The whole debate on what really consistutes true 4G technology has been argued ad nauseum, so I’m not going to get into that. It gets even worse with the HTC Inspire 4G with AT&T, though. That’s because it doesn’t even make use of AT&T’s so-called 4G network.

Let’s forget for a minute whether AT&T’s HSPA+ network is really 4G… because the HTC Inspire 4G doesn’t even use that. The download speed on the new smartphone is no better than its “3G” equipped counterparts running on the HSDPA network. The upload speed is really slow too, so it’s probably not doing HSUPA either.

So, where does this leave you? Apparently, the HTC Inspire 4G not only doesn’t use “true” 4G network technology; it won’t even latch onto the marketed 4G network. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s incapable of it — maybe it needs a firmware update — but this is sad state of affairs for wireless speed junkies looking for the next high… speed download and upload.

Recent reports from Engadget’s sources state that AT&T has actually disabled HSUPA on the Inspire 4G. Here’s what they have found;

• Contrary to AT&T’s official line — which is flatly that the Inspire’s specs don’t include HSUPA — the hardware most certainly does support it.
• For some reason, HSUPA has been disabled in the current firmware, but could be easily enabled in a future update if HTC and AT&T were to agree to do so. For what it’s worth, we’re not even aware of an HSPA+ chipset that lacks support for HSUPA, so that definitely sounds right.
• We’ve also been told that AT&T’s network may simply have HSUPA disabled in 4G areas. That doesn’t necessarily make sense since other HSUPA-compliant devices on AT&T (like the iPhone 4, to name an obvious example) can regularly hit HSUPA uplink speeds, but we suppose it’s possible that there’s some specific incompatibility between the infrastructure and the chipset used by the Inspire. An eerily-similar incident has happened in the past, after all.

[via BGR / Photo: Android Central]

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Sony Ericsson is expanding their GreenHeart collection of environmentally-friendly phones with a Canadian release of the Cedar. With post-consumer recycled plastics, a low-consumption charger and waterborne paint, the phone is being sold exclusively by Fido in Canada and direct from SE in the UK, aimed at consumers and businesses looking at a low-impact mobile solution.

But it’s not just a novelty phone for hippies. The Cedar boasts EAS push email, fast browsing and Widget Manager 2.0 for quick access to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook via the stand-by screen. With Bluetooth and quick, easy browsing on 3G and HSDPA, you can stay connected – whatever that means to you. You can even use the Cedar as a modem for your laptop.

The only two complaints I would have seem to have simple enough solutions. At 0.6″ it’s a bit thick for the size, but the “human curvature” design now typical to Sony Ericsson handsets ensures it’ll sit comfortably in your hand regardless. It’s not a “smartphone,” but it is smarter, and greener than most.

[SE Cedar, UK Product Page

The post Fido Fetches Sony Ericsson Cedar GreenHeart Phone appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Google Nexus One official for Telus and Bell

Have you been hankering for the coolest Google Android phone on the block but you were assuming that you were not on a compatible network? For my fellow Canadians, Google has some great news.

As you may recall, Google announced a regular HSDPA-compatible version of the Nexus One a short while ago. They said that it would play friendly with Rogers Wireless in Canada and AT&T in the United States, opening up some possibilities. As it turns out, the 3G-ness is good with Telus and Bell too.

I figured that much made sense, because the fundamental 3G technology behind the Telus and Bell networks (not including the CDMA network) is similar to what Rogers had, using the same wireless bands. Either way, it’s good to see Google make it official.

If you happen to be with Wind Mobile, you can get in on the original unlocked Nexus One. That’s because the original version uses 1700MHz AWS for its 3G, much like T-Mobile in the United States and, yes, Wind in Canada.

Google Nexus One officially listed on Google's Website - Photo: Mobile Syrup

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