The original Ubicell was marketed by Verizon Wireless as the Network Extender released in January and Sprint as the Airave, which was launched last July respectively to assist customers in fringe coverage areas. The devices work by taking a high-speed internet connection and using it to carry voice calls and data access in places with weak coverage.

What is currently not known is the status of the original models and whether Samsung will develop a firmware update to enable EVDO in the original Airave and Network Extender models or if the carriers will offer an exchange program for the new model.

The phone features multimedia functionality such as a media player, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder and flash, microSDHC expansion slot, Bluetooth, Push to X functionality, GPS and speakerphone.

The phone’s bodyshell is also M810F certified against shock, vibration and dust. Neither Sprint nor Motorola have announced the phone as of yet.

If adopted by the 3GPP, One Voice would utilize the IMS (Internet Multimedia Subsystem) network overlay to send voice calls and SMS over LTE networks, with the companies involved in its development believing the proposed solution will allow for the widest range of compatibility for wireless network operators, equipment manufacturers and handset manufacturers while ensuring worldwide roaming over LTE networks.

One Voice is currently competing with other proposed voice over LTE delivery standards such as the aforementioned VoLGA and the 3GPP’s own Circuit Switched Fallback standard (CSFB). The CSFB standard as proposed by the 3GPP would allow LTE devices to revert to GSM or UMTS for incoming/outgoing voice calls as well as SMS.

It should be noted that the Clear service (with Sprint acting as an MVNO leasing capacity from Clearwire) is not yet available for purchase in the above markets, with no immediate word on launch.

Following up, Sony Ericsson has announced the forthcoming US launch of the Aino multimedia handset.

The Aino features quadband GSM/EDGE, triband 850/1900/2100 HSPA support, Remote Play, Media Home, and Media Go support for streaming media from the Playstation 3 console or over a network via DLNA, Wi-Fi radio, 3 inch 432×240 resolution widescreen touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with Auto/touch Focus, photo flash, image stabilization, 16x digital zoom, face detection and BestPic technologies as well as auto-rotation of images along with the Geo-Tag app for geotagging photos and video.

The Aino also includes Stereo Bluetooth headphones, charging dock, an 8GB microSDHC memory card and a USB connector cable in the box. The phone is available directly from SonyStyle for pre-order for $599.99 with no word on launch date at this time.

The firmware update process is detailed in full for the Sprint and Verizon version courtesy of EVDOinfo.

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The service is sold as part of special bundles called Fast Packs, which consist of the following eight plans depending on the selection of Metro 4G service for service within the immediate coverage area or Nationwide 3G/4G service with a branded Franklin U300 dual-mode 3G/4G modem:

Fast Pack with Metro Service:

12Mbps with Metro 4G High-Speed2Go – $49.99 for 1 year, $72.95 thereafter.

16Mbps with Metro 4G High-Speed2Go – $59.99 for 1 year, $82.95 thereafter.

22Mbps with Metro 4G High-Speed2Go – $69.99 for 1 year, $92.95 thereafter.

50Mbps with Metro 4G High-Speed2Go – $106.99 for 1 year, $129.95 thereafter.

Fast Pack with Nationwide High-Speed2Go

12Mbps with Nationwide 3G/4G High-Speed2Go – $69.99 for 1 year, $92.95 thereafter.

16Mbps with Nationwide 3G/4G – $79.99 for 1 year, $102.95 thereafter.

22Mbps with Nationwide 3G/4G – $89.99 for 1 year, $112.95 thereafter.

50Mbps with Nationwide 3G/4G – $126.99 for 1 year, $149.95 thereafter.

Clearwire and Sprint will jointly launch 4G service in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina;  Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas in November.  Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii will be launching in December, previously confirmed by Time Warner last week.

Comcast will also be launching its WiMax service during the same timeframe, meaning that there will be a simultaneous 4G launch between Sprint, Clearwire, and MVNOs Comcast and Time Warner.

Time Warner Cable has confirmed that it will begin resale of Clear’s WiMax service in the Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham markets beginning on December 1st under the Road Runner Mobile brand name soon after Clear’s official launch.  Time Warner representatives further confirmed Road Runner Mobile launches for the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex by the end of the year, with Honolulu and Maui going live early next year.

The following three service plans will be offered under Road Runner Mobile:

• National Elite: Unlimited access to Clear WiMax and Sprint’s 3G EVDO Rev. A network for $79.95 per month to customers who also take the Road Runner Standard or Turbo cable modem service. Time Warner promises further discounts if customers subscribe to the cable provider’s double or triple-play cable service bundle which includes cable internet access and digital phone service.
• Mobile Elite: Unlimited access to mobile WiMax for $49.95 per month and pricing also applies when bundled with the Standard or Turbo cable modem service with an additional bundle discount available.
• Mobile 4G Choice: Caps mobile WiMax use at 2 gigabytes per month and will sell for $39.95 per month if customers add at least one other Time Warner cable service.