BROWSING: Opinion

Worst of the Week: Don’t make me pull this ship over!

I think most people in the wireless industry – outside of wireless operators – feel that at this point in the game the device makers are really the ones steering this ship. Sure, wireless operators are the ones that control the spectrum and networks, have that one-on-one relationship with consumers and throw their weight around like they own the joint. You know, think they are actually at the controls.

Reader Forum: Are Apple products really more secure?

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly Reader Forum section. In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible, but...

Reader Forum: Managing mobility

As organizations expand in headcount and location, one of the first things they look for are ways to cut costs from the bottom line. Telecom expense management was a straightforward idea that easily took hold as the value proposition was simple: success could be assured if executives simply managed inventory and conducted audits in the right way and at the right time.

Worst of the Week: The rise and fall

The latest casualty of this “can’t help but stare” phenomenon in the mobile space is Research In Motion, which this week saw its bread-and-butter server operations take a(nother) worldwide dump. Now, something bad happening to RIM is not necessarily a new-new thing as the once proud BlackBerry maker has seen its once sterling shine lose some of its luster in recent years thanks to falling market share, uninspiring devices that seem a step (or three) behind and previous bouts of service outages.

Reader Forum: Why 60 GHz matters for small cell backhaul

Mobile networks up to 3G were designed to deliver excellent coverage to the handset, accommodating small PCM voice channels on the order of eight kilobits to 16 kb, rather than high data speeds. 3G networks are deployed with radii typically around three to eight kilometers in diameter for the macrocell, and backhaul capacity of less than 50 megabits per second for connection to the core network. While most mobile networks today utilize 3G, operators are moving to technologies such as WiMAX 802.16e or even HSPA+ to claim “4G.” In 2011, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association counted 17 commercial LTE deployments, with 180 operators in 70 countries committing to LTE, with another 64 in service by 2012.

Reader Forum: Now small is beautiful for the network too

In the mobile handset world, there has long been a drive towards smaller more powerful devices. And even though the rise of the smartphone has seen a return to larger screen sizes, today’s handsets are still remarkably compact.

Worst of the Week: Sour Apple

Well, I guess it was bound to happen, though I thought for sure I would never see it in my lifetime. Apple released a product that did not immediately make everything else in the same category obsolete. And maybe even more surprising, it actually seemed to anger people for not being advanced enough.

Reality Check: 4G in the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Brazilian telecommunications market promises to be one of the most important things for the FIFA’s 2014 World Cup, because it brings strong national feelings as soccer is the Brazilian sport by nature, and Brazilian government is really committed in implementing 4G for the World Cup. But what are the real challenges for Brazilian service providers to implement 4G for 2014 FIFA World Cup?

Reader Forum: Why should you care about your operator’s signaling protocol?

During your average day how many times do you speak or text on your smartphone, browse on your tablet, or work on your laptop? In the evenings you may read e-books, message from your mobile, or check your Facebook. You go on vacation and watch videos while waiting for the plane, take pictures with your phone and send them to friends back home.

Reader Forum: We can’t win the future with yesterday’s technology

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly Reader Forum section. In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible,...

SPONSORED: Be where the carriers are at RCA's 2011 Fall Expo

Join the Rural Cellular Association, representing nearly 100 competitive wireless carriers, in Las Vegas, Sept. 14-16. Our unique industry event is not to be missed.Keynote Remarks by:Hu Meena, President and CEO, Cellular SouthThursday, Sept. 15 at 7:45 a.m.Learn first hand from RCA's Chairman about...

Reality Check: Is it an antenna evolution or is there more?

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.Out of sight, out of mind. That sums up the state of cell phone antennas, which most...

Reality Check: Apple’s next move

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.In less than 200 words, CEO Steve Jobs rocked the tech world with a sudden yet not...

Reader Forum: Managing headcount with outsourced services

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reader Forum section. In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible,...

Worst of the Week: Honey-apple badger

Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....

Analyst Angle: Get set for stronger OS oligopoly

With the recent HP shut-down of the WebOS and Palm divisions, it's becoming increasingly clear that to succeed in the mobile device market, an OS needs to have significant device, developer, and customer traction. And without one, you can't get the other two. Consider...

Reality Check: When time devours

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.“Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique...

Reality Check: Understanding Ethernet OAM standards for mobile backhaul

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.The proliferation of smartphones and growing demand for broadband services are driving mobile backhaul network operators to...

Reader Forum: How can device makers differentiate on Android?

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reader Forum section. In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible,...

Reader Forum: With LTE, is video the new voice?

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reader Forum section. In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible,...

WebOS news puts Google in catbird seat

Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HPQ) decision to stop making hardware for its webOS platform on the heels of Google Inc.'s (GOOG) proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) gives Google yet another advantage in the operating system wars. While HTC Corp. (HTCXF) and Samsung Electronics...

Worst of the Week: Crazy from the heat

Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There's a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....

Analyst Angle: Google to Moto: Licensing talk turn into acquisition of gigantic proportions

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their views on hot topics across the wireless industry. We all know that Google Inc. has acquired Motorola Mobility Inc. in one of the...

Reality Check: Diameter routing LTE and IMS use cases

Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.Diameter signaling routers are becoming the central point in 3G, IMS and LTE networks for connecting, translating...