BROWSING: Opinion

Worst of the Week: Is Apple the next Sprint, or worse, BlackBerry?

Hello! And welcome to our Friday 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 RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....

Analyst Angle: Executive Q&A with Sprint’s John Tudhope – MaaS provides value to businesses

As businesses struggle with “bring-your-own-device,” managing employee-issued smartphones and tablets, and experience continuing pressure to simplify and manage operational expenses, choosing the right plan for corporate-issued devices and managing those devices is critical. As such, business decision-makers and IT managers continue to rely on...

Reality Check: How can high-tech generate more service revenue?

Many high-tech companies, such as smartphone, aerospace, medical equipment and software manufacturers, are looking for ways to grow their businesses. Growth may be attainable by managing their information technology in new ways. In today's digital business arena, however, these companies can face challenges. One is...

Reality Check: Whither unlimited data?

Wireless unlimited: Can it survive? How? One of the great debates over the past several months has been the sustainability of unlimited data. While both Sprint and T-Mobile US offer unlimited plans (although Sprint just eliminated their $50 iPhone offer in favor of “All-In,” described...

Kagan: Has a U.S. Cellular recovery begun?

U.S. Cellular has been struggling for growth in recent years. However, like the childhood story of Rip Van Winkle, they seem to be waking up after a very long nap and targeting AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. The question is, will 2015 be the...

Reader Forum: Top 5 connectivity technologies to watch in 2015 and beyond

With the “Internet of Things” reaching into every aspect of modern life, analysts predict the number of connected devices to reach around 5 billion by the end of this year – up 30% from 2014. By the end of the decade, that number is...

Reader Forum: External big data monetization – don’t miss the boat

Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, higher demand for mobile data and increased competition, communications service providers are constantly seeking new ways to monetize the immense amount of data that flows through their networks. Operators now have access to unique subscriber information that can...

Worst of the Week: Sprint and its wild Wall Street ride

Hello! And welcome to our Friday 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 RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....

Analyst Angle: NFV-S – next-generation security for enterprises, service providers and the cloud

A new security extension for network functions virtualization aligns businesses and carriers at the forefront of cloud computing What is a network? That question was fairly easy to answer a decade ago. Today, it’s not so easy. A network encompasses enterprise infrastructure, carrier networks, cloud...

Kagan: Former Sprint CEO Dan Hesse on mobile Internet

The mobile Internet presents a new wave of opportunities and challenges to the wireless industry. Dan Hesse, previous CEO of Sprint, shared his thoughts on the changing wireless industry and the mobile Internet in a Forbes article out today. I think his discussion of five...

Reader Forum: Sell the (quality of network) experience

If you were caught in a crisis situation, which would you rather have: Access to voice services on your smartphone or access to data? According to new global research commissioned by Amdocs and conducted by Hot Telecom, data wins out with a solid 55%...

Reader Forum: Next wave of IoT devices needs to ride a new network

Without a doubt, wireless data network devices and applications are growing rapidly. Heavy hitters like Cisco and Ericsson predict there will be 50 billion devices connected by 2020, quite a jump from 14 billion devices in 2013. Of the connected devices, Gartner estimates that...

Opinion: Kagan – Will T-Mobile US antics backfire?

I have a question for you: Are the accusations and colorful language from T-Mobile US CEO John Legere ultimately helping or hurting his company and the industry? We can see pros and cons to this show, but there are definite areas where caution is...

Reader Forum: The mobile Internet of Things

As the “Internet of Things” grows, mobile phones are becoming personal controllers that connect consumers through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee and other personal area networks to home control – cameras, smart watches, glasses, fitness trackers and even smart clothing. Because of that connection, the volume...

Reader Forum: 5G is coming! Wireless telecom is dead, long live wireless IT

While presenting on the topic of “5G” recently, I was asked: “Why are we making everything so complicated?” In that moment, as I surveyed the audience of principally telecom industry types – of which I proudly count myself as a member for the last...

Kagan: Who is the best at wireless?

Wireless carriers and handset makers spend fortunes on advertising, marketing and public relations to stay on top of the customers' minds. While that is an important cost of doing business, as a wireless analyst, the most often asked question I get from users is...

Analyst Angle: The death of the unlimited data plan

Unlimited data rate plans have been officially off the market for some time, but the reality is that the biggest mobile operators still offer them to customers who insist. We have heard stories of existing customers demanding – and getting – a new smartphone while...

Reality Check: AT&T in Mexico; FCC complaints; Google in Europe

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto last Thursday and announced that the company would be investing approximately $3 billion to bring the new AT&T network up to global standards (full announcement here). Contained in the announcement are some specific...

Reality Check: The new business model that will transform carriers

To the average person on the street, it may appear that mobile carriers are thriving. It’s hard to use the Web or flip on the TV without seeing flashy ads for the latest deal or the newest smartphone – all at lower and lower...

Reader Forum: The road to 5G begins in the cloud (RAN)

There is agreement in the telecom industry that the future of wireless networks is “5G.” However, ask anyone in the industry to define 5G and you’ll get many different answers. As the industry works out what the next generation of wireless technology will ultimately...

Reader Forum: 4 ways to reduce business risk, deflect cybersecurity threats with wireless backhaul

What do Spotify, the European Central Bank and Apple have in common? All were the targets of major cybersecurity attacks in 2014, which rose a whopping 48% from 2013 to 2014. Unsurprisingly, people are rattled. According to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 24% of consumers...

Worst of the Week: In praise of Sprint

Hello! And welcome to our Friday 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 RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....

Kagan: Will the new Nokia succeed?

Nokia is getting ready to re-enter the smartphone race. This is going to be a very interesting story to watch. Will it succeed? Nokia and BlackBerry once led the wireless handset and smartphone space. Then Apple iPhone and Google Android jumped in and quickly transformed...

Analyst Angle: ITU brings dose of realism to 5G agenda

IMT-2020 adopted as official name and date for global 5G process, but rumors of 20 Gbps baseline speeds are exaggerated The International Telecommunications Union always brings a dose of sobriety to a new standards party. Amid the escalating claims about when “5G” equipment will be...