Tier 1 U.S. carriers to sell Gear S smart watch; Apple: 46% have updated to iOS 8

Quick news from around the Web.

> According to ABI Research, the market for Voice over LTE technology will total $30 billion through 2019. Release

> Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint and T-Mobile US all said they would sell the Samsung Gear S smart watch sometime this fall. Article

> Apple's iOS 8 operating system is causing apps to crash about 3.3 percent of the time, or 67 percent more than last year's version, according to a report by Crittercism. Article

> Apple said that 46 percent of its mobile users have updated to iOS 8. Article

> Alaska Wireless Network is offering LTE roaming through an unnamed Tier 1 U.S. operator thanks to a deal with Syniverse, the vendor said. Release

> Apple spends up to $247 to build an iPhone 6, according to IHS. Article

> Samsung will discontinue sales of laptops in Europe--for now. Article

> AT&T is now offering its GoPhone Wireless Home Phone & Internet service, with options including 5 GB of data for $60 a month or 10 GB of data for $80 a month. Post

> Sprint said its "all-new" network received a 1st place RootScore Award from RootMetrics for data performance at the O'Hare International Airport. Post

Online Video News

> Over-the-top video may have disrupted broadcaster and pay-TV operators' business models, but when it comes to original content, SVOD providers Netflix and Amazon are traveling a well-worn path. Article

> Sony is continuing to invest in its streaming-to-console strategy, with the chief of its gaming unit, Andrew House, confirming to The Wall Street Journal that it still intends to introduce an over-the-top television service in the U.S. by year-end and is in talks with potential content partners now. Article

Telecom News

> Lumos Networks has officially completed the buildout of its Project Ark fiber-to-the-cell (FTTC) network initiative and has already begun testing with one wholesale customer. Article

> Tw telecom, which is being acquired by Level 3 Communications, is adding more firepower to its existing network in San Diego by extending service into the various business parks located in Carlsbad. Article

Cable News

> With the FCC's commentary period for its proposed merger with Time Warner Cable ending at midnight Wednesday, and Comcast set to release a document responding to the deal's critics, Comcast Executive VP David L. Cohen teased the tone of the pending release in a blog post. Article

> The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers has selected Liberty Global EVP and CTO Balan Nair to chair the 2015 Cable-Tec Expo, set for Oct. 13-16 of next year in New Orleans. Article

> The government of Japan is working with cable operators, broadcasters, TV manufacturers and a number of other constituencies with the goal of establishing ubiquitous 4K services across Japan's TV industry by 2016, and broad 8K services in time for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Article

European Wireless News

> Plans to eliminate mobile roaming fees across the European Union could be delayed or watered down, according to interpretations of a draft proposal by the European Commission seen by some media outlets. Article

> The head of Vodafone UK said he plans to return the operator to growth in terms of both revenue and profits within the next two years, and intends to achieve that goal by continuing to improve the quality of the company's network service. Article

> The smartphone revolution has brought down old titans and allowed new upstarts to rise. Industry Voices

And finally… iPhone 6 Plus owners are accidentally bending their phones in their pockets. Article