Telephony Unfiltered
Inside (and Insights Into) Google’s ‘Data Question’ Secret Document
Telephony Unfiltered For Google, much of its thinking about user data and privacy is focused on advertising — it’s true business. But such data can be used for an array of things, from providing more personalized content to upselling/cross-selling new services. Topics: Verizon, Google, telecom, Android, regulators, net neutrality
Wireline Consolidators Are Missing the Wireless Boat
Telephony Unfiltered Aside from their drive to consolidate, these companies also share the ignominious burden of all telcos these days: They continue to lose landlines even though consolidation is supposed to better protect them from that trend. One more thing they share is that none of them have wireless units to help make up for [...]
Net Neutrality Talks Grind On; Reclassification Hits Roadblock
Telephony Unfiltered Net neutrality and reclassification discussions have moved off the front page and into the back rooms of D.C. — probably where they should be until there’s something firm on the table. Here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes, according to The Hill: Topics: FCC, Texas, broadband, Verizon, regulation, legislation, telecom, net neutrality, telephone
AT&T Shrinking DSL Prices to Stem Shrinking Subscriber Base
Telephony Unfiltered With AT&T (and other carriers) bleeding DSL customers, it’s not surprising to see some pricing incentives coming into play. In its quarterly earnings report last week, AT&T said it had dropped 347,000 DSL customers in the quarter. Could lower prices stem the tide? Topics: AT&T, carrier, broadband, DSL, cable modem
Apple Keeps Up ‘Death Grip’ Onslaught
Telephony Unfiltered No phone is safe in Apple’s campaign to spread the problem of its signal-dropping iPhone 4 among the entire industry. Following up on its press conference earlier this month, in which CEO Steve Jobs said all phones suffered from the same signal degradation when their antennas were covered, Apple has been posting videos [...]
Happy Days Here Again? AT&T and Verizon Think So
Telephony Unfiltered The two largest U.S. telcos reported second-quarter earnings last week, with AT&T touting its first billion-dollar-revenue quarter ever for U-verse and its smartphone supremacy, even though fewer customers are switching from other carriers because of AT&T’s iPhone; and Verizon celebrating improved performance even in the face of job cuts that helped it achieve [...]
Data Cap Twist
Telephony Unfiltered First came Clearwire, almost daring users to tax its WiMax 4G network with a no-data-cap pledge. Now Clearwire partner Sprint is taking a similar approach as it rolls out its 4G services on that WiMax data network, saying it has no plans to put data caps in place. Topics: USA, CTIA, smartphone, ISP, [...]
FCC Asking For $400 Million For Rural Telemedicine Connections
Telephony Unfiltered The FCC continues to try to drive broadband to remote areas. At its open meeting today, the commission is expected to change the rules for its $400 million program to fund broadband networks connecting rural health care providers. The funds will come from the Universal Service Fund, which has faced a fair amount [...]
NSN Looking Into Buying Motorola Telecom Unit
Telephony Unfiltered Nokia Siemens Networks today emerged as a likely buyer for Motorola’s equipment arm, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The move is part of Motorola’s plan to break up into two companies: one focused on handsets and a second on its communications business (including wireless technologies for mobile operators as [...]
Deal Complete, Frontier Now Dealing With Verizon Customer Issues
Telephony Unfiltered With its acquisition of Verizon rural service areas closed, Frontier Communications is now faced with serving those customers — some of whom are none too happy. BroadbandReports, citing the Charleston Daily Mail, pointed to transition problems for West Virginia customers. Topics: broadband, DSL, FairPoint, Verizon, regulators, Frontier, carrier
Report: AT&T Giving Femtocells to Valuable Customers
Telephony Unfiltered It appears that AT&T is giving its Microcell femtocells to a swath of its customers – and at no charge. Word of the giveaway started to appear late last week, with customers receiving letters from AT&T and, after a quick stop at a local AT&T retail location, putting their new femtocell to work [...]
T-Mobile May Squeeze 3G For the Last Drop of Capacity
Telephony Unfiltered T-Mobile may be calling its souped-up 3G network by the 4G moniker today, but it could have plans to run actual 4G-like capacities over its high-speed packet access plus network in the future. The TmoNews blog today had an interesting photo, reportedly taken at a T-Mobile manager’s meeting, that showed T-Mobile increasing HSPA+ [...]
Time Warner, Verizon Latest With Mobile Hotspots
Telephony Unfiltered Time Warner became the latest provider (following Sprint and Clear itself) to offer a 3G/4G mobile hotspot based on Clear service. Sprint calls it the Overdrive; TW has rechristened it IntelliGo. Topics: Verizon, Time Warner, broadband, hotspot, Wi-Fi, wireless
Lessons Learned From Microsoft Kin’s Fabulous Flame-Out
Telephony Unfiltered Does the Kin’s failure also foretell problems for other suppliers trying to deliver less-than-smartphone-yet-still-feature-filled phones? Did Verizon’s insistence on pinning a high-priced data plan on the Kin doom it? These are among the questions arising amid the embarrassing fallout. Topics: networking, 3G Microsoft, Windows Mobile, smartphone
Obama Jumps Into Broadband Fray, Freeing Up Wireless Spectrum
Telephony Unfiltered The Obama administration today took its turn in pushing the federal broadband agenda, putting forward plans to free up new wireless spectrum via auction. Mobile data services, with the help of the iPhone and other devices, are booming, and wireless operators are scrambling to build new 4G networks, even as they warn that [...]
