Media reports suggest that Google is taking actions to launch mobile service as a mobile virtual network operator. Why on Earth would they do that? MVNO is such an archaic and anachronistic concept. It is unlikely that Google will launch a traditional MVNO. Traditionally,...
It’s no secret that this was the year of the wearables and “Internet of Things” at CES. From new smartwatches, to baby monitoring teddy bears, app-controlled hearing aids and smart collars for Fido; it seems that everyone’s trying to take a bite out of...
Mobile network operators face multiple challenges in today’s hyperconnected world. These include enhancing the use of radio resources, simplifying network management and reducing total cost of ownership. To address these challenges, a self-optimizing network is one of the most valuable and promising technologies. Without...
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....
Much has been written in the last week or so about Google's “rumored” upcoming mobile virtual network operator play, including the reasons it will not be successful and the challenges Google will face challenging the incumbent mobile operators. As we read each developing story,...
The Supreme Court sided with T-Mobile US on its challenge to the city of Roswell, Ga., denial of an application to build a cell tower – but Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s opinion raises more questions than it answers.
Section 332 of the Communications Act allows cellphone...
Lots of plane time last week, which means lots of time to think about earnings announcements and trends. On top of this, last week was heavy on non-earnings news, with T-Mobile US’ innovative smartphone approach to credit-challenged customers (see more here), to Google Fiber’s...
As companies hit 2015 in full sprint, they need to stay ahead of the shifts that will define business in the coming years. The changes I believe are on the horizon will enable teams and individuals to manage their data and make decisions at...
Mobile phones have come a long way since first hitting the market three decades ago. No longer just a commodity for the well-to-do, today’s cellular technology is just a part of the ever-expanding smartphone – used by consumers of all socioeconomic levels as devices...
We all know that advertising on mobile will be huge – probably the biggest money-spinner ever seen in the advertising world, never mind the telco world. But mobile advertising has a start-stop, keep trying to get going, history.
A new mobile landscape (again)
Our industry is...
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....
Google has its fingers in a lot of telecom pies, and the industry has been abuzz with word that the tech giant has a mobile virtual network operator agreement in the works with T-Mobile US and Sprint. Google executives declined to comment on the...
We predict more brands will integrate social messaging applications into their mobile engagement strategy this year. Globally, there are 1 billion registered users for the top three messaging apps, and consumers who use these apps are highly engaged. Brands can capitalize on the massive...
I expect that 2015 will be a banner year for technologies designed to enhance the video-streaming experience. With existing players continuing to push their on-demand services and new entrants, such as Overstock coming to market, the landscape is becoming more competitive. As a result,...
Today, everyone connects effortlessly to the Internet via Wi-Fi technology when at home or in coffee shops, or on the move via the 3G or 4G networks used by smartphones and tablets.
Fifteen years ago, everyone was literally tethered to the Internet via a cable,...
Cloud economics
Capital expenses vs. operating expenses has been debated rigorously for some time now, and many cite capex reduction as the reason for moving to the cloud. However, whether on the capex side or the opex side of the debate, organizations are still missing...
Mobile applications continue to explode, and there is a new trend among enterprise application developers. With the pervasiveness of smartphones and tablets, the delivery vehicle is in place for businesses to expand with new mobile services to reach their customers. Businesses no longer need...
It is the opinion of almost everyone that the future is going to be digital. But what exactly does that mean?
Well, it can mean a lot of things. The emergence of the interconnected world will have long-term consequences that sociologists and historians will be...
There is no debate on the premise that the “Internet of Things” sector is poised for massive growth and, with that, represents endless opportunities across all industries and subsectors. With billions of connected “things” driving several trillions of dollars in revenue, understanding where market...
Self-driving cars are not a pipe dream – they are inevitable. When you count up the benefits, the value is huge: found time, increased safety, better energy use, much better traffic management and more dense utilization of each square foot of pavement. While the...
The trend in the enterprise world to a “bring-your-own-device” environment has reached a tipping point. Up until now, company-owned devices have represented the majority of enterprise mobility, but that will change in 2015. It is safe to assume that there will be far more...
Lauding the ability to converse with inanimate objects used to provoke eye-rolls of disbelief or even apathy. Now, it is a comfortable notion for most in the modern world to consider voice more as a staple than as a “neat” feature on mobile devices...
Verizon Communications reported earnings last week. Without going through every detail of their 1.99 million wireless retail postpaid net additions – 1.4 million of which were tablets – let’s focus on two of the most important figures: postpaid churn and broadband (FiOS + DSL)...
In 2015, voice over LTE will shake up the marketplace in a variety of ways. For example, some mobile operators will use VoLTE-powered unified communication to compete with over-the-top UC providers, particularly in the enterprise market, where customers will value – and pay for...
