BROWSING: sm

Smart phone = smart grid: CIOs must mobilize the workforce and customers

Will the "consumerization of IT" affect how smart grids are perceived or participated in by both utility workers and ratepayers? To my mind, that's not just a valid discussion point—it's an immediate imperative. Mobility is a critical forefront in productivity and customer engagement.......

Google rolls out tablet version of search page

Google has begun experimenting with a more tablet hugging search page, according to reports.The search engine giant apparently realizes that when it comes to serving up content on a slew of different devices, one size definitely does not fit all, and is therefore redesigning...

T-Mobile USA launches new HTC Wildfire S smartphone

T-Mobile USA announced the upcoming availability of the new HTC Wildfire S smartphone recently. The device is a compact Android-powered handset built with simplicity in mind and is expected to be available on August 3 for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year...

Mobile weather apps are by far the most popular: Ringing, just ringing in the rain

Crowded House said it best back in 1987 with the hit single “Always take the weather with you,” and now market research outfit comScore can confirm, taking the weather with them in their pocket is what most mobile users love above all else. Of...

A-LU targets enterprise with video solutions

Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) introduced a suite of video solutions for enterprises that work across desktop PCs, smartphones, laptops tablets, interactive whiteboards and display screens. The company's Visual Collaboration suite uses an open approach that it says extends video in the enterprise to any end point...

T-Mobile offers lower pricing options for unlimited smartphone plans

T-Mobile USA Inc. announced a change to its pricing for unlimited smartphone data service, providing new and lower postpaid plans. The carrier said it will also offer more flexibility for customers who bring existing devices to T-Mobile and a monthly payment plan for those...

Enterprises increasingly use mobile platform for internal, external communication

Businesses increasingly are using wireless technology to communicate internally among employees and externally with potential and existing customers. The trend is only going to continue as more people drop landline telephone services. While traditional media companies were early adopters of mobile technology to communicate,...

AT&T rolls out Facebook integrated phone

The first model of smartphone to carry a dedicated Facebook button on the keypad is launching this week from AT&T Mobility (T), which is taking pre-orders for the Android Honeycomb-powered HTC Status and billing the device as the inaugural phone to be integrated with...

Reports claim FTC investigating Twitter

Two published reports claim that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating communications between Twitter and Ubermedia, a company that develops applications to help users commiserate and follow each other using the online messaging service. The question at hand is whether or not...

Txt2Get launches U.S. initiative for do-it-yourself mobile marketing

Txt2Get is launching its do-it-yourself mobile marketing platform in the United States. Already in Australia and New Zealand, Txt2Get's platform connects advertisers with customers, potential customers and social media followers. The company is targeting its web-based text and quick response code campaigns at brand...

Computex 2011: Asus PadPhone to sport Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Taipei, Taiwan – The upcoming PadPhone from Asus will sport Google’s Android Ice Cream Sandwich, RCR discovered at Computex this week.Asustek’s tablet/phone combo – which allows consumers to use one SIM for two devices by allowing the smartphone to dock at the back of...

AT&T's U-verse experience combines best of TV, wireless

DALLAS—AT&T Inc. is connecting a great TV experience with a great wireless experience to drive growth in its U-verse product, said Jeff Weber, VP of video services, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. The company recently introduced some updates to its U-verse product to make...

TM Forum: KPN takes cue from lasagna in simplification strategy

DUBLIN – KPN Mobile's CTO Erik Hoving warns if telecom network operators truly want to innovate for the future, it's essential to simplify the IT and network operations now.In a keynote on Tuesday, Hoving spoke to a filled auditorium at Dublin's TM Forum, warning...

Glue Conference: Operators are not the enemy, A-Lu exec says

BROOMFIELD, Colo.—Service providers are not the enemy of application developers, despite a preconceived notion that they are, Alcatel-Lucent's Laura Merling told a crowd of developers at this morning's Glue Conference during a keynote speech. The conference is more streamlined than traditional wireless conference, so...

Google delivers 'News Near You' to your smartphone

On Monday Google Inc. unveiled its latest efforts in its quest for local relevance by announcing its new mobile “News Near You” feature for smartphones.As the name indicates, the new capability attempts to bring Google News users the latest from their surrounding location on...

Reader Forum: Protecting U.S. wireless customers with CMAS alerts

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: New trends in messaging

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,...

USA: EBay buys Fig Card, says we don't need wallets

EBay Inc.'s (EBAY) online payment service PayPal has acquired Boston-based Fig Card, a payment startup that seeks to eliminate the use of credit cards in lieu of smartphones. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed.Fig Card allows retailers to enable mobile payments...

Alcatel-Lucent makes OpenPlug Studio toolkit free

Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) said it is making its OpenPlug Studio toolkit available for free to application developers as the network vendor tries to flesh out the ecosystem for more enterprise end users. The toolkit allows developers to write applications for a variety of...

Connected devices drive AT&T's Q1 growth

AT&T Inc. (T) counted on connected devices to drive first-quarter growth, with 1.3 million connected devices added in the period, compared to only 62,000 postpaid retail net additions. The nationwide operator now counts 97.5 million wireless subscribers on its network.In a quarter where...

Walmart buys Silicon Valley social media firm for smartphone push

Walmart may be trying to get into your pocket – through social media that is – after purchasing silicon valley based Kosmix for an undisclosed sum, according to Reuters.......

Report pegs mobile software market at nearly $80B by 2017

Mobile apps are growing at a feverish pace and should drive up to $79.7 billion in revenue by 2017, according to a new report from Global Industry Analysts Inc. A few years ago a projection like this would have likely been met with laughs,...

@ NAB: Connected TVs disrupt traditional broadcast and cable models

LAS VEGAS – As connected TVs become more common, business models are going to have to change so that all points along the value chain that bring added value to the ecosystem can thrive, according to a Monday panel at the National Association of...

Reader Forum: Get smart about smartphone customer care

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,...