MediaTek targets IoT; Apple's iPhone 6s Plus costs $256 to make

More wireless news from across the Web:

> AT&T might face a $1.1 billion charge related to DirecTV's Venezuela assets. Reuters article

> Nokia Networks said it achieved 262.5 Mbps speeds via 3-band carrier aggregation on SoftBank's commercial network. Post

> Sprint MVNO RingPlus is now offering 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 1000 MBs of data per month for free. Prepaid Phone News article

> Google Maps is now available on the Apple Watch. Phone Scoop article

> MediaTek, which makes chips for smartphones, announced new products intended for the Internet of Things market. Bloomberg article

> An analyst is predicting Apple will release a cheaper iPhone this spring. Business Insider article

> According to IHS, Apple's iPhone 6s Plus costs $256 to make. Re/code article

> CCA's chief Steve Berry said the trade association's carrier members will participate in the upcoming FCC spectrum incentive auction of 600 MHz radio waves. Multichannel News article

> Touchscreen technology maker Synaptics reportedly rejected a $4 billion acquisition offer from a Chinese investment group. Bloomberg article

> Apple is on the hook for a $4.2 million payment to the L.A. school district for a botched attempt to equip students with iPads. Engadget article

> Microsoft appears poised to announce the new Lumia 950 and 950XL. Phone Scoop article

> The Apple Watch sells for an average of $529, according to new estimates. Reuters article

> Apple appears to be taking a swipe at Google with its new language on customer privacy. Fortune article

> The world's largest container-shipping company, Maersk Line, will use AT&T to track some of its goods. WSJ article

> Apple is now selling digital books, movies and music in China. Release

> GE said its Predix Internet of Things platform will generate $6 billion in revenues this year. TechCrunch article

> Google's new Nexus phones, the 6P and 5X, support LTE category 6. Opensignal post

> Advertisers continue to fret over Apple's ad-blocking technology. NYP article

Telecom News

> Frontier Communications says it sees potential revenue opportunities to expand FiOS and business services in California, Florida, and Texas -- three markets where it will enter next year when it completes its acquisition of Verizon's assets in those states. Article

Online Video News

> Digital measurement firm comScore is acquiring set-top box data measurement specialist Rentrak in an all-stock, share-for-share merger that could set venerable TV ratings firm Nielsen back on its heels. Article

Installer News

> Ericsson predicts that microwave will become the dominant backhaul technology by 2020 with 65 percent of cell sites using microwave to backhaul traffic. The company, which just released it Microwave 2020 report, said that microwave will dominate not only because of the capacity it can offer but also because of the economics and the lack of fiber in certain areas. Article

> Tower Cloud has begun the installation of a 1,300 mile dark fiber network in Florida, one that will serve one of the top U.S. wireless operators. Article

European Wireless News

> Vodafone said it is the first mobile operator in Portugal to launch voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) services, offering improved voice quality and the ability to use voice and data services simultaneously over its 4G network. Article

Cable News

> TiVo has formally announced its next generation DVR set-top, the Bolt, a device that includes robust commercial-skipping tools, an interface that blends OTT and linear programming options, and 4K capabilities. Article

And finally… Ting is suggesting customers turn off Wi-Fi Assist in Apple's iOS 9. Post