Telecom industry interesting news & developments

You may soon be able to transfer content between Wi-Fi-enabled devices in your home or office without having to set up a Wi-Fi router. On Oct. 25, industry association Wi-Fi Alliance began certifying consumer electronic gadgets that can connect directly to other Wi-Fi devices ( http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2009/tc20091013_683659.htm ). The technology is, in effect, an alternative to Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Devices marked with the new Wi-Fi Direct label can connect to older Wi-Fi devices. Mobile phones, cameras, printers, PCs and gaming devices can now connect to each other directly to transfer content and share applications. Devices can make a one-to-one connection, or a group of several devices can connect simultaneously. How this might work: Your Wi-Fi Direct device will signal to other devices in the area that it can make a connection. You can view available devices and ask them to connect, or you might receive an invitation to connect to another W...

AT&T’s wireless network performs better than systems maintained by other top carriers including Verizon Wireless in many markets, according to new data from start-up RootMetrics, a mobile network performance service. The carrier’s network outperforms those of Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA in 14 of 23 markets, according to the data, due to be released on Nov. 11. In markets such as Washington, D.C., Seattle and Philadelphia, AT&T earned a higher RootScore, based on the company’s proprietary algorithm that weighs the carrier’s voice and data quality. AT&T is also one of two best performers in six additional markets. The RootMetrics data underscored the difficulty AT&T has encountered in other markets, including San Francisco. There, AT&T’s gear didn’t perform as well as Sprint’s and Verizon’s. AT&T’s RootScore in the market is on par with T-Mobile’s. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel didn’t immediately return a request for comment. Venture...

Not many would say Nokia and Apple were in the same league when it came to smartphones, but according to a new report from Strategy Analytics, data shows the Nokia N8 knocking the iPhone 4 from the top spot in terms of shelf space. Using its SpecTRAX tracker, SA has taken shelf-share data from the device portfolios of 140 carriers in 30 countries and gone through some 12,600 handset models, of which 2,120 were available through at least one retailer or network operator in early July to come to the conclusion that “the Nokia N8-00 has become the most widely available handset, taking the top spot from the Apple iPhone 4.” Fair enough, but how many N8s are being sold compared to iPhone 4s? we asked SA. While the firm admitted that this point was “spot on,” it added that it didn’t have any retail audit data to share. Having said that, said SA’s Stephen Entwistle, “we can see interesting trends related to the supply chain dynamics and also the rise and fall of almost all mode...

Hewlett-Packard Co. ( HPQ ) just dropped a bombshell — Palm and webOS are effectively dead. The company just announced that it will stop selling devices based on the webOS platform it acquired from Palm less than 16 months ago for $1.2 billion. In addition to preliminary results for the recently closed quarter, the statement from HP said it “plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.” Unless HP can find a manufacturer to license webOS, which might stand a little higher chance following Google Inc.’s ( GOOG ) planned $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. ( MMI ), the platform is effectively dead. HP released the TouchPad, it’s first webOS-based tablet, less than two months ago, and some Palm smartphones are still in the wings waiting to be launched. Apparently that wait is over. M...

With more than 5.3 billion mobile connections across the globe, the wireless industry continues to chase worldwide saturation. To the surprise of few, the world's most populous nations – China and India – are also the world's largest mobile markets. China continued to lead the world with nearly 907 million mobile customers at the end of the second quarter, and is also home to the world's single largest wireless operator China Mobile, which counts more than 600 million subscribers. (Look for a listing of the world's top wireless operators in the near future.) India has seen dramatic growth over the past several years and is now a close second to China in total subscribers counting nearly 852 million at the end of the second quarter. The United States is No. 3 in the world with just over 320 million mobile customers at the end of the second quarter, with its most recent growth spurt coming from so-called “connected” devices. Rounding out the top five a...

After Google Inc. ( GOOG ) announced plans to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. ( MMI ) for $12.5 billion, executives from both companies jumped on a call with investors to offer more details about the pending transaction. Marking his first major acquisition since taking the reins at Google, CEO Larry Page talked about the major strides the Android operating system has made since he first met Andy Rubin, now SVP of mobile at Google, in 2005. “That was just six years ago and Android is one of the leading platforms in the industry,” Page said. He also applauded Motorola for making an early and decisive bet on Android in 2008 as a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance and one of the first licensees of the fledgling platform at the time. “I’m impressed by the transformation that the team at Motorola Mobility has initiated,” Page said, noting the turnaround the company has made after it fell from grace following its incredible success with the Razr. “Our relat...

After months of speculation, Clearwire Corp. ( CLWR ) has officially thrown its hat into the LTE space announcing plans to overlay its current WiMAX network with equipment compatible with the TDD LTE-Advanced standard. The carrier said it would continue to support its current WiMAX network covering more than 132 million potential customers and is the basis for “4G” offerings from a number of industry players, including Sprint Nextel Corp. ( S ) Clearwire did note that the LTE upgrade plans would be dependent on the carrier securing funding for the build out, which it expects to run $600 million to mirror its WiMAX deployment. Clearwire was quick to note that the initial overlay plans would not be in concert with Sprint Nextel's Network Vision initiative , though it remained in talks with its majority owner over using the network assets to expand coverage beyond Clearwire's current footprint. Sprint Nextel was expected to provide additional insight into the Netwo...

The Federal Communications Commission has stopped its formal review of AT&T Inc. ( T ) plans to acquire 700 MHz spectrum assets from Qualcomm Inc. ( QCOM ) as it now plans to review that deal in coordination with AT&T's attempt to acquire T-Mobile USA Inc. The decision came as the proposed AT&T/Qualcomm deal reached its 180-day point on its timeline for consideration. “The commission's ongoing review has confirmed that the proposed transactions raise a number of related issues, including, but not limited to, questions regarding AT&T's aggregation of spectrum throughout the nation, particularly in overlapping areas. As a result, we have concluded that the best way to determine whether either or both of the proposed transactions serve the public interest is to consider them in a coordinated manner at this time, without prejudice to independent treatment at a later date.” A number of companies came out earlier this year in opposition to the AT...

PHILADELPHIA — Claiming its spot as the No. 1 communications provider to the federal government, Verizon Communications Inc. ( VZ ) is making a larger investment and commitment to the public safety market here at APCO International Annual Conference and Expo. While it's difficult to determine how much of Verizon's enterprise business is specific to public safety, the firm has doubled down on the space in terms of investment and workforce, Dominic DeMark, VP of public safety strategy in enterprise and government markets at Verizon, told RCR Wireless News. With one year under his belt in this position, created specifically for this market, DeMark said company executives from the top down are making a concerted effort to expand the operator's reach in public safety. Over the past year, Verizon has made some changes to its network to address some specific needs in this space, including prioritized network access, site sharing and accelerated deployment of ne...

Verizon Wireless ( VZ ) is now the second major carrier in line for integration with American Express Co.'s ( AXP ) burgeoning digital commerce platform Serve. Sprint Nextel Corp. ( S ) snagged the first carrier deal with American Express two weeks ago. It will also be the flagship carrier for Google Inc.'s ( GOOG ) Google Wallet. Various providers, financial institutions and credit card companies are playing the platform field in mobile commerce. Numerous platform iterations are at play and the race to win has a widening group of businesses investing millions to grab some of the action in what is now largely a theoretical market. Despite cries to the contrary, the mobile commerce space is becoming more crowded and unclear. American Express launched Serve almost five months ago and now has two direct carrier wins under its belt, but like others in this space, it's making parallel moves at the same time. The company also joined Isis a couple weeks ago when...

Just a week after losing its place on the store shelves of your local RadioShack Corp. outlet, T-Mobile USA Inc. signed a deal to offer its prepaid services through 7-Eleven Inc.'s stores. The deal, which began on Aug. 1, calls for T-Mobile USA to offer its LG Electronics Co. Ltd. GS170 prepaid device through 7-Eleven outlets for $30. The basic device includes a VGA camera, Bluetooth and messaging capabilities. Through August, customers can pick up the device for $15 if they also purchase a $50 airtime card at the store. T-Mobile USA notes in trumpeting the deal that 7-Eleven customers will now have access to the carrier's “4G” network and rate plans, though the LG device lacks support for the higher-speed network services. It could be said that customers could move their GS170 SIM card to a more powerful T-Mobile USA device to access the additional features. 7-Eleven has been a long-time player in the airtime card and prepaid space, as well as having offered ...

Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose to the top spot in second-quarter marketshare in the smartphone space, capitalizing on a 31% plunge from longtime market leader Nokia Corp. (NOK), according to new analysis from IHS Inc. Even though the smartphone space grew 7.5% quarter to quarter, Nokia’s marketshare continued to fall, down to 16.7 million units. It now accounts for 15.1% of smartphone sales, but is overshadowed by Apple, which holds 18.4% marketshare, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., in the second spot with 17.8% marketshare. Interestingly, IHS marks Samsung’s year to year growth at 600%. Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM) with 12% marketshare, and HTC Corp., (HTCXF) with 10.8% marketshare, round out the top five smartphone manufacturers. “Nokia’s woes in the smartphone market are the result of a double whammy of rising competitive pressures on the outside—and struggles with its corporate strategy on the inside,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for IHS. “The Symbian...

As of 08/17/2011, Verizon Wireless' (VZ) LTE network cover more than half of the U.S. population. The carrier lit up 15 new markets today and now blankets a population of 160 million in 117 cities around the country. The carrier appears well on track to meet its goal of reaching 185 million potential customers with its LTE network by the end of the year.

India’s wireless market may not be as big as thought, according to a report that claims nearly 30% of the country’s mobile customers are classified as “inactive.” The Wireless Intelligence report, citing figures from the Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India, claims that nearly 250 million of Indian connections were inactive during the second quarter of the year, which would clip the country’s active mobile customer base to around 600 million subscribers. “The fact that the country’s connection base is inflated by some 250 million inactive connections has dampened the growth achievements of many Indian operators, and clearly shows that further investments are still required to expand and improve network coverage,” explained Joss Gillet, senior analyst at Wireless Intelligence. The firm noted the change has come as TRAI has cut the window a prepaid customer can be considered an active user from recharging their plan within a period of 180 days, to 90 days last year and more rece...