MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: RealNetworks, DoCoMo to develop video streaming

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- RealNetworks and NTT DoCoMo announced an agreement to deploy Real's streaming mobile video software to DoCoMo's existing V-Live mobile TV service. The JV's aim is to allow content providers to use their own multi-format, cross platform Helix Mobile servers to stream video content over the Internet and onto FOMA handsets. Real and DoCoMo expect the setup to encourage content providers to unleash more content and increase the "virtuous cycle of supply and demand." The companies are pursuing the right goal, but the end quality of the content sounds suspect. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Handset vendors open own retail stores

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily WiFi News & Updates.- An interesting branding war is playing itself out. As mobile operators begin pushing for their own brands placed on mobile phones, handset makers are fighting back by introducing their own retail stores. In a move the vendor hopes will build brand loyalty and show off its phones' features, Nokia plans to open 18 stores in cities around the world within the next 18 months in places like New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London. Motorola will open one in Moscow, while Sony has several flagship stores. It's an intriguing concept that may just help vendors distinguish their products from one another. This is a market dominated by me-too products, but handset makers also have to be careful not to upset the carrier ecosystem when it comes to selling service plans. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Nokia dealt blow in Japan

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Nokia received a blow from NTT DoCoMo when Japan's largest operator announced it is delaying the launch of Nokia's 3G FOMA handset because of software problems. Nokia had said last week that the handset was to go on sale today. The delay doesn't come at a good time for Nokia since it has been working on stepping up its visibility in Japan as DoCoMo had scaled back its purchases from Nokia in light of the fact that the vendor had problems implementing i-mode into its handsets, according to DoCoMo officials. The handset is Nokia's first 3G model for DoCoMo, and no decision has been made on when the phone will launch. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Wireless revenues totaled $174.7B in 2005

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) said wireless revenues in the U.S. totaled $174.7 billion in 2005, up 10.7 percent from 2004. The growth drivers were the acceleration in handset revenue and new wireless subscribers. According to the association's annual report, the wireless handset and device market totaled $15 billion last year, with the expectation that the market will increase 19.3 percent this year. Carriers added a record 25 million customers in 2005. TIA said that the recent uptick in wireless subscribers is due in part to moderate price increases and the introduction of new uses for wireless devices. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Picture services aim to help ease-of-use problems

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Sprint announced it will launch this spring Picture Mail groups, a service that allows subscribers to create an online community about any subject and invite friends with an email address or Sprint phone to add pictures, video clips and text of their own at no additional cost. And Seattle-based Vizrea has introduced the Vizrea Snap service, which can automatically move pictures between a phone, PC and the Web.

These services might help push the camera-phone market along. In-Stat has said that only a tiny percentage of camera phones are used regularly to transmit pictures or to store for later use. Less than a third of camera phone owners surveyed by In-Stat indicated that they share picture messages with friends. One of the reasons was that they were turned off by the difficulty of creating and sending pictures. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: Motorola fears subscribers not excited about moco

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- Motorola's handset division head Ron Garriques said the company is backing away from being the first to market with advanced phones that boast WCDMA and expensive QUALCOMM chips that will enable or optimize next-gen 3G services. Why? He's not so sure subscribers are impressed by moco services and want to pay the money for handsets that support them. "In the past we had to launch every product and chase every market, because we needed the opportunity," he said.

The game changed for Motorola after the RAZR handset's breakout success two years ago--the handset's sales now account for one-third of the company's overall handset sales. Currently, thanks in large part to the RAZR's exterior design, more end users are willing to spend on slick phones with less features. Motorola said Samsung's newest 3G phone won't sell anywhere near the shipments that the RAZR has, so why should Motorola lead the charge? For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Controversy surrounds cell-phone viruses

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- With all the noise surrounding security vendors entering the mobile market to fight viruses, Verizon says it doesn't see a need for its customers to install antivirus software on mobile phones. Verizon is right that threats are low today in light of the fact that there is not one dominant OS platform and that mobile phones pretty much incorporate a push-and-pull method of downloading information from the Internet. But as phones become a virtual PC in the hand, that significantly increases the threat of viruses. In fact, Gartner suggests a widespread attack could happen by the end of next year.

The vendors announcing their progress in the mobile industry have been accused of fear mongering to get their software sold, but most of the ones I talk to are realistic about the threat. They say they're just preparing for the inevitable when mobile phones coalesce around a couple of dominant OS platforms. We're already seeing a high infection rate of non-malicious viruses, meaning virus makers are testing the platforms out. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: MoCo events updates

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- This is your first update on MoCo events...

> Software Radio Summit 2006 - Feb 22-23, Tyson's Corner, Vienna, VA
A visionary approach outlining future uses of software radio technology in the military, government & commercial sector. This event will serve as a forum for government, industry & academia to discuss the goals, objectives, priorities, implementation strategies, enablers, barriers and existing program initiatives in support of software-defined radios. www.idga.org/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?topic=329&event=8948&

> IT Infrastructure Qualification Summit - Feb 28-March 1, Del Mar, CA
At the IT Infrastructure Qualification Summit, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech industries experts will explain cost-effective strategies for qualifying and maintaining FDA compliance for their MIS infrastructure. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=8991&topic=233 for more information.

> RFID, Tracking and Barcoding for Hospitals - March 21-22, Scottsdale, AZ
At Healthcare IQ's 4th annual RFID, Tracking and Barcoding for Hospitals you will hear first-hand how leading hospitals and heath networks have implemented electronic barcode scanning and RFID technology to cut unnecessary expenses, improve productivity and increase patient safety. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=9052&topic=233 for more information.

> Billboard Magazine's MECCA 2006 - April 4, Las Vegas
MECCA is the official mobile entertainment event at CTIA Wireless. MECCA connects the music, film, & TV industry with the wireless world's investors, operators, & application providers to discuss issues in mobile music, games, animation, film & TV. Details at: www.billboardevents.com

> IPTV and Beyond - April 19-20, San Diego
Is your company expecting big payoffs from the IPTV revolution or are you lost in all the hype and confused as to what all this means for your organization? Join us as we discuss the effect of IPTV on your organization and present real-world best practices from those who have implemented IPTV. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=9550&topic=586 for more information.

> KidPower 2006 and The 13th Annual Conference & Award - May 7-11, Lake Buena Vista, FL
With 13 years under out belts we understand what's important to the marketing minds attempting to engage the ever evolving kids' market. That's why we have organized four full days packed with creativity, education and opportunity. Getting the most out of Kid Power 2006 is as easy as A-B-C-D…. For more information, visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/singlecell.html?topic=236&event=9537.

> 2006 MVNO Summit - May 16-18, Las Vegas
Learn best-practices for entering--and surviving--this competitive but highly-rewarding marketplace and real-world strategies from industry leaders. This conference will equip you with the valuable lessons that you can apply immediately to develop and implement your own MVNO strategy. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=9193&topic=586 for more information.

> Telecom Financial & Technology Management - May 17-18, Chicago
The telecom industry is evolving and becoming more complicated, needing faster and economically smart solutions to deal with the various processes. This conference is designed so Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and their telecom leaders can learn how to be more efficient in a telecom environment. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=9585&topic=233 for more information.

> Management for Defense Spectrum - May 23-24, Arlington, VA
Maximize spectrum management and provide optimal communications in times of increasing security threats. Timely updates on new spectrum requirements and strategies with a balanced perspective from key DoD, FCC, Commerce Department and Industry members on spectrum management policy, requirements and research & development. Visit www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?event=9644&topic=221 for more information.

For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: More updates on the new Mobile Content Market

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- The Mobile Content Market or MoCo is what's hot right now, and we are you main source for moco industry news...

> Commodore and The Content Factory team up to take on mobile gaming. The plan is to open new channels for delivering digital media content, which can include video, music, games and business applications for mobile phones and handheld devices. Article

> An Australian fund is in the works to grant venture capital to Australia's emerging mobile TV sector. Article

> Axiom Telecom launches multi-platform chat service that claims to bridge ICQ, MSN, AOL, Google and Yahoo! IM services. Article

> Here's a high level New York Times take on 3G services and a profile of an early adopter who remains unimpressed. Article

> Abandon Mobile, in an exclusive partnership with NBC Sports, releases two new wireless game titles: Bode Miller Alpine Racing and Abandon's additional release, NBC Sports Figure Skating. Both are available for download now for customers on the Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless networks. Article

> Researchers discover that rats use instant replay for memory and while dreaming. Article

For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: 3 Italia says mobile TV to increase IPO

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- 3 Italia CEO Vincenzo Novari said the launch of his company's mobile TV service will boost its IPO valuation because media companies are valued at around double the multiples of traditional telecom companies due to their higher margins. Currently, media services like data downloading and streaming account for 30 percent of the carrier's sales, but Novari said he didn't know what percentage of sales needed to be from media services to be considered a "media company." For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: Third Screen Media raises $5M in second round

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- Mobile advertising and marketing software developer Third Screen Media announced it has secured $5 million in venture capital led by TD Capital Ventures with backing from Blue Chip Venture. The company said the round will go toward marketing its MADX mobile ad delivery platform to publishers, carriers, brands and advertising agencies. Third Screen has deployed or tested its products with USA Today, MasterCard, Dunkin Donuts, MSN and Sprint. Mobile marketing is hot, and Third Screen Media can back that statement up with its funding. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: 89% of brands to use mobile marketing by 2008

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- According to a recent study by mobile infrastructure software provider Airwide Solutions, by 2008 an estimated 89 percent of major brands will use text and multimedia messaging to reach their audience. (Please note: Airwide offers monitoring solutions for SMS and MMS campaigns.) The report also claims nearly one-third plan to spend more than 10 percent of their marketing budget on the mobile medium. Currently, 40 percent of brands have already launched SMS marketing campaigns and a rugged 18 percent have deployed MMS marketing initiatives. The study found the largest barrier to market for such campaigns is a lack of information as to how to manage and implement an SMS campaign.

The report concluded that brands want the ability to reach a specific target audience, more info about how the user responded to the message and proof that the message had been received by the user's handset. Surprisingly, Airwide released such a monitoring tool just last week. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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MOBILE CONTENT NEWS: AT&T, Yahoo! team up for moco services

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Mobile Content Industry News & Updates.- AT&T and Yahoo's Go Mobile team have partnered for a mobile app that brings Cingular subscriber's AT&T Yahoo! mail, photos, address book and more to the user's handheld. The app also comes equipped with Yahoo! Messenger, allowing users to exchange IMs, voice clips, emoticons and Audibles. The service will work exclusively with Nokia's 6682 handset, which sells online for $199.99 after a $50 rebate. AT&T recommended subscribers also sign up for its data service, which runs $19.99 for an unlimited plan. Between the exclusive on the handset and the additional $20, Cingular needs to seriously consider whether any lay user really has the desire to check their Yahoo! mail anywhere, anytime for that much money. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Keep up with the lastest Wireless news

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Here are some extra wireless updates to keep you ahead on the mobile industry.

> Nokia's music N91 smartphone has been held up because of DRM issues. Article

> Ericsson signed HSDPA contracts with Italian operator 3 and Swiss operator Swisscom Mobile. Article

> San Francisco reveals six proposals to running the city's muni-WiFi network. Article

> STMicroelectronics announced a new Multi-Chip Package memory portfolio for 3G and CDMA mobile phones. Release

> Afghanistan's telecoms regulator has shut down an illegal GSM network operating in Kabul. Article

> A Canadian university has limited WiFi networks on campus because the long-term safety of the technology is "unproven." Article

For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: NTT DoCoMo transmits 2.5 Gbps in 4G trial

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- NTT DoCoMo said it transmitted data at 2.5 Gbps to a moving vehicle using MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) technology. The tests are part of the Japanese operator's research into fourth-generation mobile technology. The vehicle, however, was traveling at 12 mph. MIMO, which sends data using multiple antennas, is emerging as the key enabler of super fast data speeds. It is an integral part of the 802.11n WiFi standard and will be an important development in the 3G standards-making process going forward. Look for lots of patents filed on this one. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Technology CEOs call for spectrum policy changes

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Wireless executives have long complained about the inefficient use of spectrum in the U.S. Now a group of technology executives are calling on Congress and President Bush to initiate a formal review of spectrum in the U.S. to determine where it is being used inefficiently. The Technology CEO Council, in a report released yesterday, wants Congress to instruct the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to report on the value and lost opportunities, primarily as a result of inefficient government use. It also wants more unlicensed spectrum for WiFi and other services, as well as a change in the spectrum auction process, saying spectrum policy is still governed by outdated 1970s policies. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: What's the future of push-to-talk in the U.S.?

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily WiFi News & Updates.- Push-to-talk services are in the news again. Remember when they were the hottest topic in 2002 and 2003? Operators looking jealously at Nextel's high ARPU thought IP networks would finally allow them to compete. It turned out though that when Verizon launched the first competitive PTT service it couldn't compete on quality. Marketing of the service quickly faded. Cingular and Alltel have launched services using a solution from Kodiak, which uses a circuit-switched network that reduces latency problems. But PTT will probably run into the same adoption problems SMS and MMS faced early on in the U.S. because carriers aren't opening up their networks to interoperability. Sprint Nextel won't have an incentive for a long time to do so because it still has a corner on this market. It's interesting that Verizon now says that text messaging and in-network free mobile-to-mobile provide the instant communications consumers want. Has it totally abandoned PTT or is it waiting for the next generation of EV-DO technology that offers QoS over VoIP and quicker connection times? For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Tomorrow D-day for RIM's BlackBerry service

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Tomorrow is D-day for Research In Motion. A federal judge will decide whether or not to impose an injunction to shut down BlackBerry operations in the U.S. as a result of RIM's patent battle with NTP. To be sure, carriers are watching the situation and have been testing and certifying RIM's workaround solution in case the judge doesn't rule in RIM's favor.

The workaround solution requires customers to download new software to their BlackBerry devices, and corporate customers will have to upgrade the software on BlackBerry servers. Some wireless operators are worried that older BlackBerry devices will be unable to use the workaround software because they don't have enough memory. While operators say they are confident things are going to be operating as usual, they have to be biting their nails this week. After all, their BlackBerry customers are some of the most important revenue generators. Meanwhile, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rejection to one of the key patents NTP's infringement lawsuit against RIM. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Keep you updated one news a ta time

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- New of the top Wireless and Mobile industry updates...

> EarthLink and Google have combined their proposals to build a muni-WiFi network in San Francisco. Article

> It's a sign of a maturing market: About 16 percent of U.S. wireless customers have two mobile phones. Article

> A federal judge refused the Justice Department's request for its own hearing on how a possible shutdown of BlackBerry email service would effect government employees. Article

> London announced plans to install a comprehensive WiFi network throughout the city's Square Mile. Article

> Georgia's National Communications Commission plans to auction a 3G license. Article

> New wireless technology could replace fiber in some instances. Article

For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Deadbeat customers cost a lot of money

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Deadbeat customers are costing mobile operators about $26 billion every year, according to a report from Analysys and Talgentra, which surveyed operators around the world. As a result, 5 percent of total billings are written off annually. One of the main problems associated with the high write-off figures is that collections often fall between the responsibilities of various departments in a company. In other words, there is no clear strategy for collecting. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Alltel to acquire Ill. regional operator

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Not surprisingly, we're seeing large operators snapping up small, regional operators as regional players struggle in an environment dominated by national or nearly national operators with cheap country-wide pricing plans. Alltel purchased First Cellular of Southern Illinois, a locally owned wireless service provider in Mt. Vernon. Verizon Wireless recently acquired a small cellular operator in Northern California, Cal-One Cellular, which operates under the Cal North Wireless brand. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: EC expected to rule on QUALCOMM antitrust case

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- The European Commission is expected to publish an initial decision on complaints against QUALCOMM and its alleged patent license policies. Broadcom, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments have claimed that QUALCOMM is engaging in anti-competitive practices when it comes to licensing essential patents for 3G W-CDMA systems. Analysts believe the EC will pursue the matter, but a detailed investigation from the commission could take years. So expect a long, drawn out battle here, and QUALCOMM is no stranger to vicious, drawn-out IPR battles. It's a classic case of one company trying to get as much as it can from licensing while the licensees want to pay as little as they can. Licensing is something QUALCOMM will vigorously defend. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Senate wants unlicensed access in 700 MHz

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily WiFi News & Updates.- Two new bills circulating in the U.S. Senate would allow WISPs to operate on an unlicensed basis in unused 700 MHz TV spectrum. There's a lot of pressure on Congress right now to allow this because it is seen as a viable way to enable cheaper and easier widespread broadband access for rural and low-income areas. But let's hope Congress won't jump the gun here. The FCC has already been considering rules for this since 2004, but there are some big concerns about interference. Both new bills would force the FCC to move more quickly on concluding those rulemaking procedures and require the agency to craft technical rules and guidelines for those operating on the unlicensed spectrum. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Cingular rolls out OfficeReach for enterprises

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily WiFi News & Updates.- Cingular Wireless introduced Cingular OfficeReach, an integrated communications management solution that allows businesses to administer their wireline and wireless services as one system to help control telecom costs. OfficeReach is a voice-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) that enables business customers to manage their communications platforms through a suite of tools, including one number service, customizable call management, private numbering plan and zone billing. OfficeReach is integrated directly into a company's existing telephone network and uses a database-driven, intelligent platform. Cingular says OfficeReach requires no capital investment in PBX infrastructure so trunk line and PBX investments are minimized while the organization grows.

We're starting to see a big emphasis from carriers on helping enterprises control telecom spending. Sprint quietly rolled out a voice feature for both wireless consumers and business users called Sprint to Home that allows customers to designate a wireline number for unlimited calling for $5 a month. Business users of Mobile to Office pay $8 a month and can call a designated wireline business or residential number on an unlimited basis. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Sprint Nextel takes merger-related hit

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Sprint Nextel took a hit from merger-related expenses, announcing a 55 percent drop in fourth-quarter net income. The carrier also announced revenue for 2006 will be far below what analysts had forecasted. Revenue will come in at about $41 billion, and analysts were forecasting $46.8 billion in revenue. Sprint Nextel added 2 million customers, ending the year with 47.6 million customers.

Analysts I'm sure are watching the mix of customers coming on the network, perhaps fearing that the majority of customer adds may be prepaid customers in the future. Prepaid typically brings in higher churn and lower ARPU. The company added 746,000 users under the Sprint and Nextel post-paid brands, 624,000 under the Boost Mobile brand and 651,000 through wholesale channels and from PCS affiliates. Boost Mobile is Sprint Nextel's subsidiary that offers a prepaid push-to-talk service targeted at younger users. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.

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WIRELESS NEWS: Walking the Line Of IEEE Process

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- So the question remains, when will the draft be stable enough to begin designing firmware upgradeable chipsets? The industry eagerly awaits an answer. Claims that chip sets based on any early draft will be firmware upgradeable or interoperable with the final 802.11n specification are irresponsible and may mislead consumers who do not completely understand the IEEE process.

Gartner, Farpoint Group and other industry experts further highlight that claims of upgradeability at this juncture are at best unfounded and at worst misleading. They also point out that these claims have the potential to put chip vendors and the OEMs who work with them in an extremely difficult position when upgradeability and interoperability is not achieved.

In a recent statement about claims of upgradeability and interoperability Gartner warned, "Gartner believes that such claims may be misleading to clients, in part because they are premature, since the specification is likely to undergo changes over the next year. Also, customers may mistakenly infer that these chips can be made compliant through upgrades. In the past, with 802.11g, a similar rush to marketing occurred and included promises regarding the ability to upgrade that were not met." For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.


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WIRELESS NEWS: The Road Ahead For 802.11n

By Daily Wireless Updates, Power by Cogni360

Daily Wireless News & Updates.- Initially, many within the 802.11n task group estimated that it would take just over a year to move from Draft 1.0 to ratification. The IEEE, however, has since agreed that a more reasonable timeline is 18 months and now estimates ratification of the standard to be in September 2007. This builds in time for the 500-member IEEE 802.11n task group to review the draft for errors and omissions, inconsistencies with other 802.11 standards, possible improvements in performance and interoperability and better voice and multimedia application support. The first round of IEEE group corrections and improvements will be incorporated into a Draft 2.0 in May or July 2006, and the IEEE anticipates that a last draft will be ratified approximately one year later.

This schedule update by the IEEE indicates that a lot work still needs to be done, and that the first draft will undergo several rounds of review and revisions before it is stable enough to guarantee firmware upgradeability or interoperability to the final ratified standard. More importantly, until there is a stable and mature draft of the IEEE 802.11n standard, the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) cannot begin the testing and certification program, which it expects to begin in March 2007. Until this certification testing is in place, device manufacturers-and consumers-cannot be assured of interoperability between different vendors' 802.11n products. For more telecom news go to: Telecommunicate and Daily WiFi News.


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