Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
FCC cancels meeting on AWS-3 spectrum auction: However, ‘The items will remain on circulation’
Congressional pressure has prompted the Federal Communications Commission to scrap its Dec. 18 meeting, but the action does not necessarily mean the agency will forgo ruling on the free wireless broadband plan and other major items championed by Chairman Kevin Martin before he likely gives way to a successor next year when the Obama administration assumes power. “We received the letter from Senator Rockefeller and Congressman Waxman and spoke with other offices. In light of the letter, it does not appear that there is consensus to move forward and the agenda meeting has been canceled. The items will remain on circulation and the commissioners can still vote on them,” said Robert Kenny, an FCC spokesman. … Read More
Alcatel-Lucent focuses on LTE, will cut jobs and WiMAX: Equipment maker to eliminate 1,000 management jobs
Alcatel-Lucent is looking to 2010 to return to profitability as its implements a new strategic plan that will cut jobs, eliminate some contractors and shift the company’s focus. During a conference call with reporters CEO Ben Verwaayen said the company will combine its capabilities of the network environment with creative services of the Web. The company also plans to invest heavily in Long Term Evolution and pull back on some technology such as WiMAX. Nortel Networks Ltd. made a similar move by offloading its WiMAX business to Alvarion Ltd. in June. … Read More
Nokia Siemens unveils Texan LTE center: Dallas facility to focus on tech requirements for N.A. carriers
Nokia Siemens Networks said it’s creating a research center in Texas that will focus on the development and research of Long Term Evolution technology. The company’s Next Gen Technology Lab in Dallas will focus on the requirements of operators in North America and provide support through development, verification and interoperability activities. NSN said this will ensure that its LTE roadmaps meet operator needs when it comes to infrastructure and devices. … Read More
VZW plan to deploy LTE in 2009 could rely on non-standard technology: Analyst: Sprint Nextel to move CDMA-based operations to LTE
Verizon Wireless’ CTO said this week the carrier hopes to have LTE up and running in some markets by the end of next year, a high-speed boost to the carrier’s previous, already accelerated plans to begin rolling out Long Term Evolution technology by 2010. “We expect that LTE will actually be in service somewhere here in the U.S. probably this time next year,” Verizon Wireless CTO Dick Lynch told a Cisco Systems C-Scape conference this week, according to PC World. The plans seem to run counter to conventional thinking, as speakers at the LTE America’s conference in Las Vegas this week were skeptical that Verizon Wireless’ original plan for a 2010 launch was achievable. The technology recently had its deadline for a standard extended from this month until next March, though the current proposal is said to be “frozen.” … Read More
Pay cuts at Motorola
Motorola Inc. said today it would freeze pension plans and some salaries and suspend company contributions to employees’ 401(k) plans. The company’s co-CEOs said they would take a 25% cut in base salary. The company gave no dollar figure for the magnitude of the resulting savings, but said the steps were in addition to $800 million in annual savings announced in October. Motorola, of course, faces the twin, daunting challenges of a deteriorating global economy as well as turning around its mobile devices business, which had been its most profitable business. Those twin challenges are mounting, according to one analyst. … Read More
Sprint Nextel ’4G’ modem arrives amid raves, concerns: Network speeds get thumbs up, but analysts worry over WiMAX buildout costs
Sprint Nextel Corp. announced its first “Sprint 4G” device, a CDMA/WiMAX modem that will go for $150 with a two-year service contract. And at least one reviewer appeared impressed. “We were blown away with the results,” wrote Gary Krakow of TheStreet.com. Further, Krakow said the modem, made by Franklin Wireless, is easy to use and noted it was faster than using a similar USB modem on AT&T Mobility’s HSDPA network. … Read More
Palm’s new store offers 10 times more apps than Android Market: Software Store relies on 1,500 wireless application developers
Palm Inc. joined the application-store bandwagon, launching a downloadable storefront with 5,000-plus offerings for more than two dozen Palm devices. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based outfit opened the Software Store, showcasing high-profile applications (Facebook, Pac-Man, Tetris) as well as lesser-known products. The store is powered by PalmGear.com, a longtime partner of Palm, as well as PocketGear, a direct-to-consumer platform company that launched earlier this year in the wake of a spin-off by Motricity Inc. … Read More
Smart PCS launches local unlimited calling with ZTE kit: Chinese vendor assists no-contract wireless provider with network, handset equipment
A new carrier is set to enter the competitive no-contract, unlimited calling market, this time with some help from the Chinese. Smart PCS is stepping into the fray with service in parts of northwest Georgia and Tennessee. Similar to offerings from segment stalwarts Leap Wireless International Inc. and MetroPCS Communications Inc., Smart PCS is relying on a CDMA2000 1x-based network to support its unlimited offering. The network equipment is supplied by emerging Chinese infrastructure provider ZTE USA Inc., which also claims it will provide its C88 handset, though the device does not yet appear on the carrier’s Web site. … Read More
Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel crack open location services: Carriers to allow wireless application developers access to GPS data
Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless each appear to be easing their stance on sharing subscribers’ location information with partners, efforts that put weight behind their bluster about openness. Sprint Nextel announced it will open its location platform to location aggregators WaveMarket Inc. and uLocate Communications Inc., allowing the partners to serve as wholesalers to third-party developers. The operator hopes to spur development of mobile marketing campaigns and other applications by allowing developers to access a handset’s location via WaveMarket’s Veriplace and uLocate’s WHERE – separate platforms built on Web-service APIs. … Read More
Ahead of LTE, AT&T tests 7.2 Mbps speeds in Chicago: Wireless provider sets sights on HSPA+
AT&T Mobility is in no hurry to transition to Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. In response to accelerated next-generation rollout schedules by Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility spokesman Mark Siegel said the carrier has plenty of room for upgrades before making the switch to LTE. “We have some real advantages with our (GSM-based) technology path,” Siegel said. “We still have plenty of room left to increase speeds” before moving to LTE. … Read More
