In the Obama era, the telecom and tech industries, consumer advocates, states and other stakeholders will be watching carefully for key policy tendencies emanating from a Federal Communications Commission apt to be headed by tech entrepreneur and former telecom policymaker Julius Genachowski.Will Genachowski -...
With churn rates rising among subscribers, wireless-phone companies are pouring on the promotions and marketing spending in hopes of keeping cost-conscious consumers in the fold.There are no hard numbers on how consumers react in a recession when it comes to cellphone service. Brand switching...
According to a Wall Street Journal report this morning, AT&T Inc. is very interested in acquiring network assets and customers Verizon Wireless has to divest as part of its acquisition of Alltel Communications L.L.C. Other reported interested parties include a pair of private-equity...
Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications Inc., the surprise winner in a 2006 auction of $3.6 billion worth of licenses covering the New York area, made its wireless debut today in New York City. The company's network covers 10 million customers in the New York metropolitan area,...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry.With the advent of the new Boost national $50 Monthly Unlimited plan, many consumers and...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Yay or Nay. Every week we'll review a new wireless application or service from the user's point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and what doesn't. If you wish to submit your application or...
President-elect Barack Obama plans this week to nominate former telecom policymaker and tech entrepreneur Julius Genachowski as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, according to knowledgeable sources.Genachowski, a Harvard Law School classmate of Obama's who is a tech adviser on the presidential...
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 unprecedented concentration of spectrum in the hands of Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
There's a new carrier in town. That is, if your town is located in northwest Georgia or Tennessee. Based in Dalton, Georgia, SmartPCS is a new no-contract, unlimited calling provider operating in a similar vain to Leap Wireless International Inc. and MetroPCS Communications Inc....
Leap Wireless International Inc. said it recorded a solid final quarter for 2008, adding 385,000 new customers that contributed to an overall increase of 34% for the year.The regional, flat-rate carrier announced that it ended the year with 3.84 million customers and saw growth...
It looks like MetroPCS Communications Inc. may be cashing in on the current economic downturn. The no-contract, unlimited wireless provider said it added 520,000 customers during the fourth quarter of 2008, its highest quarterly net additions in the company's history. The growth put the...
Hello! And welcome to a special edition of our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. As 2008 draws to a close and we take stock of all the changes that have happened in the wireless industry, we can't help but wonder how things will...
Looking to cater to business travelers, iPass this week launched its iPassConnect offering targeted at users of Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPod Touch. The company said users can get access to 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots around the world."We have created a global Wi-Fi network where...
A new carrier is set to enter the competitive no-contract, unlimited calling market, this time with some help from the Chinese. Smart PCS is stepping into the fray with service in parts of northwest Georgia and Tennessee. Similar to offerings from segment stalwarts Leap...
Official Washington is big on labels, quick to pigeonhole this elected official or that presidential appointee based on party affiliation, past government actions and off-the-record scuttlebutt. It is a convenient baseline utilized by lobbyists, journalists, political operatives and others to establish battle lines and...
Regional carrier Cellular One released an unlimited monthly wireless plan priced at $80, undercutting similar offerings from its nationwide competitors.The carrier's new "All of America" plan includes nationwide unlimited voice and text with no roaming or long-distance charges. Because Cellular One is a GSM...
Sprint Nextel Corp. is back at it again with a new advertising campaign claiming the carrier is the industry leader in value, network superiority, customer service and wireless user experience.On Nov. 23, Sprint Nextel began airing more black-and-white commercials featuring CEO Dan Hesse, gently...
President-elect Barack Obama's thematic "change" mantra has infiltrated Capitol Hill, with a shakeup in the leadership of key House and Senate committees likely to raise the profile and potency of consumer protection, open access and universal service issues for the wireless industry in the...
While it will be months before President-elect Barack Obama gets his administration in place and begins to roll out policy priorities, the selection of individuals focusing on high-tech agencies and their issues in the transition period suggests industry giants Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
Machine-to-machine technology is gaining traction among businesses across all industries, and many view connecting machines to the Internet as a way to stay competitive, according to a recent survey conducted by Beecham Research Ltd.Of the 267 responses, 82% of businesses consider instituting M2M as...
Leap Wireless International Inc. is expanding service to Milwaukee, Wisc.. Starting tomorrow, Leap's Cricket Communications Inc. service will be available in the greater Milwaukee area, including the cities of Racine, Kenosha and Madison, bringing Leap's total national covered population to 64.1 million. It's coverage...
Another regional player is set for extinction. Earlier this month, AT&T Mobility announced plans to acquire Centennial Communications Corp. for $2.8 billion. The deal is expected to add approximately 1.1 million customers to AT&T Mobility's customer base. The deal, if approved, will also...
The Federal Communications Commission released details of its approval of Verizon Wireless' acquisition of Alltel Communications L.L.C., including the five additional markets that need to be divested. The ball is now in Verizon Wireless' court to close on the deal that will propel the...
The new BlackBerry Storm from Research In Motion Ltd. will be available Nov. 21 at Verizon Wireless for $200, with two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate. The Storm's subsidized price comes in at the same price point as Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G with 8...
