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Smartphone costs: displays loom large in device cost structure

Smartphone prices range from $40 to $4,000, but the cost of building a device usually falls somewhere between those extremes. The bill of materials for a high-end smartphone like the iPhone 5S is much less than the off-contract retail price. "You might be a...

LatAm Wrap-Up: NII Holdings,Telefónica sign 3G network sharing deal

Telefónica has agreed to provide NII Holdings’ subsidiaries in Brazil and Mexico with nationwide voice and data coverage services using the Telefónica's 3G wireless networks in those markets. NII Holdings operates under the Nextel brand in the two countries, and the agreement with Telefónica aims...

2014 Predictions: Connected car; M2M to move towards LTE, gain functions, drive revenues

In 2014, the connected car model will move closer towards making removable, replaceable modules – subscriber identification modules – a reality. This technology will enable each

2014 Predictions: Mobile automation to unlock the battle for real-time insights

The “Internet of things” and artificial intelligence are paramount among the top IT market trends that are looking to change the way consumers will interact with brands and how companies

Carrier Wrap: Sprint dumps One Up; C Spire puts Wi-Fi in classrooms

Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy! --Sprint last week “retired” its four-month-old...

Editorial Webinar: Inside devices – components and software that makes smartphones smart

Smartphone manufacturers are steadily increasing device capabilities with new components, more powerful chipsets, and more software. RCR Wireless takes a look at what’s inside high-end handsets and at the increasingly complex process of integrating components and software from various suppliers in a timely manner. What...

HP returns to smartphone market

Hewlett-Packard is turning its attention to the "phablet" market, after its purchase of Palm left the company empty-handed in the smartphone space. The company is calling its offerings "VoiceTabs," a name that might catch on even if the products themselves do not. The six-inch and...

Agawi puts touch-screens to the test

The touch-screen is a key element of most smartphones and tablets today, and the speed with which it responds to users’ touch is a critical part of successful interaction with the device. While stats on screen size and resolution are readily available, judging responsiveness...

Intel reportedly puts Fab 42 plant on ice

Intel has put its $5 billion investment in an Arizona chip plant on hold, but says it has nonetheless hired more than 1,000 new people to work at the Chandler facility. The "Fab 42" plant, as it was called, was set to start producing...

GSA: LTE at 263 networks and going strong

As of today, there are 263 Long Term Evolution commercial networks globally, according to the latest update from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association. More than 100 LTE networks were launched during 2013, bringing the total as of Dec. 31 to 260; three more have been...

NetZero adds Sprint 3G support, LTE coming later this year

NetZero followed up on previously announced plans to expand its mobile broadband service offering across Sprint’s CDMA-based 3G network. The expansion comes with the implementation of a five-year deal signed between the two parties last summer that is set to eventually include access to...

Verizon Wireless bypasses 3G with LTE Chromebook

Verizon Wireless is set to add another LTE/Wi-Fi tablet to its portfolio, the newest Hewlett-Packard Chromebook. The tablets are often called LTE-only because they do not include 3G connectivity. Altair Semiconductor told Reuters it will supply the LTE modem for the new Chromebook. Altair also...

Report: Carrier SDN spending set to hit $29.5B by 2018

The market for software-defined networking equipment is set to surge over the next five years as wireless carriers look bolster service offerings and cut costs, according to a new report from ACG Research. The report predicts that annual spending on all SDN-related equipment could hit...

Time Trippin’: Wireless industry struggles with privacy; Apple tips its mobile hand … 8 years ago this week

Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from...

2014 Predictions: Wireless growth, LTE expansion, increased functionality to challenge OEMs

There are a number of absolutes for 2014: The wireless market is going to continue to boom as wireless capabilities are being integrated into a growing number of products. LTE network build out

2014 Predictions: Enterprises start to transition from Wi-Fi access to full mobile with 3G, 4G

2014 will be the beginning of a seven-year enterprise transition from 80% capital expenditure to 80% operating expenditure spending on mobility, opening the door to a $100 billion mobile managed services opportunity for mobile operators.

Mobile Minute: Verizon wins partial victory on net neutrality

A federal appeals court has sided with Verizon Communications in the company's net neutrality fight, saying that Internet service providers are not subject to rules that require them to deliver all content at the same speeds. The decision is not final as the FCC...

CES 2014: Kyocera demonstrates real-world durability of devices

Kyocera Wireless highlighted some of the real-world features of its mobile devices at this year’s CES event, features that have allowed the company to find a growing niche in the domestic space. Those features include ruggedized construction for its Torque line of smartphones available...

Globalive withdraws from Canada’s 700 MHz spectrum auction

Globalive withdraw its hat from Canada’s highly anticipated 700 MHz spectrum auction just one day before the event was set to get under way. Globalive, which operates under the Wind Mobile brand in Canada, was the fifth previously qualified participant to forgo the proceedings. Published...

Ntelos pinched by rising churn, looks to refinance debt

Regional wireless operator Ntelos said it added 7,500 net customers during the fourth quarter of 2013, which was down slightly from the 9,300 customers the carrier added the previous year. The drop was attributed to a steep decline in prepaid growth, with the carrier...

Reality Check: CES 2014 – cars, glass, steam machines and John Legere

Each year when I head to CES, I think about the dreaded show floor. Those of you who have been to repeat CES shows know exactly what I mean:

Predictions for 2014: What to expect in the mobile telecom industry

The GSMA is the global trade association for the mobile industry, and it has a vital role to play in communicating to governments and the public. As mobile takes on a greater impact in consumers’ lives,

2014 Predictions: Workplace set to evolve due to cloud, software, BYOD

The workplace as we used to know has forever changed as remote and mobile workers become the norm, not the exception. Businesses will respond to this new breed of worker by

Reality Check: Two-factor authentication 101 – the key to de-coding a social hacker’s playbook

In today’s “socially connected” world, social media giants like Twitter and Google have become top targets for hackers and mobile devices are adding fuel to the fire. Today, hacks over social media