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Your iPhone will soon work on the moon

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A 4G moon cellular network. It’s really happening.
4G LTE on the Moon isn’t sci-fi. An iPhone could soon be able to make calls from the Lunar surface.
Photo: Alex Powell/Pexels cc

Nokia will build a 4G cellular network on the moon. It’ll allow future astronauts to make voice and video calls, but also transmit data and remotely control equipment.

The goal is to have the wireless network in place on Earth’s largest satellite by 2022. It’s part of NASA’s Artemis program, which has the goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the moon by the end of the decade.

AT&T refuses to remove misleading ‘5GE’ notification from iPhones

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
5G Evolution isn’t 5G, but the 5GE icon isn’t going away.
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

After an arbitration panel on Wednesday called AT&T’s use of the phrase “5G Evolution” in its advertising misleading, the company agreed to stop using it. However, iPhone and Android devices connected to this telecom’s upgraded 4G LTE network will reportedly continue to display a “5GE” icon.

US mobile data still costs way more than it should

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Global average mobile data cost seems reasonable.
Americans pay mobile data costs well above the global average.
Photo: Polina/Pexels

Americans pay far more for 4G service than much of the world, according to a report released Tuesday by a price-comparison firm. The cost for 1 gigabyte of LTE data in the United States costs almost twice the global average. And U.S. 4G service costs more than similar offerings in a whopping 187 other countries.

Verizon again gives customers 15GB of free wireless data to stay connected during lockdown

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Verizon
Verizon offers free wireless data to help its customers be productive from home or keep entertained.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

In May, Verizon Wireless customers get an additional 15GB of mobile data for free for a second month of the COVID-19 crisis.

Many people under stay-at-home orders during the pandemic depend on their iPhone, Android or mobile hotspot to connect to the internet, and hence the world.

Verizon’s new Yahoo Mobile phone service boasts $40 unlimited data

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Yahoo Mobile on iPhone 11
Verizon offers a cheaper unlimited data plan for iPhone via its Yahoo Mobile service.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A phone service Verizon launched today offers iPhone and Androids unlimited data for $39.99, including tethering. That’s significantly less than the cost of this carrier’s regular unlimited plan.

But, of course, there are limitations in the new service, dubbed Yahoo Mobile.

Apple Watch and iPad with LTE head for Xfinity Mobile

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Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch along with several iPad tablets are options for Xfinity Mobile customers.
Photo: Apple

In a better-late-than-never scenario, Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile wireless carrier will soon begin offering two recent iPad models along with last year’s Apple Watch. These are the first non-smartphones available from this company, and all have built-in 4G LTE wireless networking.

Verizon’s new truly unlimited data plan sounds too good to be true

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Visible
This might be the best data deal we've ever seen.
Photo: Verizon

Verizon Wireless is finally offering a truly unlimited talk, text and data plan through the company’s Visible brand. It only costs $40 per month and is powered by Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

Visible revealed full details of the updated plan today. And if you’re already a Visible or Verizon subscriber, you will want to jump on this ASAP.

2019 iPhone will have Intel 4G modems inside

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intel
Intel will supposedly supply a vital component for the iPhone 11.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Details about the 2019 iPhone models are starting to trickle out. Intel CEO seems to have said today that his company will be supplying 4G modems for this device.

Bob Swan’s comment is deliberately oblique, but at least one expert has taken it as an indication that Apple isn’t ready to fully switch to Qualcomm modems in its iPhones.

U.S.’s crappy 4G service costs far more than it should

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Speedtest will show you that 4G LTE service in the US is often quite slow.
Speedtest will show you that 4G LTE service in the US is often quite slow.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Many other countries have much faster 4G service than the United States, according to a new study.  About the only places the US beat were emerging economies.

To add insult to injury, a recent study also found that Americans pay far more for mobile internet access than other developed countries.

AT&T’s bogus ‘5G E’ icon pops up on iPhones

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

iPhone is getting caught up in AT&T’s controversial rebranding of its LTE network as “5G Evolution.” Some developers who installed today’s iOS 12.2 update noticed that their iPhone claims to be connected to a “5G E” network.

All of AT&T’s competitors say that this network is 4G, but that hasn’t stopped the carrier.