Cell Geek

Novatel has announced they intend to release an patch for the popular Mifi 2200.  Recently it was discovered that settings in the device could be altered in the device via malicious code on a webpage.  The alterations to the settings would allow hackers to lock the owner out and keep them from accessing the router.  Novatel made it very clear that the only private data that could be aquired through this was GPS location information and only when the GPS is turned on, and only while on the website infected with the malicious code.  The exploit comes about due to Novatel intentionally allowing the device to be manipulated using CGI.  This allows developers to create web-based widgets for the device to assist users in modifying options with their unit.  Several of the settings, as a result, are offered openly from Novatel.  The settings that exploit the unit were not published, but are manipulated in the same style as the other settings available for developers.  Either way Novatel stresses that the moment you leave an infected website, the unit is no longer compromised. This hack leaves no Malware behind, and any data transmitted or received from the Mifi is secure.

Scandanavian operator 3 has decided to upgrade their 3G internet service.  Currently 3 is making us of HSPA+ wich has a top data rate of around 28Mbps, but has a wild card up their sleeve.  An evolution of HSPA+  will allow a speed to increase to 42 Mbps by adding multicarrier to the already useful MIMO technology that is already employed currently.  Ericsson has already demonstrated that the technology is capable of hitting 84Mbps, and will be providing the technology to do so.  The three year contract will provide the HSPA Evolution upgrade to the existing 3G network, and an addional WCDMA/HSPA radio network in the 900Mhz frequency. Microwave and optical backhaul is expected to resolve bottle neck issues that will arrise from the new faster data rates as users begin to take advantage of the blazing speed.  Ericsson has mentioned that in time the HSPA Evolution will strech data rates to around 100 Mbps.  3 does not have any plans on providing LTE based services at this time, but instead will follow the HSPA Evolution upgrade path to its limitations before makeing that desicion.

In a bold move to bolster the uptake of their femtocell devices Vodaphone has cut the price of their units rather significantly.  The move will drop the price of their unit from 160GBP ($285 USD)  to 50 GBP ($80 USD).  The company will also allow users to purchase the unit on a monthly basis paying 5GBP ($8 USD) per month.  The move  comes shortly after the release of the iPhone for Vodaphone.  Vodaphone has already acknowledged problems that have been occuring with other networks and data congestion, namely the release of the iPhone with Orange, wich released day one with about 20,000 iPhones hitting the network, and of course here in the US At&t has suffered serious blows to their network reliability.    Vodaphones release yeilded nearly 50,000 iPhones sold on release day, but Voda claims that their network is ready to handle the load.  Vodaphone has been preparing for the launch for nearly a year to make sure their network would not break.  So far so good, but the move with dropping the femtocell price to bolster the uptake is a smart move on the part of Voda, as it will divert much the the iPhone data traffic off of their network, and place it comfortably in the ILEC or cable provider offering the high speed connection that wires to the femtocell. This is like a great security blanket for users and the company themselves to make sure the quality of the network is not greatly impacted.  At&t should take a close look at this model as it may provide significant releaf from the damage the iPhone has done to their network.  Granted this is a very short term fix, but anything for them at this point is a great amount of help.  Deffinately now that their investment rating was dropped by Townhall Investment due to lack of network spending.  The $5 Billion USD estimate to catch At&t's network quality up to that of Verizon is stagering, and this may be a way the company can quickly recover thier position in the market, while they are working on making the necessary transitions.

In a bold move to bolster the uptake of their femtocell devices Vodaphone has cut the price of their units rather significantly.  The move will drop the price of their unit from 160GBP ($285 USD)  to 50 GBP ($80 USD).  The company will also allow users to purchase the unit on a monthly basis paying 5GBP ($8 USD) per month.  The move  comes shortly after the release of the iPhone for Vodaphone.  Vodaphone has already acknowledged problems that have been occuring with other networks and data congestion, namely the release of the iPhone with Orange, wich released day one with about 20,000 iPhones hitting the network, and of course here in the US At&t has suffered serious blows to their network reliability.    Vodaphones release yeilded nearly 50,000 iPhones sold on release day, but Voda claims that their network is ready to handle the load.  Vodaphone has been preparing for the launch for nearly a year to make sure their network would not break.  So far so good, but the move with dropping the femtocell price to bolster the uptake is a smart move on the part of Voda, as it will divert much the the iPhone data traffic off of their network, and place it comfortably in the ILEC or cable provider offering the high speed connection that wires to the femtocell. This is like a great security blanket for users and the company themselves to make sure the quality of the network is not greatly impacted.  At&t should take a close look at this model as it may provide significant releaf from the damage the iPhone has done to their network.  Granted this is a very short term fix, but anything for them at this point is a great amount of help.  Deffinately now that their investment rating was dropped by Townhall Investment due to lack of network spending.  The $5 Billion USD estimate to catch At&t's network quality up to that of Verizon is stagering, and this may be a way the company can quickly recover thier position in the market, while they are working on making the necessary transitions.