Wireless Internet

Mobilizing the Internet: Mobile Web 2.0

Sue Marek — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:29:20 -0400

Mobile Web 2.0 seems to be the latest catch-phrase to describe the newest iteration of the wireless Internet. Juniper Research predicts the mobile Web market will be worth $22.5 billion in 2013. But does anyone really know what Mobile Web 2.0 means? The definitions run the gamut from open networks to bypassing the operator. Clearly Mobile Web 2.0 encompasses things such as social networking, location-based services and anything else that drives mobile Web traffic.

At the CTIA I.T. & Entertainment show there will be a co-located seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 9 devoted to Mobile Web Strategies featuring speakers from Nokia, Yahoo, Ericsson, AOL and more.

Of course, key to Mobile Web 2.0 is the wireless carrier. You can get a chance to hear the wireless operator angle on Mobile Web 2.0 on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. during the "Mobile Web 2.0: The Carrier Perspective" panel featuring Mark Collins of AT&T and Ian McKerlich of T-Mobile USA.

AT&T gives all DSL subs free WiFi access

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Last July AT&T announced that subscribers to its highest-speed DSL services could have free access to its WiFi hotspots throughout the country. Now the carrier is offering free WiFi to all of its DSL subscribers. DSL subscribers can use any of the company's 10,000 hotspots located in airports, coffee shops, McDonald's restaurants and Barnes & Noble bookstores for free. Connections at AT&T WiFi hotspots for non-subscribers run $7.99 per day.

For more about AT&T's WiFi access strategy:
- read this release

Tropos promotes Ayers to president and CEO

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Mesh networking company Tropos Networks announced the appointment of veteran sales executive Tom Ayers as president and CEO. Ayers will take the helm from Ron Sege who will continue to serve as an adviser.

On behalf of Tropos' Board of Directors, Chairman Dave Hanna said, "I want to take this opportunity to thank Ron for his vision, evangelism and tireless commitment to Tropos and the whole metro WiFi industry. "He built a great foundation here at Tropos and I look forward to working with him in his future endeavors."

Ayers has worked in the industry for 30 years including his most recent position as SVP of field operations at Blue Coat Systems and a prior post at McAfee.

For more on Tropos' new CEO:
- read this press release

Sprint: "We're creating a platform for innovation"

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Sprint Nextel's senior vice president, mobile broadband operations Atish Gude believes that the company's forthcoming WiMAX network will be a big hit with content providers and enterprises.

Gude, who spoke with FierceWireless prior to his keynote address today at the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment show, said that he believes Sprint is creating a platform for innovations that will give content companies the opportunity to really leverage the wireless Internet. "There will be more content to develop and more devices to use to access that content," Gude said. "The market will dictate the content. Not the carrier."

Likewise, Gude says Sprint's WiMAX network will benefit enterprises because the open environment will allow more enterprise applications to be available. Specifically, he envisions companies being able to better incorporate LBS, security and device management apps into their mobile enterprise agenda. "When all these new applications are enabled it will change how we do business by improving productivity," Gude said.

Sprint will not block VOIP applications and initially it will offer fixed VOIP over the WiMAX network, Gude said. In addition, once the company's WiMAX coverage area is sufficient (within the first 12 months), it will also offer mobile VOIP. -Sue

VeriSign and Clairmail ink mobile banking deal

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:54 -0400

Clairmail announced that it has been working with VeriSign to offer financial institutions various mobile banking solutions. The vendors were surprised at the high level of interest from large banks for the services, according to a report from RCR News. VeriSign is making use of Clairmail's platform to offer mobile banking services that make use of messaging, the mobile Internet or a native client.

For more on the deal:
- read this press release
- read this report from RCR News

Verizon's Lynch talks about IMS, 4G and more

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:59:57 -0400

At the RBC Capital Markets North American Technology Summit yesterday in San Francisco Verizon CTO Dick Lynch gave investors some insight into his new role and how he will bring together the wireless and wireline entities at Verizon. Lynch, a long-time Verizon Wireless veteran was recently promoted to executive vice president and CTO of Verizon Communications. Here's a recap of some of Lynch's comments:

3G: 3G has been delivered and it's been a smashing success for us. We will continue to grow our 3G business for a long time to come. The application growth for 3G is in the early stages. We first introduced wide-area 3G in 2003 and now our upload speeds have been enhanced with Rev. A. We now have the upload speed for applications such as mobile VOIP, enhanced PTT capability and push-to-X video capability.

IMS: There are lots of definitions of convergence, converged products, converged networks and converged applications. IMS is the real deal. IMS and 3G will tie together disparate networks--wireless, landline, cable and enterprise to work seamlessly together.

4G: There's lots of posturing about 4G. I don't know what it is yet. The ITU hasn't defined 4G. It's not just higher bandwidth and faster speeds. It will have those attributes but 4G will be embedded broadband in all sorts of devices. Today we are just starting to see embedded modules in PDAs and laptops. 4G will do for portable consumer devices what 3G devices did for the enterprise.

WiMAX: There's a lot of buzz about this. It's just another air interface technology. WiMAX, LTE and UMB are essentially 4G wannabee technologies. They all use OFDM technology and perform the same way in the same amount of spectrum. Would I use WiMAX with Verizon? Possibly. If I had TDD spectrum. -Sue

FCC rejects unlicensed spectrum device

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:59:55 -0400

The FCC did not approve a "first-round prototype device" that Google, Microsoft and others have developed to run over unused TV spectrum, or white spaces. The companies want to broadcast high-speed Internet in the spectrum. The FCC rejected the device because it said it couldn't detect the unused airwaves consistently. The commission also worried the device would interfere with TV signals. The FCC reiterated its desire to figure out a way to use the unused spectrum. Dell, HP, Intel, Earthlink and Philips Electronics North America are also working on the device with Google and Microsoft.

For more on the prototype:
- read this WirelessWeek article

FCC: Open access but no wholesale requirement

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

The FCC commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the auction plan, which is based squarely on FCC chairman Kevin Martin's much debated proposal.

Commercial Spectrum
The final rules include a requirement for "open access," which in this case means the winning bidder must allow "any device" and "any application" for the C Block of spectrum. There is, however, no requirement for wholesaling the C Block spectrum. Also, the final ruling did not answer Google's little discussed fourth request for openness. By calling for "open networks," Google wanted third parties to be able to interconnect at a technically feasible point in the wireless network to enable geolocation and similar services for content providers.

Public Safety/Private Partnership Spectrum
As expected, the FCC also ruled that "the Upper D Block commercial licensee and the public safety broadband licensee will form a public safety/private partnership to develop a shared, nationwide interoperable network for both commercial and public safety users." The terms of the deal between the two parties will be governed by FCC rules and rules set forth by the sharing agreement. That agreement "is subject to FCC approval, and must contain certain provisions such as service fees and a detailed build-out schedule for the network," according to the FCC.

Anonymous Bidding
The FCC will use "anonymous" bidding procedures, in which any information that may indicate specific applicants' interests in the auction, including their license selections and bidding activity, is withheld until after the close of the auction. The FCC said it will require these measures irrespective of any pre-auction measurement of likely competition in the auction.

Fail Safes
While the FCC has not released any of the reserve prices for each slice of spectrum, save the $4.6 billion for the Upper C Block slice, if any block of spectrum fails to meet its reserve the commission will re-auction it without special provisions at a later date. Winning bidders won't necessarily keep their spectrum either if they don't live up to FCC's demands: The commission has put forth various benchmarks for each slice of spectrum that include build out times and coverage saturation by various deadlines. If licensees fail to meet the four-year, interim geographic or population benchmark, the license term will be reduced from ten to eight years, which means the licensee will have to meet their end goals on an accelerated schedule. If winning bidders fail to meet the end-of-term buildout requirements, the FCC will reclaim unserved portions of the spectrum and make it available to other users.

For the full details:
- read this press release from the FCC

UPDATE: The FCC commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the auctions rules. Commissioner McDowell only deferred in part.

FiberTower inks backhaul deal for Sprint's WiMAX

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:59:55 -0400

FiberTower has inked a deal with Sprint to provide the carrier with wireless backhaul services, or transport from cell site to switch, in seven of Sprint Nextel's initial launch markets for WiMAX. The agreement calls for FiberTowerÃ‚Â to deploy commercial ethernet services, which the company claims is a first for any mobile backhaul provider. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Sprint plans on rolling out its WiMAX service in Chicago, Boston, Providence, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and others.

For more on the deal:
- read this press releaseÃ‚Â

Sprint inks deal with Google for WiMAX network

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Sprint has inked a deal with Google to bring its future WiMAX mobile Internet customers applications like search, interactive communications and social networking. The aim of the deal is to bring new mobile location-based services to Sprint's customers. According to the release: "Sprint network bandwidth, location detection and presence capabilities will be matched with Google's popular communications suite--Google Apps--that combines the Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk services."

Sprint plans to launch its WiMAX service in test markets: Chicago, Baltimore and Washington DC by year-end, while a full commercial launch should come by April of next year.

For more on the partnership:
- read this press release

Google glosses over auction in conference call

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

Google's CEO Eric Schmidt has sent a letter to the FCC stating its intent to participate in the 700MHz auction (by committing a minimum bid of $4.6 billion) if the FCC requires bidders to adopt four specific open access conditions. The conditions are the same ones the Open Access coalition have been promoting all along: Open applications, open devices, open services and open networks.

During its quarterly conference call, Google executives briefly explained why they are interested in the 700MHz auction: advertising, of course. Google's CEO Eric Schmidt explains: "From a Google perspective, the most important thing is that there be an open network. We define that in the sense that people can go to a store or however they are going to get it and get a device, plug that device into a wireless network and be able to use the full capability of the Internet. In the course of using that full capability of the Internet, which is going to be delivered on these mini-devices that have come out in this space globally, they're also going to become very significant Google advertising users."

While it might take a Google-sized wallet to pull off an open access network in the U.S., Google's stated desire is to simply get more eyeballs in front of their ads. "So there's really a direct connection between the open interoperable network that we are now arguing for in SEC filings and so forth and the ultimate usage of Google services and applications, and of course, advertiser satisfaction," Schmidt concluded.

For more on the Google's plans:
- read this press release and letter to the FCC
- check out this press release regarding the quarterly earnings

Sprint and Clearwire pool WiMAX networks

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have announced that they will jointly construct their WiMAX networks and eventually sell the services jointly under one brand. The deal still needs to gain approval by the Department of Justice and the FCC because the companies plan on exchanging selected 2.5 GHz spectrum license assignments.

Under the network build-out plan, Sprint Nextel will focus its efforts primarily on geographic areas covering approximately 185 million people, including 75 percent of the people located in the 50 largest markets, while Clearwire will focus on areas covering approximately 115 million people. Initially, the two companies expect to build out network coverage to approximately 100 million people by the end of 2008, with seamless roaming enabled between the deployed areas.

"Our joint efforts will result in customers benefiting from a more extensive network, operating sooner and using our respective spectrum more efficiently than either company could have on its own," said Clearwire Chief Executive Officer Ben Wolff.

The companies will sell services under one brand and Clearwire will sell subscriptions to the service at Sprint locations within Clearwire's territories. Sprint plans to provide dual-mode (CDMA-WiMAX) services nationwide to its customers both on its own and Clearwire's portion of the WiMAX networks.

For more on the Sprint-Clearwire deal:
- read this press release

Related Articles:
Sprint taps ZTE for WiMAX data cards. Article
Sprint expands WiMAX markets, devices. Article
WiMAX's growing sphere of influence. Column

AT&T supports Martin's plan; Verizon: It's "rigged"

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

After a few days of rumors that AT&T might sue the FCC over the proposed open access rules for the 700 MHz spectrum auction, the carrier surprisingly said it supports Martin's plan. "We think Chairman Martin's plan is a creative compromise that balances the interests of companies and consumers," said Jim Cicconi, AT&T's senior executive vice president of public policy. Martin's proposal has not been made explicitly public yet, but according to a report from USA Today, it calls for open access for all national licenses with the exception of one reserved block for public safety. The open access rule would require bidders to allow users to connect any device to the network loaded with the software they want. AT&T's Cicconi said the rumors about the lawsuit were wrong: "That was never the case. Nor did we ever say that."

Verizon Wireless, however, is still very much against the proposed rules for open access and special rules for the upcoming auction: "We remain guided in our principled belief that open and fair auctions serve everybody best: consumers, innovators, U.S. taxpayers. To rig the 700 MHz auction in any way--to limit its value and potential to deliver exciting new products and services--would be a huge disservice to the nation. Corporate welfare for Google is bad public policy."

According to AT&T's Cicconi, the Martin proposal is not "corporate welfare" for Google but rather a "put-up or shut up" challenge to the Web company: "It's a big block (of spectrum) and it would allow them to offer a national service if they are serious about doing that." If Google doesn't meet the reserve set by Martin, then the FCC could remove the open access requirements.

For more on AT&T and Verizon's take on the Martin proposal:
- read this press release from VZW
- check out this USA Today report

ALSO: Reed Hundt says the Martin proposal has a "pony" in it. Article

Sprint offers loopt's social mapping service

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

In a major coup for the location based services sector, social mapping software developer loopt has inked a deal with Sprint to offer a FriendFinder service to the carrier's subscribers. Sprint will become the first major carrier in the U.S. to offer such a GPS application. Boost Mobile, an MVNO owned by Sprint running on its network, has been offering loopt's services to its subscribers for some time. Sprint users who subscribe to loopt's service for an additional monthly charge ofÃ‚Â $2.99 (plus data charges) will be able to share their location with other Sprint-loopt users, send proximity-based messages and view geo-tagged photos. Of course, users need to have one of the 25 GPS-enabled Sprint or Nextel handsets. The service also allows users to see their friends' locations on a map right from their mobile handsets.

The shortcomings to these services, however, are glaring. Unlike a Family Locater service, it's not necessarily a given that the people a potential user is looking to "locate" will be on the same carrier. Cross-carrier functionality for location based services would be the catalyst for LBS applications like this one, but the complexities (technological and regulatory)Ã‚Â of sharing that kind of information between carriers will continue to slow down the trend.

For more on Sprint's loopt deal:
- read this press release

Google gets serious about mobile search

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

Search giant Google is developing a new mobile search service to aid consumers seeking to purchase ringtones, games and related premium content. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the project, reports Google will offer consumers lists of providers selling the content they seek--in time, the company will begin charging content firms for placement in its search results, an approach mirroring the sponsored links Google currently offers on traditional Web searches.Ã‚Â Ã‚Â

According to the WSJ, Google has been working for months with providers to index their content holdings for mobile search optimization. Insiders say the initiative has suffered a series of technological setbacks, with an official commercial launch date currently uncertain. Google also is said to be mulling a social networking service enabling its Gmail users to exchange content.

The content search engine heralds Google's latest move into the mobile arena. The company recently launched trials of a pay-per-click mobile advertising platform similar to its AdSense web service, while last month, its YouTube video-sharing unit announced an agreement to wirelessly stream clips to Apple's new iPhone device. Google has also hinted at additional mobile applications as well as a mobile software development platform.

For more on Google's mobile content search push:
-Ã‚Â read this Wall Street Journal article

Related Articles:
Google files mobile advertising patent
Google AdWords go mobile
Dada, Google buddy up for 'friend$'Ã‚Â

Alltel launches Samsung Hue, Celltop study

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

Alltel has launched a new handset by Samsung, the Hue, which offers Alltel's patent-pending Celltop UI, an MP3 player with Jump Music capabilities, a 1.3 megapixel camera with video, and a choice of colorful, interchangeable faceplates. The device is available for $39.99 with a $50 mail-in-rebate and two-year service agreement.

Usable Products Company recently released a report that found Alltel's Celltop UI was harder to use than WAP, which should come as a surprise to many in the industry--in fact it won a BREW award. The company compared Celltop to Axcess Web, a WAP portal on LG's AX8600.

"Unfortunately, Celltop is less usable than WAP," stated Usable Products' president Scott Weiss. "Only 7 out of 10 usability test participants were able to successfully check the weather in Miami, Florida using Celltop, while all 10 were successful using Axcess Web, a WAP portal. Furthermore, of those who succeeded, Celltop took 36 seconds (27 percent) longer than WAP."

UPDATE: An Alltel spokesperson questioned the study's conclusions because it only included data from 10 participants, who were based in New York City, which is outside of Alltel's coverage area.

For more on Celltop and the Hue:
- read this press release about the Hue
- check out this release about the study

Google tests AdSense for mobile

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

After years of anticipation, Google is currently sending out invitation emails to some publishers for an AdSense for Mobile beta test. Google's invitation reads:

"As part of our efforts to develop new and improved AdSense products for our partners, we will begin a limited beta test for AdSense for mobile. AdSense for mobile allows publishers to monetize their mobile websites through the placement of targeted text ads."

Google already has an extensive FAQ page for publishers looking to create mobile ads for AdSense.

For more on the beta launch:
- read this article from Search Engine Roundtable
- check out this FAQ pageÃ‚Â from Google

Samsung, Ericsson settle two-year patent dispute

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Samsung and Ericsson have agreed to a cross-licensing deal on wireless technology patents, ending a legal battle that began when the companies failed to renew a pact that expired at the end of 2005.

Under the agreement, which Samsung disclosed in a South Korean filing, mobile-phone maker Samsung and wireless infrastructure vendor Ericsson will allow each other to use their respective patents for 2G and 3G technologies. The filing specifically states that Ericsson will let Samsung use its patents for GSM, GPRS, EDGE, TDMA and WCDMA technology.Ã‚Â

In the filing, Samsung said the companies are withdrawing all patent-related lawsuits against each other.Ã‚Â

Ericsson, based in Stockholm, had sued Samsung in 2006, saying the South Korea-based company had violated 11 patents, the aftermath of the deal that expired in 2005.Ã‚Â

For more on the filing and brief details from a Samsung spokesperson:
- read the AP article here

Report: Ad preferences based on age, gender

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:59:54 -0400

A new study issued by mobile media publisher MoMac and market research firm Tickbox says mobile advertising must match specific consumer criteria as responsiveness to different kinds of ads is dependent on age and gender. According to the study, men and women exhibit clear differences in their preferences for mobile ad formats: Text-based links are the most popular overall at 56 percent. There's a clear female bias of 60 percent in comparison with 47 percent of men. Picture or banner-based advertising is favored by 29 percent of users overall, and only under one in three consumers ages 25 to 34; while 22 percent of men stated a preference for video-based advertising, just 12 percent of women said they would be most likely to respond to a video ad. Video formats also were most popular with younger users--23 percent of users between 16 and 24 selected video as their preferred format.

MoMac adds that content providers must consider a variety of payment models. Ad-funded content is poised to become dominant with younger mobile users, with 47 percent of 16-24-year-olds preferring free content in exchange for viewing ads; only 32 percent of the youth market opted for a pay-as-you-download model, and only 3.9 percent said preferred content via a subscription. Conversely, 55 percent of respondents aged 45 or older opted for pay-as-you-download options, with 54 percent of women selecting the method compared with 41 percent of men.

For more on the MoMac study:
- read this release

EU court upholds 3G licensing ruling

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:59:56 -0400

The European Court of First Instance ruled that the French government acted legally when it changed the conditions of 3G licenses granted to SFR and Orange. Rival carrier Bouygues claimed that the French state illegally subsidized its competition when it changed the conditions of the licenses. The ruling saves SFR, jointly owned by Vivendi and Vodafone Group, and Orange from having to pay the French government about $5.45 (Ã¢â€šÂ¬4 billion) billion each. Orange and SFR each paid Ã¢â€šÂ¬4.95 billion for their 3G licenses in 2001, but after the bubble burst, the French government decided more competition in the 3G market would be necessary to encourage growth. So it sold Bouygues a license in 2002 for Ã¢â€šÂ¬619 million and revenue sharing. The government then changed its previous deals with SFR and Orange to match Bouygues'.

For more on the 3G license dispute:
- read this WSJ article (sub. req.)