Publisher's Note: Important note for readers – FierceBroadbandWireless is becoming FierceWirelessTech Also Noted: Wilson Electronics Spotlight On... Small cell, DAS deployments could speed up under new FCC rules FTC to investigate patent trolls; Ford buys Livio and much more... Follow us News From the Fierce Network: 1. Report: FAA panel recommends loosening restrictions on passenger access to mobile devices 2. Dish seen to be in driver's seat to get LightSquared's spectrum 3. Microsoft's Ballmer bids adieu as rumors continue to swirl about his successor This week's sponsor is Qualcomm. | | Webinar: Battle of the cores: How many do you really need for mobile? Tuesday, October 15th, 1pm ET /10am PT How can the industry keep up with consumer demand while maximizing battery life? Is adding more CPU cores the answer or do we need a completely new design approach? Join us in this webinar and find out! Register Today! | Publisher's Note Important note for readers – FierceBroadbandWireless is becoming FierceWirelessTech On Oct. 7, FierceBroadbandWireless is changing its name to FierceWirelessTech to better reflect its coverage of technical innovation in the wireless industry. To the existing coverage, we will be adding news from carrier test labs, standards bodies, and academic breakthroughs. With LTE networks now covering hundreds of millions in the United States and rapidly expanding across the globe, we've reached the day that almost all wireless is "broadband." FierceBroadbandWireless has covered this transformation from 2G to 4G, and now we need a new name to take us into the future. FierceWirelessTech does that. Click here to read more about this and other updates we are making to our telecom publication lineup. We're excited for this new chapter and hope you will enjoy it as well. Jason Nelson Group Publisher -Telecom, Energy, Marketing and Retail jason@fiercemarkets.com | | Sponsor: FierceSurveys FierceLive! Webinars > Staying Secure in the Growing World of M2M & the Internet of Things - Wednesday, October 2nd, 12pm ET / 9am PT > Virtualization: The OEM Secret to Launching New Devices Faster and Cheaper- Thursday, October 10th, 2013, 11 am ET / 8 am PT > Battle of the cores: How many do you really need for mobile? - Tuesday, October 15th, 1pm ET /10am PT > WebRTC - Don't forget the Network - Thursday, October 31st, 11 am ET / 8 am PT Marketplace > Whitepaper: Smarter Service: The Contact Center of the Future > eBook: Catching the Next Wave in Smart Technology > Survey: Survey | Small Cell Solutions Technology Trends in 2013 > Whitepaper: Keeping Backhaul Front of Mind for LTE & LTE-Advanced Jobs > Account Manager (Sales Executive) - Florham Park, NJ - PCS Wireless > RF Engineer III – Shentel – Etters, PA > Residential Sales Account Executive – Cablevision – Piscataway Tinton Falls, Newark > Customer Retention Rep – Cox Communications – Oklahoma, US > Professional Security Consultant – Cox Communications – Tulsa, Oklahoma > NMS Service Assurance Lead Software Engineer – Cox Communications – Atlanta, Georgia > Direct Sales Rep – Cox Communications – Cleveland, Ohio > Retail Solutions Specialist – Cox Communications – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma > Account Executive (CB) – Cox Communications – Fort Smith, Arkansas > Senior Oracle DBA – Cox Communications – Atlanta, Georgia > NTOC Data Service Assurance Analyst - Cox Communications - Atlanta, Georgia > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs * Post a classified ad: Click here. * General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Apple, AT&T to settle unlimited iPad data lawsuit A California judge has signed off on the details of a settlement between Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and AT&T (NYSE:T) and customers who claimed they were tricked into buying an Apple iPad in 2010 only to have AT&T then switch its unlimited data plans to a usage-based pricing system. In a ruling issued this week in San Jose, U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte agreed to a settlement where Apple will give $40 to everyone in the United States who bought or ordered an iPad 3G before June 7, 2010, according to GigaOM. Further, customers who didn't sign up for AT&T service will get a $20 per month discount on the carrier's 5 GB monthly plan for up to a year. The settlement is scheduled to receive final approval in February. The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed in June 2010 that claimed that the two companies "baited" customers into purchasing an iPad 3G with prepaid unlimited data plans "only to have that promise reneged upon within weeks of their purchases." "I would have never purchased a 3G-capable iPad if I knew Apple and AT&T were planning on suddenly taking away from me the freedom to opt in and out of an unlimited data plan at my choice," commented plaintiff Adam Weisblatt in a statement distributed by law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein in 2010. AT&T initially offered unlimited data services on Apple's iPad, but subsequently replaced those plans with metered data services: Under AT&T's new plans, customers who buy smartphones and iPads can pay $15 per month for 200 MB of data or $25 per month for 2 GB of data, with extra charges for additional data. At the time, AT&T said customers who had bought an iPad 3G with an unlimited data plan could keep that plan, although if a subscriber skips a month of data fees they lose the right to go back to the unlimited plan. It's unclear exactly how much the settlement could cost AT&T and Apple; the two companies have generally declined to comment on the proceedings in the case. The ultimate payout would also depend on how many customers filed the necessary paperwork in order to receive the payout, if the settlement is indeed aprpvoed. In other unlimited data news, a number of publications reported that Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) customers who still have unlimited data plans are currently not being required to change to metered data plans when they upgrade their phone. Previously, Verizon said customers with an unlimited data plan who purchased a subsidized phone would have to relinquish their unlimited plans for a usage-based plan. Engadget said Verizon couldn't immediately comment on the situation. The uproar around unlimited data services is notable considering Verizon Communications Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam recently said that there is going to be a point where operators hit a ceiling in terms of available bandwidth. "If you are allowing unlimited, you will run out of gas. It's physics," he said. For more: - see this GigaOM article - see this Engadget article Related Articles: Verizon's McAdam dismisses unlimited data plans: 'You will run out of gas' Sprint guarantees unlimited data for life AT&T, Apple facing expanded lawsuit over iPad data rate changes Read more about: unlimited data back to top | This week's sponsor is FierceSurveys. | | Survey | Small Cell Solutions Technology Trends in 2013 This research survey will examine market perception of small cell solution technology, applications for small cells, and solution value. This is a second survey of its kind in 2013 aimed to identify if understanding and points of view are evolving as quickly as the mobile market itself. As a thank you for your time and input, the first 50 respondents will receive a $10 Amazon eCard. Complete the Survey Today! | 2. Sprint ushers in LTE roaming era with 3 inbound, 2 outbound agreements Sprint (NYSE:S) currently has a total of three operational inbound LTE roaming agreements, and has inked contracts with two providers for outbound roaming, according to internal Sprint documents obtained by FierceWireless. Sprint spokeswoman Kelly Schlageter confirmed the existence of LTE roaming agreements but declined to provide additional details, including which wireless providers the agreements are with. Sprint's three inbound roaming agreements allow the customers of other wireless carriers to roam onto Sprint's growing LTE network. Two of those agreements are likely with C Spire Wireless and Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP). In April, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said the carrier is working with regional operator C Spire Wireless to enable LTE roaming across multiple spectrum bands. And also in May executives from Cricket provider Leap strongly hinted that the company's previously announced LTE roaming deal is with Sprint. Sprint's two outboard roaming agreements will allow the carrier's customers to roam onto the LTE networks of the two participating carriers. The two outbound roaming agreements have been finalized but have not yet been implemented. It's possible Sprint's outbound roaming agreements are with the same providers that it has inbound roaming agreements with. Wireless providers generally don't disclose the details of their roaming agreements. Roaming agreements are relatively commonplace for 2G and 3G services, but 4G LTE roaming agreements are still in their infancy as U.S. operators work to launch and build out their LTE networks before embarking on roaming transactions. U.S. LTE roaming agreements are further complicated by the fact that LTE services in the United States stretch across a wide number of bands: For example, although both carriers operate CDMA networks, Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) LTE network currently runs on its 700 MHz spectrum and the carrier plans to expand LTE to its AWS spectrum, while Sprint offers LTE service on its 1900 MHz spectrum and plans to expand service to its 800 MHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum. Sprint's outbound LTE roaming deals likely will help expand the carrier's LTE coverage area. Sprint has said it expects to cover 200 million POPs with its LTE network by the end of this year. Related Articles: Sprint CFO: We're still open to spectrum hosting deals Leap suggests its LTE roaming deal is with Sprint, hints at more device financing options Sprint teams with C Spire on LTE roaming CCA members get their own LTE data roaming hub Read more about: Sprint back to top | 3. Wi-Fi-cellular roaming pros and cons, powered by ANDSF, highlighted by 4G Americas After years of fits and starts, demand for cellular/Wi-Fi roaming appears to be reaching a fever pitch, which is in turn driving companies and standards groups to respond with solutions they say will allow smartphone users to blissfully travel across Wi-Fi networks with all of the same services (like voice, texting and so on) they are used to receiving while on cellular networks. The latest noise on the topic comes from 4G Americas, which released a white paper on how operators can offer Intelligent Network Selection (INS) by using the 3GPP's Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) framework. Importantly, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and AT&T (NYSE:T) executives worked on the paper and added their names to its conclusions. "Wi-Fi is an important unlicensed spectrum technology for most operators and the intelligent integration of Wi-Fi and Cellular will provide a benefit to both operators and their customers," stated Farooq Bari of AT&T and co-project leader of the 4G Americas technical group that authored the white paper. | Figure 1: Four key challenges at the Wi-Fi / Cellular boundary (Source: 4G Americas) | As 4G Americas outlines in its white paper, there are a wide range of standards, frameworks and acronyms aimed at smoothing connections between Wi-Fi networks and 3G and 4G cellular networks. 4G Americas wrote that the recent Hotspot 2.0 effort, which is being defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA), Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) and Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), is "aimed at facilitating and automating a secure and trusted Wi-Fi connection with the ability to use a variety of user- or device-based credentials." Hotspot 2.0 also hopes to improve Wi-Fi network discovery and selection. But, as 4G Americas notes, the cellular industry, through the 3GPP, has also been working on the Wi-Fi/cellular roaming via EAP-AKA/SIM based authentication and S2a-based Mobility over GTP (SaMOG) Trusted Access. Specifically, 4G Americas said the 3GPP has spent several years standardizing the ANDSF, which the group said "provides a framework for operators to customize network steering policies and distribute those policies down to devices." 4G Americas said there are ongoing efforts in 3GPP Release 12 to align ANDSF with the HotSpot 2.0 capabilities. Importantly, 4G America said the combination of ANDSF, SaMOG, HotSpot 2.0 and other technologies could lead to "simplified roaming, seamless handovers, and more intelligent network steering, are designed to enable users to continue using data services as they pass between cellular macro cells, small cells and Wi-Fi hotspots, with no need for further authentication or user intervention." Of course, integration between unlicensed Wi-Fi networks and licensed cellular networks presents a wide range of challenges. Indeed, the WBA recently said that its ongoing collaboration with the GSMA to facilitate roaming between Wi-Fi and cellular networks has revealed that there are a couple of additional issues the industry needs to address: authentication signaling optimization and session continuity. 4G Americas also highlighted challenges to Wi-Fi/cellular roaming, including: - Premature Wi-Fi Selection, which the group said happens when devices connect to a known Wi-Fi network without first checking for better cellular and Wi-Fi options.
- Unhealthy choices, which 4G Americas said can happen when devices select Wi-Fi connections even though those Wi-Fi networks are already straining under heavy loads. "Real-time, load-based traffic steering can be used to mitigate this," the group said.
- Lower capabilities, which the group said can lead to poor performance if a device connects to a Wi-Fi network with a lower bandwidth in the backhaul than the cellular base station presently serving the device.
- And Ping-Pong, which 4G Americas said happens when a user ping-pongs between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
4G Americas' white paper seeks to address some of these problems and outlines future technological options for vendors and operators. Of course, ANDSF and HotSpot 2.0 are just the latest technologies aimed at addressing the cellular/Wi-Fi roaming problem. For example, T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) continues to offer its Wi-Fi Calling service, which allows users to place and receive calls and texts via Wi-Fi. The operator said the service is available on a range of its phones, including the new iPhone 5s. And MVNO Republic Wireless recently boasted that "where other attempts have failed or abandoned, our team has succeeded--we've invented new technology that enables seamless Wi-Fi to cellular handover, vastly improved Wi-Fi call quality, and MMS capabilities as well as some great new features such as visual voicemail." For more: - see this 4G Americas press release and white paper (PDF) Related Articles: WBA, GSMA identify more hurdles to cellular/Wi-Fi roaming Ericsson, NSN focus spotlight on Wi-Fi traffic steering CTIA 2013: Big data, Wi-Fi, MVNOs and the last hurrah Read more about: ANDSF back to top | 4. MLB adopts iBeacon to enhance the stadium experience for fans Major League Baseball is working closely with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) on a project that uses iBeacon indoor mapping technology, which incorporates Bluetooth Smart and iOS 7 software. The goal of the trial is to develop different ways to interact with fans at the stadium. In an article by Mashable, Gary Abramson, iOS developer for MLB, said that the organization is looking at ways to customize the MLB app and is using iBeacon instead of GPS because GPS doesn't work very well indoors, particularly in buildings made of steel. Some examples of the type of customization MLB is considering include providing the app owner with details about the stadium when they arrive at the location. Or when the fan is near the gate, the barcode of their ticket appears on their smartphone screen as well as a map to the location of their seat. Another example of customization is having the app programmed to provide different highlights of the stadium, such as the history of the building. iBeacon was introduced with Apple's iOS 7 update earlier this month; however, the company didn't provide a lot of details about the technology. Experts say that iBeacon opens up a whole new dimension by allowing your apps to be alerted when users enter them. For example, if you have an iPhone outfitted with iBeacon your phone would know when you enter a certain retailer and that retailer can then transmit to your phone customized coupons or prompt recommendations. Apple has widely been credited with Bluetooth Smart's skyrocketing growth. According to ABI Research, the growth of Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready devices has grown from zero shipments in 2010 to more than 1 billion shipments in 2013. The research firm attributes that growth to Bluetooth Smart's adoption in smartphones, tablets and other portable electronic devices. However, the company also said that the wider vendor community is embracing Bluetooth smart and it's emerging as a key wireless technology in a whole range of devices from heart rate monitors to door locks. For more: - see this Mashable article - see this iMore article Related articles: What Android support for Bluetooth Smart means for developers Apple's new iPhones: Their top 5 wireless omissions Half of the Bluetooth Enabled Devices Shipped in 2013 will be Smart or Smart Ready, Says ABI Research Read more about: Apple back to top | 5. Broadcom debuts Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo chip for connectivity in the car Broadcom has adapted its latest 802.11ac chipsets to fit the growing demand for automotive connectivity. The company introduced the BCM89335 combo chip, also called "5G Wi-Fi," that combines 802.11ac with Bluetooth Smart technology to allow vehicles to connect to smartphones and home networks and give drivers access to a bevy of new applications. Broadcom said it wants to enable cheaper and more efficient gear for the car so that users can connect to their car's electronics systems and do everything from making hands-free calls to connecting the car to the Internet. By combining Wi-Fi with Bluetooth, Broadcom envisions potential applications such as being able to record biometric information about the driver, i.e., fatigue and blood alcohol content. In addition, the company believes the chipset will enable such applications as being able to provide the driver with information about road hazards, traffic accidents and even monitor automobile speed. The new chipset is sampling now. The connected car market is gaining momentum as automakers, wireless operators and other tech companies fight to gain a share of this lucrative new area. Transparency Market Research estimates that the global connected car market will reach $131.9 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 34.7 percent from 2013 to 2019. Interestingly, the research firm said that LTE is likely to get the biggest share of the market due to its lower operating costs associated with high data transmission volumes as compared to other technologies. The company also said that while North America currently is the biggest market for connected cars with 50 percent share of the market in 2012, Asia-Pacific will be the fastest growing region, fueled by demand in China, India and Australia. For more: - see this CNET article - see this VentureBeat article -see this Transparency Market Research report Related articles: The connected car is just another device AT&T's Lurie: Adding your car to a Mobile Share plan would make 'good sense' Audi's LTE-connected car coming to the U.S. next spring AT&T, SiriusXM and Nissan collaborate on connected car initiative Read more about: Broadcom back to top | Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... Small cell, DAS deployments could speed up under new FCC rules The FCC said it will consider loosening restrictions on the construction and rollout of small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems, an effort by the commission to help carriers flesh out their wireless capacity and coverage. The issue is key for wireless carriers turning to small cell and DAS technologies to fill in the gaps in their networks that macrocells are unable to reach. Specifically, the FCC said it will open a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that in part will seek comment "on measures needed to reduce obstacles to obtaining access to rights-of-way and locations for wireless facilities." The agency pointed toward streamlining the environmental and historic preservation review processes for newer technologies like small cells and distributed antenna systems. PCIA President & CEO Jonathan Adelstein cheered the FCC's actions. "They (the FCC) hit the nail on the head by acknowledging that common-sense reforms are needed to modernize historic and environmental review processes for the deployment of distributed antenna systems and small cells," he said. "They recognize we can't treat every DAS node like a 500 foot cell tower." Filing (PDF) Broadband wireless news from across the Web. > The FTC opened an investigation into patent trolls. Article > SaskTel said it will launch a LTE-TDD service. Article > The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that 54 states and territories have been awarded $116 million in grants to aid in the construction of a national public safety broadband network to be built by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Release > Driverless cars are an inevitability. Article > Novatel Wireless said its new MiFi Home product is a "powerful all-in-one solution that replaces wired voice and Internet options for fast, easy phone and 4G LTE Internet connectivity in the home, small office, and remote work station." Release > Ford purchased Livio for in-car connectivity and apps. Article And finally… "The Wi-Fi Tech Behind Oracle Team USA's America's Cup Win." Article > Staying Secure in the Growing World of M2M & the Internet of Things - Wednesday, October 2nd, 12pm ET / 9am PT With M2M volume steadily increasing, there is a lot of uncertainty about how these different devices will be managed. How will security be handled in the new connected world? Register now. > Virtualization: The OEM Secret to Launching New Devices Faster and Cheaper- Thursday, October 10th, 2013, 11 am ET / 8 am PT How do some OEMs manage to outpace the competition by launching new devices to market faster and cheaper without sacrificing functionality and performance? In this webinar, Red Bend Software will unveil this secret and present how virtualization can bring significant business benefits to smartphones, tablets and connected cars. Register today to attend this event. > Battle of the cores: How many do you really need for mobile? - Tuesday, October 15th, 1pm ET /10am PT How can the industry keep up with consumer demand while maximizing battery life? Is adding more CPU cores the answer or do we need a completely new design approach? Join us in this webinar and find out! Register Today! > WebRTC - Don't forget the Network - Thursday, October 31st, 11 am ET / 8 am PT In this webcast, Chad Hart of Oracle and Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis will review WebRTC's core networking technologies and critical challenges. Register Today! | > Whitepaper: Smarter Service: The Contact Center of the Future This eBook explores the challenges facing traditional contact centers and the benefits of deploying the contact center of the future. You'll find links to further resources on the final page. Download today. > eBook: Catching the Next Wave in Smart Technology Bluetooth is no longer relegated to streaming audio and hands-free phone operation. Take a look at some of the latest "appcessories" - accessories + applications that are changing the world as we know it. Download Today! > Survey: Survey | Small Cell Solutions Technology Trends in 2013 This research survey will examine market perception of small cell solution technology, applications for small cells, and solution value. This is a second survey of its kind in 2013 aimed to identify if understanding and points of view are evolving as quickly as the mobile market itself. As a thank you for your time and input, the first 50 respondents will receive a $10 Amazon eCard. Complete the Survey Today! > Whitepaper: Keeping Backhaul Front of Mind for LTE & LTE-Advanced Simplified mobile backhaul solutions enable delivery of increased mobile capacity and coverage with the right quality of service. LTE and LTE-Advanced are technologies that are all about delivering a better user experience. Creating a backhaul capability to augment and support the capabilities of LTE and LTE-A assist in pursuing that goal. Download Now! | > Account Manager (Sales Executive) - Florham Park, NJ - PCS Wireless PCS Wireless, is a wholesale distributor of cellular phones, tablets and accessories. The Account manager will be responsible for all sales activities, from lead generation through close in an assigned territory. He or she will develop and implement agreed upon Sales Plan which will meet both personal and business goals of expanding customer base in the marketing area... Read More. > RF Engineer III – Shentel – Etters, PA The RF engineer III will perform a team leader role in engineering work in support of projects and task in the PCS, WiFi and other wireless network. The primary function involves RF Design for new sites, RF Optimization and performance engineering of existing PCS network. Providing RF Engineering support is also expected for WiFi projects... Learn More > Residential Sales Account Executive – Cablevision – Piscataway Tinton Falls, Newark The Residential Sales Account Executive will aggressively target market residential non-subscribers in the Cablevision footprint, in an effort to convince customers to choose Cablevision as their telecommunications provider for iO Digital Video, Optimum Online and Optimum Voice telephone service...Learn More > Customer Retention Rep – Cox Communications – Oklahoma, US The customer retention rep promotes customer loyalty and reduces churn by providing excellent customer service while resolving challenging situations. He or she promotes revenue growth and bundled services by differentiating between Cox and competitors' products...Learn More > Professional Security Consultant – Cox Communications – Tulsa, Oklahoma This position generates sales and revenue across all potential customer segments through face-to-face customer contact, assessing needs, packaging products, and owning the customer experience throughout the sales process. Through partnerships within the community and market segments he or she drives incremental revenue and product growth at key customer decision points...Learn More > NMS Service Assurance Lead Software Engineer – Cox Communications – Atlanta, Georgia This position develops, implements, integrates and maintains applications. Under general supervision, he or she formulates and defines system scope and objectives through research and fact-finding to develop or modify moderately complex information systems. Prepares detailed specifications from which programs will be written. Designs, codes, tests, debugs, documents and maintains those programs...Learn More > Direct Sales Rep – Cox Communications – Cleveland, Ohio Cox Communications is seeking an experienced Direct Sales Representative to join the Cleveland team. Individual will be responsible for generating sales and revenue across all potential customer segments through face-to-face customer contact, assessing needs, packaging products, and owning the customer experience throughout the sales process... Learn More > Retail Solutions Specialist – Cox Communications – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma The position is responsible for driving the retail sales channel for Cox products and services while ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty by handling customer requests, inquiries and complaints regarding orders, billing and service in a professional manner. Develops and implements retail sales strategies for Cox Communications and serves as a strategic partner... Learn More > Account Executive (CB) – Cox Communications – Fort Smith, Arkansas Cox Business is building an elite sales team responsible for selling bundled telephony, data, and video solutions to small and mid-sized business clients in the service area. Reporting to the Manager of Outside Sales, the Account Executives (Retail) is responsible for selling products including data/transport solutions (Internet, Ethernet), VoIP solutions (SIP Trunking, IP Centrex), cellular services (3G, 4G) and software-as-a-service... Learn More > Senior Oracle DBA – Cox Communications – Atlanta, Georgia Cox Communications is searching for a Senior Oracle DBA, who will be responsible for the complete process of infrastructure design and operations. This includes: systems analysis and maintenance, security, network operations and support, and systems configuration. Infrastructure includes: hardware, operation systems, database management systems, network and security...Learn More > NTOC Data Service Assurance Analyst - Cox Communications - Atlanta, Georgia The NTOC Data Service Assurance Analyst will provide Tier 3 Service & Operations Management, Service Problem Handling and Service Quality Management for Cox Products, Services and Applications (CPSA) at the enterprise level. Cox CPSA have complex designs which typically include CPE, RF, HFC, DOCSIS, protocols, ports, security, routing, servers, operating systems, databases and rating/billing... Learn More > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs | |
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