Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on those sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Earthlink MVNO to be named ‘Helio’
LOS ANGELES-SK Earthlink Inc. followed through on previous claims that it was looking at a new name for its planned mobile virtual network operator service, unveiling the newly christened Helio Inc. brand that the company plans to use when it launches next spring. The company said the name change was the result of extensive market research and will help target the MVNO’s young, tech-savvy customer demographic when it launches its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO based services. The MVNO is a joint venture between Korean telecommunications provider SK Telecom and U.S.-based Internet service provider Earthlink Inc. … Read more
Mobile ESPN strikes distribution deal with Best Buy
BRISTOL, Conn.-Mobile ESPN L.L.C. reported a deal with electronics retailer Best Buy to support the launch of the Mobile ESPN mobile virtual network operator service beginning Nov. 1. Mobile ESPN said consumers in a handful of pre-launch markets-Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Minneapolis; and Reno, Nev.-will be able to purchase Mobile ESPN products and services next month. The service is scheduled to have its nationwide launch on Feb. 6-also known as Super Bowl Sunday-with Best Buy having the exclusive “bricks and mortar” retail distribution channel for two months following the launch. Mobile ESPN is set to operate using Sprint Nextel Corp.’s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network that is expected to cover 143 million potential customers by the end of this year and be available in approximately 64 metropolitan areas by early next year. … Read more
Carrier seek delay of e911 mandate
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless has asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive its rules requiring location technology to be embedded in 95 percent of a carrier’s handset base by the end of the year. However, Verizon said it can meet the requirement by June-much earlier than its rivals. Verizon Wireless said it is at 91-percent compliance today and expects to reach 93 percent by the end of the year. “While previous FCC-imposed handset milestones relied in part on the availability of handsets in the marketplace and on carrier actions, the 95-percent penetration milestone is uniquely challenging because it depends on actions by customers to change out their handsets,” said John T. Scott III, Verizon Wireless vice president and deputy general counsel for regulatory law. “Absent relief from the current deadline, Verizon Wireless would be compelled to force some of these customers to swap out their handset, even though they are satisfied with their current one, solely to meet a numeric mandate. Compelling such disruptive action would in fact disserve customers.” Verizon Wireless joins Alltel Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. in asking for waivers, but Alltel and Sprint Nextel both said they would need much longer to meet the mandate. … Read more
Study says global ARPU down, despite rising mobile usage
WASHINGTON—Despite the increasing use of wireless services worldwide, companies offering wireless services have seen their monthly recurring revenues drop by 13 percent during the past year, according to a report from TeleGeography Research. The report found that global wireless average revenue per user fell from $24 during the second quarter of 2004 to $21.30 this year. Eastern Europe witnessed the largest year-over-year drop with monthly ARPU falling 27 percent from $16.70 in 2004 to $13.10 this year. … Read more
Cell phone data offers new insights into traffic flows
WASHINGTON-At least two national mobile-phone carriers are unilaterally selling huge amounts of subscriber location data to third parties for city and state traffic management. The practice has the potential to reduce traffic congestion where other intelligent-highway systems have failed, but has drawn mild criticism from privacy advocates. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is working with Delcan-NET, headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., which in turn is negotiating with the Missouri Department of Transportation on a $3 million contract to launch a statewide system that translates drivers’ cell-phone signal movements into real-time information on vehicular speeds and traffic flow. “That’s very valuable traffic flow data,” said Jeffrey Briggs, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation. The MDOT project, which would be the largest of its kind in the United States, is slated for operation in early 2006. Briggs said highway cell-phone tracking is more cost effective and useful than cameras, sensors and other methods used to discern traffic patterns. In addition to helping improve traffic management, Briggs said the cell-phone location data, transformed by sophisticated software into useable information for transportation managers, could aid state officials in planning for-and investing in-highway improvements. Cingular also is participating with Delcan-NET in an intelligent highway pilot in Baltimore. In May, Delcan-NET, a unit of Delcan Corp., announced a partnership with ITIS Holdings Inc. to deliver real-time traffic flow information to states around the country using “cellular floating vehicle data.” The technology was developed by a subsidiary of Israel-based ITIS. … Read more
Boeing tests on-board internet, phone service
LONDON-The Boeing Co. reported it received positive feedback from passengers sampling high-speed Internet and mobile phone service on recent demonstration flights in Europe. “Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours,” said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at Connexion by Boeing. “We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while we flew over international waters, and almost everyone’s first call was to their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection.” Connexion by Boeing allows passengers with GSM and CDMA roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive calls while in flight. In addition to Internet access, Boeing’s offering includes four channels of live TV. … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News Archives for more stories from the past.
