Mobile penetration in the U.S. is nearing 100 percent, leading some to wonder whether we’re near a saturation point. But as connectivity expands to a wide range of devices that aren’t phones, “handset penetration” won’t really matter anyway. Read more »
Operators are increasingly looking to machine-to-machine services to help offset a saturated handset market and data congestion on their networks. But the new world of M2M will require the emergence of new partnerships and business models. Read more »
AT&T and Verizon Wireless have thus far been able to stay far above the brutal battleground that is the prepaid space. That will change, though, as smartphone sales continue to ramp up and mobile data traffic ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
A group of two dozen carriers and handset manufacturers are working to deliver a platform that would enable developers to write a single application and sell it through multiple carriers and storefronts. It’s a noble effort that is doomed to ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The FCC is already facing stiff opposition from television broadcasters to a plan to reallocate a modest 500 MHz of spectrum for mobile network operators. So it’s up to network operators and their partners to find ways of handling increasing traffic as mobile data consumption ramps ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
AT&T this morning confirmed it will carry Palm’s webOS devices, in addition to Dell’s Android-based Aero. Still, the network operator’s strategy is all about the iPhone. Here’s a quick breakdown of tier-one carriers’ current strategies. Read more »
Deep discounts are helping to push smartphones beyond early adopters and hardcore business users and into the hands of mainstream U.S. consumers, but they’re also stalling revenue growth, and demand for the sophisticated handsets may suffer once network operators do away with all-you-can-eat data plans. Read more »
As Google is learning the hard way, customer care is a crucial component the mobile world. And its importance will increase as connectivity extends to a wide range of devices and applications. That presents a key opportunity for carriers to bring added value to the table. Read more »
Tuesday’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti knocked out the country’s only direct submarine cable system, leaving the country to rely largely on satellites and mobile networks for international communications. Digicel, the nation’s leading mobile carrier, is working to send technicians to the island to ease congestion problems. Read more »
Verizon Wireless will reportedly require a data plan with the purchase of some new feature phones. The move could be a sign of how the carrier plans to charge for usage on its upcoming LTE network. Read more »
MetroPCS this morning reported slower growth and increased churn thanks to an increasing competition in the prepaid market. It’s the latest sign that the health of the prepaid space is in decline. Read more »
A Google executive claims the company is “just scratching the surface” with Google Voice and will move aggressively to expand the offering next year. Which means network operators must ramp up their efforts to make their pipes smarter. Read more »
The surge in mobile data usage will keep ramping up as multimedia-friendly phones continue to gain traction. So network operators are exploring ways to move beyond flat-rate plans to monetize high-end users and minimize the effects of increased traffic on the network. Read more »
Telecom gear vendor ZTE will step up its game in the crowded smartphone space next year with an Android-based handset, and Google is rumored to be working on its own device. But as the smartphone market continues to heat up, manufacturers are learning the hard way […] Read more »
[qi:101] Subsidies for high-end smartphones can be a Faustian bargain for mobile operators, but there are riches in the coming wave of connected devices, according to figures released today from In-Stat. More than 60 percent of all netbooks and other Internet-enabled mobile devices will be sold […] Read more »
Mobile network operators can boost data revenues by providing personalized apps and content experiences for their subscribers, according to a report released today by Qualcomm. But the carriers will have to walk a fine line between being helpful and being invasive as they try to take […] Read more »
[qi:___wifi] If free Wi-Fi marketing is a good idea, as Om and Stacey argued last week, free Wi-Fi marketing in airports is an especially good idea, according to a new study from JiWire. The San Francisco-based mobile advertising company — which, of course, has skin in […] Read more »
