Three UK has made a commitment to provide 4G LTE connectivity at no extra cost to its subscribers when the service launches later this year. However, it only mentions 4G on the 1800MHz spectrum, so what of the frequencies sold in Ofcom’s 4G auction?

Mobile network Three UK has caused a stir by announcing it intends to offer its 4G LTE service at no extra cost to its subscribers later on this year. This goes against EE’s decision to make 4G a premium option, and also indicates Three is prepared to offer an unlimited data allowance for 4G, which is missing from EE’s tariff selection.

Three’s 4G data will automatically be added to its plans without the need for any alterations, or any SIM card change, provided they already own a 4G compatible phone. Three already sells the 4G-ready iPhone 5, Lumia 920 and Xperia Z, and will soon be adding the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2 and BlackBerry Z10 to the list.

Dave Dyson, Three UK’s CEO, is quoted in the official press release as saying the firm, “Thought long and hard,” about how to deal with the issue of pricing, before coming to the decision it, “didn’t want to limit [4G data] to a select few based on a premium price and we’ve decided our customers will get this service as standard.”

Ending EE’s monopoly

Currently, EE has the monopoly on 4G LTE data in the UK, but its high prices and low data allowances haven’t endeared it to customers. While Three’s monthly tariff costs aren’t all that different from EE’s, even its basic packages have unlimited data, making them considerably better value for anyone wanting to take advantage of the faster data connection.

For example, a 16GB iPhone 5 on EE’s cheapest 4G tariff costs £99 and £36 per month with 500MB of data and unlimited calls and texts. On Three, the phone still costs £99, but the monthly price is £34 with unlimited data, 500 minutes and 5,000 SMS. Let’s face it, anyone wanting a 4G connection is more likely to be more interesting in data than calls, making Three not only more attractive, but also worth waiting for – bad news for EE all round, then.

Sadly, Three isn’t going to be switching on its 4G network until the second half of 2013, and there’s also no word on coverage either. EE continues to expand its 4G coverage map, but initially it was only available in a handful of cities. Whether Three will be equally as restricted isn’t known.

What about Ofcom’s auction?

The story may not end there though, as Three points out its 4G service will use the 1800MHz spectrum, which is the same frequency EE uses for its 4G network. What’s more, Three’s 1800MHz spectrum was purchased from EE, after Ofcom forced it to sell some off following the merger of Orange and T-Mobile (to create Everything Everywhere, which has now become known as EE) in 2010.

But why does Three make a point of mentioning the spectrum it’s planning to use for its freebie 4G upgrade in the press release? Could it have something to do with the major 4G auction being held in the UK? Ofcom is selling spectrum in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands to all major UK networks – including Hutchison 3G, which owns Three UK – for the purposes of launching a nationwide 4G network later this year.

We were concerned the 1800MHz freebie 4G would later be joined by a premium option using the improved 800MHz/2.6GHz frequency, so we contacted Three for a response. Unfortunately, an official statement wasn’t provided, however it was indicated Three won’t be distinguishing between different frequencies – so free should mean free, regardless. Without official confirmation though, we’re still a tiny bit skeptical.

That said, Three’s pricing commitment should see EE feel the pressure, and it will surely influence Vodafone and O2’s 4G pricing structure. Who’ll be next to talk 4G pricing in the UK, and will anyone feel the need to drop the price to compete?

Converting your devices is one thing, but when we had Andrew switch to a Microsoft life, he had to go all the way. In this “Life and Tiles of a Windows 8 Convert,” he details what it’s like to live without Google’s services, and it’s no walk in the park.

When I decided to go all in on Windows 8 and Microsoft, I knew what I would be giving up: Gmail, Drive, Maps, and Search. In my head, I was prepared. For every foreseeable problem I had an equally strong, hypothetical solution that would leave me either unaffected or better off. The new and improved Outlook.com had just debuted, and I appreciated the cleaner look and attention-to-detail. As for Google Drive, I figured there was no way SkyDrive – with support for Microsoft Office – could lose against some web apps Google threw together over a weekend (probably). I live in Toronto, a big city for Canada, and so I wasn’t worried about Maps causing issues for me since we are usually indexed pretty well. I had never used Bing before making the switch to Windows 8 and I couldn’t find a single reason why I would want to leave Google for it.

I may be sick of Apple, but I never felt that way about Google. I was and still am happy with its Web services and only decided to give them up because I wanted to try the complete Microsoft experience. So how does Microsoft’s online presence compare to the now ubiquitous Google? Not so good.

Outlook & Skype vs. Gmail & Google Talk

The biggest hurdle by far was ending my relationship with Gmail. After outgrowing my embarrassing Hotmail address, I turned to Gmail and started my first “professional” account using only my first and last name – no 69 or K in place of a C. I applied for my first year of University with that email, landed my first writing job, and learned what it was like to live without an endless stream of spam. Gmail’s role in my life was both sentimental and practical -leaving it behind wasn’t easy.

And it still isn’t easy. Outlook.com is very pretty and it has the important stuff (folders, aliases, forwarding, etc.,) but the layout can feel cramped and confusing. Gmail does a lot better job of integrating advertisements while reserving some white space to reduce that cramped feeling. But there are deeper problems here than just a lack of elegant spacing. Gmail integrates seamlessly with a ton of features that are widely used – especially in my industry – like Google Talk (Chat). Before, when I was logged into my email, Gmail in this case, it was easy to jump in and out of instant messaging with my editor, colleagues, and friends, whomever.

I tried to stay away from Google Talk, begging everyone to adopt Skype as our main means of communication. How did that go? Well, I couldn’t even get my own editor to stick to Skype and he was the one who supported my decision to adopt Windows 8 in the first place! Now, in order to do my job I have to keep Outlook.com open with a Gmail tab right beside it. I know this isn’t really Microsoft’s fault – it’s not like Google is going to open GTalk to its competitors – but that doesn’t change its necessity.

Skydrive vs. Google Drive

I have always been a fan of SkyDrive. Partly because I was grandfathered into 25GB of free storage, but having a Web version of Office didn’t hurt either. I’m a pack rat when it comes to cloud storage so anyone willing to give me a few gigabytes can count on my vote. But the problem with SkyDrive is that, though it works great when using it solo, collaboration can be difficult. Not that SkyDrive can’t handle sharing files between users, but you need other people to share with.

So the bottom line here is similar to the problem with Skype versus Gmail: Nobody wants to use it. When I am paired up with a bunch of people in class that I would prefer not to see off campus, we usually collaborate on a master document. Being a Windows 8 aficionado, I tend to lead with a recommendation of SkyDrive. All that gets me is a few blank stares and maybe a mumbled, “Google Docs is probably easiest.” In the end, we always choose Google over Microsoft because nobody uses Hotmail anymore. Once again, I am stuck living a double life, juggling browser tabs for both Google and Microsoft products.

Bing Maps vs. Google Maps

The Maps battle is a little more straightforward. Nothing beats Google Maps. Bing’s mapping system is nice to look at – really it is – and it handles directions like a champ. However, it hasn’t replaced the benefits of Google Earth and the user reviews generated by Google’s huge fan base. Finding a local business and actually accessing its information is just easier with Google. There are no two ways about it.

Bing Maps has all the building blocks of a great alternative to Google’s offerings, but it’s hard to replace numbers. If all you want is a good looking map to lead you around your city, town, or countryside then Bing can help you out – for everything else, it is Google.

Bing Search vs. Google Search

Like I said before, I had never really tried Bing before I tried to swear off Google and I must say it’s not that bad. I actually prefer the way Bing handles images and the search results are basically identical or at least close enough to not be an issue. Where Bing falters is in the instant results like translations and conversions. It’s weird how much you miss the extras when they’re a few more clicks away.

If this were a standard competition, Google would win in every category. But a larger user base seems like an unfair way to judge. In a perfect world – if I could force people to switch over to Microsoft with me – I would have no problem using the alternatives to Google. They are functional, beautiful, and feature-rich – all attributes I find attractive in a potential web app partner. But as it stands right now, living with Microsoft is pretty lonely.

It doesn’t officially launch until this weekend but Microsoft’s new Surface Pro tablet is already starting to appear at the computer company’s retail stores across the US, giving those interested a chance to put it through its paces.

A few days ahead of its official launch on Saturday, Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet has started to show up at the company’s retail stores, as well as on the Best Buy website.

A report from Cnet said the computer maker’s store in Century City in LA, for example, now had the tablet out on display, with visitors free to give it a workout. 

Meanwhile, Best Buy’s website is now showing both versions of the forthcoming Surface Pro tablet – the 64GB model for $899 and the 128GB model for $999. Both listings are accompanied by a ‘coming soon’ label.

While the less powerful RT version of the Surface launched several months back, the Windows 8 Pro device, powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, will go on sale at branches of Microsoft retail stores, Staples and Best Buy this Saturday following a special midnight launch event at Best Buy in Manhattan’s Union Square the evening before.

Panos Panay, general manager of the Surface team, is expected to be present at the event, together with members of Microsoft’s Windows team.

Reports indicate that sales of the RT have so far fallen below expectations, leaving Microsoft hoping its more powerful Pro offering will have wider appeal. Besides the different operating systems – RT is essentially a stripped-down version of Windows 8 – the Pro tablet has a better display (1920 x 1080 pixels to the RT’s 1366 x 768), better multi-touch support and a more powerful processor. However, compared to the RT model, the Pro version is slightly thicker and heavier and, perhaps of most concern to some potential buyers, has only half the battery life (around 4.5 hours) of the cheaper RT device.

Consumers interested in Microsoft’s tablet may also have been alarmed by news last week that the demands of the tablet’s operating system and native apps mean the 64GB Surface Pro will actually ship with only 23GB of available storage space while the 128GB version will come out of the box with just 83GB.

Fortunately, Surface Pro owners will be able to bump up the amount of available storage using the tablet’s microSDXC card slot. They can also reclaim some of that lost storage space by deleting the recovery partition together with any unused apps.

The company formerly known as RIM aired its first BlackBerry 10 ad during the Super Bowl Sunday night. Did you catch it?

For a moment I was thinking, wow, this new BlackBerry Z10 handset really is something out of the ordinary, it can make flames leap from my body, it can turn my feet into elephant-sized plodders, it can teleport me in a puff of colorful smoke, it can even turn a truck that’s about to mow me down into a million rubber ducks. None of this was mentioned at the launch event last week, only something about Hub and Peek.

But then came the ad’s tagline to bring me crashing back to Earth, banishing any momentary thoughts of dumping my current handset: “In 30 seconds, it’s quicker to show you what it can’t do.”

Well, we knew we wouldn’t be getting a besuited Thorsten Heins sitting at a desk rushing through the spec list of the Z10, one of two new handsets the company needs to succeed if it’s to have any hope of returning to its glory days as a leading player in the smartphone market. Instead, the Canadian company went down the what-on-Earth’s-going-on? route, hoping to dazzle the audience with some wacky visuals and get people talking about the Z10. But what did you make of it? Did it feel like the right way to introduce a new product to millions with just 30 seconds to play with? 

BlackBerry’s chief marketing officer, Frank Boulben, told Cnet the mobile firm wanted to do something that “breaks the conventions of the category – if you do a traditional commercial at the Super Bowl, it will fall flat.”

He added that the slot was “a big wake-up call saying BlackBerry is back.”

The trouble is, in the US, BlackBerry won’t really be back until around the middle of March, when the long-awaited Z10 handset is finally expected to hit stores. Any buzz the Super Bowl ad creates will have long gone by then. Then again, we can expect to see a bunch more ads running between now and next month, hopefully telling us a little more about what the Z10 can do.

If you haven’t had a chance to see BlackBerry’s Super Bowl ad yet, check it out below and let us know – hit or miss?