5 things to know today …
1. Verizon Communications achieved the world’s first live over-the-air data call using an LTE Category M1 chipset, according to chip vendor Sequans. Category M1 is the technology Verizon says will make its LTE network roughly as affordable as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Z-Wave for “internet of things” use cases.
“Earlier this week we managed a live, over-the-air, we think first-in-the-world data call on an LTE Cat-M1 network with Verizon,” said Craig Miller, VP of worldwide marketing at Sequans. “Before the end of the year we expect to be live on a commercial network with one or more of the major carriers in the U.S.”
Cat M1 modules use a maximum of 1.4 megahertz of bandwidth and both uplink and downlink speeds are capped at 1 megabit per second. Cat M1 modules are expected to be priced below $10.
2. Börje Ekholm, an Ericsson insider with a background in finance, will be the Swedish company’s next CEO. Ekholm, a 10-year veteran of Ericsson’s board, will continue to live in the United States. Ericsson’s largest shareholder, Investor AB, was run by Ekholm for 10 years. Last year, Ekholm became CEO of Patricia Industries, a division of Investor AB. Ekholm will take over from acting Ericsson CEO Jan Frykhammar on Jan. 16. The incoming CEO said in a statement that he looks forward to “shaping the future of our industry.”
3. T-Mobile US is making a play for Google Pixel users even though it can’t directly sell the smartphone. Verizon Wireless is the only U.S. carrier authorized to sell the Pixel line up, but T-Mobile US says the phone works well on its network and that users who bring an unlocked Pixel to the carrier can get up to $325, delivered over two years, as monthly bill credits.
The Pixel is the first smartphone designed by Google and has won rave reviews. The Pixel is also benefitting from the recall of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, which has taken a competing high-end Android device off the market.
4. Vine’s six seconds of fame are over. The social media app designed for video shorts has been killed by its parent Twitter. Vine was once seen as a major driver of mobile video traffic, but it was eclipsed by Snapchat and Instagram, both of which now support video.
5. American Tower reported a 22% year-on-year increase in third-quarter revenue and said net income was up 169%. Third-quarter revenue was $1.5 billion and net income was $264 million. Earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes were up 17% to $915 million. The company said its portfolio now includes almost 144,000 towers around the world and more than 700 small cell systems, including indoor distributed antenna systems.
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