APCO Broadband Summit Focuses on FirstNet and Next-Gen Apps
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, May 17, 2013 · 
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Earlier this week, I attended the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Broadband Summit & Expo, an annual gathering of internal public safety communicators and industry personnel in Washington, D.C.
With the presence of FirstNet — the congressionally mandated independent operating authority housed within NTIA responsible for developing our country’s first interoperable, nationwide, public safety broadband network — the event has grown, reaching a sold-out capacity of more than 275 attendees.
About half of the sessions at the summit focused on the nuts and bolts of the network, including LTE technology, cybersecurity, and the launch requirements for the nationwide public safety broadband network. Read more
Teachers Report the Internet has a ‘Major Impact’ on Learning
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 4, 2013 · ·
Digital tools are widely used in middle school and high school learning, according to a new study released last Thursday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. According to the study, however, low-income students disproportionally lack access to broadband service both at school and at home, and this trend is leading to disparities in education.
The report, entitled How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms, surveyed 2,462 American schoolteachers about digital media use in their classrooms.
According to Pew, 92% of these teachers say the internet has a “major impact” on their ability to access content, resources, and materials for their teaching, and nearly 70% of teachers report that it has had a “major impact” on their ability to share ideas with teachers and interact with parents.
Mobile technology including cell phones, e-readers and tablet computers has become central to the learning process. Seventy percent of teachers report that their school provides the resources to bring digital tools into the classroom. Unfortunately, only 50% of teachers in low-income areas reported similar levels of access. Read more
Skype Nears $2B in Annual Sales
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 25, 2013 · ·
Bloomberg reported last week that Skype is approaching $2 billion in annual sales. As you may remember, Microsoft paid $8.5 billion to buy Skype in 2011, and, at the time, Skype had about $800 million in sales.
The software giant is busy integrating its Lync Internet calling application, which is popular with business users, with its consumer-friendly Skype unit. Microsoft anticipates that by June 2013, Lync users will be able to connect to Skype for telephony, instant messaging and to see whether contacts are online, according to a blog post by Skype President Tony Bates.
In related news, last Friday Skype quietly launched a new video messaging service that delivers short recorded clips to Skype contacts for playback when they come online.
The beta service is part of the Skype Premium package that costs $10 per month, and it is restricted to certain platforms, including users running Skype on Android, Apple’s iPhone and Mac OS X computers. However, nonsubscribers are allotted 20 free messages over the next three months in order to test drive the service.
Skype plans to launch the new video messaging service to all users later this year. For now, “We’re looking for feedback,” said Chaim Haas, a spokesman for Skype, adding that the company’s Twitter and Facebook page will accept user reviews and information.
Intellectual Ventures Sues AT&T, CenturyLink and Windstream for Patent Violations
Posted by Jesse Ward on Saturday, February 16, 2013 · ·
Intellectual Ventures has filed three separate but similar lawsuits against AT&T, CenturyLink and Windstream Communications, alleging that their DSL Internet services infringe on the company’s patent holdings.
Intellectual Ventures is a technology lab under the direction of former Microsoft technology chief Nathan Myhrvol. The company holds tens of thousands of patents.
According to Intellectual Ventures litigation counsel Melissa Finocchio: “AT&T, CenturyLink and Windstream Communications are infringing IV patents that cover fundamental and important aspects of DSL technology and services. While our primary objective is to enter license agreements, we will enforce our rights when necessary.” Read more
40-55% of U.S. Broadband Households Interested in Home Automation and Security
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, February 15, 2013 · ·
Earlier this week, Parks Associates announced new research showing consumer interest in connected home controls and security devices is strong, with 56% of U.S. broadband households willing to buy door/window sensors, 53% for door locks, 49% for outdoor cameras and 44% for lighting controls.
Capitalizing on this trend, many rural telcos already install and maintain home security systems that can be upgraded into full-fledged home automation products.
However, despite substantial consumer demand, economic factors continue to impact the health of the market. Parks Associates notes that the sluggish economy has contributed to declining adoption of home-system services, with only 15% of U.S. households willing to adopt a subscription package with a monthly fee.
“There is a generational difference in adoption of home services, with Parks Associates research showing younger adults are more likely to have home controls, while older adults are more likely to have home security,” said Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates. “The appeal of home control features, especially among young consumers, stems from connectivity in the equipment and highlights the potential of using IP-enabled features to re-cast and sell energy systems to the next generation.”
Survey: Majority of People Willing to Pay for Home with ‘Good’ Broadband
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 11, 2013 · ·
Think Broadband draws our attention to as survey recently conducted by Halifax, which finds that 30% of UK residents report access to a “good” broadband signal is likely to affect their decision on whether to buy a home in a particular area. The survey defines “good” broadband at a minimal speed of 2 Mbps.
Thirty-two percent of people in urban areas say it is likely to affect their decision, compared to 25% of people in rural areas. Younger people are more likely to say it is likely to affect their decision, with 40% of 18-24 year olds compared to 24% of those aged 65 and over. And there is also a clear split along gender lines, with men (34%) more likely to say it is likely to affect their decision than women (26%).
Also of note, one fifth (20%) report that they would be prepared to pay more for the same home if it had good broadband. Read more
Skype Launches Direct Carrier Billing
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 11, 2013 · ·
Microsoft’s Skype unit has begun a program in Russia to support direct carrier billing for Skype mobile VoIP credits, and the company said it plans to bring the service to the United States as well.
With this new payment option, Skype users can now purchase Skype Credit from their mobile devices through a browser-based transaction that is secure, seamless and convenient. Users can pay for this transaction either as part of their monthly cell phone bill or via their mobile carrier’s pre-paid account balance. The credit will cost the same as if it was purchased through more traditional means. Read more