time warner cable

Will Cox finally get wireless right?

Sue Marek — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:51:38 -0400

Perhaps the third time will be a charm for Cox Communications. Earlier this week the cable company revealed some more details of its pending wireless deployment. The firm said it is going to build its own 3G network--using 1xEVDO Rev A technology--and use the wireless spectrum it has acquired by bidding in the 700 MHz spectrum auction and the AWS spectrum auction (in the AWS spectrum auction it bid as part of the SpectrumCo joint venture).

Cox, of course, is not stranger to wireless. It first deployed wireless back in the 1990s in some markets in California and Las Vegas but then sold its holdings to Sprint PCS. The cable company tried again to be a wireless player in 2005 when it became part of the Pivot joint venture along with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Advance/NewHouse Communications and Sprint. Those companies teamed up to provide a bundled quad-play offering that was supposed to roll out across the country. Although Pivot launched in a few markets, it floundered from lack of interest and uptake and was finally dismantled earlier this year.

Cox now says it will build a wireless network in its cable service area--including cities such as New Orleans, Omaha and Las Vegas--serving about 23 million potential customers. It will use the Sprint Nextel network for roaming outside those areas. Although initially it will deploy EVDO Rev. A, Cox said it would begin testing LTE in 2009.

Cox is being cagey about what types of services and pricing plans it will unveil to differentiate itself from its competitors. I certainly hope it plans to do more than just offer a bundled quad-play offering. I don't think that alone will draw enough consumers to justify the network buildout.

I wonder if we will finally see the mobile DVR player that I've been hearing about since 2005 when the Pivot players talked about it but never launched it. Supposedly the mobile DVR that Pivot was going to offer would provide the consumer with the ability to remotely program their home digital video recorder from their phone and even use their phone to get some (or all) of their cable video content delivered to their handset.

Cox has said that it wants to control all aspects of this latest wireless offering, so it makes sense that cable company would integrate its cable TV content with the mobile phone. If Cox is able to do that, it might have the differentiated offering that it needs to succeed. - Sue

19. Sean Maloney, EVP, chief sales and marketing officer, Intel

Sue Marek — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:11:37 -0400

What makes him powerful: Since joining Intel in 1982, Maloney has risen through the ranks at the silicon maker and is widely known as being one of Intel's most aggressive and effective managers. Maloney started his Intel career in its European headquarters where he spent nine years, first as Intel UK's manager of applications engineering, then as country manager of Intel UK, and director of marketing for Intel Europe. He worked for Intel in Hong Kong and then in 1998 returned to the U.S. where he headed up Intel's worldwide sales.

Because of his reputation for being a problem-solver and a troubleshooter, it's no surprise that Maloney has become Intel's biggest champion of WiMAX, which he envisions being incorporated in laptops and other devices worldwide.

Maloney believes that much of Intel's future rests on the success of WiMAX and just as the company championed WiFi in the late 1990s and early 2000, the company is doing the same with WiMAX.

Earlier this year Intel joined a powerful group of investors that includes Comcast, Google, Time Warner Cable and others to invest $3.2 billion in the new Clearwire venture which is a combination of Sprint and Clearwire's WiMAX businesses. That deal is supposed to close by year-end.

Maloney did stir up some controversy earlier this year when he was quoted as saying that WiMAX and LTE should be harmonized because the two technologies are 80 percent similar. Although many other technology experts have noted the similarity between the two technologies, Maloney's comments drew some fire from critics who saw it as a sign that Intel was already plotting an exit strategy in case WiMAX wasn't a success.

But that move seems unlikely and Maloney was on hand in Baltimore earlier this month to celebrate Sprint's launch of Xohm mobile WiMAX service.

Expect Maloney to continue to play a big role in WiMAX's future and to be instrumental in getting mobile WiMAX chipsets incorporated into laptops and more.

Clearwire expects 30 million subs by 2017

Sue Marek — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:09:28 -0400

Clearwire executives told investors this morning that the "new" Clearwire will have 30 million customers and will generate $17.5 billion in annual revenue by 2017. Scott Richardson, Clearwire chief strategy officer, said that Clearwire subscribers will use a mixture of fixed and mobile voice and data services.

In May, the new Clearwire was formed by Sprint and the existing Clearwire, along with $3.2 billion in financing from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, Google, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners. Clearwire CEO Benjamin Wolff assured investors that the new Clearwire will not be controlled by Sprint. The carrier will have seven of the 13 seats on the Clearwire board but one of those seats must be an independent director. In addition, Wolff provided more details on how companies such as Sprint, Comcast and others will resell Clearwire's service to subscribers.

For more:
- see this article

Related stories:
Comcast CEO offers insight on Clearwire investment
Seybold: The New Clearwire - Will it succeed?
New Sprint-Clearwire deal a shot in the arm for mobile WiMAX

Sound Off - Industry players discuss the Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX deal

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:49:32 -0400

On May 7 Sprint and Clearwire announced plans to combine their WiMax businesses and create a new company (called Clearwire) with a $3.2 billion investment from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and others. Here's what members of the wireless industry are saying about the deal. If you would like to weigh in on this deal, answer our poll question here.

"The biggest challenge is getting all these companies that are important participants to agree on the essential value proposition, both from a marketing and distribution standpoint. How will this relate to Sprint, if Sprint remains a standalone wireless company? If Sprint continues to be standalone wireless company as it is today, how do they promote the value proposition of the new WiMAX entity vis-a-vis their own cellular network? What is the value proposition for Sprint if there is Clearwire? That's a key issue. Another issue is defining the essential value proposition of this network, which will essentially be a 4G network built form scratch. If its value proposition is data, this is the first time in the history of the U.S. since Metricom, that we will have a network that is solely for data. Will it be sustainable as a data-only network? I presume you will be able to run VOIP but what does that mean to the Sprint's cellular network? What does that mean for the cable companies that are already offering essentially VOIP service? --Mark Lowenstein, managing director, Mobile Ecosystem.
"This is a big day for WiMAX, and it lends a lot of credibility for us to build our business model. We have always talked about the business model first. We are talking about broadening the chipset system, getting WiMAX into consumer electronics, eliminating subsidies and instituting at-home provisioning so customers don't have to stand in line. Those are all part in parcel to really change the mobile broadband experience in a way it ought to be." --Atish Gude, senior vice president of mobile broadband operations with Xohm.
"The new Clearwire will have a substantial time-to-market advantage over others who just acquired spectrum. Clearwire will have a solid foundation for next-generation products and services. It's the largest spectrum position held by a company in America. It will provide high-capacity services at a low cost." --Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, during a conference call about the new venture.
"This will dramatically advance WiMAX. Our expanded relationship with Intel and Google will help fulfill the vision of an open network. We will resell wireless through wholesale arrangements and bring in new wholesale revenue streams." --Ben Wolff, CEO of Clearwire, during a conference call about the new venture.
"The New Clearwire announcement is a much-needed good news story for the WiMAX industry after months of delays, uncertainty and speculation. This is important news not only in the U.S., but internationally. Many greenfield and 2G operators worldwide are closely watching the development (or lack of development) of WiMAX in the U.S. as an indication of the real prospects for 802.16e. Although I don't believe the new Clearwire deployment will reach 100 million POPs as quickly as 2010 (as stated by Clearwire), it will provide the much-needed volumes to the emerging device and application ecosystem upon which WiMAX hopes to distance itself from LTE. It remains to be seen how these diverse players will learn to work together and what will happen to Sprint's 3G + network." --Adlane Fellah, CEO & Founder, MARAVEDIS Inc.
"TBR believes Sprint and Clearwire's May 7 announcement--that the two companies will combine their WiMAX businesses into a single entity--has the potential to establish a significant competitor to the traditional U.S. wireless operators, one with a time-to-market advantage for 4G services. Moreover, the affiliation with cable operators, particularly the nations' two largest cable operators Comcast and Time Warner Cable, helps address questions regarding the business model supporting WiMAX deployment. From an equipment perspective, the announcement provides a vehicle for a number of firms seeking a presence in the next-generation mobile business, firms that had to take a back seat to larger, more established incumbents in 3G deployments. "The deal will provide efficiencies--and funding--to expedite the rollout of the network, providing the new company with a time-to-market advantage by launching a 4G network well before Verizon Wireless' and AT&T's planned LTE launches between 2010 and 2012. TBR expects the combined WiMAX assets of Sprint and Clearwire to produce significant synergies, allowing the companies to provide a nationwide network at a lower cost." --Kate Price, analyst, Technology Business Research.

FEATURE: Sound off - Industry players discuss the Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX deal

Fri, 09 May 2008 06:59:53 -0400

On May 7 Sprint and Clearwire announced plans to combine their WiMax businesses and create a new company (called Clearwire) with a $3.2 billion investment from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and others. Here's what members of the wireless industry are saying about the deal. If you would like to weigh in on this deal, answer our poll question here.

"The biggest challenge is getting all these companies that are important participants to agree on the essential value proposition, both from a marketing and distribution standpoint. How will this relate to Sprint, if Sprint remains a standalone wireless company? If Sprint continues to be standalone wireless company as it is today, how do they promote the value proposition of the new WiMAX entity vis-a-vis their own cellular network? What is the value proposition for Sprint if there is Clearwire? That's a key issue..." --Mark Lowenstein, managing director, Mobile Ecosystem.

Click here to see more of Mark Lowenstein's thoughts as well as what Atish Gude, Dan Hesse, Ben Wolff, Adlane Fellah and Kate Price have to say about the deal...

Bye Bye Xohm

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Bye Bye Xohm

Less than a year after Xohm made its big brand debut at Sprint's Technology Conference, the cryptic name for Sprint's WiMAX network is already dead. Thanks to this morning's big announcement about Sprint and Clearwire combining their WiMAX businesses, Xohm will be relegated to the wireless brand graveyard where it will rest in peace alongside so many other dead brands--Cingular, AirTouch, VoiceStream--to name a few.

Of course, the amazing thing about Xohm is that it was a brand that never even had a product. Just as we were getting accustomed to its weird new-age sound (rhymes with Zone) it has been replaced. Consumers really never had a chance to get familiar with Xohm, it died before it made its commercial debut. Ã‚Â

Thanks to today's merger Xohm will now be the new Clearwire, a much easier to pronounce name that already has some consumer awareness in markets where Clearwire has launched its WiMAX services.

Of course today's news is much bigger than just a brand name. It's about the formation of a new company that will likely revitalize the entire mobile WiMAX ecosystem. To recap: Sprint is merging its Xohm Business unit with Clearwire and heavyweights Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners will invest $3.2 billion in the combined company.

Of course, I'm skeptical whether this hodgepodge of powerful players will be able to pull off such a complex deal. Leadership will be incredibly important. Wireless legend Craig McCaw will be the chairman of the board and he has assembled an impressive group of board members including Brian Roberts of Comcast, Glenn Britt of Time Warner, John Stanton of Trilogy Equity Partners and Dan Hesse of Sprint. It appears to me that McCaw has brought together some of his trusted players from his early days in wireless to be part of this new venture. Stanton (the former head of Western Wireless) and Hesse are old-time McCaw Cellular/AT&T Wireless guys who were known for their innovation and perseverance. Those are two characteristics that this new venture will certainly need in the months ahead. -Sue

Introducing the "new" Clearwire

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

After months of rumors and speculation, the deal that the mobile WiMAX industry has been hoping for finally became a reality. This morning Sprint and Clearwire announced that they will be combining their WiMAX businesses and creating a new company that will include a $3.2 billion investment from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners. The deal is complex, so here's a breakdown of the key elements:

The "new" Clearwire: The new company will be named Clearwire. It will include Sprint's Xohm unit. Sprint will contribute its 2.5 GHz spectrum to the new Clearwire in exchange for an ownership stake in the new company. Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff will be the CEO of the new Clearwire. Barry West, Sprint's CTO and Xohm business unit leader will be the president. The new company will include staff from both the existing Clearwire and Sprint Xohm business unit. Headquarters will be in Kirkland, Wash., with significant presence and R&D in Herndon, Va.

MVNO deals: Comcast, Time Warner, Bright House and Clearwire will operate as MVNOs selling Sprint 3G services. But unlike the former Pivot JV, these players will sell the 3G wireless services using their own brand names. Once the 4G WiMAX network is built, Comcast, Time Warner, Bright House and Sprint will be MVNOs on the Clearwire network.

Sprint's role: Sprint won't be involved in the day-to-day operations of Clearwire but as the largest shareholder it will have input on the portfolio and the go-to-market strategy.

Intel: Intel will work with manufacturers to embed WiMAX chips into laptops and devices. It will also have the option to enter into a 3G or 4G wholesale agreement with Clearwire and Sprint if it wants too.

Google: Google will partner with Clearwire on an open Internet business model. Clearwire will support the Android operating system. In addition, Google will be the default provider of Web and local search on Sprint's network and Sprint will preload several Google services including Google Maps for mobile, Gmail and YouTube. Like Intel, Google will have the option to have a 3G or 4G wholesale agreement with Clearwire or Sprint if it wants too.

For more details
- see this press release.

Click here to see a timeline of the Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX deal.

Click here to see a chart depicting Clearwire's new spectrum position.

Cable companies exit Pivot JV with Sprint

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have ended their joint venture, branded Pivot, with beleaguered mobile carrier Sprint Nextel. Current Pivot subscribers will have the option of switching over to Sprint's regular services with comparable minutes and pricing. Comcast told MultiChannel News that it stopped selling Pivot services as of Tuesday. Cox and Time Warner both plan to start notifying subscribers about their options post haste.

Recent rumors, however, suggested the cable companies might be looking to work with Sprint in a different capacity: Comcast and Time Warner are reportedly mulling a $1.5 billion investment in a WiMAX wireless venture along with Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Intel and possibly others. Several analysts have discounted this deal, saying that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome and that they don't see this deal being any more viable than Pivot, which, apparently, has proven to not be viable at all.

Take a stroll down memory lane with these Pivot-related stories from years passed:

Nov. 1, 2005 - Four cable companies team with Sprint in $200M JV
Nov. 13, 2006 - More details on the Sprint-Cable JV finally emerge
Feb. 22, 2007 - Sprint-Cable JV quietly making strides toward quad-play
April 3, 2007 - FCC privacy rules could block Sprint's Pivot
April 15, 2007 - Comcast CEO on killer apps for Pivot
April 30, 2007 - Time Warner announces Pivot details
Nov. 2, 2007 - Sprint's about-face on Pivot
Nov. 8, 2007 - Time Warner says Pivot demand "tepid"
Nov. 15, 2007 - Report: Pivot's cable companies to go it alone
Mar. 28, 2008 - Editorial: Cable's love affair with wireless

For the full backstory:
- check out the entire timeline of Sprint's ill-fated Pivot
- read this report from MultiChannel News

Cable's love affair with wireless

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:59:59 -0400

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Cable's love affair with wireless

I'm amazed at the cable industry's never-ending fascination with wireless. Over the years there have been many attempts by cable companies to get a foothold in wireless and build the elusive quad-play offering-cable, wireless, wireline and Internet. So far none of these attempts have succeeded.Ã‚Â Ã‚Â

The most recent rumor circulating is that Comcast and Time Warner will invest $1.5 billion in a WiMAX wireless venture along with Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Intel and possibly others. Several analysts have discounted this deal, saying that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome and that they don't see this deal being any more viable than Pivot.

As you may recall, Pivot was the $200 million joint venture between Sprint and cable companies Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications formed back in November 2005.Ã‚Â

In its early stages, I heard rumblings about how Pivot would be much more than a wireless resale deal. There was speculation that the cable companies would leverage their programming deals to deliver content over the mobile phone. And there was lots of talk about a shared mobile DVR service that would let cable customers program their DVR on their mobile phone. Based upon what I heard, it sounded as if the cable operators would control the video content delivered to Sprint subscriber's phones.

But that vision never came to fruition. Pivot ended up being strictly a wireless voice play that didn't get much traction with cable consumers. In November Sprint announced that Pivot was plagued with provisioning problems and it had no intention of expanding it beyond the 20 markets where the service is currently offered.Ã‚Â

If the Pivot joint venture couldn't iron out all the provisioning issues, I don't see how this potential WiMAX wireless venture will be able to do it. Wireless is a complex business and provisioning customers on the network isn't an easy task.Ã‚Â Plus any sort of venture formed with so many different companies seems like a train wreck waiting to happen. How can you possibly balance all the various interests of such powerful players as Comcast, Time Warner, Sprint, lntel and Google?Ã‚Â -Sue

Report:Cable MSOs to invest in Sprint-Clearwire

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:59:57 -0400

Several publications are reporting today that cable TV players Comcast and Time Warner Cable may invest in a WiMAX network joint venture being discussed by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire. That joint venture, of course, would represent the resurrection of a previous Sprint-Clearwire joint venture that went south along with Sprint's general corporate health. This might just be the missing piece for an effort to build a national WiMAX network that could challenge the likes of AT&T and Verizon Communications in the market for triple play and quadruple play services. Sprint's cable TV partners were strangely absent from the first WiMAX joint venture idea, and it will be interesting to see if other cable TV players are invited to join the effort. The price could be high, as Comcast reportedly could invest $1 billion and Time Warner $500 million under current discussions, but those companies could gain a mobile broadband dimension they don't have now. And for Sprint? Many observers believe WiMAX can save Sprint if the required investment doesn't kill it first. With that in mind, the more investors, the merrier. -Dan

For more:
- see this story at The Washington Post

Sprint's about-face on Pivot

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:59:59 -0400

Sprint's about-face on Pivot

Pivot--the much-hailed $200 million joint venture between Sprint and cable companies Comcast, Time Warner, Cable, Cox Communications and Brighthouse Networks-appears to be in trouble. The joint venture-which had aspirations to offer consumers the elusive quad-play by providing them with a combination of wireless, fixed, video and Internet services from one provider with one bill-is currently offered in 33 markets and can be purchased in about 20 percent of Sprint's retail stores. But don't expect to see it grow beyond its current coverage area or achieve broader distribution any time soon.

During Sprint's third quarter earnings call yesterday, it was quietly revealed by CFO Paul Saleh that Pivot is plagued by provisioning issues and Sprint has decided to not expand the service into other markets or offer it in more retail stores.

Specifically, Saleh said that Sprint is focusing on simplifying its business and therefore has decided not to expand Pivot. He added that Pivot is difficult to provision and deliver to customers in a timely and simple manner. However, he added that the company's relationship with the cable joint venture is still strong and that they are looking at ways to simplify the offering.

I'm not surprised that Sprint and the cable joint venture have had difficulty provisioning this offering. When I spoke with the Pivot executives over a year ago, they talked about how difficult it was to integrate the different billing systems, particularly since cable and wireless bills have different types of details.

And Pivot has yet to live up to its aspirations. When it was first conceived by the various partners, the vision was to have this hybrid offering that not only merged billing and customer care but also incorporated entertainment services such as video and DVR services. That certainly hasn't happened.

Several analysts have also questioned Pivot's potential conflict with Sprint's WiMAX network rollout. By going after residential broadband customers with its WiMAX high-speed offering, Xohm will likely go head-to-head with its Pivot partners.

I suspect this recent decision by Sprint to not expand its Pivot markets is a sign that Pivot's future and the joint venture with the cable companies may be doomed. -Sue

P.S. We have some excellent speakers and panels planned for our upcoming Wireless Voice conference in San Francisco Nov. 13-14. Don't miss out on keynotes from Tony Saigh, head of business development, mobile operators at Skype, Dave Hagan, president and CEO of Boingo and Greg Young, vice president, engineering & product management at Qualcomm QChat. Click here to see the full agenda.

Sprint's SpectrumCo withdrawal a smart move

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Sprint's SpectrumCo withdrawal a smart move Ã‚Â

Buried deep within a Time Warner Cable 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission lies a nugget of very interesting news for the wireless industry: last quarter Sprint notified its cable partners in the SpectrumCo consortium of its intention to withdraw from the venture.

As you may recall, SpectrumCo, which consisted of Sprint and four major cable operators including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Brighthouse Networks, was a big winner in the advanced wireless services spectrum auctions last fall. SpectrumCo snatched up 137 licenses for $2.37 billion, achieving a near nationwide footprint of B block licenses. The licenses include such key markets as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Although Sprint was part of the SpectrumCo venture, it always played a minor role probably because its equity stake was less than 5 percent. It didn't serve as a member of the bidding consortium, nor did it actively participate in the auction. In fact, Sprint always seemed far removed from the SpectrumCo activities.

After the AWS spectrum auction, I asked Sprint about SpectrumCo's plans for the licenses and the firm would only say that the licenses reflected the cable companies' strong commitment to wireless and then quickly referred me to its cable partners. In fact, Sprint has always been much more interested in talking about Pivot's progress. Pivot, of course, is the quad-play offering from Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse that gives consumers a combination of wireless, fixed, video and Internet services from one provider with one bill. Pivot uses Sprint's existing wireless network and in some ways the cable firms serve as wireless resellers because they resell Sprint's services to their cable customers and bundle it in one bill.

I suspect Sprint realized that its small equity interest in SpectrumCo wasn't enough to have any clout with the cable firms about the use of the spectrum.Ã‚Â At one time, it was thought that the spectrum would be used to complement Sprint's existing CDMA network with advanced data services. However, that role now seems to be filled by Sprint's upcoming WiMAX network.

I think Sprint was smart to back away from the SpectrumCo partnership to focus on its Pivot cable partnership. Currently Pivot seems like little more than an integrated billing offering. But the joint venture has always hinted that Pivot could be so much more. We're still waiting to see if Pivot can produce remote DVR capability, integrated email, or clever programming tie-ins between the mobile phone and the cable TV. Sprint is smart to stay focused on making Pivot a success before it ventures into other costly liaisons with the cable industry. -Sue

P.S. You may have seen the news announced earlier this week thatÃ‚Â FiberTower Corp. will provide backhaul services in seven of Sprint's initial WiMAX launch markets. FiberTower President and CEO Michael Gallagher is one of our featured speakers at FierceMarkets' Beyond T1: Evaluating Backhaul Options conference Oct. 2 in Dallas, where he'll talk about wireless backhaul. Check out our agenda here: http://www.backhaulevent.com/viewagenda.php

Editor's Corner

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:01:39 -0500

Sprint-Cable JV Quietly Making Strides Toward Quad-play
While many of us were distracted by the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona last week, an interesting development occurred on the U.S. wireless landscape. As part of the joint venture between Sprint and four cable companies, Time Warner Cable launched its Mobile Access wireless service (powered by Sprint) in Austin, TX and Raleigh, NC.

This isn't the first of the joint venture market launches. Comcast debuted its quadruple-play offering in two markets: Boston and Portland, OR, last December. But Time Warner's entry is significant because not only is it offering voice services but also some customized local TV programming.

The data service is structured similar to a cable TV plan, with customers paying $15 per month for a basic service that includes unlimited wireless Internet, email access and Sprint picture mail. There's also an enhanced package that costs $25 per month and includes the basic services plus Time Warner Mobile TV programming. The mobile TV offering has a variety of channels that Sprint currently offers through its Sprint TV service plus local news, traffic and weather channels. And like the Sprint TV offering, premium channels are available for an additional $4.95 per channel.

But the Time Warner Mobile TV has another interesting content tie-in--customers can view their cable TV programming guides on the phone. This appears to be a step toward what I thought was one of the key visions of the JV--providing wireless customers with the ability to remotely program their cable DVR through their wireless phones.

Although that service isn't available yet, it appears that the Sprint-cable JV is making some strides toward that goal. But I'd also like to see some more tie-ins between the cable programming and the mobile programming. Current Analysis analyst Westin Henderek writes in an intelligence report that Time Warner and Sprint need to resolve any potential DRM issues so that this type of joint content offering will become available. And he also urges the two companies to roll out their remote programmable DVR service before year-end to build momentum for the Mobile Access service. I agree with Henderek. Currently the Time Warner and Comcast offerings are little more than wireless resell deals. I want to see more than just clever pricing bundles. I want interesting product tie-ins, shared content and remote DVR access. That's what I think it will take to make these offers truly compelling for consumers. -Sue

P.S. I'd like to welcome our new monthly columnist Andrew Seybold of the Andrew Seybold Group. Many of you may know Andy. He is a colorful and outspoken wireless industry visionary and consultant. He is president of Andrew Seybold's Outlook 4Mobility, which produces electronic news and commentary. In addition, his firm produces the Wireless Data University. The day-long seminar is held in conjunction with the CTIA Wireless conferences. Andy's first column appears in today's newsletter (see below).

And finally, I'd like to personally invite you to come join me and the other FierceWireless editors at our networking party in Orlando. The party, called 'From Orlando With Love,' will be held on March 28 (during the CTIA Wireless 2007 conference) from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Destiny Nightclub. RSVP here.

Auction Watch: EchoStar-DirecTV in the lead

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:01:38 -0400

After the fifth round of the FCC's advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum auction, EchoStar-DirecTV is in the lead with $352,486,000 worth of provisionally winning bids (or PWBs in FCC-speak) for spectrum that covers more than 352 million people. T-Mobile USA is right on the JV's heels, though, with $324,685,000 worth of PWBs of spectrum that covers more than 285 million potential customers. Next comes the SpectrumCo consortium, which includes Sprint Nextel, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Bresnan, and Bright House with $212,301,000 worth of spectrum covering almost 160 million potential customers. Cingular rounds out the top four with $123,737,000 covering more than 70 million potential customers.

The gross PWBs thus far totals $1,473,940,600, and that's just day one of the two-day auction. Things slowed down as it entered the fifth round yesterday, with only 125 new PWBs coming out of the the final round. It looks like only 78 of the original 600 licenses remain without a PWB. Also, special shout out to "The Dolan Family," which currently ranks seventh on the bidders list, and bears no known filial ties to our editor, Brian Dolan.

For more on the AWS auction:
- see this .pdf of the results from yesterday
- check out the overall stats

Related Articles:
Verizon to do Alltel's bidding? Article
Will T-Mobile go big at AWS auction? Article
Time Warner may bid for AWS auction Article
Leap Wireless coming back with a vengeance Article

ALSO NOTED: Sprint Nextel expands agreement with Time Warner to offer voice; Motorola warns of possible business disruption wit

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 20:01:27 -0400

> Sprint Nextel expanded its agreement with Time Warner Cable to offer voice services to the cable firm's customers. Article

> Motorola has warned that the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could disrupt its business. Article

> Sprint Nextel said the successful completion of its EV-DO Rev. A tests has prompted it to accelerate deployment of the technology during the fourth quarter. Article

And Finally... Alltel's own ads on hundreds of blogs are causing confusion as visitors are encouraged to join a lawsuit against Alltel over its new discount-calling plan. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

Time Warner may bid for AWS spectrum

Tue, 09 May 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Time Warner Cable said it is registering with the FCC to participate in next month's advanced wireless services auction, although it made it clear the company might not bid. "We're evaluating whether it would make sense for us [to bid on] wireless," said CEO Glenn Britt during an investor's conference. Time Warner along with Comcast, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications already have a joint mobile partnership with Sprint Nextel to offer a quadruple play. Other reports indicate Time Warner may bid with its cable partners for spectrum. If it happens, where does that leave Sprint Nextel in the long run? We could see another formidable wireless competitor.

To read more about Time Warner Cable's potential AWS auction plans:
- check out this article from BetaNews

SPOTLIGHT: Lily Pad hotspots give Cincinnati free WiFi

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:01:25 -0500

A non-profit in Cincinnati has come up with an innovative idea to create islands of free WiFi around the city without any involvement from the city itself. Project Lily Pad, part of the non-profit group Give Back Cincinnati, is finding sponsors to contribute small amounts of money to fund various hotspots for an extended amount of time. Surprisingly, Time Warner Cable is one of the sponsors. Twenty locations are online now with 55 more in development. Article

FCC 911 deadline for VoIP on Monday

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:01:35 -0400

VoIP subscribers that have yet to comply with the FCC's E911 mandate may have their service cut off effective Monday, the agency's deadline for compliance. VoIP services have been emailing their customers to notify them of potential problems with dialing 911. Customers are required to respond to these emails indicating that they understand the issue. Those that do not respond to the emails will likely have their service terminated. Some VoIP service providers, like Time Warner Cable, have said they do not see the need to disconnect any of their users.

For more on the pending E911 VoIP deadline:
- view this piece from AP

Time Warner cable still interested in wireless

Tue, 09 Aug 2005 20:01:39 -0400

Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said his company is still interested in entering the US wireless market. Time Warner Cable is considering a number of options, including reselling service from an established carrier like Sprint through an MVNO. Britt also said Time Warner Cable could make an investment in a wireless company, either alone or as part of a consortium of cable companies. While Sprint remains at the top of many cable industry insiders list of potential partners, many insiders expect Time Warner and other cable companies to form a consortium and acquire T-Mobile USA. T-Mobile USA's parent, Deutsche Telekom, has repeatedly said it has no interest in selling its US operations, though rumors suggest that the global carrier might be changing its mind.

For more on Time Warner Cable's latest wireless murmurs:
- read this blog entry

Rumor Mill: Comcast may ink wireless deal with T-Mobile, Sprint

Tue, 17 May 2005 20:01:39 -0400

Cable companies continue to look aggressively at wireless as the next offering they need for their service bundles. Comcast in particular has said it wants to launch a wireless play as soon as one becomes available. Insiders speculate that Comcast could sign an MVNO deal with either Sprint or T-Mobile. Sprint would be the obvious choice, though some analysts think T-Mobile could be a better partner. Some insiders speculate that Comcast could either make a solo play to acquire T-Mobile or form a consortium of cable companies and push to buy the carrier. T-Mobile USA's parent, Deutsche Telekom, has repeatedly said it has no plans to sell its US carrier.

While rumors have been stirring for months, no cable company has yet to ink a comprehensive nationwide MVNO deal. Earlier this year, Sprint agreed to a trial reseller agreement with Time Warner Cable for the Kansas City area. Cablevision also recently announced plans to resell Sprint's service through the Cablevision website.

For more on the cable wireless play rumors:
- read this report from today's Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)