Tag: #5G

Nokia and Honor sign 5G patent license agreement

Nokia announced today it has signed a new patent cross-license agreement with Honor covering both parties’ fundamental inventions in 5G and other cellular technologies. The terms of the agreement remain confidential between the parties.

Susanna Martikainen, Chief Licensing Officer Mobile Devices at Nokia said: “We are delighted to have concluded an amicable patent cross-license agreement with Honor, one of the leading players in the Chinese smartphone market. It is the fourth major litigation-free smartphone agreement that Nokia has concluded over the past twelve months and highlights once again the strength of Nokia’s patent portfolio and decades-long contributions to cellular standards and other technologies.”

Wenyu Zhou, Head of Global Intellectual Property at Honor said: “As both 5G SEP holder and implementer, Honor highly respects IP rights and strongly believes that reasonable value of IP is important to the development of mobile industry. The conclusion of the patent cross-license agreement shows Honor’s commitment on innovation to enabling a smart life across all scenarios and all channels, for all people.”

Nokia’s industry-leading patent portfolio is built on more than €140 billion invested in R&D since 2000 and is composed of around 20,000 patent families, including over 6,000 patent families declared essential to 5G. Nokia contributes its inventions to open standards in return for the right to license them on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can license and use these technologies without the need to make their own substantial investments in the standards, fueling innovation and the development of new products and services for consumers.

Tech Review – emporia SMART.6 user-friendly 5G smartphone

The emporia SMART.6 user-friendly 5G smartphone has been a daily driver for a bit now and compared to current smartphones this is a breeze to use without all the cumbersome sub menus you get today which can make it difficult for some especially those coming from dumb phones and feature phones which are a thing again for people detoxing from social media and more.

The emporia SMART.6 though does not look cheap nor feel cheap and it is their best built phone to date with a good weight to it too and at first glance when showing friends etc they asked what in the name of god is this one. So of course I explained what this phone is about and who it is for and let them play around with it and they could see the simplicity in using it without all the fuss and how easy it is to navigate through which was refreshing for them.

They liked the cover display and the 4 key button set up that lights up and I do too which is simply 4 shortcuts to access simple things like calls and camera and torch, you still have your big panel up top displaying other information in big clear numbers and letter just like you will find in the menus on the phone UI.

The camera array on the back is nicely set out too and not a cumbersome block you find on many of today’s phones and you have a heart labelled button there if you press and hold you can instantly call the emergency services which I accidently pressed on testing but can clarify it works.

You also have face unlock and fingerprint sensor on board here and these worked quite well however in darker environments the face unlock is less reliable but this can be the same on many traditional smartphones.

We have a decent camera and video performance too which for the target market of this device they will be happy with you can see the samples in the video review below, I did have to review this device with and older person in mind but did test other apps such as social media and emails as I tend to find now the older population using smart phones but would not use their full capabilities and would have some knowledge of how they work.

Technically, the emporia E6 plays in the same league as the Samsung A series or Apple refurbished. Latest 5G technology, top camera and Camera Pro, NFC, fingerprint sensor, voice input. The emporia E6 is a product that was created in collaboration directly with the target group. In countries such as the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, Italy and France there were workshops in which the participants defined their demands and wishes for the smartphone of the future. The result: “A smartphone as it should be”.

Overall a solid phone that does more than one might think, and a huge upgrade to the emporia smart 4 having tested in two capacities it has worked well with no issues even doing some video editing on the device itself and for my social media it did not hang up shut down or anything like other smartphones have done especially with video editing apps on board, call quality is fine too and overall a simple phone to use without all the convoluted mess you find today on smartphones.

 

Features

  • Popular 5G smartphone, 6.58 inch touch display
  • Contemporary, Android 13
  • Beautiful photos, triple main camera 50+2+TOF megapixels
  • Selfie camera 8 megapixels
  • On and off button with fingerprint sensor
  • Smart cover with 4 buttons

BUY 

Video review

easySim Goes Global with US Dollar and Euro Pricing and Now Offers Verizon to Enable 5G

easySim, the pioneering UK telecoms business based in Portsmouth, is already growing strongly worldwide despite only being launched three months ago. Today it announces major enhancements to its services to complement and support this rapid global growth.

Beating down data roaming costs around the world
easySim provides low-cost travel data for 150 countries worldwide by eSIM, solving the problem of “rip-off roaming”, which can happen when your home mobile network charges extortionate amounts for using data abroad.

This is a worldwide issue, so it is not surprising that the company has seen exceptional growth in the US and European markets as international travel rebounds. Consequently, all data bundles offered on https://www.easysim.global are now priced in US dollars and euros as well as sterling, enabling transparent pricing and allowing more customers to benefit from the savings and convenience of an eSIM from easySim.

Moving to global currencies
As most global eSIM websites are priced in US dollars, users of mobile devices will now be able to transparently compare easySim’s prices for travel data worldwide. easySim welcomes price comparison as its rates are extremely competitive, for a superior product with coverage from multiple Tier One mobile networks, backed up by excellent customer service from a trusted brand. easySim also scores highly on Reviews.io with customers rating it 4.7/5.

Company co-founder Jim Guest said of the move to global currencies:
“Almost immediately after launching easySim it became clear that there is worldwide demand for low-cost travel data delivered via eSIM. We serve a global market of anyone, anywhere, needing mobile connectivity when travelling abroad, so it made perfect sense to offer our data bundles in dollars and euros to enable customers to pay in their home currency. We’re all about saving our customers time and money, so we’re happy to eliminate the extra fees and hassle of currency exchange when they purchase online.”

Joining Verizon to enable 5G in the USA
Additionally, easySim is announcing upgraded connectivity within the USA, as easySim customers can now use the Verizon cellular network at 5G speeds. Unlike some competitors, easySim provides data from multiple networks in most countries, for the widest coverage. For example, easySim’s users have access to AT&T alongside Verizon in the US while no less than 4 networks are offered in destinations such as the UK, Canada, France and Spain.

Investing in global growth
easySim director and co-founder Richard Gwilliam explains how these latest developments will power the global expansion of business:
“We’ve already seen that the cost savings and simplicity of use of our eSIM data bundles appeal to travellers worldwide. We’re delighted to be accepting payments in dollars and euros and enabling 5G in the USA, as these developments show our commitment to serving the global market. We expect these innovations to unlock further growth in major markets and we have more exciting developments in the pipeline.”

Delivering on the easy family promise
easySim is part of the renowned easy family of brands established by Sir Stelios Haji-Iouannou, founder of easyJet. The speed of growth of the company has exceeded even the targets set by Sir Stelios, who is a key investor in the business. Sir Stelios comments on the rapid success of easySim:
“The easy family of brands stands for delivering value, innovation and taking on the big guys. I am proud of easySim.global for delivering these brand values in the mobile data roaming space! Customers around the world are realising how much they can save by using easySim’s data bundles when travelling outside their home country compared to using data roaming from their current provider. Now they can buy online and pay in their own local currency.”

A greener, convenient and secure alternative to SIM cards
eSIM technology eliminates the need for physical SIM cards, leading to significant environmental benefits. By going digital, easySim reduces the waste and carbon emissions associated with the production, distribution and disposal of conventional SIM cards.

It’s also about convenience and security. Travelers can now forget the hassle of juggling multiple SIM cards or worrying about losing them. With eSIM, your travel data plan is securely stored on your phone, ready to use until you activate it at your destination.

Connecting the world
Staying online while travelling is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Whether navigating new cities, staying in touch with loved ones or keeping up with work, easySim ensures you’re always connected. With coverage in 150 countries from the United States to Europe, Asia and beyond, you’ll get great value, secure and reliable connectivity wherever you roam… at speeds of up to 5G.

easySim believes that travel should be about discovery, not about worrying about the cost of data, mobile security or connectivity issues. That’s why easySim makes global communication simple and straightforward, providing great value travel data by eSIM while you enjoy your travels. Whether for work or pleasure, see how much you can save on your next trip at https://www.easysim.global/destinations.

HMD begins manufacturing 5G smartphones in Europe.

Following the recent announcement of its transition to a new multi-brand portfolio strategy, HMD Global, the largest European smartphone manufacturer, today announces another major milestone: HMD have started manufacturing 5G1 smartphones in Europe.  The company’s first device off the line, the Nokia XR21, is now available for purchase by Enterprise customers. This aligns with the overall growth potential for smartphones in Europe, with Canalys forecasting that the European smartphone market will increase by 7% in 2024.

“We are thrilled to be manufacturing the Nokia XR21, our signature rugged 5G smartphone, in Europe. We are dedicated to investing in security, technology and manufacturing processes that make our devices more secure and longer lasting,” said Jean-Francois Baril, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of HMD Global.

‘Our future plans include further investment into software security, with the intention to offer customised software and security features directly to customers.’

Responding to the evolving needs of Enterprise customers, HMD developed capabilities and processes to bring device production to Europe. Every device undergoes rigorous software and malware testing in Europe, with some Enterprise customers requesting additional security in conjunction with a number of IT security partners. Data is stored securely in the EU: With a focus on software security and privacy by design, consumer and corporate data from all smartphones made by HMD has been stored and processed on HMD’s servers in Finland since 2019.

Beyond its security credentials, the XR21 is also built to last and designed with sustainability in mind. With military-grade durability certification3 and IP69K rating, this smartphone is certified to withstand dust, heat, impact, and water. As part of HMD’s on-going commitment to sustainability, the Nokia XR21 is crafted to minimise impact on the environment: The chassis is made from 100% recycled aluminium and its two-day battery life4 supports 60% more charges over its lifetime.

Additional stages in the European production process will help to further reduce emissions.

Pricing and availability

The Nokia XR21 European Edition in Black will be available soon from €649 in the Ireland from nokia.com/phones/en_ie

Nokia launches industrial 5G devices to keep workers safe and connected in industrial environments

Nokia today launched an array of industrial 5G devices to keep enterprise teams and public safety workers safe, connected and informed over private wireless networks in hazardous and industrial environments such as ports, mines, chemical plants and offshore oil platforms. The company is introducing new ruggedized 5G handhelds, a new industrial device consumption model, and enhancements to worker and device related applications.

By adding these new assets to Nokia’s end-to-end platform for industrial digitalization, along with its private wireless and edge applications, the company reinforces its industry leadership with a market leading portfolio and strengthens its commitment to help industrial enterprises navigate their digital transformation journeys, ensuring their operations are more safe, productive and efficient.

The new Nokia Industrial devices are suitable for all types of enterprises and include a ruggedized handheld supporting public safety teams communicating over Band 68. The US-manufactured handheld device has a long lifecycle and is IP 68-rated for operation in remote or harsh environments. Dual-SIM, including flexibility adding eSIM, ensures the most reliable connectivity and simplified management, while an exchangeable battery allows shift workers to share devices in the field. Teams can customize keys to define a dedicated push-to-talk button, while other large buttons and optional accessories, including remote speaker microphones and earpieces enabling push-to-talk, allow workers to communicate clearly and safely without removing safety equipment like helmets and gloves.

Nokia is also expanding the portfolio of ruggedized 5G handhelds with EX-rated phones – all with the same technical platform. The company has partnered with i.safe MOBILE GmbH, world market leader for explosion-proof mobile devices and solutions. Two i.safe MOBILE 5G handhelds are now part of the Nokia end-to-end solution for private wireless infrastructures. They have been rigorously tested and certified* to meet the connectivity demands of sectors such as oil and gas, mining and chemical manufacturers. They can be safely used in hazardous areas (ATEX Zone 1) or further away (ATEX Zone 2) where flammable atmosphere is not likely but could occur for a short time. These handhelds offered by Nokia, support all necessary radio frequency bands, have all required certifications, and can thus be used by companies worldwide.*

Nokia will also offer its managed ruggedized 5G industrial devices deployed over Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) in a subscription-based ‘as-a-Service’ (aaS) model. Application bundles include Nokia Industrial device management, which allows administrators to apply group policies and scale management to their entire device fleet, Nokia Team Comms and Nokia Network Digital Twin. This model allows enterprises to move asset costs from capital to operating expenses and more easily connect workers and manage the fleet of industrial devices in their plants. Moving forward, Nokia will continue to add more types of devices to the managed aaS model.

The updated Nokia Team Comms (NTC) 23 application running on Nokia Mission Critical Industrial Edge (MXIE) now aligns to the 3GPP defined MCS (Mission Critical Services) standard. NTC will address the needs of mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), providing communication capabilities usually only available in more complex and expensive solutions for workers in harsh environments. NTC allows users to stream video or establish voice calls with a group of users or a single user to gain the greatest context about any situation. The new version will allow administrators to configure changes to their device fleet via a newly built web portal. Deployed on MXIE residing on-premises, Nokia Team Comms ensures data remains within the teams that use it. It works without internet connectivity and scales from small number of users to large groups.

Nokia is also extending the capabilities of Nokia Network Digital Twin (NDT) to all Android devices, allowing coverage and performance data for Wi-Fi, private and public cellular networks to be automatically collected in real time and processed on Nokia MXIE. Enterprises in dynamic environments, such as ports, factories or mines, can see how changes in their operations impact network performance and use this insight to inform future network planning and use case decisions.

Martin Haaf, CEO of i.safe MOBILE comments: “Through this partnership, we are pleased to support Nokia with our decades of expertise in explosion-proof mobile devices with our latest 5G developments. The combination of our devices with Nokia’s solutions offers companies a great added value on their digitalization journey.”

Martin Beltrop, Head of Industrial Devices, Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions, said: “At Nokia we are committed to helping enterprises reliably connect workers in the most intuitive ways to keep them safe and productive. By extending our portfolio with the new 5G handheld devices and making Nokia Team Comms 3GPP-aligned, we can serve the growing needs of enterprise workers in industrial and hazardous environments as well as public safety teams. And, by leveraging the new capabilities of Nokia Network Digital Twin, teams will have more information than ever before allowing them to make instant informed decisions to maintain efficiency and network reliability in their dynamically changing environments.”

Nokia 4.9G/LTE and 5G ruggedized user equipment and integrated applications allow enterprises to connect their workers and industrial machines over private wireless networks and benefit from the greatest performance and lowest latency.

* *Devices have received the following certifications: ATEX (Europe), NEC500 (US), IECEx (global), UKEX (UK) and JNIOSH (Japan)

Data Edge 5G Tech Day

Data Edge, the leading Irish network and application performance management company, will host a free seminar on Wednesday, 18th October, in The Address Citywest Hotel, Co. Dublin, to look at the challenges and opportunities that network operators and regulators face when it comes to 5G deployment and testing.

As 5G networks are being widely deployed around the world, the cellular network operators, their subcontractors, and the National Regulator Authorities need to ensure that the networks are functioning well by measuring Radio Frequency (RF) metrics in the field.

Data Edge’s seminar will provide attendees with a full day of education, networking, and live demonstrations. Industry experts will outline how 5G networks are currently being deployed and how best to optimise their performance, providing customers and partners with faster and improved connectivity that can enable a better overall experience.

The event is being co-hosted by Anritsu, a global provider of innovative communications Test and Measurement solutions for more than 125 years. Cyril Noger, Radio Frequency (RF) & Wireless Field Application Engineer, Anritsu EMEA, will present at the event, and be joined by Andrew Cole, an Anritsu Field Application Engineer responsible for the company’s wireline product portfolio.

With more than 26 years’ experience in the Test & Measurement industry, Cyril is an industry expert who has focused on RF and wireless technology, starting with 2G and though every iteration up to 5G.  He will present a number of the day’s talks, including; Ensuring Performance of 5G Network with Accurate Field Measurements, and Performing Indoor and Outdoor Network Coverage Mapping. Andrew Cole, also a veteran of the sector with 40 years’ experience, will speak about efficient testing of today’s wired networks, as well as assisting with the live demonstration.

Leading Irish telecoms analyst, Luke Kehoe, who specialises in the area of 5G, will also deliver a talk at the event on the current state of play of Ireland’s 5G rollout.

Speaking about the event, Paul Phelan, CEO, Data Edge said: “Advances in network speed are the backbone to supporting all the innovation that is happening in the technology industry, and without it the digital economy would not be able to thrive as it has done. This seminar will provide attendees with valuable insights into how best to optimise their networks and to make the most of 5G, navigating the obstacles and making the most of the opportunities that it presents.”

Further information and registration are available here. Places are limited so early booking is strongly recommended.

Nokia announces the G42 5G repairable phone

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announces a brand-new repairable phone, the Nokia G42 5G in So Purple.

The Nokia G42 5G is built with QuickFix repairability so you can replace cracked screens, bent charging ports and old batteries, all by yourself¹. In collaboration with iFixit, the Nokia G42 5G can be repaired with handy step-by-step repair guides and affordable replacement parts.

Coming hot on the heels of the 2023 Colour of the Year – Digital Lavender, predicted by global trend forecasting experts WSGN, the Nokia G42 5G arrives in So Purple and is our first repairable smartphone with 5G connectivity² so you can snap, share, shop, stream in style, all at your own pace. Plus, it’s made with 65% recycled back cover and boxed in FSC®-certified mixed packaging.

It’s safe to say Purple is having a moment this year. Not only does the Nokia G42 5G look great, it’s also a continuation of our repairability journey which is now a fundamental part of the way we design smartphones.
Lars Silberbauer,  CMO of HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones
I’m thrilled to see how our partnership with HMD Global is turning the tide in favor of self-repairs. This is not just about providing parts; it’s about seeding the DIY ethos among consumers and signaling that the era of self-service repairs is truly upon us. Kyle Wiens, CEO, iFixit
So fast

Get answers. Share photos. Browse, shop, work and play – whatever being online means for you, 5G connectivity powered by the Snapdragon® 480 Plus 5G Mobile Platform, gets you where you want to go, fast. Plus, with plenty of memory, loads of storage space and smart background optimisation, you can jump from one app to the other with no problems.

So clear

The 50MP camera works with some of our smartest imaging AI to capture clear shots, even in tougher conditions. Portrait Mode brings your focus point into the limelight while Night Mode helps with quality shots after dark which can all be viewed on the 6.56” HD+ display. And with OZO 3D audio capture, your videos sound as good as they look.

So much battery

With a whopping 3-day battery life³, your Nokia G42 5G battery will keep 80% of its original capacity after 800 full charging cycles – that’s about four years of charges.

So durable and secure

Like all our Nokia phones, the Nokia G42 5G is built to last and has been rigorously tested for durability against everyday knocks. It also stays up to date, with 3 years of monthly security updates and 2 years of OS upgrades⁵.

With Android™ 13, you have more control over what information apps can and can’t access including specific photos, videos and clipboard history. With up to 3 years of monthly security updates⁵, you won’t be worrying about ‘outdated protection’ any time soon.

Tech Review – POCO X5 5G

The POCO X5 5G has been one of my daily drivers for some time now and first off the phone is super light and looks well and several asked about the device as the colour stands out with the colour I had, there is several nice colours to pick from which is a good start unlike others that have the typical Black or Silver but this now seems to be changing with many brands offering more than one or two colours on launch.

The brand might not be familiar here in retail but almost all other tech stores stock POCO devices and in my local town there is several of these shops that have several models from the POCO range and they stand out on the shelf with the prominent packaging and people often ask me about these devices.

The device itself has also variable price ranges depending where you shop so you need to do your home work as there is near a 100 euro difference from my research, see links below for where you can buy and a site I often use myself for buying tech at reduced prices with fast delivery.

I have done a thorough walk-through on the device which you can see below and I am not one to waffle on about specs but we shall talk about I found it over my time using it. Link here

I am a power user with phones and this phone for me served me well it must be said and would last me a day with what I typically use it for and that is everything. To begin with it has a huge screen being a 6.67 inch Amoled display with that buzz word 120Hz refresh rate that so many keep banging on about nobody really notices but at the price point it has it which is good and media consumption is quite good on it with lots of screen estate. The speaker is not too bad being honest either for the most part and loud enough but can sound flat depending on what you listen to and source.

The build is plastic but looks more expensive and the materials used obviously give it the light weight feel it has and in fact sometimes I thought I left it somewhere or on a table when in fact it was in my trousers or jacket pocket but you do get a case and I suggest you use it as that gives it a bit more thickness and of course protects it from getting marked etc  and it is not so bad for collecting fingerprints as other devices but that talk bores me today regarding the fingerprint collection as most devices do it with no case.

The POCO X5 is powered by the Snapdragon 695, now while I am use to more powerful phones I have to take into account my readers are not me, well most of them and for me this phone would serve anyone well with just browsing doing emails social media and shopping and get two days out of it where as for me I have a different set of needs many more apps some of which are a resource hog and overall it still got me though my days with no issues.

The camera for me on this phone was overall mixed to say the least I had this phone out both day and night and it did well for the most part but multiple times I got mixed results for the same photo no matter what mode I tried and in fact sometimes came out as good as higher end phones but this was and the lesser side of the scenario here. I found the front facing camera a better performer the stabilisation on the rear was a bit jankey and in the daytime it did quite well overall compared to using it at night and the slow mo was not great at all. But if you want it for your tiktok and your selfies you will be grand but check the video out and see for yourself and make your own mind up.

Link for images and videos 

 

Overall it would serve anyone well on a budget it has a headphone jack it has a great battery and big bright display and that suits a good proportion of users out there and from what I see even locally there is many people now using POCO phones rather than going for brands in retail outlets and buying your phone sim free is the best option and it is something I have said for years, there is no need to sign up to two year contracts to have the latest and greatest when phones half the price and half the cost over the term of use will do and POCO suits that market very well and the POCO X5 5G can also fit in.

Camera specs –  48MP triple camera f/1.80.64μm1/2.76” sensor size8MP ultra-wide cameraf/2.2FOV 118°2MP macro cameraf/2.4Rear camera video recording1080p 1920×1080 | 30fps720p 1280×720 | 30fpsRear camera video featuresTime-lapseSlow motionShort video13MP front cameraf/2.45Front camera video recording1080p 1920×1080 | 30fps720p 1280×720 | 30fps

Processor – Snapdragon 695 5G Mobile PlatformCPU: Octa-core CPU, up to 2.2GHzGPU: Qualcomm® Adreno 619

Display – 6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplayRefresh rate: Up to 120HzBrightness: 700 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak）Contrast ratio: 4,500,000:1Resolution: 2400 x 1080DCI-P3 wide color gamut395 ppiSunlight displayReading mode 3.0

Battery and charging – 5000mAh (typ)33W fast charging33W in-box chargerUSB-C

BUY on Gomibo.ie

BUY on Xiaomi 

First Look – POCO X5 5G

Poco has some new phones on the market and today we are checking out the Poco X5 5G, POCO make affordable devices and gives people more features for their money which is a good thing and for me personally have seen many now in resellers here in Ireland and priced well and a good few models at that so there is something for any budget from my findings and that is what it is all about and the cost to performance ration has come onto mobile phones now some time. The last POCO device was the X4 Pro 5G s0 it will be interesting to see what has changed since then.

Today we unbox the latest on offer and take a tour of the device so if you have any questions feel free to ask as usual and we will gladly answer any questions you might have and stay tuned for more soon.

The POXO X5 5G comes with the processor Snapdragon 695 which provides an uninterrupted user experience for high speeds and performance, as well as high download speeds. The device offers the perfect combination of RAM and ROM to keep content smooth and enjoyable. Users who “run” many functions at the same time can switch from one application to another thanks to Dynamic RAM Expansion Technology 3.0 which allows more apps to stay active in the background.

Thanks to the battery at 5000mAh you can go from work apps to gaming, listening to content, surfing social media without a problem. No need to worry about low battery when you can watch videos on YouTube for 21 hours. The device charger at 33 can fully charge the device in just 68 minutes , that is, as long as it takes a break to eat before you continue gaming or the latest episode of your favorite series. A fully charged device gives you surfing and social media interaction up to 12 hours

BUY 

Unboxing