So we never expected that Google would actually become a wireless licensee, but the FCC certainly did not get its wish for a bunch of new competition in the wireless industry. AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless made up 85% of the proceeds from the nearly $20 billion the 700 MHz auction garnered. By our estimates, more than half of the nation’s wireless subscribers belong to one of the two providers, and that will likely only increase in the coming years. At least AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless can still slug it out for the “King of the Hill” title.
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It’s official, AT&T is on our side. The carrier recently put out a press release that quotes Tim McGhee, director of national sponsorships for AT&T: “We are thrilled for Jeff, RCR and the entire No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet team on a fantastic win at Bristol Motor Speedway.” While we don’t know who “Jeff” is, what “No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet team” means or where “Bristol Motor Speedway” is, we are just glad AT&T is a fan of RCR. We’re sure they are reading this right now.
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Timing is everything: Just as the FCC comes out with its broadband report, which promised to better define broadband, Tellabs releases its own broadband survey. In it, 84% of people who answered the question think broadband should be defined as a service that can deliver high-quality streaming video. But the best part is the dig at the FCC’s definition of broadband (200 kilobits per second) “At that rate, it takes longer to download a movie than to watch it,” the press release reads. Zing!
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New numbers show that iPhone owners use data features like video and browsing at much higher rates than other wireless users. This comes as no surprise to us. If you can afford a $400 phone, you probably have the time and money to spend on mobile content. (No one on the RCR Wireless News staff has an iPhone.)
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Has CTIA Wireless 2008 started yet? Not sure if it’s the call of Sin City or the ongoing March Madness, but some of the RCR Wireless News staff is anxious for the big show to start. Of course, the fact that once it starts means the constant stream of pitches for meetings will come to end could also be a reason for the anxiousness.
Hedgehogging: hedge*hog*ging v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube.
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