03/27, 7:08am
Pebble firmware update fixes showstopping bug
Kickstarter-funded smartwatch Pebble has received an update to fix a showstopping bug. The new 1.9.1 firmware came into being following reports received by Engadget of users finding their timepieces stopped working after shutting down, and is said to fix the issue. Customers with watches on older firmware that do not switch back on can request for a replacement through e-mail or the companion Pebble app.
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11/08, 1:09pm
The phone will cost $100, the hotspot $50, either with a two-year contract
AT&T is not done making new product announcements this week, now revealing the ship date and pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Express that was introduced at the end of September. The MiFi Liberate hotspot announced at about the same time will also come to the carrier, with both arriving on November 16. Either is affordably priced though it requires a two-year commitment to get AT&T's subsidized pricing.
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09/27, 1:05pm
4G hotspot has 2.8-inch color touchscreen
AT&T announced today that it would be the exclusive carrier of the MiFi Liberate, the first mobile hotspot with a touchscreen display. The MiFi Liberate, from Novatel Wireless, will connect to AT&T's 4G LTE network, and it will support up to 10 Wi-Fi devices. AT&T has yet to reveal when the device will become available, but it is currently listed as "coming soon."
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04/30, 7:30pm
New prepaid plan, 4G hotspot due on May 1
Verizon Wireless has added new tiers to its phone and data prepaid offerings starting on May 1. A new $80 smartphone plan includes unlimited talk and text messaging while allotting 1GB of data use per month. At the same time, the carrier will ship the Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4510L with prepaid mobile packages.
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03/28, 2:05pm
Novatel MiFi 4620L for Verizon priced and dated
Verizon ended a two-month wait since CES by pricing and dating one of its second-generation LTE hotspots. The Novatel MiFi 4620L, badged as a Verizon Jetpack, should be in stores April 12 for $50 for those signing up for a two-year data plan of at least $50 a month, albeit after a $50 rebate. The hotspot is its first real hotspot with world 3G and can switch to HSPA on international carriers when outside of the US. Like newer-generation Novatel hotspots, it has its own OLED display to provide basic access to settings and status without turning to another device.
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02/09, 8:55am
Telus becomes 3rd Canadian carrier with LTE
Telus became the third Canadian carrier with an LTE-based 4G network on Thursday. Starting on February 10 in Halifax, the carrier will have the same 75Mbps peak download speeds and 12-25Mbps averages as the existing networks from rivals Bell and Rogers. It plans to kick off the network with the Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE, LG's Optimus LTE smartphone, and Novatel's Ovation MC679 modem; the Galaxy Note with LTE will be available on February 14.
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01/01, 11:55pm
Verizon may drop many phones, hotspots in January
Verizon may be on the edge of replacing a large swath of its device line if a rumor floated on New Year's Day is an indicator. Among other withdrawals, a lone source for The Verge had Verizon stopping shipments of the Motorola Droid 3 in January. The exit would likely be in prep for the delayed Droid 4 launch the following month.
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12/21, 11:05pm
Gannett gets iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for field report
An escaped memo from Gannett newspaper head Bob Dickey has revealed that the company is making a massive investment in Apple technology for its newsroom. The USA Today publisher has bought "thousands" of iPhone 4S and iPad 2 units that reporters and journalists will use to hopefully report more effectively in the field. The iOS hardware will be joined by MiFi hotspots to get iPads online as well as microphones and other accessories to let them record in the field.
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09/02, 9:40am
Wi-LAN starts action against Apple and more
Wi-LAN continued its profiteering campaign on Friday by starting litigation against key computer and phone makers. The Ottawa firm targeted Apple, Alcatel-Lucent, Dell, HP, HTC, Kyocera, Novatel, and Sierra Wireless for all allegedly violating two patents, the first related to CDMA voice and HSPA 3G while the second touched on LTE 4G and Wi-Fi. As in most of its lawsuits, Wi-LAN is claiming damages but is known to be hoping for a settlement instead.
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05/20, 3:50pm
Verizon approves Novatel E362 4G LTE chipset
Novatel Wireless has received the technical go-ahead for its Expedite E362 4G LTE embedded module for Verizon's LTE network. The card has a Qualcomm MDM9600 chipset at its core and is backwards compatible with current global 2G and 3G GSM and CDMA networks.
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05/19, 11:05am
Virgin Mobile adds $20, 500MB data plan
Virgin Mobile USA has added a new service tier to its no-contract Broadband2Go mobile broadband offerings. The $20 plan gives users 500MB of data for use anytime that expires after one month even if not used. This tier splits the $10, 100MB offering and the $50, 'unlimited' access offering that provides 3G speeds up to 2.5GB in a month before throttling speeds.
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05/06, 12:35pm
Comcast now offers Novatel MiFi 4082 hotspot
Comcast on Friday began shipping its version of the Novatel MiFi 4082 mobile hotspot. Like its Sprint sibling, the portable Wi-Fi router shares its WiMAX 4G and EVDO 3G connection with up to five other Wi-Fi devices. Users need to sign up for Comcast's Xfinity Internet 2go plans.
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04/22, 7:50am
ATT MiFi 2372 adds DLNA support
AT&T has pushed out Novatel's recent update to give DLNA media sharing to its version of the MiFi 2372. The update allows sharing movies, music, and videos stored on a microSDHC card slotted into the pocket router. Sharing is independent of the platform and works for any format the card and the network connection are fast enough to handle and will recognize.
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04/18, 9:40am
Verizon quietly starts selling 4G LTE MiFi
Verizon on Monday began selling the second of the two 4G routers it promised at CES. Novatel's MiFi 4510L can share the 5-12Mbps typical connection speeds on the new LTE network with as many as five other devices over 802.11n Wi-Fi. It doesn't have a microSD slot but is also truly multi-platform and uses the browser for setting up.
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04/05, 6:20pm
Sprint Novatel MiFi 4082 now on sale
Sprint on Tuesday began shipping its promised Novatel MiFi 4082 WiMAX router. The pocketable 4G hotspot is on its way now to direct orders and should be at retail shops on April 17. Pricing has been hiked upwards and will see the router cost $80 when attached to at least a $50 data plan.
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03/29, 9:55am
Verizon ships Samsung 4G hotspot and Novatel modem
Verizon today began shipping some of the 4G data-only devices it showed at CES. The Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is its first shipping LTE router and shares its speeds over an 802.11n Wi-Fi connection with as many as five devices, reverting to EVDO 3G if not in one of Verizon's faster areas. It ships on March 31 and will cost $100 with a two-year data contract starting at $50 per month for 5GB, albeit only after a $50 mail-in rebate.
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03/27, 3:00pm
Samsung Presto 4G router hits Verizon March 31
A leak from within Verizon's internal systems has set a launch date for Samsung's 4G LTE hotspot. Known through tips as the Presto, the SCH-LC11 should reach online and retail on March 31. Engadget's copy of the Verizon Equipment Guide didn't have price, although most modems and routers are $100 or less paired up with a data contract.
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03/21, 11:55pm
We try MiFI DLNA media sharing
Novatel confirmed on Monday -- accidentally, as it told us -- that it was adding DLNA sharing to MiFi routers. The company gave us a look at the technology on display at the ShowStoppers mini-event for CTIA and gave us a fairly good first impression. Read ahead a quick look.
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03/21, 12:50pm
DLNA Server integrated with MiFi OS
Novatel Wireless has announced that its MiFi 2372 mobile broadband router has received certification from the DLNA, enabling the device to be used as a portable media server. The DLNA Server feature, which is built into the MiFi OS, allows users to add videos, music, photos or other files onto a microSD card and stream the content to other devices.
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02/10, 3:10pm
LG VL600 modem gets Mac support
Verizon has quietly added Mac support to the second of its two current 4G modems. The LG VL600 now works with any Mac supporting Mac OS X Tiger or later in 32-bit mode. Like the Pantech modem, the USB stick should provide about 5-12Mbps downstream under a real-world network load and up to 5Mbps upstream.
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02/01, 8:00am
Zyxel MWR211 brings handheld 3G routing
Zyxel this morning gave fresh competition to the MiFi with the MWR211. The pocket 3G router is a carrier-independent option and should share most any USB modem over 802.11n Wi-Fi. Compared to its Novatel-made counterpart, however, the maximum number of users is uncapped and limited only the 3G connection.
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01/25, 5:15pm
Verizon plans VL600 update and Mac LTE soon
Verizon in an update on Tuesday afternoon said it would both update its LG VL600 4G modem and give Mac users LTE support. The LG hardware should get an update that improves its performance on the new network. Mac support would come in February, a spokesperson told PhoneScoop, though it wasn't said whether that was for existing devices.
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01/10, 10:30am
Novatel USB551L details back Mac support
Novatel at CES confirmed with us that the USB551L 4G modem it unveiled at CES would be the first LTE modem in the US to work with Macs. Unlike the LG and Pantech modems from the December launch, the new stick will support Mac OS X Tiger or newer along with the usual Windows support. Novatel always tries to support the Mac at the same time, a spokesman said at the ShowStoppers event at the show.
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01/06, 9:05pm
Details and photos of Verizon non-phone LTE items
The 10 LTE-aware devices Verizon launched at CES on Thursday included six non-phone devices, including a pair of firsts. Novatel's MiFi 4510L is its first LTE mobile router and makes a direct upgrade in speed that can reach about 5-12Mbps downstream and 2-5Mbps upstream in regular conditions. Like its ancestors, it can share its connection over Wi-Fi with up to five other devices.
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01/04, 10:05am
Sprint confirms Evo Shift 4G and MiFi 4082 for CES
Sprint confirmed its expected launches for CES today with two new WiMAX devices. The HTC Evo Shift 4G is the carrier's variant on the T-Mobile G2 and shares its 3.7-inch LCD, 800MHz new generation Snapdragon and five-megapixel camera. It switches to Sprint's requisite WiMAX for 4G-level speeds and brings HTC's custom Sense UI on top of Android 2.2.
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12/30, 2:00pm
Novatel MiFi 4082 press image slips
A forum post late Wednesday provided the first look at the finished version of one of Novatel's first 4G routers, the MiFi 4082 for Sprint. The hybrid WiMAX and EVDO router spotted by SprintUsers veteran r0fl shows an at least superficially upscale design with a brushed metal effect and chrome trim. Its design still adopts the familiar pocketable shape but has extra indicators for signal strength and what may be the presence of 4G speed.
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12/20, 6:15pm
Novatel USB551L to give Macs Verizon LTE support
Verizon will have Mac support for its new LTE-based 4G network in the near future as a leak of marketing material has given away its plans on Monday. Novatel is due to launch its own USB stick for the service, the USB551L, which is explicitly listed as "Mac compatible." No mention is made in the Engadget tip of an EVDO fallback, however, suggesting it may lose its connection outside of current 4G coverage areas.
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12/19, 8:35pm
Best Buy bundling free MiFi, Overdrive with iPad
Best Buy has quietly started up a new promo that gives away a free 3G or 4G router with an iPad, store visitors discovered on Sunday. Those who buy any Wi-Fi iPad and start up a two-year data plan can get either a MiFi on AT&T, a Fivespot on Verizon or an Overdrive on Sprint. Terms spotted by 9to5Mac reveal the discounts are due to end January 2.
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12/14, 3:45pm
Novatel MiFi 4082 for Sprint reaches FCC
The previously only hinted at Novatel MiFi 4082 for Sprint has surfaced in an FCC filing posted today. The hotspot both has 4G through Sprint's WiMAX network and for 3G over EVDO. A diagram shows a device that isn't fundamentally different than the existing 3G-only MiFi.
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12/10, 9:45pm
Apple posts job for Verizon iPad System Engineer
Apple today posted a job listing for a Verizon iPad Systems Engineer that confirmed both a deeper connection to Verizon and to enterprise sales. The position is targeted at integrating the iPad with Verizon's business customers and will depend on knowing the tablet's corporate support, such as Exchange syncing and VPN access. The hire would "develop confidence" in using iPads for work and would talk to every level of a company, the listing said.
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12/10, 8:25am
Novatel sues Franklin and ZTE over MiFi patents
Novatel on Friday filed a lawsuit against both Franklin and ZTE for allegedly violating five patents relating to its MiFi routers. The Southern District of California complaint argued that Novatel invented the core concept of a portable 3G router. Both Franklin and ZTE were trying to profit off of Novatel's success by copying the architecture and functionality, according to the company.
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11/18, 3:40pm
Bell launching first 42Mbps 3G with Novatel modem
Bell today had the distinction of being the first carrier in North America to start up a live 42Mbps network using HSPA+ 3G. The Canadian carrier is relying on dual cell sites to get theoretical speeds twice as quick as usual HSPA+ and as much as 11Mbps for uploads. Taking a cue from Sprint's WiMAX, however, the carrier is charging $10 extra on all data plans to get the full 42Mbps speed.
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11/18, 11:35am
Virgin US gives 1GB data for 20 dollars in Walmart
Virgin Mobile USA sparked its mobile data plans today by launching a new plan through Walmart. Those who have either the Novatel MiFi 2200 router or an Ovation MC720 modem can get 1GB of data per month for $20 when paying for access through the retailer. The plan is a direct balance between the lightweight $10 for 100MB deal and the $40 unlimited service.
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11/17, 1:25pm
Novatel MiFi 2372 comes to AT&T
AT&T today became one of the last major US carriers to get a mobile hotspot but countered with a continent first. Its version of the Novatel MiFi 2372 is the first in North America to use the MiFi OS and supports apps and web browser widgets to handle tasks that don't need locally stored software. The pocketable router can reach up to 7.2Mbps on AT&T's network.
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11/03, 10:20am
Novatel MiFi 3352 brings own web-based OS
Novatel today upgraded its MiFi routers with a next-generation model. The MiFi 3352 is the first mobile 3G router to have Novatel's own MiFi OS platform and lets users customize its functionality. A web-based portal lets users both install web widgets viewable from the router but to run native apps that take advantage of the local link, even for tablets.
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10/14, 3:30pm
Verizon explains extra 3G iPad plans
Verizon has quickly filled in details of its iPad + MiFi bundles beyond what was introduced this morning. It added that, beyond the $20 plan for 1GB, there will also be 3GB available for $35 each month and 5GB for $50 per month. Every plan is a steep discount over Verizon's regular plans, which include just 250MB for $35 and 5GB for $60.
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09/30, 6:20pm
Verizon roadmap details Moto tablet, axes Storm3
A more detailed Verizon roadmap has surfaced today that not only provides more color for its tablet and smartphone plans but suggests trouble for RIM. The Motorola Stingray tablet was supposedly verified as real by the Engadget source and should be a 10-inch, Android 3.0 flagship device running on a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 and 16GB of storage. Unusually, it would only ship with 3G but would be "hardware upgradeable to LTE" for 4G, presumably through a card or a USB modem.
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09/21, 7:25pm
Novatel shows smallest dual carrier HSPA+ modem
Novatel Wireless on Tuesday announced it will soon bring out the smallest dual carrier HSPA+ USB modem. It will initially be available at Spain's Telefonica Moviles network before arriving at other carriers around the world. The Ovation MC545 was demonstrated to provide a maximum download speed of 40.5Mbps when running on Ericsson’s DC-HSPA+ network.
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08/24, 7:55am
No contract, unlimited data en route
Confirming an earlier leak, Virgin Mobile has revamped its Broadband2Go data plans and now offers a true $40 unlimited data service. Replacing the earlier four tier arrangement, the simplified two tier pricing structure also includes a $10 option for 100 MB that gives casual users up to 10 days of access when needed. Available for use online from tomorrow, the development is likely to increase competition in the mobile broadband space.
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08/09, 12:35pm
Verizon 2010 to 2011 roadmap leaks out
More details of Verizon's roadmap have surfaced today in a scoop that shows a strong push into Android. The most surprising is a third Motorola Droid model due in November, the Droid Pro. It's implied in the BGR note that the phone would be a superior model to the Droid 2 but would have a larger four-inch screen, an even faster 1.3GHz processor and GSM roaming outside of the US.
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07/06, 4:45pm
SaskTel promises to launch HSPA+ on August 16
Canadian wireless provider SaskTel on Tuesday said it is beginning a technical trial of its HSPA+ 3G data network. Called 3G+, the service will be limited to certain SaskTel employees, and last for six weeks. The idea is to find and resolve any technical issues for a problem-free commercial experience, which is due to go online August 16.
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06/23, 12:05pm
Virgin US MiFi to share connections on cheap
Virgin Mobile USA today became one of the rare North American carriers to offer Novatel's MiFi with prepaid data. Much like its USB modems, Virgin's MiFi will only require data by the bucket rather than a recurring rate; users can get as little as 100MB of data for a short 10-day stint at $10 or as much as 5GB of data for a full month at $60. The MiFi still shares its connection with as many as five devices over Wi-Fi.
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05/05, 2:45pm
Rogers joins Bell in warning of MiFi issues
Rogers today joined Bell in recalling the MiFi 2372. It explained the issue and warned that the lithium-ion battery pack in the router could swell and cut power. The battery cover is reportedly also difficult to remove and could damage the battery or the router if forced open.
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05/04, 12:40pm
Bell Novatel MiFi 3G routers have bad batteries
Bell's recently launched version of Novatel's MiFi 2372 3G router has been recalled after being affected by a problem related to its battery. The Canadian carrier has sent letters to owners of the router asking for their return and notifying them that the routers are shut off as of Monday. The fixes are expected to take six to eight weeks; in the interim, owners will get Novatel U998 USB modems.
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03/31, 9:20am
Rogers next in Canada with MiFi router
Rogers morning became the second major Canadian carrier to pick up the Novatel MiFi 2372. Like its Bell equivalent, the Rogers version can share up to a 7.2Mbps HSPA-based 3G connection and share it over 802.11g Wi-Fi to five other devices nearby. GPS positioning and a microSDHC slot give it geolocation, network-attached storage and self-contained media serving.
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03/24, 12:30pm
MiFi adds DLNA streaming and NovaDrive
Novatel at the CTIA mobile expo has given the MiFi a functional boost by adding media sharing and backup features. The 3G-to-Wi-Fi router can now act as a DLNA server for content on an inserted microSDHC card and will play it to any app or device that recognizes the sharing format, including the PlayStation 3 as well as iPhones and iPods with apps such as PlugPlayer ($5, App Store). It will initially work only with the unlocked version of the MiFi 2372 but should reach other MiFi hotspots in the future.
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03/09, 8:35pm
Verizon hopes to sell MiFi to iPad buyers
Verizon tonight was caught distributing a memo to retail staff encouraging them to sell to iPad customers. The note obtained by Engadget encourages floor workers to promote the idea of using a Wi-Fi only iPad with a Novatel MiFi router. Mixing the two would not only save the $130 premium on an iPad with built-in 3G but would help users get off of AT&T's "overloaded network with limited coverage," according to the memo.
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03/03, 1:25pm
Vrigin Mobile increases Broadband2Go data limits
Virgin Mobile USA on Wednesday set higher data limits for its Broadband2Go prepaid mobile data plans. The pricing schemes remain the same, but users get between 20 and 500 percent more data in all but the entry-level plan. Broadband2Go accesses Virgin's 3G data network and does not require an annual contract, monthly subscription or activation fee.
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02/25, 2:10pm
Novatel has 4G hotspot and deal with Qualcomm
Novatel on Thursday outlined some of the future of its mobile networking technology and centered on one of its first 4G hotspot. It now has a prototype MiFi router that can connect to WiMAX at up to 18Mbps in actual conditions and theoretically as quickly as 30Mbps with 10Mbps uploads. The router would give those on Clear or Sprint 4G the option of sharing the connection with multiple other devices over Wi-Fi.
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01/30, 11:50am
Virgin shares Bell plans and Bold 9700 too
Ahead of an official February 2nd launch, Virgin Mobile's Canadian branch today quietly rolled out its HSPA+ network and its first phones to take advantage of the new service, including iPhones. Features and pricing match those of its parent company Bell and give Virgin users up to 21Mbps downstream on supporting hardware as well as the same 93 percent national coverage thanks to a sharing deal with Telus. Those with at least a 500MB data plan get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks coffee shops.
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