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!
D-Block report sheds new light on players’ plans: Cyren Call planned MVNO over 700 MHz spectrum
Public Spectrum Safety Trust Corp. Chairman Harlin McEwen appears to have distanced himself from a key element in a new Federal Communications Commission inspector general report, which cleared Cyren Call Communications Corp. of any wrongdoing prior to the failed auction of the 700 MHz D Block. The report also described now-defunct Frontline Wireless L.L.C.’s concerns about Cyren Call’s plan to become a mobile virtual network operator that would resell service to first responders across the country. … Read More
D Block on FCC meeting agenda May 14
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said the agency at next month’s open meeting will consider rule changes to the 700 MHz D Block, which failed attract a bidder willing to pay at least $1.3 billion for the national commercial/public-safety wireless license and fomented intense controversy in the process. “This is a very open-ended notice that doesn’t have any tentative conclusions about what we should or should not do,” Martin said. … Read More
Apple posts strong financial quarter: But iPhone slump may also exceed seasonal dip
Apple Inc. posted impressive gains in revenue (43%) and profit (36%) in its fiscal second quarter, but analysts said the iPhone’s sales momentum has stalled more than what can be attributed to the post-holiday quarter effect. Apple also delivered a forecast that fell below analysts’ expectations, raising concerns that a slowdown in consumer spending could indeed take its toll on the company. Despite its outlook, the iPhone maker stuck to its original forecast of selling 10 million units worldwide by the end of this year. … Read More
Spectrum hangover: Carriers’ binge on spectrum assets bring competitive concerns
While the dominance of AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless in the 700 MHz auction has renewed debate about whether a spectrum cap should be reinstituted, it appears concerns may have been overstated about the number of markets where the nation’s two largest cellular operators now exceed the Federal Communications Commission’s new standard for determining when a carrier’s spectrum holdings in a given market could pose an anticompetitive threat. … Read More
Mobile Web: ahead of its time?
Does the world really need a wireless Web? It’s a question that has come up repeatedly in the years following the introduction of WAP, the standard used to display Internet content on mobile phones. At the turn of the century, a number of companies invested heavily in the intersection of cellphones and the Internet. At the time, networks were slow, most phones had black-and-white screens, and there were few, if any, mobile-specific Internet pages. Most of those problems have now been resolved, but to this day it’s rare to find enthusiastic mobile Web surfers. … Read More
Dish to test satellite-based mobile TV service using 700 MHz spectrum: Alcatel-Lucent to provide DVB-SH network kit
Dish Network Corp. isn’t wasting time as it considers what technology might be the best fit for spectrum it recently won in the 700 MHz auction. The company partnered with Alcatel-Lucent to test DVB-SH mobile TV broadcast technology with equipment, tools and training provided by infrastructure vendor. Dish said the DVB-SH trial will take place in its lab in Atlanta beginning next month, and it hopes to validate the performance and cost-efficiency of the technology by August. … Read More
NextWave looking to sell U.S. spectrum: Company hires investment bankers to explore options
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: NextWave Wireless Inc. said today it’s exploring the sale of its U.S. spectrum holdings. The company made its mark on wireless in the mid-90s by being the top bidder for extensive 1.9 GHz spectrum covering most of the country, then filing for bankruptcy protection after failing to pay for the winnings, and finally selling off most of the spectrum to Cingular Wireless L.L.C., MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Verizon Wireless. … Read More
Report: AT&T Mobility to sell $100 femtocells: Carrier inked contract with femto vendor ip.access
According to a report from research and banking firm ThinkPanmure, AT&T Mobility plans to sell up to 7 million femtocells from ip.access Ltd., a picocell and femtocell infrastructure vendor based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. According to ThinkPanmure, AT&T signed a contract with the firm for up to $500 million in femtocells over the course of five years, and will sell the devices for as little as $100 each. … Read More
By the Numbers: Top Ten U.S. Wireless Service Providers
AT&T Mobility maintained its position as the industry’s No. 1 carrier, ending last year with just over 70 million subscribers. The carrier’s growth included the acquisition of Dobson Communications Corp., which added 1.7 million customers to its base. Verizon Wireless remained a strong No. 2, ending the year with nearly 66 million customers, but just edging out AT&T Mobility in total revenues for the year at $43.9 billion. Verizon Wireless recently closed on its acquisition of Rural Cellular Corp., which is No. 10 on this year’s list. … Read More
Cable companies quit ‘Pivot’: Customers offered free month of service to move to Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corp.’s wireless resale relationship with three of the nation’s largest cable companies has come to an end. According to media reports, Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications Inc. are pulling out of their Pivot-branded effort with the nation’s 3rd largest wireless operator, and will work to move their wireless customers onto Sprint Nextel’s books. … Read More
