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 adds beauty

Beauty to hold and behold

microsoft (1)The Signature Type Cover is crafted in a stunning, two-tone grey mélange style of Alcantara – a unique, proprietary material, sourced only in Italy, with aesthetic, sensory and technical qualities like nothing you’ve ever experienced.

Fashion-forward technology

Alcantara material ages beautifully, growing richer and darker over time and is wonderfully soft to touch. The Signature Type Cover was crafted from the latest generation of Surface Pro keyboards, which provides the perfect amount of travel in every keystroke, spaced keys for faster typing, and a larger glass trackpad.

Beauty and innovation in every detail

Beauty and innovation in every detail

Sourced in Nera Montoro, near Milan in Italy, Alcantara is a unique and innovative material used in high-end luxury products like fashion, vehicles and interiors – it brings an unparalleled level of design and sophistication to everything.

This Signature Type Cover features a gorgeous two-tone grey mélange that pairs perfectly with your Surface.

Tech specsen-INTL-L-SP4-Signature-Typer-Cover-Alcantara-QC7-00098-mnco

Supported platforms

  • Surface Pro 3
  • Surface Pro 4

Dimensions

  • 11.60 in (295 mm) x 8.54 in (217 mm) x 0.19 in (4.65 mm)

Weight

  • 0.63 lbs (285 grams)en-INTL-L-SP4-Signature-Typer-Cover-Alcantara-QC7-00098-RM1-mnco

Available colours

  • Two-tone mélange

Keys

  • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys
  • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1 – F12)
  • Dedicated buttons for Windows shortcuts, media controls, screen brightness
  • Right-click buttonen-INTL-L-SP4-Signature-Typer-Cover-Alcantara-QC7-00098-RM2-mnco

Interface

  • Magnetic

Sensors

  • Accelerometer

Warranty

  • 1-year limited hardware warranty