Google Inc. co-founder Larry Page said there are not technical impediments to making vacant television channels - white spaces - available for unlicensed wireless broadband access, but that powerful lobbying forces want to convince the Federal Communications Commission otherwise."I think the debate has been...
According to a report from research and banking firm ThinkPanmure, AT&T Mobility plans to sell up to 7 million femtocells from ip.access Ltd., a picocell and femtocell infrastructure vendor based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.According to ThinkPanmure, AT&T signed a contract with the firm for...
Public-interest groups reiterated their call for federal regulators to protect text-messaging rights, framing the debate as far-reaching in terms of the potential implications for free speech, disability access and competition in the wireless industry.Public Knowledge and other organizations want the Federal Communications Commission to...
Public-interest groups reiterated their call for federal regulators to protect text messaging rights, framing the issue with far-reaching implication for free speech, disability access and competition in the wireless industry.Public Knowledge and other organizations want the Federal Communications Commission to rule that mobile-phone carriers...
Regional wireless operator Alltel Corp. posted a strong showing in J.D. Power and Associates latest rankings of wireless call quality, taking the sole or partial top spot in three of the report's six regions. Alltel just nipped past Verizon Wireless, which was tops in...
THE 700 MHZ AUCTION, continuing to crawl toward an end likely punctuated by a disappointing D Block failure, will not remain totally within the Federal Communications Communication's province when bidding finally ends. Congress is about to jump into the fray.Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman...
You've undoubtedly noticed, with pleasure, that the telescoping, whip antenna of yore has long ago disappeared inside the increasingly sleek device you slip into your pocket. Technology is supposed to be invisible. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind is fine for the consumer, blissfully unaware of the complexity...
The wireless broadband industry is fighting to prevent sharing conditions in unlicensed spectrum, but utilities, railroads and others insist such safeguards are necessary to prevent interference in existing and future unlicensed frequencies.The Federal Communications Commission rejected Cellnet Technology Inc.'s request that a spectrum etiquette-any...
A quick tip to all media companies looking to extend their brands to wireless: Yes, even mass-market phones now have many of the bells and whistles of a home PC, but that doesn't mean you have to use them.Today's wireless devices offer a host...
The mobile phone industry has joined an eclectic group of parties-including a handful of sometime foes-to urge the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court ruling that critics say dramatically and unnecessarily expands copyright law liability. The case involves Cablevision...
If checking out the Internet on a PC can be called surfing, browsing the wireless Web is more akin to hunting snipe in a briar patch: it's arduous, painful, and sure to leave you disappointed.The fixed-line Internet has evolved to offer a remarkably standardized...
The mobile-phone industry has jumped into a major Internet music rate case in a New York federal court. The outcome could determine whether cellular carriers, and thus subscribers could be forced to pay more-actually twice-for downloading ringtones. It's not a rinky-dink matter. Ringtones,...
Napa, Calif., has announced an agreement with AT&T Inc. for a 12-square-mile public Wi-Fi network. The network will offer wireless broadband access for residents, visitors and businesses "from virtually all developed areas within the city," according to AT&T. Additionally, the city will use a...
Two newly publicized health studies on cellphone and base-station radiation have produced mixed results, likely keeping alive the long-running scientific debate over whether handsets and cell-site transmissions can cause cancer and other illnesses. Japanese mobile-phone operators NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp. and SoftBank Mobile...
Two newly publicized health studies on mobile phone and base station radiation have produced mixed results, likely keeping alive the long-running scientific debate over whether handsets and cell site transmissions can cause cancer and other illnesses. Japanese mobile-phone operators NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp....
Lawmakers staked claim to pet telecom issues, with bipartisan support emerging out of the gate for legislation forcing the Federal Communications Commission to exploit vacant broadcast guard-band spectrum for unlicensed wireless services, including Wi-Fi. Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.), both members...
WASHINGTON-Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced a bill aimed at increasing broadband access by unlocking unused TV spectrum-called white spaces-for Wi-Fi."At a time when the U.S. is lagging behind much of the world in broadband penetration-and more than 60 percent of the country does not...
WASHINGTON-Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) said he will introduce legislation to free up vacant broadcast spectrum, a move that could provide additional frequencies for Wi-Fi and WiMAX services."Most of the time, government's best option for promoting technological innovation is to get out of the way....
Editor's Note: Welcome our Monday 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. In the coming weeks look for columns from Strategy Analytics' Chris Ambrosio, Current Analysis' Peter...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said Continental Airlines Inc. can offer free Wi-Fi access at Boston-Logan International Airport, ruling the Massachusetts Port Authority's attempt to shut down the airline's wireless Internet service is pre-empted by federal regulations governing over-the-air reception devices (OTARD). Though the dispute...
The wireless industry was graced with the presence of yet another standardization initiative last week. Naturally, backers of the new movement launched their plan with all the gusto and enthusiasm of well ... every other just-launched standards development group. And so it was that...
WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission said Continental Airlines Inc. can offer free Wi-Fi access at Boston-Logan International Airport, ruling the Massachusetts Port Authority’s attempt to shut down the airliner’s wireless Internet service is pre-empted by federal regulations governing over-the-air reception devices (OTARD). Though the dispute...
Seattle-based software developer Airbiquity recently cemented its relationship with Continental Automotive Systems' telematics unit, which develops and markets embedded telematics and hands-free communications systems using Bluetooth technology. The heart of Airbiquity's offerings is its in-band modem technology that transmits telematics data like crash notifications...
Like most things in wireless, the mobile TV contest boils down to devices, networks and—perhaps most importantly—spectrum. As such, two U.S. companies are racing to build mobile TV networks using the same transmission standard (DVB-H), and both trumpet their position as the competitive high...
