ZTE has launched a low-cost handset with digital TV functionality in Brazil. The N290 is available from Vivo for BRL399 on pre-pay contracts, or BRL199 post-pay, in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent, says a demonstration of its DSL Phantom Mode technology achieved downlink data speeds of 300Mbps over distances up to 400m, and 100Mbps up to 1km, using a pair of current DSL lines.
Google has launched a beta version of Google Maps Navigation for devices running Android v1.6 and above in the UK and Ireland. Features of the web-based GPS service include the ability to search by voice, check traffic conditions, and access Street View.
VoIP network operator Voxbone says BT, Belgacom, and Verizon have begun routing calls to its iNum numbers, to cash in on growing use of VoIP. The numbers, which were previously the sole preserve of VoIP carriers, use a +883 prefix instead of individual country codes.
US operator AT&T has added Ciena to its list of suppliers of optical and transport equipment, which will be used to expand AT&T's metro and long-haul optical network infrastructure.
The Netherlands has started a mobile spectrum auction, in which five operators will complete for 38 blocks of spectrum on the 2.6GHz band.
Nokia Siemens Networks has started producing an LTE-compatible multi-radio base station for the 800MHz band, to cash in on the release of analog spectrum in European countries switching to digital TV services.
Huawei says it has supplied the largest pre-commercial LTE network in the Middle East to Saudi Telecom Company (STC). Tests of the network using data cards achieved 100Mbps in the downlink, and it is due to go live by end-2010.