Features
Confirmed: Google Buys Waze
June 11, 2013 4:42 pm | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsWhile neither Google nor Waze revealed financial details of the deal, the Wall Street Journal has published a report that GOogle paid just over $1 billion for Waze, which is in line with previous reports released prior to today's confirmation...
First News Briefs for June 11, 2013
June 11, 2013 10:22 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsTexas Instruments Incorporated today announced the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 BoosterPack, powered by the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 module from TI and offering Wi-Fi connectivity for microcontroller (MCU) -based systems.
SF, NY Officials Wait to Judge Apple 'Kill Switch'
June 11, 2013 10:10 am | by Terry Collins, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe top prosecutors in San Francisco and New York, seeking ways to curb thefts of mobile devices, said Monday they will reserve judgment of Apple's new security feature designed to make it harder to reactivate a stolen iPhone. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon...
SoftBank Ups Sprint Bid, Sprint Puts Dish in the Corner
June 11, 2013 10:03 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsSoftBank late Monday raised its bid to acquire Sprint to $21.6 billion from $20.1 billion, or $7.65 per share. Under the new agreement, SoftBank would take a 78 percent stake in Sprint, up from the 70 percent promised in the previous offer.
Apple Unveils iOS 7, OS X Mavericks and More at WWDC
June 10, 2013 3:31 pm | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsAfter months of grinding away in the rumor mill, Apple CEO Tim Cook took a little more time building up to the iOS 7 unveil. He was pleased to announce 600 million iOS devices sold. “But it’s not what drives us,” Cook said, putting the focus on mobile web share and time spent with devices, both categories lead by Apple.
First News Briefs for June 10, 2013
June 10, 2013 10:52 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsBirch Communications, an IP-based communications and cloud services provider to small- and medium-sized businesses, announced today that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the client base, accounts receivable and physical assets of Ernest Communications.
AT&T Rolling Out Wi-Fi-Enabled Push-to-Talk Feature for iPhone
June 10, 2013 10:50 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsAT&T today announced a new iOS app for its business customers that will enable push-to-talk (PTT) features on the iPhone 4S and 5. The service will run over AT&T’s network but will also operate via Wi-Fi, which should provide improved in-building coverage for the service.
Report: Google Offers $1.1 Billion to Acquire Mapping Service Waze
June 10, 2013 10:18 am | News | CommentsGoogle is offering $1.1 billion to acquire the crowd-sourced maps company Waze, according to a Bloomberg report. The news comes after earlier reports that Apple had been interested in Waze. Waze's mobile app for iOS and Android gathers map information from its 40 million users...
Is Big Data Turning Government into 'Big Brother'?
June 10, 2013 9:42 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsWith every phone call they make and every Web excursion they take, people are leaving a digital trail of revealing data that can be tracked by profit-seeking companies and terrorist-hunting government officials. The revelations that the National Security Agency...
Music Service, Mobile Software Expected from Apple
June 10, 2013 9:34 am | by Anick Jesdanun, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsApple is expected to reveal a digital radio service and changes to the software behind iPhones and iPads on Monday as the company opens its annual conference for software developers. Apple hasn't said what it will unveil at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco...
Report: SoftBank Could Buy Deutsche Telekom’s Stake in T-Mobile
June 7, 2013 4:33 pm | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsSoftBank might be interested in buying Deutsche Telekom’s (DT) 74-percent stake in T-Mobile USA, if the Japanese carrier’s $20.1 billion bid for Sprint falls through. Reuters is citing three sources familiar with the situation saying that the talks—a continuation of preliminary negotiations between SoftBank and DT that began last year—have recently ramped up in light of Dish’s competing bid of $25.5 billion for Sprint.
First News Briefs for June 7, 2013
June 7, 2013 10:37 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsAT&T and IBM today announced a business agreement to deliver a new eCommerce solution that can help retailers provide a consistent shopping experience for customers whether they are shopping online, via a mobile app or in-store.
Inmarsat Sees Big M2M Benefits in Satellite Broadband
June 7, 2013 10:14 am | by Ben Munson | Articles | CommentsInmarsat made a compelling argument for sending M2M over a satellite network instead of a terrestrial variation at its booth at CTIA this year. The satellite broadband company showed off its current services and terminals and M2M program director Joel Schroeder spoke at an M2M conference, announcing some new updates his company has in the pipe.
Report: NSA Collects Data From AT&T, Sprint, Google, Apple and More
June 7, 2013 10:01 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsAfter yesterday’s public reveal of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) demands for Verizon customers’ data, more information is coming out suggesting the NSA’s casting a much bigger net. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the NSA’s operations, reports that the same initiative targeting Verizon data is also collecting similar information from AT&T and Sprint.
AT&T Projects 500K Postpaid Wireless Adds in 2Q
June 7, 2013 9:58 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsAT&T released numbers Thursday showing improved customer additions in the second quarter. In a release, the company specifically pointed to stronger U-verse broadband and TV subscriber growth versus the year-earlier quarter, and said it expects postpaid wireless net adds of approximately 500,000....
Motorola Mobility Says It Has Settled with TiVo
June 7, 2013 9:37 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsMotorola Mobility said Thursday that it has reached a settlement with digital video recording pioneer TiVo Inc. ahead of a patent trial that was to start in a Texas court next week. "We're pleased that all parties involved have reached an agreement to resolve pending litigation...
Friday Flick: Jennifer Lopez at CTIA 2013
June 7, 2013 9:34 am | Videos | CommentsAt CTIA 2013 in Las Vegas this year, Jennifer Lopez revealed Viva Movil, her new wireless retail business aimed directly at a Latino customer base. Check out this highlight from the show, which included Verizon Wireless COO, Marni Walden, Marcelo Claure, CEO of Brightstar, and moderator Mario Lopez.
AT&T Sells $564 Million in Shares of America Movil
June 6, 2013 10:59 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsAT&T has sold $564 million of its shares in America Movil (AMX), a Mexico City-based telecom owned by billionaire Carlos Slim. Bloomberg reports that AT&T lowered its stake in AMX by about 7.5 percent, taking it to 9 percent ownership, still the second-largest for the company behind the Slim family.
First News Briefs for June 6, 2013
June 6, 2013 10:38 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsSierra Wireless today introduced the Sierra Wireless AirPrime AR7550 embedded wireless module, its first in the AirPrime AR7 series of automotive-grade modules for LTE networks; Broadcom Corporation today announced the new NTT DOCOMO smartphone by Sharp has adopted Broadcom 5G WiFi technology.
Casinos Ban Gamblers from Using Google Glass
June 6, 2013 10:26 am | by Wayne Parry, Associated Press | News | CommentsATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Casinos in several states are forbidding gamblers from wearing Google Glass, the tiny eyeglasses-mounted device capable of shooting photos, filming video and surfing the Internet. Regulators say the gadgets could be used to cheat at card games.
Report: Verizon Handing Over All U.S. Call Records to NSA
June 6, 2013 10:19 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsThe Guardian has received and published the order which outlines that Verizon is to deliver to the NSA the numbers of both parties, location data, identifiers like IMSI and IMEI numbers, and time and duration of calls. The order has been in place since April and has demanded Verizon give over the requisite information for both international calls originating in the U.S. and calls made within the U.S.
SF, NY Officials to Meet over Cellphone Thefts
June 6, 2013 9:58 am | by Terry Collins, Associated Press | News | CommentsTop law enforcement officials from San Francisco and New York plan to meet with some of the nation's largest smartphone makers next week to help thwart the rise in cellphone thefts and robberies. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman...
Kutcher's Down with OTT, Carriers Not so Much
June 5, 2013 4:38 pm | by Andrew Berg | Blogs | CommentsI was impressed by Ashton Kutcher's keynote at CTIA. In fact, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he was one of the best keynotes I've seen at either CES or CTIA, and I'm not even a huge fan of the characters he plays on TV. It's possible, that at 35 years old...
First News Briefs for June 5, 2013
June 5, 2013 10:24 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsWith hurricane season coming, C Spire Wireless today announced that it will waive the one-time activation charge and monthly service fee for Wireless Priority Service (WPS), which gives eligible emergency response agencies and personnel a higher priority connection to its mobile communications network during a crisis or natural disaster.
Dealing with the Stolen Smartphone Epidemic
June 5, 2013 10:12 am | by Hal Steger | Articles | CommentsAccording to the FCC, stolen cell phones make up approximately 40 percent of thefts in major American cities. Moreover, according to data from industry analysts IDC and the New York Times, about half of the robberies in San Francisco in 2012 involved cell phones, as did 42 percent in DC and 14 percent in New York...
