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!
Critics assail Sprint Nextel-Clearwire WiMAX alliance: Competitors cite spectrum holdings, roaming issues
Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp.’s campaign to win government approval of a their national WiMAX plan is drawing static from AT&T Inc. and rural cellular operators on key unsettled wireless policy issues, but the deal has picked up backing from many educational and religious groups.The proposed merger, announced in May, would combine the 2.5 GHz wireless holdings of Sprint Nextel and Clearwire and be padded with $3.2 billion in investments from Intel Corp., Google Inc., Time Warner Cable, Comcast Corp. and Bright House Networks. … Read More
M2M growth inevitable, by push and pull: Tough times may slow uptake, despite efficiency promise
Today, at least two companies have incorporated an innovation for M2M that first was aimed at the handset market: FOTA, or, firmware-over-the-air. Make that DOTA (based on OFDM standards), in Wavecom’s parlance: download-over-the-air. Or, in Red Bend Software’s case, FOTA will do – the product is dubbed vRapidMobile – as long as you identify the company as a “mobile software management vendor” because it works its magic for handsets, laptop cards and M2M modules. … Read More
Nextwave sells AWS spectrum for $150.1M, T-Mobile USA is the big buyer
Nextwave Wireless Inc. sold nearly two-thirds of its advanced wireless services spectrum for $150.1 million. The spectrum went to four different buyers. The largest chunk landed in the hands of T-Mobile USA Inc. for roughly $98 million. The deal gives Nextwave a tidy profit of $47 million; the company acquired the spectrum it sold to T-Mobile USA for just over $51 million during the 2006 auction. Nextwave spent a total of about $115 million for 154 licenses during the auction. … Read More
Qualcomm stock soars on Nokia settlement: 15-year agreement includes next-gen technologies
Given the broad scope of an agreement between Nokia Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. announced last night, it’s apparent that negotiators have been quietly hard at work for some time to resolve a vast swath of issues that were hamstringing the two industry powerhouses. Yet the announcement held an element of surprise, given the arc of events leading to the settlement. Nokia and Qualcomm appeared ready this week for arguments in a court case closely watched for its legal implications for the wireless industry. … Read More
iPhone sets stage for other handsets: Analyst: broadband uptake could benefit Qualcomm
As analysts and pundits scoured the tea leaves in the wake of Apple Inc.’s 3G iPhone launch, a few issues emerged. Who, besides Apple, will get a boost from iPhone mania? Who gets hurt? Will a rising iPhone-tide lift all boats in the second half of the year? Did the 3G iPhone refresh demand, or siphon off existing demand? Surely there are dozens of such questions to be answered, but a handful of analysts took a crack at these particular ones. … Read More
Will developers leave Google’s Android high and dry?
Apple suffered a case of the hiccups last week with the launch of the iPhone 3G and MobileMe, but Google is struggling with a serious developers’ revolt months ahead of Android’s scheduled launch. Android developers began getting antsy a few weeks ago due to the lack of communication regarding an updated SDK (software development kit). One code-writer started an online petition on Android’s Google Group, urging the company to offer an update on the progress of the SDK “in order not to lose many highly encouraged developers.” … Read More
Canadian AWS auction ends after 331 rounds, $4.25B in bids
The Canadian government’s auction of 105 megahertz of spectrum in the 1710-1755/2110-2155 MHz band, also known as the advanced wireless services spectrum (similar to what was offered by the Federal Communications Commission in 2006), wrapped up this morning after 331 rounds of bidding that generated nearly $4.25 billion. The auction included 105 megahertz of spectrum up for grabs with 40 megahertz set aside for new entrants and 65 megahertz open to all bidders. … Read More
Message boards question AT&T Mobility’s network: Carrier stands behind network performance post-iPhone launch
Apple Inc.’s 3G iPhone is making its way across the world, with reportedly more than 1 million sold in the first weekend, and AT&T Mobility spokesman Mark Siegel said the carrier couldn’t be more thrilled. However, it doesn’t look as though all AT&T Mobility customers feel the same way. Word on the street (well actually, on Internet message boards) is that the release of the latest iPhone has taken a toll on AT&T Mobility’s network. User frustrations range from signal strength and reception to slow speeds. AT&T Mobility however, said it’s received no complaints and stayed firm that there are no network problems. … Read More
Bringing the cap back?: Rural providers petition to reinstate spectrum cap
An association of rural wireless providers petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to re-impose a spectrum cap in light of the growing market presence of AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless in the mobile phone industry. “In the absence of a spectrum cap, Verizon and AT&T will continue to grow unchecked and rural and regional wireless carriers will be adversely affected as they attempt to obtain spectrum and compete against consolidated nationwide wireless carriers who possess greater resources and economies of scale,” said Michael Higgins Jr., president of the Rural Telecommunications Group. The RTG, whose members include independent mobile carriers and those affiliated with rural telephone companies, want the FCC to prohibit a wireless operator from controlling more than 110 megahertz (below the 2.3 GHz band) in any one market. … Read More
Private equity chases Huawei’s chance to grow: Domestic Chinese vendor offers smart money a foot in the door
Private equity’s avid interest in Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s handset business is based on Huawei’s opportunities for significant growth and as a means to further investment in China, analysts said last week. Huawei has a chance to profit from domestic Chinese wireless growth and from an international trend among network operators to brand as their own handsets purchased from Huawei and similar vendors. … Read More
