More wireless news from across the Web:
> A U.S. court won't hear legal arguments from the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition until May, a situation that could stall the start of the FCC's planned 600 MHz incentive auction of TV broadcasters' spectrum. B&C article
> Driven by the Apple Watch, IDC said wearable device vendors shipped a total of 27.4 million units during the holiday quarter. Release
> According to a new report, Verizon inked a $20 million multi-year deal with dance-focused YouTube network DanceOn. The Information article
> KT, DoCoMo SK Telecom and Verizon formed the new 5G Open Trial Specification Alliance. This alliance "plans to develop an aligned 5G trial specification that would serve as a common, extendable platform for different 5G trial activity around the world, focused on technical fundamentals and promoting a more inclusive, open, and collaborative approach to the development of 5G trial networks." Release
> A top Verizon executive said the carrier isn't currently planning to follow Sprint by offering device leasing payment plans. Wireless Week article
> HP said it now expects to lay off 3,000 people by the end of fiscal 2016. Reuters article
> Microsoft said it will buy Xamarin, which provides software to help developers write applications for mobile devices. The deal could be worth as much as $300 million. NYT article
> Ericsson is showing off technology it said improves the iPhones battery when the device is running on a wireless network powered by Ericsson technology and equipment. Re/code article
> T-Mobile joined the CCA is supporting the FCC's 39-month, $1.75 billion target for TV broadcasters' relocation schedule following the 600 MH incentive auction. CED article
Telecom News
> Nokia's acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent may still be quite young, but the vendor is already seeing growing opportunities to apply SDN and NFV wares to emerging applications like SD-WAN and combined IP and optical functions. The vendor is demonstrating all of its SDN, NFV and optical products and services here at the Mobile World Congress under the Nokia brand. Article
> Windstream's decision to segment its business services into three areas -- SMB, enterprise and carrier -- appeared to pay off in the fourth quarter of 2015 as it reported that enterprise revenue climbed 4.6 percent year over year to $498 million, while its carrier services saw a sequential rise of $2 million to $171 million. Article
Wireless Tech News
> Just a year ago, NYU Wireless was concerned the U.S. was falling behind in the global race to 5G. Fast forward a year and a few weeks, throw in a few dozen announcements leading up to and at Mobile World Congress 2016, and things are looking much better for the U.S. Article
European Wireless News
> Close to 100 million new mobile money accounts were registered during 2015, bringing the total number of accounts to 411 million globally, the GSMA announced. Article
> Ericsson said the launch of a world first live E-band microwave link with 5 Gbps capacity will enable Egypt-based operator Mobinil to become a data centric operator. Article
Cable News
> Matching other top 10 cable companies, each of which reported their best customer growth metrics since the start of the Great Recession in 2008, Cablevision said it reduced fourth-quarter pay-TV customer losses to just 10,000, down from 34,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014. Article
> Further confirming an increasingly well-understood correlation, research firm IHS said the proliferation of Netflix SVOD services has caused devaluation in movie and TV transactional sales in numerous global markets. Article
And finally… AMC's The Walking Dead -- already getting top honors as the best-rated 18-49 viewer show on TV -- also has the top spot when it comes to the biggest average Twitter audience this season. Article