Posts by Jethro 15 publicly visible posts • joined 5 Sep 2007
LG . . . what the hell! As Elrond said the SE devices are true bits of engineering, specifically the K800i is rock solid. Although pretty much any SE in vanilla stylee (minus operator bloatwear) are usually damm good. Weather or not the Ericsson - SE chip sourcing shift will change this we'll have to wait and see (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/21/ericsson_st_merge/).
But LG come the fuck on. I can't name many people who know the remotest bit about mobile technology who would use a LG handset and the only people who do have bought an LG for its aesthetics sacrificing actual functionality (every tried sync'ing an LG?). The spec often looks good on paper but take an LG out the box and you'll be sending it back swiftly if you've any sense.
Of course this research is kind of defunct as the majority of handsets will be 'smart phones' in the coming 24 months. So Symbian S60/80, WM 6.5 and 7 when it arrives. Not forgetting Android lots of Android. Mine's the one with a SE in the pocket . . .
@ Bassey: Exactly. How can you define increased losses in such a generic overview, they are insurers surely their job is to look into the complex analysis of this. Make's you wanna cry that people are brazenly going about acting like this.
@ Matthew Glubb: Spot on at the issue at heart here, insurance firms just like everyone else cashing in on scaremongering. Not a new idea but one this society and culture hasn't come to loath as quickly as the powers that be (inc. business) can adapt it.
The key issue here is that UK mobile operators are fighting in a saturated voice market but are being driven to continue acquiring new connections for data.
So everyone and your dog want's to flog you a netbook or USB modem. Meanwhile the 'clever' marketing bod's figure slapping 3.6Mbps or 7.2Mbps on the front of the box will fool people into thinking the service will be similar to a 2MBps or 8MBps ADSL connection.
Marketing people are thick as pig shit, and judging from most people moaning so are most consumers. Wake the hell up and remember the different between b and B. Bit and Byte people. Jesus
So just to confirm for you all: a HSDPA device capable of 7.2Mbps will achieve (in ideal RAN conditions) download speed of about 900kB/s. Similarly a 3.6Mb/s will get around 450kB/s.
. . . but very disappointed this has been swept under the rug, unless the right volume of complaints from public to UK/EC authorities hit at the right time I fear that no action will be taken at all.
As for the EC agreeing that BT's customers would be unable to understand the intent and workings of Phorm's system, it doesn't matter! If it contravenes RIPA or any other statute surely the UK government and the EC have the objective to step in to protect the average citizens interests!
Disgusted at this decision.
Check the pure site and click specs:
"Future upgrade supported for DAB+.
Wireless: 802.11b and 802.11g supported with WEP and WPA/WPA2 encryption.
Output connectors: 3.5mm headphone, 3.5mm stereo out, 3.5mm auxiliary speaker connection."
No mention of ethernet, though it does list mini USB for product upgrades and you would need a 3.5 to RCA cable for hi-fi.
@ Anonymous Coward
Posted Tuesday 27th May 2008 13:31 GMT
"The BlackBerry security architecture for enterprise customers is purposefully designed to exclude the capability for RIM or any third party to read encrypted information under any circumstances"
So how do they process spam!."
BlackBerry's infrastructure for enterprise customers doesn't filter spam. Your getting confused between enterprise and RIM's other offerings. With enterprise the encryption secures traffic from the handset to the customers server not just to the relay (see: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/ataglance/security/bes_diag_large.jpg). The encryption for prosumer (internet customers) works from handset to relay. Beyond this security is specified by the integrated account (POP, IMAP or OWA).
This doesn't mean the RIM relay can't store enterprise encrypted messages it routes for later cracking although as stated you'd need some serious computing power (NSA style) and if these kind of boys are after you I'd probably be inclined to not send e-mail at all for sensitive communication.
Or for the paranoid what's to say the BES software doesn't automatically send a copy of users keys back to the relay so copies of encrypted messages can be decrypted stored and forwarded to your black helicopter agency of choice.
I refer all interested parties to:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/ataglance/security/certifications.jsp
Lee:
4G is a very broad term for pretty much all next gen wireless technologies. Most traditional network providers are using the buzzword LTE (Long Term Evolution) as 3G was more of a rip and refit. LTE will be a gradual increase using more flexible time slot's and lighter protocol stacks (radio end) all coupled with IP core, transmission & signalling. I think most providers are either all IP for these planes or half way there. But if there not I'd be worried.
On another note I think the 2.6GHz UK auction will be very interesting the first real breakdown of the LTE projects from major UK players.
USB modem's are an excellent next generation move from classic PCMCIA or ExpressCard datacard's however:
Ensure any specific locations you require coverage are checked before taking out a contract, providers do not guarantee coverage
Just because the area has coverage does not guarantee service... 3G coverage is susceptible to shrinkage additionally busy hours can result in loss of service or degradation due to congestion. 3G is not an always on technology!
USB devices that control or initiate network connections can be very hard to configure in rare cases, anti-virus or specific hardware issue can be a bugger... these things are not fault free!
3G is fine and so is HSDPA. However try and acquire a HSUPA device to achieve increased upload speeds when released (1.8Mbps HSUPA will be arriving soon on Vodafone UK). Wikipedia or similar has info on HSDPA/HSUPA
Dominic:
Your reported speeds of 4.2Mbps down and 40Kbps up sounds like a 7.2Mbps device. Most 7.2Mbps sites generally peak down speeds about 5Mb and the 40K up will just be 3G as HSDPA only provides downlink. Although I’m not sure if Three are using 3.2Mbps or higher currently so can’t confirm.
I think this is quite a naive view, depending on how this billing system's incorporates into the GSM/UMTS network and how bad the billing system fault is people could add the APN/service again and again but the billing system may push it back off each time.
Not to mention that the tariff and billing admin is generally done by customer service. . . need I say more
This really depends on what kind of RAN deployment the operator is using, I think you'll find GSM Phase 2 and above is rather more secure than you suggest. The IMSI isn't the real bad boy anyway and will be saved from radio transmission for security purposes wherever possible.
But be it MSISDN, IMSI or IMEI as above you can’t prove this link’s someone to any crimes as per Andre Carneiro.
@ Rip-Off
By Rich
"Does it actually cost the operator more to connect to these numbers? I don't think so."
Generally most modern UK mobile operators pay ‘per hop’ to connect across PSTN. Obviously routing will try and terminate out of the mobile network and onto the PSTN at the closest available switch to the B number. So if a PSTN routed number can only be passed onto the network at x point which result’s in more internal routing, or more hops across the PSTN for the mobile operator than a local number would then perhaps justification is there.
@ I already overpay
By John
"But seriously, what's the difference between a geographic number and a non-geographic number for a cellular service operator?"
Mobile service operators don’t have one big pipe into PSTN network’s and the rest of the telecommunication world, so there is lot’s of differences. Especially if the operator pays ‘per hop’ as some call’s could be passed and established onto a geographic number a lot easier than other say none geographic numbers who’s routing defines they must enter via a specific location which is higher cost link (or more hops across the PSTN). Basically both parties are involved in these interconnectivity solutions and agreements and I’m sure cost and profit are a weighty argument when deciding how to deploy; of course how they then decide to price structure for the call after working minimal cost to themselves is a different matter (ref: Gareth Davies).
@ 0845 numbers
By Kev K
As above the owner of the number can essentially decide how it routes and how it’s charged. It just depends on who ‘hosts’ and how they achieve routing really, as long it complies to Ofcom reg’s businesses are free to choose (correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not 100% on this one.)
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