Public-interest groups reiterated their call for federal regulators to protect text messaging rights, framing the issue with far-reaching implication for free speech, disability access and competition in the wireless industry.Public Knowledge and other organizations want the Federal Communications Commission to rule that mobile-phone carriers...
While the Federal Communications Commission's failure to attract a bidder for a national commercial-public safety spectrum license dominated a House telecom subcommittee hearing today, the panel's review of the 700 MHz auction also served as a platform for addressing other major wireless policy issues.Indeed,...
Crush or Flush members can now give advertisers a thumbs-up or thumbs-down -- just like they do with each other.IceBreaker Inc's mobile social networking site added Golden Ticket, a component that allows advertisers to create profiles for their wares, just as members create profiles...
The wireless industry's two heavyweights continued to tweak their service plans with both AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless offering up new packages targeted at different demographics.AT&T Mobility unveiled a new FamilyTalk derivative that targets small businesses, allowing up to 40 users to share 20,000...
Editor's Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News' weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect the wireless industry.--Delta Air Lines...
What's with all the new pricing plans? Are carriers moving toward customization in lieu of simplicity?The introduction of unlimited plans a few months ago seems to have sparked a rallying cry for even more options from wireless operators: This week alone -- and it's...
Editor's Note: Welcome to Yay or Nay, a feature for RCR Wireless News' weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week we'll review a new wireless application or service from the user's point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and...
The following list details this week's infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available.Cellular--China: Ericsson said it signed GSM expansion framework agreements with...
Redback Networks, an Ericsson company (NASDAQ:ERIC) that makes video-centric routers for 75+ percent of the world's largest triple-play networks, today announced the results of an Ovum/RHK study, which found that telephone operators made up to $36 billion selling broadband services on Redback
Verizon Wireless is hoping to spur uptake of the wireless Web with a new, all-you-can-surf plan for smartphone users.The carrier introduced a $30-per-month plan that gives smartphone users "an unlimited data allowance" for e-mail and the mobile Internet. The plan supports as many as...
Verizon Wireless has tapped AOL L.L.C.'s Platform-A as a "major advertising provider" of its online and mobile Internet destinations.The operator said it will use Platform-A's sales force as well as its technology to deliver display, mobile and video ad services. The deal grants Platform-A...
The market for LTE technology took another step forward today as seven infrastructure heavyweights announced a framework for licensing the rights to the next-generation wireless standard. Alcatel-Lucent, L.M. Ericsson, NEC Corp., NextWave Wireless Inc., Nokia Corp., Nokia Siemens Networks and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Current Analysis' Peter Jarich, IDC's...
Cisco is opening up two pieces of its branch office gear to application developers in an effort to reduce the amount of equipment businesses have to place and manage in small business locations.
LAS VEGAS--Sun Microsystems today announced an expansion of its Streaming System video portfolio, adding small to mid-scale streaming of television and IP-based video to create an IPTV that can scale from 100 to 160,000 simultaneous streams.
The Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry into the growing problem of fraudulent 911 calls from cellphones no longer affiliated with mobile phone service providers, a dilemma that is diverting public safety resources away from citizens facing actual emergencies. "We all know that people...
The Federal Communications Commission said the nation's top prepaid wireless company, TracFone Wireless Inc., is now eligible for universal service subsidies in ten states and the District of Columbia, a move aimed at addressing modern-day communications needs of low-income citizens. "For quite some time...
The Federal Communications Commission agreed to allow Globalstar Inc. to make greater use of land-based wireless facilities in mobile satellite service frequencies licensed to the company."This action will allow greater capacity and flexibility for MSS/ATC , and will allow CDMA Big LEO MSS/ATC...
High-end phones with Web-based features will drive explosive growth in the mobile browser market over the next few years, according to new figures from ABI Research.The market research firm predicted the open-Internet browser (OIB) space for mobile will explode from 76 million browsers delivered...
NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics will combine their wireless businesses to compete in a cutthroat environment for chip makers. The two companies said in a statement they would aim to complete the move by the third quarter, subject to regulatory review and "consultations" with labor...
Pepsi-Cola has tapped Hong Kong's MyClick Media to handle the mobile extension of a cross-platform marketing campaign targeting young consumers in China. The contest encourages users to upload photos as well as personal information such as name and mobile number to one of six...
Hello! And welcome to our column, Worst of the Week. There's a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWirelessNews.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way. We...