Wireless

Comcast cues up live ESPN Buzzer Beater stream

January 10, 2013 3:06 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Comcast said it’s the first multichannel provider to bring its authenticated subscribers live streaming of ESPN Buzzer Beater via its Xfinity.com/TV Web portal. ESPN Buzzer Beater is ESPN’s weekly HD college basketball live cut-in and highlights network.

Report: Sprint doesn't see need to up Clearwire bid

January 10, 2013 3:01 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Sprint isn't sweating Dish Network’s offer to buy Clearwire for $3.30 per share, an 11 percent increase over its $2.97 offer, and doesn't foresee needing to up its bid in acquiring a 100 percent stake in the WiMAX provider. Clearwire stock rose 8 percent on news of Dish’s offer.

FCC to move on better Wi-Fi

January 10, 2013 2:57 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The FCC is pursuing a plan to open a nationwide swath of unlicensed spectrum specifically for the deployment of "Gigabit" Wi-Fi technology in major hubs, such as airports and convention centers. The plan increases the capacity and speed of Wi-Fi networks in public spaces.

Former Rogers exec O’Carroll joins Sandvine’s board

January 10, 2013 2:55 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Former Rogers Communications executive Dermot O’Carroll, who retired from Rogers last year, has joined Sandvine’s board of directors. O’Carroll had almost 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including 15 years at Rogers, before he retired.

Dish jumps in with unsolicited, $3.30-per-share offer for Clearwire

January 9, 2013 2:06 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Dish Network has offered to buy up to all of Clearwire’s common stock at $3.30 per share in a proposed deal that would allow Dish to purchase some spectrum assets from Clearwire. Under the conditions of the preliminary offer, Dish would acquire approximately 11.4 billion MHz-POPs from Clearwire, or 24 percent of its total spectrum holdings, for $2.2 billion.

Aereo to make its streaming service available in 22 more cities

January 9, 2013 1:58 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Bolstered by a $38 million second round of financing, controversial streaming provider Aereo plans on expanding its service to 22 more cities across the nation this year. Aereo launched its streaming service in New York City and was promptly sued by major broadcast networks.

Google to offer public Wi-Fi in NYC neighborhood

January 9, 2013 1:55 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Google said it is teaming up with a New York City neighborhood business group to provide the company's first urban Wi-Fi network. The network will be available free to about a 10-block area surrounding Google's offices in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.

Azuki backs multi-screen distribution of apps

January 9, 2013 1:53 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

ES3 is teaming with Azuki Systems to demonstrate how TumbleBooks TV can be turned into a multi-screen service accessible on mobile devices in the home and elsewhere. ES3 develops apps for the Microsoft Mediaroom environment. TumbleBooks TV is an app that delivers read-along children’s books to the TV.

Mediacom serves up BTN2Go in multiple states

January 9, 2013 1:50 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Mediacom Communications is now offering TV Everywhere services from Big Ten Network to authenticated subscribers in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and parts of other Midwestern states. Mediacom customers in those areas can now access BTN2Go live.

Survey: Wi-Fi becoming critical for differentiation

January 9, 2013 1:47 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

A survey conducted on behalf of Amdocs reveals that service providers have an intense interest in Wi-Fi, even as they struggle with technical and business issues. Authenticating customers as they roam and as they juggle devices remains an issue, and service providers are still casting about for sure-fire ways to monetize the service.

Smart TVs get smarter, by just a little bit

January 9, 2013 1:45 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

In the not-so-distant future, couch potatoes will be waving, pointing, swiping and tapping to make their TVs react, kind of like what Tom Cruise did in the movie "Minority Report." That's the vision of TV manufacturers as they show off "Smart TVs."

CTIA, IFA partner for 'borderless' show

January 9, 2013 1:43 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

CTIA and IFA announced that they are joining forces on what the two organizations are calling the world’s first "borderless" trade show in 2014. IFA is an annual consumer electronics and home appliances trade show based in Berlin, and CTIA focuses primarily on mobility.

Crest Financial files to block Sprint, Clearwire deal

January 8, 2013 3:38 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Crest Financial Limited, which owns an 8.3 percent share of Clearwire, has petitioned the FCC to block Sprint's proposed 100 percent acquisition of Clearwire, citing proper public notice was not issued in Sprint's 2012 deal with Eagle River Holdings to reacquire a controlling stake in Clearwire.

Samsung sees record-high Q4 profit

January 8, 2013 3:24 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest technology company by revenue, expects record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2012 as shoppers continued to snap up its smartphones and tablets. The company said its operating profit for the October-December quarter would be about 8.8 trillion won ($8.3 billion).

CES: Time Warner Cable hooks up with Roku for streaming

January 7, 2013 2:43 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Time Warner Cable announced it has added Roku to its roster of partners that can stream the MSO’s TWC TV service. The TWC TV service is free to authenticated subscribers and will launch on Roku this quarter.