We’ve been hearing about 4G, HSPA+, and LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablets for quite sometime now.  It looks like these versions will be released as the second generation BlackBerry PlayBook.  Engadget spotted that LTE and HSPA+ BlackBerry PlayBook has hit the FCC’s approval process, so perhaps we’re not too far from launch.  The new tablet will include 1.5GHz dual core and NFC built in.  Sweet.

Check out more on the FCC approvals here and here.

AT&T is definitely throwing people off here.  The all new BlackBerry Torch 9810 is referred to as the “BlackBerry Torch 4G” at AT&T, but shows H+ on the screen which stands for HSPA+.  The AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also claimed to be “4G,” but is still titled the “BlackBerry Bold 9900” on the box rather than “BlackBerry Bold 4G.”  On the screen it shows 4G as the connection and not H+.  Confusing for some, but based on what AT&T told me which could be total BS, the Bold 9900 is 4G capable with AT&T’s real 4G bump up from HSPA+.

So Sprint wasn’t RIM’s dead end when it came to the BlackBerry PlayBook.  Also, it’s keeping it 4G too, which we’re glad to see that RIM is moving forward with that, rather than getting itself stuck in 3G.  So today they have announced that they are having the BlackBerry 4G PlayBook for LTE and HSPA networks as well.  So now we have four PlayBook models:

• BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi
• BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + WiMax
• BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + LTE
• BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + HSPA+

Also, each tablet will support:

1. Bluetooth tethering
2. Mobile hotspots (ie. a MiFi™, smartphone or other portable device equipped to act as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot)
3. BlackBerry Bridge

Which one will you go for? We got the full press release for you after the jump!

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T-Mobile has been beefing up their mobile data network extensively in the past few months. Since the start of the summer, PocketBerry has reported on T-Mobile’s expansion of HSPA+ coverage before, and if T-Mobile continues at the rate they’re going at, the posts won’t stop anytime soon. T-Mobile have just announced their expansion of HSPA+ (4G) mobile data networks to 55 metropolitan areas, including Boston, Miami, and San Diego.

The provider isn’t done expanding yet, though; T-Mobile’s goal seems clearly to become the nation’s premier 4G provider. To this end, they’ve already developed networks with 21Mbps speed, covering 100 million individuals; by 2010, they expect to cover 200 million, and by 2011, they expect to offer 42 Mbps speed to all of these individuals. T-Mobile is moving forward rapidly, and while other networks are also moving forward with 4G networks, none are doing so with the aggression of purpose of T-Mobile. With 15 devices already HSPA+ activated, watch out for T-Mobile to make waves in the data network wars of the (near) future.

-by Zain Haq

The race between cell phone service providers to deliver the fastest possible data networks has raged for years, and T-Mobile seems to have taken the lead in their 4G coverage. In addition to the more than 85 million individuals now covered by T-Mobile’s 4G network, they have also made HSPA+ network service usable in 50 metropolitan areas. To employ this new network more effectively, T-Mobile has also hinted at a new smartphone that will be HSPA+ enabled.

Hopefully. T-Mobile’s expansion of their 4G network and progressive steps in the HSPA+ realm of mobile devices will push AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and others to develop their own technologies, like 4G and HSPA+, as well. In doing so, the provider wars will continue on, and BlackBerry and other smartphone users will be the beneficiaries. Hopefully, by the time the first 4G BlackBerry is released, all providers will cover as many or more Americans with 4G coverage as T-Mobile does.  Hit the jump for the full press release from T-Mobile.

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