Samsung has become the latest company to play fast and loose with 5G. It may have produced some impressive technology but it’s doing itself a huge disservice by conflating its accomplishment with technology that doesn’t yet exist. Read more »
5G is still just the merest twinkle in the mobile industry’s eye, yet the blogosphere is now using the term to describe T-Mobile’s forthcoming network. Just as with 4G, we’re conflating technology with marketing, and we need to stop. Read more »
Apart from Los Angeles, this week’s expansion mainly targets smaller cities and towns, but Sprint is going urban once again this summer with a big 120-city push. Read more »
Oracle is loading up on telecom vendors that specialize in controlling and managing data and VoIP traffic as it traverses the network. Read more »
There are no LTE-Advanced networks or chips today, but that hasn’t stopped equipment makers and carriers from claiming the opposite. Here’s how they’re getting away with it. Read more »
Verizon is now reviewing iPhone and Android apps, but not based on how fun or useful they are. It’s concerned about the resources they consume, which means Facebook and many popular games get docked. Read more »
Ericsson networks boss Johan Wibergh says the age of dense small networks is about to begin. After years of sorting out the kinks, Ericsson is ready to start shipping its first commercial small cells this summer. Read more »
Delivering and managing the web experience isn’t just about mobile. Companies are also faced with new challenges in the desktop environment, including browser fragmentation, network evolution, and client-side technologies. They must invest in both the desktop environment as well as to create an optimized experience for mobile. Read more »
Santa Clara startup Vasona has a new mobile network optimization technology that targets congestion at individual cells rather than reshaping the entire network’s traffic indiscriminately. Read more »
It turns out that Google, the great proponent of net neutrality, is paying Orange to handle its traffic on the carrier’s mobile networks. That’s an unwelcome development, and here’s why. Read more »
Signaling traffic growth is outstripping mobile data traffic by 30 percent to 50 percent and threatening the stability of mobile networks. However, the growth in signaling traffic is not only an indicator of success but also shows that mobile data has come of age. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
ItsOn, a startup founded by wireless gurus Greg Raleigh and Charles Giancarlo, is coming out of stealth mode with $15 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz and SV Angel. The company is creating a cloud platform that allows operators to offer tailored data plans for consumers. Read more »
Mobile data will grow 18 times over the next five years. To successfully address the shift from voice-to data-centric usage models, operators need to act on multiple fronts, because no single solution will be sufficient in isolation. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Apple is reportedly preparing an MVNO that would provide wireless services to iPhones and iPads via multiple carrier partners. But the move would be a huge mistake for Cupertino, and it’s extremely unlikely Apple Mobile will ever come to ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
In the wake of its failed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, analysts are speculating where AT&T can find enough spectrum to keep pace with Verizon Wireless. But instead AT&T should be scrambling to ensure that it makes the most of the spectrum it does ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The U.S. MVNO market is now largely a niche where a handful of companies provide phones and services on the cheap. But several notable new players are joining the space next year and will provide a different, more-specialized kind of service; network operators could benefit in ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
While my iPhone 4 still mostly satisfies my needs, I have to confess: For the past two weeks, I haven’t been exactly faithful. I’ve been testing out Samsung’s latest and greatest, the Galaxy S II Android smartphone. Here’s how I feel about my indiscretion. Read more »
Android and iOS phones lead the world, but Alibaba thinks China can use another smartphone OS. The Aliyun platform is a cloud OS that’s also runs Android apps. China still has massive room for smartphone growth, so the device may actually have a chance to succeed. Read more »
Sprint reported record low churn rates and its highest average revenue per user yet, but lost $847 million. Why? Although 1.1 million new subscribers were added, all were from wholesale and pre-paid customers. Postpaid subscriber numbers may turn around in the future though, thanks to LTE. Read more »
Every fourth bit transferred over mobile data networks worldwide is part of a YouTube video: That’s the gist of a new study from network optimization vendor Allot Networks. The research also shows strong growth for VoIP and IM traffic, albeit on a much smaller level. Read more »
Carriers are struggling to address the gap between mobile data usage and revenues even as their networks approach capacity. But those willing to embrace new business models and innovative services still have a chance to thrive in the era of the superphone. Read more »
Residential femtocell sales continue to lag due to overpriced hardware and the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi in the home. But opportunities still exist for femtocells in the enterprise and as a crucial component of carriers’ overall mobile networks. Read more »
France Telecom said it is in talks with Google about offering segmented services for users, so those who want faster or more stable service can pay more. It’s part of a larger push by FT to come to some agreement with Silicon Valley companies. Read more »
The mobile space is all about a tug-of-war of control between network operators, device manufacturers and software developers. But rarely do the players involved make the power play so obvious as did France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard during a recent interview. Read more »
Carriers no longer dominate the mobile world thanks to the emergence of Apple, Google and the rise of third-party app stores. But they can retain — or even increase — their relevance by leveraging a few important things. Read more »
The third quarter saw the continuation of important trends in mobile, from the astounding growth of Android to soaring sales of Apple’s iPad. Perhaps the biggest trend, though, is the march towards 4G, which will have a tremendous impact on the industry in the coming months. Read more »
Crown Castle completed its $115 million acquisition of NewPath Networks last week, which builds and operates distributed antenna systems (DAS) networks. The deal underscores the increasing importance that technology will play in the future deployment of mobile services. Read more »
Sprint has begun offering femtocells on a case-by-case basis to users who complain about in-home coverage problems. With market expectations huge, that’s a long-overdue move that will further boost carrier revenues and should be mirrored by Sprint’s competitors. Read more »
Much of the data regarding how we used our handsets to keep up with the 2010 World Cup has been released. Here’s what we can take away regarding how we use our handsets and how prepared network operators are to deliver the goods. Read more »
The underpinnings are already being laid for an Internet of things that will bring connectivity to everything from consumer electronics to pets. But a wide variety of challenges from privacy to platforms, must be met as we move toward an always-on, always-connected society. Read more »
When there’s no power grid in sight, cellular network operators turn to expensive and dirty diesel generators. But according to a report this morning, 4.5 percent of the world’s cellular base stations will run off of solar and wind by 2014, up from 0.11 percent in 2010. Read more »
Mobile video could receive a big boost over the next few weeks as users tune in to watch the action on their phones. But carriers must be able to shoulder the data load if they’re to turn those fans into long-term viewers. Read more »
AT&T today restructured its pricing plans for mobile data, killing all-you-can-eat offerings that have long been enjoyed by users with iPhones and other high-end handsets. The move marks the beginning of the era of metered billing — which could significantly impact the world of mobile ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
With the U.S. mobile penetration rate nearing 100 percent, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing plenty of stories about how we’re approaching (or already at) a saturation point. But I’m beginning to wonder exactly where that saturation point is — and how much longer “handset penetration” ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
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 »
The question of whether the Internet should extend into our lives when we are cruising at 30,000 feet has been a heavily debated one. Should airplane cabins be bastions of quiet sanctity from the deluge of information and work that follows us everywhere? Read more »
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 »
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today outlined the commission’s plans to create a blueprint for mobile broadband for the next 10 years as part of the National Broadband Plan. But just how effective the FCC can be in freeing up spectrum is far from clear. Read more »
Carriers are increasingly looking to Wi-Fi to ease the strain on their cellular networks, and an army of companies is emerging with offloading solutions to help them. And they could help themselves immensely by making Wi-Fi easier for their subscribers to use. Read more »
