FirstNews
BlackBerry Unveils New Q5 Qwerty Device
May 14, 2013 10:27 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsBlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins today introduced the newest BlackBerry 10 device, the Q5. Specifically designed for emerging markets, the Q5 will launch globally this summer. Heins made the announcement during an opening keynote at BlackBerry’s annual developer conference, which was broadcast online.
Sharp Reshuffles Management After Record Loss
May 14, 2013 10:02 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsJapanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. named a new president Tuesday, reshuffling its top management to help restore profitability after reporting a record loss. The Osaka, Japan-based maker of Aquos TVs said that Kozo Takahashi, currently an executive vice president...
Big 4 Cellphone Carriers Unite on Anti-Texting Ads
May 14, 2013 9:54 am | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsThe country's four biggest cellphone companies are set to launch their first joint advertising campaign against texting while driving, uniting behind AT&T's "It Can Wait" slogan to blanket TV and radio this summer. AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile will...
CTIA Partners with Home Builders Association for 2014 Super Show
May 14, 2013 9:25 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsAs promised, CTIA continues to announce partnerships in conjunction with its 2104 "Super Mobility Week." The Wireless Association today announced partnerships with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2014 “Design and Construction Week” (DCW) and Parks Associates for its new show...
VZW Makes $7 Billion Distribution
May 14, 2013 9:16 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsVerizon Wireless today announced a $7 billion cash distribution to its owners, Vodafone and Verizon. The payment will be made on June 25 and will see Verizon getting $3.85 billion, while Vodafone will take $3.15 billion. The move comes after speculation...
First News Briefs for May 13, 2013
May 13, 2013 11:19 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsTecore Networks, a global supplier of multi-technology, 3G, and 4G LTE mobile network infrastructure, will showcase its Network in a Box (NIB), Mobility Virtualized Platform (MVP), and RAVEN system at the wireless industry’s CTIA Mobile Marketplace Conference. Tecore's Network in a Box (NIB) System in Yakutat, Alaska deployed just months prior by Cordova Wireless provided the lifesaving communications for two stranded hunters.
Clearwire Again Implores Shareholders to Vote For Sprint Offer
May 13, 2013 11:17 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsToday’s letter goes over the points outlined in a letter Clearwire sent to shareholders last week but this time, Clearwire comes armed with a new recommendation from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), an advisory firm that is now recommending Clearwire shareholders vote for the Sprint merger.
Report: ABC to Offer Live Stream on Mobile Devices
May 13, 2013 10:34 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsABC will be the first of the major broadcasters to offer live streaming of its programming over mobile devices, according to a report from the New York Times. A subsidiary of Walt Disney Company, ABC will roll out the service in New York and Philadelphia later this week. The new service will be available only to cable
Report: SoftBank Pushing Banks to Not Finance Dish’s Sprint Bid
May 13, 2013 10:09 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsSoftBank appears to be playing hardball with banks that could potentially help finance Dish Network’s $25.5 billion opposing bid. A Reuters report cited two sources suggesting SoftBank, which owns 33 percent of Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba, has told lenders their chances of underwriting Alibaba’s imminent IPO could be jeopardized by aiding Dish in financing its Sprint bid.
Samsung Boasts 5G Technology 100 Times Faster than 4G
May 13, 2013 10:00 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsSamsung said today that it is testing 5G technology capable of data speeds 100 times faster than 4G networks. According to a press release, Samsung's new adaptive array transceiver technology will allow data to transmit at higher frequencies than currently possible...
BlackBerry Focuses on Cool Factor as It Returns to Orlando for Annual Event
May 13, 2013 9:00 am | by David Friend, The Canadian Press | News | CommentsBlackBerry will pull out all the stops this week as the company welcomes thousands of industry players for BlackBerry Live, it's annual three-day conference which promises to offer some perspective into its future. Chief executive Thorsten Heins will take the stage on Tuesday and...
First News Briefs for May 10, 2013
May 10, 2013 10:06 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsSprint today commented on the recommendation from Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS), a proxy advisory service, that Clearwire shareholders vote in favor of the merger agreement between the companies. Sprint said it is pleased ISS recommends that Clearwire...
Friday Flick: Benefits of Ixia's Network Visibility Solutions
May 10, 2013 9:35 am | Videos | CommentsGTP session control enables a cost-effective and efficient way for the network manager to increase management of the network at the subscriber and session level. Want to learn more? Register for our May14 webinar on maximizing visibility of GTP sessions in the network...
Slacker Radio Boasts 3.5 Million Users on Mobile
May 10, 2013 9:21 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsDigital music provider, slacker, might be the poster child for the merits of relaunching a product. Since the company's February 13th launch of its completely redesigned digital music service Slacker now reports six million new listeners have joined...
Report: Amazon Preparing 3D Smartphone, Other Hardware
May 10, 2013 9:06 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsAs one of the major players in the tablet market, Amazon is again generating rumors that it's ready to take the next step and offer its customers a branded smartphone. Amazon is reportedly developing a range of new hardware, including a glasses-free...
Icahn, Southeastern Challenge Dell Takeover Plan
May 10, 2013 8:29 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsDell's largest independent shareholder is teaming with activist investor Carl Icahn in another challenge to founder Michael Dell's $24.4 billion bid to take the struggling computer maker private. Southeastern Asset Management and Icahn say they will offer shareholders $12 per share in cash or additional...
Dish: If Sprint Bid Falls Through, There are Other Options
May 9, 2013 4:58 pm | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsDish Network is in a heated battle with Japanese carrier SoftBank over whose bid is the best value for Sprint. But Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen seems confident that his company has other options for breaking into wireless should Dish lose out. During Dish’s first quarter conference call Thursday, Ergen suggested Dish could partner with someone else in the wireless industry, sell its spectrum or sell the company.
AT&T Launches Aio Wireless Prepaid Brand
May 9, 2013 11:34 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsAio’s website lists four different rate plans. Basic, Smart and Pro all offer essentially the same service except that Basic ($40) throttles HSPA+ data after 250 MB, Smart ($50) throttles it after 2 GB and Pro ($70) throttle it after 7 GB. In addition, a $15 Tablet plan offers 250 MB of HSPA per month. Extra gigabytes of HSPA run $10 and unlimited international calling plans start at $10.
AT&T Network Chief Highlights Small Cell Deployments
May 9, 2013 11:10 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsAT&T is big on small cells. In fact, the company is set to deploy over 40,000 small cells by the end of 2014. Speaking at the Jefferies 2013 Global Technology conference, Bill Smith, president of AT&T's network operations, small cells are a key tool in the carrier's toolbox for maintaining the vitality of AT&T's wireless network going forward...
First News Briefs for May 9, 2013
May 9, 2013 10:52 am | by Wireless Week Staff | News | CommentsTelit Wireless Solutions, a global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) modules, services and solutions, today announced approval by Sprint for its CE910-DUAL cellular M2M module. A dual-band CDMA 1xRTT module, the CE910-DUAL allows Sprint M2M Solutions customers to deploy a wide range of M2M applications benefiting from reliable connectivity over Sprint’s nationwide network while enabling even the most cost sensitive business plans.
Dish Posts Disappointing 1Q, Shares Dive
May 9, 2013 10:37 am | by Andrew Berg | News | CommentsDish Network today reported a dip in first quarter revenue, profits and subscribers. The company said revenues hit $3.56 billion, slightly off the $3.58 billion the company reported in the same quarter last year. The company attributed the decline in part to the ailing Blockbuster segment.
Huawei Founder Gives First Ever Media Interview
May 9, 2013 10:32 am | by Nick Perry, Associated Press | News | CommentsWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — During 26 years at the helm of Chinese tech giant Huawei, founder Ren Zhengfei has never once agreed to be interviewed by a journalist. Until Thursday. During a visit to the company's New Zealand operations, Ren sat down with four local journalists at a Wellington hotel. The rules were strict: no international media, no photos.
Sony Back in Black on Cheap Yen, Healthier Sales
May 9, 2013 10:26 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Sony Corp. is back in the black for its fiscal fourth quarter, recording a 93.9 billion yen ($948 million) profit, with big help from a weaker yen that boosts overseas earnings. The Japanese electronics and entertainment company also dragged itself back to profit for the fiscal year ended March 31, following four straight years of red ink.
Nokia Stays Focused on Emerging Markets with $99 Smartphone
May 9, 2013 9:48 am | by Ben Munson | News | CommentsThe colorful 501, running the Finnish company’s Asha platform, reverses a current smartphone trend by sporting a relatively small 3-inch display. With fairly slow max GSM data speeds, the 501 isn’t designed to do much heavy surfing, but it’s good for basic communications/social functions, equipped with Wi-Fi and has good battery life.
AOL Shares Tumble in Premarket on Weak 1Q Results
May 8, 2013 11:12 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsThe New York-based internet company earned $25.9 million, or 32 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31, up from $21.1 million, or 22 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2012. Excluding one-time items, the company said it posted an adjusted profit of 41 cents per share.
