We normally associate AWS spectrum with T-Mobile's 3G efforts, but let's not forget that it also plays a big role in recent buildouts of the CDMA regionals; MetroPCS and Leap Wireless' Cricket brand both use 1700MHz bandwidth in a number of markets, and you'll find plenty of AWS support across their lineups to prove it. An interesting new QWERTY slider from ZTE bearing triband CDMA support (AWS included) just passed FCC testing, and if we had to guess, MetroPCS is the likely candidate to get it; the companies have been in bed for quite some time now, and it's no secret that they're collaborating on LTE gear going forward. It's not the best looking phone we've ever seen -- nor the best looking QWERTY slider -- but hey, we'll bet it's cheaper than the $249 Motorola Hint, especially since it steps down from a 2 megapixel cam to 1.3. No word on when we might see an announcement.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Yeah, it may be a dead ringer for the original HTC Touch, but the ZTE-sourced Orange Vegas / T-Mobile Vairy Touch has at least one thing going for it: it's dirt cheap. Mobil.vz's quick take of the full touchscreen handset points out that it runs just 1,500 koruny (about $75) and slaps a totally original user interface on a totally familiar body. Touchscreen accuracy is apparently quite good, though it takes quite a bit of pressure to activate -- an all-too-common problem with low-end resistive displays -- and the stylus sucks, but the browser's surprisingly good and the whole package is tiny and light. The reviewer ends up seeming almost bummed that the phone isn't offered by any Czech carriers, so we suppose it could be a decent choice for what it is -- just don't expect to see a WinMo startup screen when you flip the switch.

It's still pretty wild to think that scrappy lil' MetroPCS -- a carrier known better for ultra-cheap phones, regional coverage, and no contracts than it is for high-speed data -- intends to roll out its first LTE markets in the same year as Verizon, but hey, we definitely like their moxie. Of course, live LTE networks require LTE hardware, and it turns out that the company is hooking up with ZTE to make that happen. MetroPCS already enjoys a healthy relationship with the Chinese manufacturer, but the LTE tie-up should serve to strengthen the bond -- not to mention the fact that they're looking to move upmarket by introducing a smartphone with "a large screen and an HTML-compatible browser" according to Forbes. Sure, on paper, you might say that you'd rather have an HTC device, a Pre, or an iPhone -- but how's your willpower going to be treating you when MetroPCS is offering 50Mbps tethering?

ZTE is mirroring fellow Chinese manufacturer Huawei's surprising success in the face a crappy economy, posting an impressive 35 percent growth in revenue for the last quarter over the same period a year prior -- and profit wasn't far behind at 29 percent growth. Much of that success can be credited to major wins in the company's 3G infrastructure business, but that may not be the most interesting story to come out of the quarterly report; instead, we're curious to find out more about a new business unit ZTE's throwing together to cater specifically to the needs of "high-end" markets like the US and Europe. Historically, ZTE's bread and butter has been in the low end, but this could mean that the company's looking to move beyond its dwellings on the basic side of regional carriers' lineups -- and seeing how competition is always good, we say bring it on.

21Mbps down seems a bit sluggish compared to Ericsson's 56Mbps HSPA+ demonstration, but it's still pretty speedy compared to what's offered in most corners of the globe. As of this week, CSL Limited customers in Hong Kong have access to the same Next G network that Aussies have been enjoying for months on end through Telstra. The launch marks the world's first SDR-based HSPA+ All IP network in Hong Kong, and if you're looking for new devices to take advantage, the operator's currently offering the HP Mini 1110TU (Mobile Broadband Edition), as well as the Express 21 USB modem. Oh, and we totally can't close this post without quoting the new service's motto: "Next G: Time is the Enemy, Fight Back."

There are already cheap phones in the world, yes -- but very few can claim to run under $14, and even fewer can claim to be made in Venezuela. In fact, the C366 "El Vergatario" -- introduced by none other than Hugo Chavez himself -- will be the very first phone ever produced on Venezuelan soil, a partnership between the government and minority outside investors including Chinese manufacturer ZTE. It'll cost 30,000 bolivar when it goes on sale, and plans are already in place to offer it throughout Latin America and the Caribbean (to anyone not expecting fanciness like cameras or media players, anyhow).

We've known for some time that Verizon is fixated on dominating the global roaming market in the US -- or, at the very least, catching up to AT&T -- and to do that, they're going to need hardware capable of taking advantage of the very best speeds that those wild and majestic foreign lands have to offer. In other words, no EV-DO-only modem is going to cut it, and an EV-DO modem with a sprinkling of EDGE on the side is a consolation prize that's going to get frequent world travelers irked after a little while. To that end, we just witnessed this brick of a USB modem pass through the FCC bearing Verizon branding, the A3700 from ZTE. Name a frequency or wireless technology, the A3700 probably has it; in addition to EV-DO, it's got GSM / EDGE and HSPA, so your bases are pretty well covered wherever you happen to be (hell, it even has North America-friendly HSPA 850 / 1900 in there, though Verizon wouldn't dream of letting you stray from its own airwaves when you're stateside). Enticing, yes -- but considering that this is one of the ugliest modems we've seen in recent memory, you'd better really need that roaming capability when it gets around to launching.

It seems like just yesterday that Big Red was firing up its EV-DO Rev. A network in America, and already we're seeing signs of life with Rev. B. In all honesty, though, we've known about the next iteration of EV-DO (and the next-next, for that matter) for years now, but said Chinese carrier has just completed what it calls the world's first EV-DO Rev. B VoIP call on its CDMA2000 system. In other words, this is the first time a CDMA carrier has achieved a 9.3Mbps download rate and 5.4Mbps upload rate. The lovely part of this is that ZTE can upgrade from Rev. A to Rev. B without any additional hardware, thus paving the way for a quick commercialization in Q3 2009. Huzzah!

None of these look particularly easy to use, but ZTE showed off some wild concept devices at Mobile World Congress this year. There were a couple of wristwatches in the mix that unbuckled to become USB modems, but our favorite has to be the "Xer," a handheld "inspired by family theater." It's not clear how you'd hold it effectively if you wanted to type on the QWERTY keyboard, but we suppose that's what makes it a concept instead of a production device. Also shown was the "Pure," featuring a "globoid keypad design" that looks only marginally more usable than the Xer -- or, as ZTE puts it, a "novel key-pressing experience." Click on for the full gallery.

It may not have the glam or the flash of the Samsung Blue Earth, but ZTE's Coral-200-Solar takes solar power to a side of the market that needs it far, far more urgently -- the side without power outlets. The Chinese manufacturer is teaming up with Jamaica's Digicel Group to roll out one of the world's first mass-market solar cellphones to folks with "limited or no access to the power grid," which represents some 2 billion people around the globe. The phone gets its juice via an integrated solar charger -- that is, there's still a battery lurking in there, you just don't need an outlet to charge it -- and should be available by June of this year. Pretty amazing world we live in where people have mobiles before they have power, isn't it?

ZTE's quite an ODM powerhouse these days, taking boatloads of low- and midrange contracts for carriers -- especially when having a brand-name manufacturer's badge appear on the device isn't a priority. To that end. the Chinese company has announced that it'll be "unveiling" some ten smartphones at MWC next week, though it appears most of the devices have already launched somewhere in the world (like China Mobile's U981) -- and others, like the pictured VF 1231 for Vodafone, have already been well-leaked courtesy of our friends at the FCC. The goods run the full range from CDMA and GSM all the way up to HSUPA, so clearly, ZTE's aspirations may not rest merely in the low-end; look out, Nokia.

Just as we'd heard, the oh-so-tough duo that is the completely unrelated ZTE Rock F165 (right) and Samsung Rugby A836 (left) are now available through Rogers Wireless. As for pricing, you'll be asked to part with $79.99 / $149.99 on contract for each in order of mention, though it seems the former is already on backorder. Guess that unbridled sex appeal just won Canucks over by the thousands, huh?

[Via MobileInCanada]

Read - ZTE Rock
Read - Samsung Rugby

Yeah, "cute" works for awhile, but eventually you've got to man up and prove that you're rough, tough and ready to withstand the elements. To that end, Boy Genius Report has it that the Samsung Rugby A836 and ZTE Rock F165 -- both handsets of the rugged variety -- are about to land on Rogers Wireless in Canada. The former will support 3G data and include a 1.3 megapixel camera and an enclosure strong enough to ward off impending rain drops, dust, short drops and humidity. The latter spices things up with HSPA support, video calling compatibility, a 2 megapixel camera, 128MB of onboard storage, a microSD card slot and a respectable amount of armor for the tumultuous days ahead. As for pricing, we're hearing $149.99 for the Rugby and $79.99 for the Rock, both on staggeringly long three year contracts.

[Via UnwiredView]

LTE just got officially legitimized under a month ago, and already Nordic-based TeliaSonera is lining up contracts in an effort to showcase its forward-thinking nature to the world. Both Huawei and Ericsson have been chosen to provide 4G LTE equipment for high-speed networks in Stockholm and Oslo, with SE proclaiming that the Swedish network will be ready for commercial launch in 2010. It's expected that the first devices to tap into these newfangled waves will be of the USB / external variety, with 4G handsets following six to twelve months later. Did our 3G just get slower, or are our brains already messing with us?

[Via Network World, image courtesy of BusinessWeek]

Read - Huawei deal
Read - Ericsson deal

Following a springtime announcement, the unabashedly purple C78 candybar from ZTE is now shipping on MetroPCS -- the Chinese manufacturer's third on MetroPCS this year, and still among the first official ZTE launches in North America. It's not going to wow any power users, but then again, power users don't really belong on MetroPCS to start; instead, you'll find 60MB of onboard storage, a 2-inch display, a VGA cam, and tri-band CDMA in a package that runs just $129 with no contract. And hey, if you buy in, we'll bet you a dollar you're the only kid on the block with a purple phone (excluding that jerk with the Colorwared Curve, of course).

Update: Turns out that ZTE didn't have any good reason to issue this "formal announcement" -- the C78's been available in all MetroPCS markets for several weeks now. Thanks, youngcalihottie and Rich!