Report Details Needs of Machine-to-Machine Growth
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · 
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This past week, Mobile Future released a report addressing the needs of federal officials to allocate more spectrum in support of wireless services. The report specifically singled out the expected explosive growth of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. Read more
New Hanover County Uses TV White Space
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · ·
New Hanover County, N.C., was recognized last week as the first FCC approved Smart County in the United States. In achieving this goal, New Hanover also attained another first by using the first commercially available TV white spaces.
Spectrum Bridge supports this cloud-based technology with its FCC certified spectrum management technology. Those residents of New Hanover County in range of the deployment area will have access to several useful implementations including telemetry, remote security and remote utility monitoring in addition to other applications.
“We are extremely pleased with the installations of the white spaces systems at our parks and gardens,” said Chairman of New Hanover County Ted Davis. “This technology has proven to be an unobtrusive, environmentally friendly way to offer services to our citizens and the visitors at our parks and to give our staff more efficient ways to manage these locations.”
VOTW: Will New RIM CEO Save the Company?
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 23, 2012 · ·
And last but not least, our video of the week (VOTW).
Industry Demands Scrutiny of Verizon-Cable Agreements
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 23, 2012 · ·
Last week Comcast and Verizon Wireless announced that they will launch a new marketing program in Seattle and Portland, Ore., selling their respective services to the other’s customers.
This is the first marketing promotion under the new landmark partnership which was announced last month, whereby Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $3.6 billion to a consortium of cable providers for 122 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering approximately 259 million people, or more than 85% of the U.S. population. Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless entered into a joint re-sale, marketing and technology development agreement. Separately, just a few days later, Verizon Wireless entered into an similar agreement with Cox Communications to purchase 20 MHz of AWS spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. Read more
TouchTV
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · ·
A free iPad app, called the “world’s first TV iPad app,” was released this week. Called Touchtv, the app reportedly has content from Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, ESPN, OWN and E!.
The SkyGrid design will allow viewers to add more channels and personalize their Touchtv. SkyGrid reports that LG will incorporate Touchtv into the LG smart TVs. The SkyGrid download page also includes a version for Android.
More on LightSquared
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · ·
To review what has taken place over the past week or so: the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee announced on Friday January 13 that, “Based upon this testing analysis, there appear to be no practical solutions or mitigations that would permit the LightSquared broadband service, as proposed, to operate in the next few months or years without significantly interfering with GPS. As a result, no additional testing is warranted at this time.” The announcement was released after follow-up testing of general location and navigation devices and cellular GPS had taken place. Read more
Industry Event Focuses on Spectrum Shortage
Posted by Jesse Ward on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 · ·
A panel composed of government and industry representatives was in agreement today that access to spectrum is one of the most important policy and technical considerations for the evolution and growth of wireless broadband networks and devices. “The Wireless Home and Wireless Policy” event featured a keynote presentation by Rick Kaplan, FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief, and a panel discussion.
Sponsored by Broadband Breakfast — a Washington-DC based news organization — the panel also consisted of the FCC’s Rick Kaplan; Fred B. Campbell, Jr., President and CEO, Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI); Walter B. McCormick, Jr., President and CEO, USTelecom; Grant Seiffert, President, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA); Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA); and moderator Drew Clark, Chairman and Publisher, BroadbandBreakfast.com. Read more