The Sprint LTE network makes its commercial debut, while talk of new iPhone models sporting colors spreads … 4 years ago this week
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 the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Sprint Nextel lights up LTE; now on equal footing?
Sprint Nextel finally entered the LTE race with the launch this morning of commercial services across portions of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio. Future launches will have to wait for later this year. The market plans were initially announced earlier this year, and have been enhanced through additional announcements over the past six months. Sprint Nextel’s LTE plans were first announced last October. Ahead of the launch, Sprint Nextel has been seeding the market with LTE-enabled devices, including the launch over the weekend of a white version of the HTC Evo LTE device. The carrier has also said it plans to continue supporting its flat-rate, unlimited data offering for smartphone users, something that many of its rivals have abandoned for tiered data pricing. … Read More
Will next iPhone come in multiple colors?
Taiwan’s Apple.pro blog posted these photos today of what appears to be the next-generation iPhone. It looks like the iconic device will debut in white this fall, with a camera in the center of frame, facing front and back. The black device shown in the picture is the backside of the white device. Apple appears to have lengthened the iPhone without increasing the width. Although the company is notoriously secretive about plans for its devices, most reports so far have indicated that the next iPhone will sport a bigger screen, while the next iPad will be smaller. … Read More
Execs predict how wireless will change in the next 5 years
Ask anyone what the biggest change in wireless has been during the last five years and they will almost certainly choose the explosion in mobile data. But when asked about the next five years, executives’ perspectives on what’s next seems to depend on what part of the market they serve. We asked leaders from Cisco, AT&T, Qualcomm, and Ruckus Wireless for their predictions. … Read More
Report: Telecom sector leads the way in domestic economic investments
While the domestic economy continues to struggle, a new report shows that the telecommunications space remains one of the biggest investors in attempting to boost the nation’s fortunes. The Progressive Policy Institute report, “Investment Heros: Who’s Betting on America’s Future?,” found that among non-financial institutions, AT&T and Verizon Communications were the two top investors of capital expenditures in the country last year. AT&T took the top spot with a reported $20.1 billion in investments in 2011, with Verizon investing $16.2 billion. … Read More
Wireless carriers continue fight against wireline competitors
In a move bolstering the enhanced influence of wireless, regional carrier C Spire Wireless recently introduced a new offering targeting the waning wireline market, a move that analysts expect to continue. Earlier this week, C Spire rolled out its Home Phone Connect offering that takes advantage of the carrier’s wireless network to offer a wired connection to consumers. The service is priced at $20 per month for unlimited calling, with the device terminal priced at $50 with a two-year contract or $160 without a contract. … Read More
Report: Government set to approve Verizon Wireless spectrum deals
Verizon Wireless could be on the verge of garnering government approval for a haul of spectrum acquisitions, according to a story from Reuters citing “people with knowledge of the situation.” According to Reuters, the deal is still dependent on the parties involved convincing the Department of Justice that the deals would not lead to higher costs for consumers. Unlike the AT&T/T-Mobile USA transaction that the government shot down late last year, it appears Verizon Wireless’ spectrum acquisition attempts have garnered favor in that they are not taking a current competitor out of the marketplace. Opponents counter that while the deals might not take a current competitor out of the market, they would prevent some from entering and would consolidate more spectrum in the hands of the nation’s largest carrier to the detriment of competition. … Read More
Alcatel-Lucent’s new COO for wireless champions LTE for regional carriers
Sandy Motley remembers a time when wireless devices were primarily for “road warriors,” and says she still carries an “army of devices,” when she travels. But now, many of her trips are inspired by the new reality of wireless communications. “Today the mainstream use of this technology is phenomenal,” says Motley, and as consumers demand constant wireless communication, Motley is frequently on the road calling on regional U.S. carriers who are thinking about LTE. “This is the year for competitive carriers,” says Motley. “4G is really starting to go mainstream and they’re all moving to LTE.” … Read More
Another Linux-based smartphone in the works as ex-Nokia execs revive Meego
Less than a week after Mozilla rechristened its Linux-based mobile operating system, a group of former Nokia executives has announced development of a new smartphone based on Meego, the Linux-based OS that Nokia abandoned in favor of Windows. Nokia only produced one Meego smartphone, the N9, a phone perhaps most notable for its screen-only user interface – there are no buttons on the face of the device. Last week, Meego lead developer Sotiris Makyrgiannis announced that he is leaving Nokia, clouding the future of the Meego operating system. The clouds lifted just a few days later when Finland’s Jolla Ltd., run by another group of ex-Nokia executives, said that it will design, develop and sell new MeeGo-based smartphones. Jolla says its first smartphone will be unveiled later this year. … Read More
Wireless companies compete for workers despite high unemployment rate
With the unemployment rate still stuck above 8% and economists projecting lackluster job growth for the rest of the year, hiring managers are increasingly looking at two job markets. One one hand is an oversupply of under-qualified job seekers and on the other is a shortage of technically skilled workers. Mark Schmit, head of research for the Society for Human Resources Management, says technology companies are working hard to compete for employees with the right skill sets. Schmit says some of the companies he talks to are now considering the healthcare exchange established by the Affordable Healthcare Act as an alternative to employer-provided health insurance, but that companies in the wireless industry are not part of that group. … Read More
C Spire taps Alcatel-Lucent for LTE build
C Spire Wireless looks to be inching closer to its LTE network launch as it today announced it would be working with Alcatel-Lucent on the initial phase of the network build. Alcatel-Lucent is expected to provide base stations with remote radio head technology, IP mobile backhaul for LTE and existing 3G traffic, wireless packet core and an IP multi-media subsystem (IMS) network core. C Spire noted this will allow the carrier to offer IP-based services, including voice-over-LTE. Financial terms of the deal were not released. … Read More
Check out RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
