The rise of Diameter traffic is analogous to the early days of SS7 traffic growth. In the 90s, service providers began struggling with an exponentially growing mesh of SS7 connections as they added more equipment to support subscriber growth. The solution was to standardize around a core routing function called the signal transfer point to create a reliable, scalable SS7 network.

Anytime there’s talk about the promises of LTE, look around the room. You’re bound to find someone wondering how we’re really going to deliver on these promises. From a marketing perspective, LTE is impressive as mobile users will be able to take advantage of faster data speeds and cool, new devices. From a technical perspective, LTE presents several challenges. The good news is that there are some innovative solutions available to solve these challenges.

Consumers and reviewers desire sleek, thin smartphones and tablets, and they applaud big, high-resolution displays and batteries that last the better part of a week. Finally, they desire a seamless interaction between the software and hardware in the device. But even the most cutting-edge form factors and features in a device won’t fulfill their expectations and overall experience if the device doesn’t also provide reliable voice calls and consistently fast data speeds.

This was a very full week in telecom. First, Research In Motion Ltd. announced earnings, and their stock lost all of their July and August recovery, and then some. To summarize the call: a) Darn that PlayBook (RIM tablet) – version 2.0 will be a lot better, we promise (RIM management all but said they are going to have a fire sale on the Play Book tablet by the end of this year); and b) BlackBerry 7 products are awesome, and the carriers will sell a lot of BB 7 once they clear through the inventory of BB 6 (the words “sell thru” have become the mantra for RIM). If Apple Inc. had actually launched a device this summer, imagine what the quarter would have looked like for RIM! This was the window to clear the inventory – October is not the time. If they want to keep any carrier interest in their products beyond enterprise users, they will need to clear a lot of BB 6 inventory (maybe a Straight Talk/Wal-Mart Stores Inc. edition?).

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.Last week, we discussed AT&T Inc.’s dilemma – whether to fight a multi-front battle against all comers, or to focus on Verizon Communications Inc. On Friday, T-Mobile USA [...]

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.“Unless enjoined, the transaction likely will have the following effects in mobile wireless telecommunications services in the relevant geographic markets, among others:a. actual and potential competition between AT&T [...]

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.In less than 200 words, CEO Steve Jobs rocked the tech world with a sudden yet not surprising resignation. Immediately, people began eulogies. I, like several among you, [...]

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.Out of sight, out of mind. That sums up the state of cell phone antennas, which most mobile users rarely think about since they became embedded. The irony [...]

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.“Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices,” said Todd Bradley, executive [...]

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 proliferation of smartphones and growing demand for broadband services are driving mobile backhaul network operators to increase bandwidth. However, to make these increases profitable, transport costs [...]