webOS to receive mandatory system update to maintain access to cloud services

AppId is over the quota

It's not exactly the best birthday present ever, but today HP announced that webOS devices running version 2.1 and up will receive an automatic update to the App Catalog. The new code is needed to replace security certificate set to expire on July 23 that grants access to webOS cloud services. For the select few running older versions of webOS, fear not, for updating your devices merely requires manual navigation to the App Catalog, then grab and install the "HP App Catalog Update" application. Got it? Good.

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HP Issues mandatory webOS system update

A certificate used on webOS devices is set to expire on July 23, 2013. For the system to be able to use cloud services such as Backup/Restore and Application Catalog the certificate needs to be updated.

Beginning June 6th an automatic update to the Application Catalog will replace the certificate. That means that anyone running Web OS "2.1" or greater will have the certificate installed automatically when the catalog is run.

For anyone who is running webOS versions older than "2.1", or wants to manually install, they will need to go to the App Catalog and select the app called "HP App Catalog Update", download and install it on their system.

After the expiration of the certificate on July 23, 2013 the user will need to set the system time back to a date prior to July 23, 2013 and follow the same procedure outlined above to update the certificate.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

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Using Stimulus Funds for Broadband Access

Rural high speed internet service is still a dream for many people living in the United States. In fact, a recent U.S. Commerce Department report showed that while 65.9% of urban households have broadband internet service, only 51% of rural households have that same service. There are many reasons for the difference in numbers including availability, cost, homes that are too far away from each other, topographical, and lack of capital. However, the federal stimulus is working to bring rural high speed internet service to every state.

For example, in Kansas $100 million in federal funds are being used to extend broadband to rural areas. Officials say that it is imperative to bring rural high speed internet service to the small farmers so they can compete with the larger operators. For the little guy, it is important to have access to markets and equipment at a lower price that may be found online.

Colorado is also looking to spend $100 in money to lay fiber optic lines to rural residents. The mountains and vast prairie make it difficult for companies to find it cost efficient to lay lines without additional help from the government.

In Texas, 96% of households already have broadband, but $8 million in federal funds will be used to connect the remaining 4% to the grid. These funds will go toward a five year push to bring service to some 300,000 residents who currently cannot get broadband.

However, once the wires and cables are laid, that won't be the end of the battle to get people connected to the internet. The next step will be actually convincing customers that the internet can bring new information and meaning into their lives. Some of the toughest sells include those older residents who feel as though the internet doesn't have a place in their lives. For some people who have lived their whole lives without internet service, this can be a hard battle to win so some states are sending out special teams of people in order to show rural residents how their lives can be enriched once they get online. One other battle will be to help bring costs down. Many rural residents can't afford the costs of high speed service and the price will have to be reasonable in order to get more people to sign up.

Stimulus funds are also meant to help companies that can't afford to run the lines on their own. In some parts of Vermont, for example, companies still have to use draught horses in order to haul poles and cables into places that trucks can't get to. Because of the mountains and the various nooks and crannies, it can cost so much to run the cable that companies would have to charge more than residents are willing to pay each month for service. As a result, the federal funds are a much needed boost in order to help get the cables where they need to go and connect more of the country to the internet.

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Here Is Why You Should Consider T-Mobile Smartphone Use for Your Internet Access

T-Mobile is one of the largest wireless carriers in the United States, the fourth largest with nearly 34 million customers as of 2010. The company has won four J.D. Power Awards, awards that gives praise and acknowledgements to T-Mobile's commitment to its customers and quality service. T-Mobile was recognized, with these awards, for its customer care, overall customer satisfaction as well as call quality.

T-Mobile is known for its "Even More" plans that are available for both individual and family users alike. What's more, T-Mobile has captured a segment of the market not catered to by virtually any other major wireless carrier: those who want discounted rates. In fact, T-Mobile is one of the only wireless carriers to offer prepaid cell phone plans at an affordable rate. For example, one of T-Mobile's newer prepaid plans costs just $30 per month and gives you a combination of 1500 talk plus text minutes, in addition to a small amount of data usage.

Of course, T-Mobile also offers its share of smartphones if you're interested in connecting to the Internet. For their Smartphone plans, however, a 2-year contract is usually required and, like most other wireless carriers, you must purchase a data plan.

T-Mobile Plans for Smartphones

T-Mobile Smartphone Internet plans are simplified, though, because you can simply choose from one of the company's Even More plans that bundle voice minutes, text messaging as well as data usage. T-Mobile is known for offering valuable, one-time specials that allow you to lock-in a rate for a limited time when you're purchasing a plan. For example, T-Mobile's special offer in April 2011 allows you to get unlimited text, talk and data usage for only $79 per month. In contrast, this is the regular monthly price for the company's unlimited talk and text with 200 Megabytes of data plan.

If you don't need quite so much talk time and think you'll use T-Mobile's text messaging and Internet services more, you can also get an Even More that gives you either 500 or 1000 minutes along with text and web services. For example, you can get 500 minutes of talk time, unlimited text messages and 200 Megabytes of data for $60 per month.

You can also sign up for T-Mobile's Internet plans with your Smartphone apart from talk and text plans. If you don't need as much talk and text time, then the company's web plans can give you data access when you need it. T-Mobile's 4G Smartphones require data plans that are as low as $10 per month, which allows 200 Megabytes of data usage monthly. The other plan for 4G Smartphones that T-Mobile has is one that gives you an unlimited amount of web and data access for just an extra $30 per month in addition to your voice or text message plan.

3G and 4G Smartphones

Like other major wireless carriers in the United States, T-Mobile provides a plethora of options with the latest phones and Smartphones if you're interested in using data and surfing the web. T-Mobile operates both a 3G and 4G network across the country, and which phone you choose depends on whether you want access to the latest network technology. In simple terms, 4G networks provide faster downloading speeds and are overall more reliable than 3G technology, but 4G networks are not available in all markets, as of spring 2011.

When you're looking for the right Smartphone to buy, T-Mobile has a full line of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capable, Google Android and Windows-powered phones. For example, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G phone is designed to be a mobile video chat phone that contains a built-in high-definition camcorder and 5 Megapixel camera, Wi-Fi functionality that lets you make calls over Wi-Fi, as well as native support for GPS. The T-Mobile myTouch 4g Smartphone operates on the Android operating system and the phone comes in either black, white, red or plum. Other 4G Android phones include the T-Mobile G2X, the G2, and the Samsung Galaxy.

There are also numerous 3G Smartphones available on the T-Mobile network. The T-Mobile Comet, a web-only exclusive deal through the company's website, is an affordable Smartphone that's typically free with a 2-year contract. The Comet is yet another Android-platform Smartphone that provides easy access to all of Google's services, such as Google Search, Maps and Gmail. The phone is also Wi-Fi capable, like many other of T-Mobile's 3G phones. Other Smartphones in this category include the LG Optimus T with Google, the Motorola Charm with MotoBlur, the Nokia Nuron and the Motorola Cliq.

New Devices on the T-Mobile Network

T-Mobile also has other devices made for Internet use that are in the Smartphone category, but have much more to offer. For example, the Nokia Astound is one of T-Mobile's latest touch-screen Smartphones that's one of the slimmest around. The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a smartphone built with the latest BlackBerry 6 and offers a unique Web-surfing experience. It contains built-in WiFi, has support for GPS like all BlackBerry handhelds, and contains a suite of multimedia features. Yet another interesting product, the Deal Streak 7, is essentially a tablet PC that offers a 7-inch multi-touch screen and full-Flash support for Internet applications. The Dell Streak 7 also contains a built-in e-reader app that lets you read books for the Amazon Kindle platform.

T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless

Whether you've have been a long-time customer of T-Mobile or have just found a plan that you love, the telecommunications marketplace is about to change. In March 2011, AT&T announced a deal with the company to purchase T-Mobile for nearly $39 billion. This acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T is not set to finalize until sometime in 2012, and the meaning for current T-Mobile customers is unclear. However, this deal could mean greater and more widespread network access for T-Mobile customers. In other words, you'll be able to connect your T-Mobile Smartphone to more towers across the country than before, which is a positive for consumers.

All in all, T-Mobile offers excellent Internet and web2go plans for Smartphone users and is one of the top companies competing in the cellular network marketplace. From the availability of its 4G network across the country to the many Smartphones available for use on its network, many customers in the United States are raving fans and loyal to T-Mobile.

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Save Money Using Smartphone Internet Access With WiFi

Technology companies continually improve the technology being used to produce Smartphones, so much so that you can literally use your Smartphone -- depending on the model -- as your personal digital assistant, GPS navigational device and email-checker, among many other things. It can essentially become a replacement for other electronic organizers and even pocket calendars you might carry around.

Smartphones have, indeed, become increasingly popular across many of today's generations. Since 2005, the number of Smartphone users has increased exponentially. In fact, the November 2009 AdMob Mobile Metrics report found that the top devices used for WiFi were the HTC Dream, Motorola Droid, as well as the iPod Touch, which is essentially in the Smartphone family of devices.

WiFi Technology

One of the most useful aspects of newer Smartphones is that they come built with WiFi integrated into the phone. This means that, just like your laptop or netbook, you can access WiFi networks at virtually any wireless hotspot or on any network as you're traveling and out and about. Unfortunately, there's also a downside if you want to use the WiFi built into your Smartphone. Most wireless carriers require you to purchase a monthly data package that carries a sticker price of anywhere from $30 to $50 or more per month. The most expensive of data plans give you unlimited web usage and typically cost $50 and upwards.

Paying for WiFi on Smartphones

Though Smartphones constitute much of the WiFi activity going on in the United States today, there are two sides to the issue of paying for WiFi on your Smartphone and not paying for this service. The WiFi technology built into many of today's Smartphones give it the ability to connect to wireless networks anywhere, just as you can do so with your laptop or netbook. The difference, however, is that a small version of an operating system -- Windows and Android happen to be the most popular -- runs on the cell phone and acts as the gatekeeper to the Internet. Only after you pay the required monthly fee to the wireless carrier are you able to use both the mobile web and WiFi service on your phone.

Many individuals would rather prefer only using WiFi networks to surf the Internet rather than paying for access to the wireless carrier's 3G or 4G cellular network. In addition to paying for access to the 3G or 4G network, you also get to use the phone's WiFi. The fact that wireless carriers make you pay to access the WiFi on your phone is because customers could, theoretically, use a WiFi network for making phone calls instead of paying the wireless carrier. This is possible because of various apps that can be downloaded to your Smartphone, such as VoIP applications and programs like Skype. To thwart this loss of income, wireless carriers typically block or disable the Smartphone's WiFi functionality until you pay for a data plan for the Internet.

Though wireless carriers actually require you to pay for a data plan in order to have a Smartphone, many technology-savvy users have found various ways to get around this. For example, many BlackBerry smartphones, such as the BlackBerry 8820, can use WiFi without a data package if you take a few steps to first delete the username and password specified in the TCP section, select "WiFi Browser" as your default Internet browser and select "Turn On WiFi Connection" in the "Manage Connections" section.

You can perform similar steps on many other Smartphones branded to AT&T and even T-Mobile. However, in most cases you must find a way to actually disable the data service on your phone before you use the WiFi so that you're not accidentally charged or billed for using WiFi services. This can be done by installing third-party apps like APNDroid for Android-branded phones or by actually calling up the wireless provider to get this done.

Smartphone Data Plan Options

Nevertheless, chances are that if you're interested in a Smartphone than you'll be looking into paying for a data plan simply because it's the easiest way to access the Internet without going around the wireless carrier. You can find data plans for your Smartphone from virtually every major carrier on the market, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile.

The data plan you choose to access the Internet on your Smartphone largely depends on the type of web surfer you are and how much data you're going to be using and downloading. Most carriers have tiered pricing structures that increase the more data you use. For example, AT&T's basic Smartphone plans start at $15 per month, but this is recommended for casual users who may not use their Smartphone Internet access every day. This basic plan only allows for 200 Megabytes of data usage. Two other plans allow for 2 Gigabytes and 4 Gigabytes of data usage at a price of $25 and $45, respectively.

With all of AT&T's Smartphone data plans, you can use the WiFi at any of AT&T's hotspots as well as on your own WiFi network at home. Of course, a voice plan is required as well for all Smartphones.

Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile have similar plans as AT&T. If you want to use the WiFi on your Smartphone at home to make most of your calls over your WiFi network with VoIP apps and programs like Google Voice or even Skype, what you can do is pay for the lowest-cost data plan as well as the lowest cost voice plan. The total for this ends up being around $60 per month no matter which wireless carrier you choose.

All in all, accessing the Internet over WiFi with your Smartphone is perhaps one of the smartest things you can do if you want a cheap way to make and receive calls as well as browse the Internet. Though paying for the required data plan and voice plan with any wireless carrier can be pricey, you might be able to buy a Smartphone and then use the WiFi over your own home network, all without even contacting the carrier to sign up.

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WiMax or Wi-Fi: Making the Decision on Mobile Access

When it comes to staying connected, the world wide web can now be accessed from multiple devices. However, the convenience of being able to poke around on a phone screen is just not the same as being able to send an email or access data from a regular computer, which is simply better designed to make it possible to manage functions on the net. And with so many people taking their online time away from a set location and simply connecting on the fly, it makes a whole lot of sense that it would be convenient to tote around a computer, rather than be beholden to a tinier device.

The trouble is that too many people assume that wireless internet comes in a single form: the world of traditional router-based Wi-Fi. It's true that this was a major development in the world of getting online. For one, it made it possible a few years ago to move away from the desk, long before cell phones provided data and the world was a series of tweets and check-ins at various venues across cities and countries alike. But these days, the idea of having to find a spot near a router for signal purposes just doesn't seem like a pleasant way of being able to access information or pull off important work. After all, it makes a lot more sense, and is a lot more convenient, to not plan one's time online around a spot that provides that kind of steady signal. And for anyone who has ever tried to find space at a popular wireless internet hot spot or actually counted on a hotel for a solid signal, the obvious frustration that comes with not having the technology live up to its expectations is something to take into account.

Fortunately, there are better options out there these days, and the best of the pack is WiMax. Those who are serious about being able to get online from anywhere without the help of a tiny phone will find it superior to Wi-Fi in that connecting does not require the memory of an intricate string of passwords for various networks; it simply requires flipping open a computer screen. There is instant access, and that is a far nicer way to get online than the frustrating pitfalls of having to deal with all of the hassle that comes along with accessing a variety of different networks. Plus, anyone who spends a lot of time hopping between different parts of a city, or even different cities, will no longer have to stress out about how it will be feasible to stay online. Instead, it's all about being able to connect via a series of towers to a nationwide network, and WiMax having that network in place is one of its major selling points, as it really does make all types of work considerably easier.

So anyone who is making that final call about whether or not to stick with old-world Wi-Fi or make that leap to the next generation, think about the convenience factor: what is the best possible way to stay connected, one that requires constant changes and environmental factors, or something that is seamless at transitioning from location to location?

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