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  • Embedded device vendors focus on laptops

    Carriers may envision all types of devices and appliances being embedded with wireless connectivity but vendors don't necessary share that view. Mobile carriers might drool at the prospect of linking their subscribers to their networks by embedding technology into every device from a cell phone to a refrigerator, but the vendors that build the devices see things a little differently. Not every device needs embedded wide area network connectivity or even mobility: WiFi might just do the trick for a lot of non-commercial devices--at least for the start. "I don't think we're going to be looking at this so much in the consumer space...maybe your car (with GSM) but I'm not sure your home appliances," said Kyp Walls, director of product management at Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. Panasonic laptops connect to the mobile network. This field has been plowed already by PC cards and USB dongles but new software flexibility makes it possible to plant the software into the devices themselves for enterprise and government customers with a "need to connect everywhere" who find mobile connectivity is "a little addictive; you feel like if you didn't have connectivity in the taxi and airport and everywhere else you couldn't do your job," he said. Qualcomm's Gobi initiative, which lets IT managers provide global mobile connectivity by using devices that can be reconfigured in the field to support mobile operators and mobile broadband technologies including EVDO and UMTS, is a big reason the software can move from external to internal. Gobi's customer list includes computer makers Acer, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo and Panasonic along with all the major carriers. "That used to be a barrier for people to adopt an embedded solution because they couldn't commit to a particular carrier. Gobi absolutely eliminates that barrier for embedded wireless technology," Walls said. Another way to enable network interconnectivity is to use a company such as Jasper Wireless which has "created an MVNO look-alike where they're independent of carriers," said Arun Bhikshevsvaran, CTO and vice president of North American strategy for Ericsson. Since Ericsson embeds mobile modules into laptops now and it plans to move to other consumer electronics in the future. But having an open network makes it easier to focus on building and certifying cross-platform modules. "If I certify the module for Lenovo...

  • White spaces decision will haunt the FCC

    The FCC commissioners gave Google, Microsoft and others a "big" win Tuesday when it authorized unlicensed use of TV white space in the United States. I want to go on record here to say that this decision will come back to haunt the FCC--present and future--as thousands of people find their ability to watch TV has been compromised and their ability to hear what is happening at concerts has been interrupted by interference caused by these new white space "smart" devices that will be used to provide broadband data access. According to the FCC, any device that is to be used for unlicensed white space spectrum will have to undergo a "rigorous certification process" before it is authorized. I would like to remind anyone who may not remember that Nextel got the go-ahead from the FCC before it started deploying its faux-cellular system. This system has since caused a lot of interference to public safety and business radio systems and is causing Sprint Nextel to spend billions of dollars to "reband" the spectrum to eliminate the interference it has caused. This interference occurred in spite of the fact that public safety radios are built to a very high standard and are designed to reject interference. TV receivers, on the other hand, are not designed to handle adjacent channel interference, which is the reason the FCC has never assigned TV channel frequencies next to each other in the same city. There are some built-in frequency gaps in the assignments, so it may appear as though there are some sequential channels in some areas, but the FCC determined a long time ago that permitting TV channels on adjacent spectrum would cause an interference problem for TV receivers and would adversely affect the TV viewing experience. Yet the FCC, which seems to have become a political rather than technical organization, has approved the use of TV white space spectrum for unlicensed broadband services regardless of the fact that much of this white space is already being used by police, fire and business two-way radio customers on a shared basis, and that wireless microphones use TV white space on a daily basis. This has worked so far because two-way radio systems, like TV stations, are licensed. If there is an interference problem, those who are using the spectrum can be identified. In the case of this new use of TV white space for unlicensed broadband, there is no such protection. Unlicensed users are not required to register their location...

  • Leap loses money despite customer gains

    The cost of building out broadband wireless infrastructure is proving to be a heavy burden for Leap Wireless which reported a loss of $48.8 million or 72 cents per share in the third quarter. On a positive note, some analysts saw the carrier losing as much as 57 cents per share. Here's a breakdown of the other key metrics for the quarter: Revenues: Leap reported 21 percent improvement in revenues which rose to $496.7 million from $409.7 million a year ago. This, too, fell short of analyst expectations of $509.4 million. Customers: Leap added 156,000 customers in the quarter, mostly for voice services, bringing its total base to 3.5 customers or 800,000 more than a year ago including 40,000 new broadband subscribers. But those broadband customers didn't come cheap. Leap said it lost $49.4 million in operating income to launch new markets and expand mobile broadband service, including its Cricket Wireless Internet service. Churn: Third quarter churn was 4.2 percent, an improvement from 5.2 percent in the same period last year. ARPU: Average revenue per user declined 3.5 percent from the prior year to $42.95. For more: - see this article - see this press release Related stories: Leap offers mobile video for $5 per month Leap Wireless details aggressive plans for broadband

  • SMBs leading the charge to mobile broadband

    In something of a surprise, small-medium businesses (SMBs), not deep-pocketed enterprises, are driving mobile broadband adoption. An ABI Research study, "United States Mobile Business Customer Profiles," indicated that the bigger corporate enterprises are less flexible when it comes to adopting new technology. Smaller businesses, the report concludes, can implement new technology like 3G broadband data more quickly because they can get the equipment off-the-shelves from commercial outlets. The mobile broadband market is, of course, still in its infancy with access methods ranging from USB modems in laptops to embedded devices to ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs) and mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and, of course, smartphones. There is also some confusion as to what network to use since 3G is not ubiquitous--and speeds decrease painfully when a user leaves a 3G cell--and, with the new Clearwire now a reality WiMAX is becoming a viable option. Finally, some users are waiting for LTE to arrive several years from now. For more: - see this article Related stories: Wireless carriers open the network to embedded devices AT&T, Lenovo & Ericsson Break New Ground with New Embedded Laptop Pricing

  • AWS-3 spectrum debate festers

    The debate over whether the FCC should forge ahead with its plans to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, is still festering. Proponent M2Z Networks issued a press release today saying that the FCC's interference testing has confirmed that any proposed wireless broadband service in this spectrum would not cause interference with company's offering service on adjacent bands. The FCC has said that this AWS-3 spectrum would support a nationwide license and the agency would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications. M2Z Networks, of course, has been a proponent of this plan. And T-Mobile USA, which is deploying its UMTS service in the AWS spectrum, is a vocal opponent. M2Z says that the recent testing conducted by the FCC in Seattle demonstrated that AWS-3 handsets could operate safely at the commission's standard power limit of +33 dBm. And that the testing validated previous tests which found that TDD and FDD could coexist using an out-of-band emission limit of 49+ 10 log (P). Of course, the industry is still awaiting final word from the FCC regarding this testing. So far, it hasn't weighed in with any results leaving parties on both sides of the debate to make their own interpretations. For more: - see this press release Related articles: M2Z asks FCC to reject more AWS-3 interference tests T-Mobile takes M2Z to task over AWS-3 auction arguments

  • Will the Google Phone Give T-Mobile USA a Boost?

    T-Mobile USA needs a picker-upper. Its number of new subscribers is slowing, as is revenue from its voice ops. Meanwhile, its data revenue lags that of its rivals. But help may be on the way -- in the form of the Google phone.

  • NYC cabs get Sprint mobile payment service

    Sprint Nextel has started outfitting New York City cabs with real-time payment systems for credit cards, using its data services through its EVDO Rev. A network and Sprint Data Link. The operation, done in partnership with VeriFone's U.S.-based taxi business, VeriFone Transportation Systems (VTS), has put the technology in 6,600 of New York's famous yellow taxis so far and allows users, through a 10.4 inch touch screen, to swipe their credit card or use a "tap and go" contactless system. It also features Reuter's Business news and GPS system to allow users to find items they left in the cab. The plan is to roll out the system to Chicago, Las Vegas and Philadelphia, in a bid for Sprint to find a new niche as it struggles for market share with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobile and T-Mobile USA. For more: - see this article Related Article: AT&T : Mobile payments, past the hype

  • Cricket offers EV-DO access for $40 per month... with no contract

    Filed under: EV-DO , MVNOs , CDMA , Misc We'll be honest -- we weren't all that jazzed about Cricket's unlimited video clip service at $5 per month, but this is something we can get into. The animalistic carrier has just launched an unlimited mobile broadband package in several Texas cities, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and St. Louis (all of its other cities will get gifted by year's end) which users can tap into for just $40 / month. Interestingly, the company is actually encouraging consumers to really take advantage of that "unlimited" bit, noting that it is aiming to put EV-DO (read: broadband) into the hands of lower-income (or budget-minded) citizens that can't afford to be strapped down by a contract. Of note, there are two big limitations: you can't use the service to make VoIP calls, and you can't run a server. Fair enough, Cricket! [Via phonescoop ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

  • FCC heads to Seattle to test AWS-3 spectrum interference

    FCC engineers will travel to Seattle next week to conduct tests to see whether offering free broadband service on 25 percent of the AWS-3 spectrum will cause interference with T-Mobile's UMTS network that is currently being deployed in the AWS-1 spectrum band. FCC engineers will use some of T-Mobile's equipment to conduct interference tests, but they will set their own testing parameters. The FCC wants to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, that would support a nationwide license. The agency would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications. T-Mobile is opposed to the plan because it operates on an adjacent swath of spectrum and its engineers say that Internet traffic in neighboring airwaves will cause dropped connections for T-Mobile customers. For more: - See this article Related articles: M2Z: T-Mobile's interference argument over AWS-3 spectrum flawed M2Z asks FCC to reject more AWS-3 interference tests T-Mobile takes M2Z to task over AWS-3 auction arguments

  • Are Kevin Martin's wireless broadband dreams in peril?

    In the coming months, the FCC has some decisions to make that will impact the future of wireless broadband--a subject that is near and dear to Chairman Kevin Martin's heart as he'd like to see wireless broadband bridge connectivity for the country's have-nots. Next month, the commission is expected to take up the growing debate over white-space spectrum, that unused TV spectrum that advocates such as Google and Microsoft want used on an unlicensed basis for super-WiFi services. Martin likes the idea, but the FCC faces heavy lobbying pressure from the National Association of Broadcasters and wireless microphone users such as the NFL that fear interference. Recently completed field tests haven't revealed any clear answers over the interference debate. The FCC also is looking to auction spectrum in the AWS-3 band that would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications. Again, the commission is facing some stiff opposition to the plan from operators such as T-Mobile that worry about interference with the AWS-1 band and Republicans who think crafting such rules would create another 700 MHz D-block debacle. And the commission is considering the New Clearwire deal, which involves Sprint pooling its WiMAX assets with Clearwire with the help of millions from Intel, Google and cable operators. That plan is also coming under fire from AT&T, which is accusing the stakeholders of providing inconsistent details on how much usable spectrum the new entity will have and reiterated that it wants the FCC to scrutinize the deal like it would other carrier deals. The question is, can the FCC effectively tackle these decisions before a new administration and Congress comes onto the scene in 2009? The commission is supposed to rule on the New Clearwire deal before the end of the year, but Martin has said the auction will probably not move forward this year because of the intense controversy over the plan. The white-space controversy seems far from resolved as there doesn't seem to be a clear answer over whether these devices cause interference or not. So it's unlikely the commission will come to a consensus on that before the end of the year. What does that mean for the wireless broadband dream? Will it be stuck in limbo? Some of the nation's operators that don't want...

  • Andrew Seybold: How smart can you build your application?

    Wireless broadband and slower-speed data services are becoming ubiquitous. We now have WiFi hotspots in a zillion places, some free and some not, and, according to Clearwire, we will have a high-speed wireless data network up and running on WiMAX in the next couple of years. Just as speed and capacity varies across all of these networks, so does pricing. Hotspots might be free or cost up to $10 per access. Wide-area networks might have unlimited data for a monthly fee or, as we have seen, the all-you-can eat wireless data days are gone and we will pay by the megabyte or gigabyte for our wide-area data services. Networks are adding pay-by-the-hour or day to their contracts. Data roaming is available but can cost a lot of money. Third and fourth-generation networks have quality of service built in and some of the newer 3G technologies coming to market in the next year will have special modes to handle higher-speed burst transmissions. What does this have to do with content? Well, content has to be moved from the cloud to the device using a browser or an application and sometimes from the device back up to the cloud. Applications that simply send and receive data on a command from customers could end up costing them a lot of extra money. Smart applications for content would know the speed of the connection and perhaps even the type of network and could make recommendations to the customer based on these and other parameters. Suppose the program was smart enough to be able to track the amount of data used by a customer in a given month, or obtain that information from the network operator? For example, some carrier plans are based on 50 MB of data per month and then an overage charge kicks in. If customers wanted to download large files or other content, the program would warn them that they would exceed their data allowance for the month and they might want to wait until they are connected to a WiFi hotspot or even a wired connection. The application could be even smarter...

  • Life becoming difficult for rural operators

    Times are getting tough for the rural operator community. Within the last few months the Rural Carrier Association (RCA) and the Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) have run to the FCC asking it tackle issues that would help the survival of these group of operators. As the country's nationwide operators get bigger, their ability to effectively compete in the markets they serve becomes more and more difficult. Rural operators are no longer making a nice revenue from roaming as larger operators increase their coverage and encroach on the areas of rural operators. Rural operators now find themselves competing with large operators that have more resources and better economies of scale. RCA recently asked the FCC to deny the proposed merger between Clearwire and Sprint Nextel's WiMAX business. The RCA said that under "these unique circumstances there is a manifest need for the commission to recognize the impact of both transactions upon consumers and act to promote carrier-to-carrier network interoperability, including automatic roaming for voice and data, notably for wireless broadband services." Earlier this month, the RTG, whose members include independent mobile carriers, petitioned the FCC asking that it impose a spectrum cap to curb the growing market presence of Tier One operators Verizon Wireless and AT&T . The RTG says that without a spectrum cap, Verizon and AT&T's growth will adversely impact rural operators. In May, the RCA asked the FCC to investigate and adopt rules, if necessary, to stop operators from negotiating exclusive handset deals with manufacturers. The RCA says that this arrangement is unfair, decreases competition and violates the Communications Act. The association says that these types of deals make it impossible for many consumers, particularly those in rural areas, to get some of the best-selling handsets such as AT&T's iPhone and Verizon's LG Voyager. The RCA listed more than 50 handsets that are exclusive to the top five U.S. operators. Can and should rural operators rely on the FCC to help them become more competitive? I don't believe the FCC will be denying mergers or lifting spectrum caps to satisfy the needs of rural operators. On the other hand, the FCC is keen on seeing a third party come in to bridge the digital divide in the broadband world, which is why it is pushing the idea of the AWS-3 auction that would require the winning bidder to provide free broadband service alongside...
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