Mobile

Ericsson, T-Mobile Sign $3.5 Billion 5G Agreement

Ericsson and T-Mobile on Tuesday announced a multi-year, $3.5 billion contract to support T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network deployment. Under the deal, Ericsson will provide T-Mobile with the latest 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software compliant with 3GPP standards. Under...

T-Mobile, Nokia Sign $3.5 Billion, Multi-Year 5G Network Agreement

T-Mobile and Nokia on Monday announced a $3.5 billion agreement for Nokia to provide T-Mobile with its complete end-to-end 5G technology, software and services portfolio, helping accelerate the deployment of a nationwide 5G network. As part of the agreement, Nokia...
phone

T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon & Sprint Form ‘Mobile Authentication Taskforce’

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon said Friday they are joining forces and resources to develop a more secure solution for two-factor authentication through the creation of the Mobile Authentication Taskforce. The mission of this taskforce is to develop a...
data

AIRWAVES Act to Expedite Introduction of High Speed Wireless to Rural Areas

Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on Tuesday introduced the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (AIRWAVES) Act, which is aimed at encouraging the federal government to continue to free up spectrum for...

Sprint to Support Next-Gen IoT Devices With Nationwide Deployment of LTE Cat 1 Technology

Sprint announced Tuesday it will complete its deployment of LTE Cat 1 technology across its nationwide network by the end of July 2017. In addition, Sprint announced plans to begin deploying LTE Cat M in mid-2018 followed by LTE...
comcast

Comcast, Charter Communications Partner on Wireless Deal

Comcast and Charter on Monday announced an agreement to explore potential opportunities for operational cooperation in their respective wireless businesses to accelerate and enhance each company’s ability to participate in the national wireless marketplace.  The companies, which have each separately...
qualcom

Qualcomm is Acquiring NXP for $47 Billion in Largest Semiconductor Deal

Qualcomm Incorporated, a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies, said Thursday it has reached a definitive agreement with NXP Semiconductors, unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, under which Qualcomm will acquire all...
blackberry

BlackBerry Transitions to Software, Announces latest Android Smartphone

BlackBerry on Tuesday unveiled a new Android smartphone, also relinquishing the development of its handsets to third-party manufacturers, allowing the once-dominant smartphone company to focus on software development. BlackBerry-branded devices will continue to be released by third-party developers, even...
samsung

Samsung Sends Out Fireproof Boxes, Gloves for Galaxy Note 7 Returns

Having given up on the Galaxy Note 7 following the fiasco surrounding explosions of the mobile device, Samsung is taking no chances by sending out fireproof packaging to customers for safe returns of the defective smartphones. The company previously announced...
samsung

Samsung Ends Sales and Exchanges of Galaxy Note 7

Samsung said Tuesday it is ending Sales and exchanges of its troubled Galaxy Note 7 to allow for further investigations. According to Samsung, the company is working with regulatory authorities to resolve the situation, although the damage to the...
robot

FCC Assembles ‘Strike Force’ Including Apple, AT&T to Tackle Robocall ‘Scourge’

A push by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on robocalls will include 30 tech companies, including: AT&T, Google, Apple, Verizon, Comcast, Nokia, BlackBerry, LG, Qualcomm and Sirius XM. The “Robocall Strike Force” brings together carriers, device makers,...
fcc

FCC Raises Maximum Calling Rates for Inmates

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today raised calling rates for inmates. The Order adopted by the Commission builds on its landmark inmate calling service reforms of 2013 and 2015 by responding to issues raised in the record of the...
iphone

iPhone Sales Surpass One Billion Threshold; Apple Sets its Sights on Autonomous Vehicle Software

Apple  announced on Wednesday it has sold over 1 billion iPhones. The company’s CEO Tom Cook said the one billionth device was recently sold, during a meeting with employees in Cupertino, California. “Last week we passed another major milestone when...
Wheeler

FCC Chairman Prods Phone Companies to Offer Free Options for Blocking Robocalls and Spam

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week told phone companies to start offering their customers free options to block robocalls and spam texts. Chairman Tom Wheeler said the FCC has received a deluge of complaints from consumers regarding robocalls...
mac

US Launches $400 Million Advanced Wireless Research Initiative

The Obama Administration announced today the launch of a $400 million Advanced Wireless Research Initiative led by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This new program will enable the deployment and use of four city-scale testing platforms for advanced wireless...
5g

Aftermath of FCC Vote: US First Country to Identify and Open Spectrum for 5G Networks

The Federal Communications Commission Just voted to usher in the 5G era. FCC unanimously approved an item on Thursday morning meant to bring the next generation of wireless technology to American consumers, making the United States the “first country...
blackberry

U.S. Senate Shelves Blackberry in Favor of Apple, Android Devices: Company Discontinues Classic Design

The longstanding relationship between the US government and Blackberry may have come to an end. A memo from the Senate Sergeant at Arms sent last week to administrative managers, chief clerks, and system administrators indicated this much. According to the...
analytics

Nokia Launches Real-Time Mobile Network Analytics Platform

Nokia is launching Real-Time Mobile Network Analytics, which the company calls “the industry's first solution to give operators an end-to-end view of mobile networks from individual subscribers, applications, devices and operating systems, network elements, cells and calls.” The analytics link...
radio mast

Wireless Industry Protest Bill To Remove Cell Phone Subsidies

The wireless industry is protesting a bill that would make it difficult for wireless companies to access subsidies meant to pay for service to low-income earners. Wireless association CTIA sent a letter to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and...
tom wheeler

FCC To Enhance 5G For IoT, Virtual Reality

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said Monday they will vote next month on a proposal to help identify and free up wireless spectrum at very high frequencies that could be used to power fifth-generation, or 5G, cellular networks.  FCC Chairman...
modem

Several Carriers Move To Strike FCC’s ‘Flawed’ Data Framework

CenturyLink, Inc. on June 17 filed a motion to strike what it called the “irretrievably flawed” data framework underlying the Federal Communications Commission’s recent business data services proposal. AT&T, Cincinnati Bell, Consolidated Communications, FairPoint Communications, and Frontier Communications joined CenturyLink...
cellphone

Cellphone Radiation Causes Cancer – New Study

A new study by the U.S. National Toxicology Program found that high exposure to radiation similar to that emitted by cellphones caused cancerous tumors in the brain and heart of male rats. This finding is the outcome of a...

Smartphones Number One Wireless Devices In The US – Latest Survey

Americans used 9.6 trillion megabytes (MB) of data in 2015, three times the 3.2 trillion MB they used in 2013, according to a survey released today by CTIA (The Wireless Association). This is the equivalent of consumers streaming 59,219...
track

Uber’s Trip Tracker Lets You Track Family Member’s Trip In Real Time

Uber announced Tuesday that is adding Trip Tracker, a feature that provides automatic notifications and the ability to follow along on the map whenever someone is riding under your Family Profile. Trip Tracker allows users who have activated Family Profile...
nokia

Microsoft To Sell Feature Phone Business To FIH Mobile

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced it reached an agreement to sell the company's entry-level feature phone assets to FIH Mobile Ltd., a subsidiary of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group, and HMD Global, Oy for $350 million.  As part of the deal,...
mobile

FTC, FCC Investigate Procedure For Mobile Security Updates

The Federal Communications Commission in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission today announced an inquiry into mobile device security, specifically, how phone makers review and release security updates.  The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins sent a letter to...
twitter

Twitter’s New Message Button Will Let You Share Private Tweets

Twitter launched a new Message button feature on April 5, which allows users of its iOS and Android app to share messages privately. However, the feature is not available for the Web version, and it's unclear if it ever...

BlackBerry Acquires Encryption, Sets Up Cybersecurity Consulting Service

BlackBerry on Wednesday announced a new 60-person cybersecurity consulting service, which will include staff from its recent acquisition of UK-based Encription Limited.  Encription is a UK-based cybersecurity consulting firm with about 40 employees. Consultants at Encription have been used by...

Samsung To Debut Galaxy S7 Feb. 21, Adds Ad Blocking To Android Phones

Samsung announced on Monday its "Galaxy Unpacked 2016" event with a virtual reality-focused teaser video. In addition to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, insider blog SamMobile reports that Samsung is likely to unveil a new VR camera...

NetCarrier Partners With VoIP On Distribution Deal

NetCarrier, a national provider of traditional and cloud based voice and data services, announced Monday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Buffalo, NY-based VoIP Supply to distribute nCloud services nationwide. VoIP Supply is the largest global reseller...

December 31 is Deadline to Claim Verizon & Sprint ‘Cramming’ Refunds

People who had wireless service with Verizon or Sprint any time in the past five years may be entitled to a refund check because those companies engaged in what is known as ‘cramming.’ Cramming is the practice of burying...
apple

Ericsson, Apple Agree to End Patent Infringement Disputes

Apple and Ericsson have reached an agreement on Apple’s use of technologies for its iPhones and iPads after settling a long-running legal dispute. Apple agreed to pay Ericsson royalties on the wireless devices it sells as part of the...
mobile

Slack To Invest $80 Million In Third-Party Developers

Slack, a communications application company, just launched an $80-million venture fund to make early-stage investments in startups building tools that integrate with its workplace messaging platform. The $80 million dollar fund is backed by Slack and six other investors:...

Cox Communications Fined $25 Million For Copyright Infringement

Cox Communications, one of the largest broadband ISPs in the world, recently lost one of the largest infringement lawsuits ever litigated. The Virginia-based access provider has been entangled in litigation related to its customers’ illegal downloading of copyrighted material....
blackberry

BlackBerry Debuts Enterprise Voice Encryption Solution For iOS, Android and BlackBerry OS

BlackBerry and Secusmart, a BlackBerry subsidiary, have released a new enterprise voice encryption solution they have called SecuSUITE. The application allows company employees to conduct secure conversations worldwide and, if required, over a Wi-Fi connection only, and will also be...

Free Video Streaming For T-Mobile Customers

In a marketing campaign it has termed “Binge On,” T-Mobile is set to offer free video streams to its customers, T-Mobile Chief Executive John Legere announced today. This is in response to the growing agitation for mobile video, without the...
samsung galaxy

Galaxy View Largest Commercial Android Device, Touts Samsung

Samsung Electronics unveiled the Samsung Galaxy View on Wednesday, which it called the “largest Android mobile device on the market.” The Galaxy View has a 18.4” Full HD screen, 1.6GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32/64GB of internal storage (with...
wifi assist apple phone

Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Wi-Fi Assist-Related Data Bills

A couple in San Jose, Calif., have filed a complaint against Apple over a newly introduced software feature, Wi-Fi Assist, that lets iPhones switch to cellular data whenever the Wi-Fi signal is weak. Wi-Fi Assist has led to a slew...