News
Report: Sprint Pushes Dish for More Details on Merger Bid
May 8, 2013 11:02 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsSprint is holding back on granting financial information to Dish Network as it pushed the company to elaborate on how its $25.5 billion merger offer will be funded and how it will create cost savings. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, said Sprint’s board has raised its eyebrows at Dish’s ability to round up the $9.3 billion in financing it needs for the deal.
T-Mobile Sells 500K iPhone 5s in First Month
May 8, 2013 10:14 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsT-Mobile released its first quarterly numbers since adding the iPhone 5 to its portfolio and sales of the device are impressive. For the first quarter of 2013, T-Mobile said it sold 500,000 iPhone 5s to “new and existing customers,” quite a feat considering the U.S.’s fourth-largest carrier just rolled out the device to customers on April 12.
New Boingo iOS App Leverages iTunes Account for Payment
May 8, 2013 9:50 am | by Andrew Berg | CommentsWi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless has announced that iOS users can now use their iTunes account to purchase a Boingo subscription. According to a press release, the latest version of Boingo’s iOS app links directly to a customer’s iTunes account, streamlining subscription sign-up and monthly billing...
First News Briefs for May 7, 2013
May 7, 2013 10:54 am | by Wireless Week Staff | CommentsRuckus Wireless, Inc. today announced that it is teaming with Sprint's Custom Network Solutions (CNS) group to deliver enterprise, public sector and federal customers nationwide its Smart Wi-Fi products and services as part of Sprint CNS's in-building wireless data solutions portfolio.
Samsung, Apple Share 100 percent of Global Smartphone Profits
May 7, 2013 10:48 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsGlobal smartphone profits in the first quarter took a shine to Apple and Samsung and literally left nothing for anyone else. As the Wall Street Journal’s All Things D points out, new research from Canaccord Genuity suggests that Apple captured 57 percent of worldwide smartphone industry profits while Samsung scooped up the remaining 43 percent.
Aruba Networks Plunges on Revised Outlook
May 7, 2013 10:15 am | by Associated Press | CommentsShares of Aruba Networks fell sharply before the opening bell Tuesday after the company nearly halved its third-quarter adjusted profit expectations and cut its outlook for revenue as well, just a week before it reports earnings. Shares of the wireless communications company...
SoftBank CEO: Our Sprint Deal is Better Because of TD-LTE
May 7, 2013 10:09 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsSpeaking at a press conference, Son touted his company’s success in deploying TD-LTE over 2.5 GHz spectrum in Japan. He added SoftBank is better equipped to help Sprint deploy the same kind of service on the large swaths of 2.5 GHz Sprint stands to inherit should its $2.2 billion bid to buyout WiMax wholesaler Clearwire go through.
Nokia Remains Focused on Windows Phone
May 7, 2013 9:59 am | by Andrew Berg | CommentsNokia will continue to focus on Windows Phone, according to a report from Reuters today, which cited comments from Nokia CEO Stephen Elop prior to the company's annual general meeting. Elop said that while the company continues to make adjustments as it goes...
Microsoft Touching Up Windows 8 to Address Gripes
May 7, 2013 8:42 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | CommentsMicrosoft is retooling the latest version of its Windows operating system to address complaints and confusion that have been blamed for deepening a slump in personal computer sales. The tune up announced Tuesday won't be released to consumers...
Nintendo to Offer Mobile Apps on Wii U
May 6, 2013 11:18 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsAfter reporting in March slower-than-expected sales of its Wii U console, Nintendo has announced it will push mobile apps to the box. The Japan Times reports that Nintendo will begin offering conversion software to application developers in hopes that they will begin to produce smartphone games that can also be played on the Wii U, the follow-up to the company’s ultra-popular Wii motion-sensing console.
First News Briefs for May 6, 2013
May 6, 2013 10:47 am | by Wireless Week Staff | CommentsSprint and Time Inc. today announced a mobile content, advertising and retail alliance. As part of the arrangement, Time Inc. will deliver its branded content within a customizable section of the SprintZone application on select Sprint devices. Customers can expect the latest entertainment, lifestyle, sports and business news.
Clearwire Sends Letter to Stockholders, Urging Yes Vote on Sprint Bid
May 6, 2013 10:32 am | by Ben Munson | CommentsClearwire outlined its exhaustive efforts to turn around its fortunes in the WiMax wholesale market in a letter sent Monday to stockholders. But the company continually returned to the conclusion that Sprint’s $2.97 per share offer (translating to nearly $2.2 billion for shareholders) was not only the best deal but really the only deal that would save Clearwire before its liquidity runs dry.
B&N to Offer Google Play on Nook Tablets
May 6, 2013 9:50 am | by Andrew Berg | CommentsAlong with lowering the price of its Nook HD and Nook HD+ tablets, Barnes & Noble has announced that it will be adding Google Play access to those devices. The move will gives its users unfettered access to all of the apps and content in the Google Play store...
New Efforts to Curb Cellphone Theft
May 6, 2013 9:20 am | by Terry Collins, Associated Press | CommentsIn San Francisco, where half the robberies were phone-related last year, District Attorney George Gascon is calling on major companies in nearby Silicon Valley to create new technology such as a "kill switch" to permanently and quickly disable stolen smart phones, making them worthless to thieves.
App Lets Amputees Program Their Own Bionic Hands
May 6, 2013 9:18 am | by Kathy Metheson, Associated Press | CommentsDouble-amputee Jason Koger used to fly hundreds of miles to visit a clinician when he wanted to adjust the grips on his bionic hands. Now, he's got an app. Koger came to Philadelphia this week to demonstrate the i-limb ultra revolution, a prosthetic developed by the British firm Touch Bionics.
