Before we turn the page on 2013, we thought we would take a look back at the past 12 months by highlighting what we felt were the top 100 stories across the mobile space. Since it would be foolish to rank these in order of “importance,” we have instead laid them out in chronological order. Please check back tomorrow for the next round of stories that shaped the wireless world in 2013.
Also, please make sure to check back beginning Jan. 2 as we begin posting predictions for 2014 from executives across various channels of the mobile space.
Sprint Nextel moves to enable LTE roaming
In a move that could jumpstart a fallow LTE roaming market, Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse told attendees at this week’s Competitive Carriers Association event that the carrier was instigating a move to bridge the gap between LTE service in the 1.9 GHz and lower 700 MHz bands. … Read More
Apple slides on earnings concern, production worries
Shares of Apple are off almost 5% this morning on concerns about the company’s upcoming earnings report, due next Tuesday. … Read More
Dish puts in $25.5B offer for Sprint Nextel
Merger-mania continued to spin around the wireless space as this morning Dish Networks put in a $25.5 billion bid to acquire 68% of Sprint Nextel. … Read More
AT&T matches Google’s superfast Internet offer in Austin
In response to Google’s announcement that it is bringing Google Fiber to Austin, AT&T said that is also prepared to build a 1 gigabit-per-second fiber optic network in the Texas capitol. … Read More
Report: Verizon, AT&T mull $245B acquisition of Vodafone
You may want to be sitting down for this one, and have some salt handy. … Read More
Motorola to make always-on smartphone in the U.S.
Google may not yet be making money with Motorola Mobility, but the software giant is making a statement. … Read More
Intel’s new CEO reorganizes company
Brian Krzanich has been at the helm of Intel for less than a week, but he’s gotten a lot done. … Read More
MetroPCS brand to live on, focused on urban markets
MetroPCS’ future appears to be set as new parent company T-Mobile US said it plans to bolster the MetroPCS offering, focusing on urban markets. … Read More
LTE connections to surpass 100 million this week
Worldwide LTE network connections will pass 100 million this week, according to estimates by 4G Americas and Informa Telecoms and Media, with about 57 million of those coming from the United States and Canada. … Read More
Verizon Wireless set for $7B dividend payment to parent companies
Verizon Wireless remains the gift that keeps on giving, or at least to its parent companies. … Read More
AT&T Mobility bolsters no-contract offer with Aio Wireless
AT&T Mobility updated its dated approach to the no-contract market with the rollout of its Aio Wireless service to do battle against growing competition. … Read More
Wheeler tapped to head FCC; industry put on notice
President Obama followed through on expectations today in nominating wireless industry veteran and former lobbyist Tom Wheeler as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. … Read More
FirstNet approves first spectrum lease
FirstNet yesterday approved a spectrum lease with the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS), the first of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grantees to reach agreement with the board on the use of its 700 MHz spectrum for pilot projects that FirstNet plans to use as learning tools in developing its nationwide network for first responders. … Read More
SK Telecom launches commercial LTE-A service
South Korea’s SK Telecom has laid claim to launching the world’s first LTE-Advanced network, offering customers network speeds twice as fast as its current LTE network, which was launched in 2011. … Read More
Dillon abruptly resigns from U.S. Cellular; replaced by Kenneth Meyers
Regional wireless operator U.S. Cellular lost its president and CEO, Mary Dillon, who abruptly resigned her position late last week. … Read More
T-Mobile US proposes ‘dynamic market rules’ for 600 MHz auction
The battle to shape the rules for the Federal Communications Commission’s planned auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses continued late last week as T-Mobile US put forth its ideas on how the government should conduct the highly anticipated bidding process. … Read More
Dish backs away from Sprint Nextel bid, remains focused on Clearwire
Dish Network looks to have bowed out of the Sprint Nextel sweepstake, announcing late yesterday that it would not put in a new offer to acquire the nation’s No. 3 mobile operator. … Read More
Report: Verizon looks north at potential entrance into Canadian market
Published reports out of Canada suggest that Verizon Communications is shopping for an entry into the country’s wireless market, which the Canadian government has vowed to make more competitive. … Read More
White House lays out new spectrum sharing initiative
The federal government re-iterated plans to free up more spectrum assets for the benefit of consumers, including looking at ways for greater sharing of resources between federal agencies and wireless operators. … Read More
Canada looks to infuse competition into mobile space; delays 700 MHz auction
The Canadian government said it plans to more actively promote competition in the wireless space, announcing a number of decisions today that it said would ensure that consumers have at least four choices in wireless communications across every region of the country. … Read More
Android blasts past Apple iOS in tablet market
Of the 51.7 million tablets that shipped worldwide in the second quarter of 2013, a whopping 67% were running the Android operating system, according to a new report by Strategy Analytics. … Read More
DoD offers up 1.7 GHz spectrum bands for wireless industry
The federal government continues to loosen its grip on wireless spectrum to the benefit of the mobile industry, with the latest move coming from the Department of Defense, which said it would be willing to work on freeing up spectrum in the 1.7/2.1 GHz spectrum bands. … Read More
AT&T plans to acquire Leap
AT&T jumped aggressively into the merger and acquisition frenzy, announcing late Friday plans to acquire Leap Wireless for about $1.2 billion, or $15 per share. … Read More
Sprint Nextel closes on Clearwire acquisition; Softbank deal on deck
On the heels of a positive vote from Clearwire shareholders, Sprint Nextel announced this morning that it has closed on its acquisition of the remaining stake in the carrier it did not previously own. … Read More
Done deal: Softbank closes on Sprint acquisition; Hesse to remain as CEO
Softbank officially closed on its acquisition of a 78% stake in Sprint Nextel, which cost the Japan-based operator $21.6 billion, or just slightly more than originally planned. … Read More
