Wireless
New antenna could vastly increase wireless net capacity
August 23, 2012 3:42 pm | by Brian Santo | Product Releases | CommentsRice University researchers unveiled a multi-antenna beamforming technology that could help wireless providers keep pace with the voracious demands of data-hungry smartphones and tablets. As a bonus, using the antennas would save on energy. Furthermore, they can be built using mostly off-the-shelf hardware.
Report: LTE performance tops all other network technologies
August 23, 2012 3:33 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsMobile customers on LTE devices see fewer data-related issues than do customers on 3G and HSPA+ or WiMAX devices, according to the a new study released by J.D. Power and Associates. Now in its 10th year, the study evaluates wireless customers' most recent usage activities in three areas that impact network performance: calling, messaging and data.
AT&T launches Mobile Share plans amid net neutrality debate
August 23, 2012 3:23 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsAT&T launched its new shared data plans today, capping off a week marked by controversy over its FaceTime policy. Along with the new plans, AT&T has completely overhauled its online account management page, which now offers a quick overview of a user's account.
AT&T: FaceTime policy within FCC net neutrality rules
August 22, 2012 3:45 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsAT&T says its policy to reserve FaceTime use over a cellular connection for those customers who move to its new Mobile Share plans does not violate the FCC's net neutrality rules. An AT&T exec argued that it has not violated the FCC's rules on transparency or blocking by stopping customers who aren’t on a Mobile Share plan from using FaceTime on its cellular network.
T-Mo goes unlimited; op nixes throttling, tethering
August 22, 2012 3:41 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsThe new "Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data" plan will cost $20 per month when added to a Value voice and text plan or $30 per month when added to a Classic voice and text plan. For example, a single line Value plan with unlimited talk and text combined with unlimited data will cost $69.99, or a single line Classic plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data will cost $89.99.
Ericsson debuts encoder for mobile video
August 22, 2012 3:40 pm | by Brian Santo | Product Releases | CommentsEricsson is on the verge of hitting the market with a new HEVC/H.265 encoder for the delivery of live and linear TV over mobile networks to mobile devices. The device, based on the H.265 proposed standard, nearly doubles compression rates, making it especially desirable for transmission of video on LTE networks, where bandwidth is an even more limited resource than elsewhere.
Lantiq prepares for VoLTE home gateway
August 22, 2012 3:37 pm | by Brian Santo | Product Releases | CommentsThe chip designer is working with two software companies, D2 Technologies and Ecrio, to create a gateway reference design that will support voice over LTE (VoLTE) services in consumers’ homes. VoLTE, a software stack built around the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), provides native voice and other rich media services on LTE networks.
Harmonic media server adds solid-state memory
August 21, 2012 3:13 pm | by Brian Santo | Product Releases | CommentsHarmonic has a new version of its integrated media server, this one including solid-state disk (SSD) storage. Otherwise, the Spectrum MediaDeck 7000 SSD four-channel media server is essentially the same system as the MediaDeck 7000.
Gates puts cash into broadband antenna start-up
August 21, 2012 3:12 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsKymeta was founded to exploit new metamaterials to create beam-steering antennas for mobile broadband applications. The start-up that has technology likely to improve broadband service to moving vehicles just closed $12 million in funding, with contributors that include Bill Gates, Liberty Global and Lux Capital.
TiVo strikes deal with GCI
August 21, 2012 1:00 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsAlaskan telecommunications company GCI announced that it is going with TiVo for its next-generation whole-home TV platform. It will start deploying TiVo’s platform this year before offering it across its entire footprint next year. GCI will rely on TiVo to enable its whole-home platform.
AT&T’s FaceTime policy could violate FCC rules
August 21, 2012 12:44 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsAT&T's recent announcement that FaceTime over cellular will be reserved exclusively for those customers who switch to the company's new Mobile Share plans is sure to ruffle a few feathers, and some say it might even be in violation of the FCC’s Open Internet rules.
LightSquared appoints new CEO
August 21, 2012 12:41 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | CommentsLightSquared announced that it has appointed Doug Smith as its new chairman of the board of directors and CEO. Smith was previously serving as co-chief operating officer for the company. Smith said LightSquared remains committed to working with all stakeholders to find an equitable resolution to the regulatory challenges that the company has faced this past year.
Best Buy profits plunge on weak sales, restructuring costs
August 21, 2012 12:36 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | CommentsBest Buy's profits plummeted about 90 percent during its second fiscal quarter as weak sales and restructuring costs hit its bottom line. The weak financial results come after co-founder Richard Schulze walked away from an offer to move forward with talks to take the company private.
Digital RF modulators for CCAP
August 20, 2012 12:08 pm | by Ajay Kuckreja, principal member of technical staff at Maxim Integrated Products | Articles | CommentsThe demand for cable broadband digital video and data is increasing downstream data rates at 30 percent to 40 percent per year. Meanwhile, consumers expect to keep spending on an increasing number of connected devices at home, helping to assure future growth in downstream demand.
Reaction mixed on FCC, DOJ approval of Verizon AWS
August 17, 2012 3:23 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | CommentsDepending on who you ask, the government's approval of Verizon Wireless' AWS purchase is either a good thing or the end of competition as we know it for certain segments of the telecommunications industry. The head of the FCC said he was prepared to approve Verizon's acquisition of AWS spectrum from Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Comcast.
