The Wireless Report http://www.thewirelessreport.com The Wireless Report http://www.thewirelessreport.com/media/feedlogo.gif The Wireless Report http://www.thewirelessreport.com en-us Copyright 2008 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/FCC grants licenses to winners of recent spectrum auctionshttp://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/05/fcc-grants-winners-of-recent-radio-auctions-licences/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/05/fcc-grants-winners-of-recent-radio-auctions-licences/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/05/fcc-grants-winners-of-recent-radio-auctions-licences/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few months after the FCC's advanced wireless services auctions concluded, the commission finally awarded about half of the 1,087 licenses that were bid on and won in the recent auction that was held during the August-September timeframe.

The FCC granted granted 550 of the 1,087 licenses won, and they total about $12.2 billion in total net high bids from the sale. Expect a flurry of press releases from auction winners like T-Mobile USA, which was the largest winner in the auctions as it prepares to launch its own next-generation 3G wireless network.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>FCCFCC auctionsFccAuctionsT-Mobile USAT-mobileUsaBrian White2006-12-05T14:59:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- November 4, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/the-wireless-report-podcast-november-4-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/the-wireless-report-podcast-november-4-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/the-wireless-report-podcast-november-4-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the eighteenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. Mike and I will be discussing the current state of citywide WiFi from coast to coast, as there is activity happening all over the place. I especially liked the way Houston Mayor Bill White is handling his city's WiFi plans in turn with private industry. We'll talk about that and much more.

I also review the mobile music download services from Verizon and Sprint Nextel. These services are implemented much better than mobile television services and it was really great to get them side by side and compare. Who won? Listen to find out. Cingular just this week announced their music download service, but it is vastly different than those offered by Verizon and Sprint Nextel.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Mike Sciannamea and Brian White

File Format
1:02:32 length, 28.6 MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

2:50 Mike runs down the state of the citywide WiFi situation in South Carolina, Texas, New York and other states that continues to see huge growth. 2007 will be the year of the install and implementation as 2006 is shaping up to be the year of massive citywide WiFi planning.

30:15 I review the music download services featured by Verizon Wireless (VCAST) and Sprint Nextel (Sprint Music Store) from start to finish, taking to task the entire customer experience. Who won? Listen to find out -- and if the carriers can make the mobile television experience as close to mobile music, there is a chance for mobile television to survive and thrive.

57:59 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Citywide WiFiCitywideWifiMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiPodcastBrian White2006-11-06T12:00:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/21/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/21/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/21/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The end of another week has arrived, and it's been a busy one here at The Wireless Report. Please take a few moments to check out some of the fruits of our labor. Enjoy!

  1. The Wireless Report Podcast -- October 17, 2006
    We are pleased to bring you the seventeenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be discussing the citywide WiFi situation in Chicago and why Mike and I think that the Chicago folks are really doing things right so far in the Windy City's RFP for a citywide WiFi network. Kudos to them on the detail request and the way in which they have laid out the network they want to build.
  2. ESPN exec says mobile service overestimated consumers' desire to switch
    At a recent magazine publishers event, an ESPN executive vice president said the company's effort to establish a mobile phone service failed because the company overestimated the number of consumers who would switch from their existing service to ESPN Mobile.
  3. Is wireless service becoming commoditized?
    With several larger carriers in the U.S. and other countries these days, has wireless service become commoditized? Of course, the carriers would say no, but when a customer is in a town or city with complete coverage by three or four carriers, it is easily seen how at least voice service is seen as one in the same by millions of consumers.
  4. Washington county commission surveys residents about wireless network
    I like the approach that the state of Washington's Pierce County Rainier Communications Commission (RCC) is taking in terms of determining the needs of its residents when it comes to wireless internet access.
  5. A great idea for mobile video streaming -- teaching
    The world is the wireless industry's oyster if it can only figure out ways to be innovative in product and service offerings -- and many carriers are doing just that since competition is fierce and pressure to find new revenue streams never ends in the mecca of high-tech and consumer uptake.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-10-21T12:00:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- October 17, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/the-wireless-report-podcast-october-17-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/the-wireless-report-podcast-october-17-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/the-wireless-report-podcast-october-17-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the seventeenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be discussing the citywide WiFi situation in Chicago and why Mike and I think that the Chicago folks are really doing things right so far in the Windy City's RFP for a citywide WiFi network. Kudos to them on the detail request and the way in which they have laid out the network they want to build.

Additionally, we'll take about the fight from the FCC to take control of wireless bill regulation for the states -- but the states want to control the regulatory process for customers' wireless bills. We'll wrap up the podcast talking about the new FTC document designed to help smaller communities navigate the political obstacles when it comes time to considering a citywide WiFi network.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Mike Sciannamea and Brian White

File Format
1:05:43 length, 30.1MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

2:45 We start off the podcast with a decent talk about wireless bill regulation, and who should regulate this -- the FCC or the individual states. There are needs that the states need to keep control of regardless if the national wireless carriers want a national standards body to regulate wireless billing practices.

31:20 Chicago's Request For Proposal (RFP) for a citywide WiFi network, and how that city is -- at this time -- doing things very right in the way it's going about collecting vendors and bids for the network build as well as paying attention to timelines and detail without the useless marketing fluff that just clogs the process. Very interesting stuff here, and other cities may soon be following Chicago's lead here in the near future.

50:35 We talk about a neat FTC "decision tree" document released by the federal agency that is meant to assist cities in designing and considering citywide WiFi networks with all the political considerations that come along with that -- things that many smaller municipalities don't sometimes consider until it is too late.

1:02 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Chicago WiFiChicagoWifiCitywide WiFiCitywide WirelessCitywideWifiCitywideWirelessFTC WiFiFtcWifiMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiBrian White2006-10-17T12:04:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- September 30, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/30/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-30-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/30/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-30-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/30/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-30-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the sixteenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be discussing the odd situation in San Francisco now that the city itself may be competing with the recent Google/Earthlink partnership to install and maintain a citywide wireless network in that city.

Additionally, we'll discuss the past, present and future of the American wireless landscape based on some of the conclusions with the recently-completed FCC advanced wireless services auction, and we'll also touch on wireless VoIP and its effects (or non-effects) on traditional wireless calling plans and carriers.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Mike Sciannamea and Brian White

File Format
1:03:12 length, 28.9MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

2:49 The San Francisco citywide wireless network now has a new controversial face -- the city itself wants to possibly own and operate the network, even as the Google and Earhtlink partnership moves forward with planning and installing the network. Can the City of San Francisco really buy, install and maintain a complete citywide wireless network?

27:39 What the wireless landscape looked like in 1996, what is looks like now and what it will look like in 2016 (10 years from now) based on the recently-completed FCC advanced wireless auctions. Let's take a trip down wireless memory lane and look into the future a bit.

50:35 Will Wireless VoIP be a threat to traditional cellular wireless calling plans? PeerMe's launching on Sprint's EV-DO network as a wireless VoIP solution may help international callers, but may not threaten wireless calling in the domestic sense.

1:00:10 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>PodcastTech PodcastTechPodcastWireless PodcastWirelessPodcastBrian White2006-09-30T11:49:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/23/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/23/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/23/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

As we say goodbye to the summer and head into the fall, why not dive into the Top 5 stories we've been working on this week at The Wireless Report? Enjoy!

  1. The debate continues over kids bringing cellphones to school
    There's quite a bit of discussion and debate over whether kids should be allowed to bring and/or use their cellphones while in school. It seems there is no clearcut answer, one way or the other.
  2. The Wireless Report Podcast, Special Edition -- September 20, 2006
    We are pleased to bring you a special edition of the The Wireless Report Podcast. I recently spoke with Peter Cannistra from Sprint Nextel and Gary Koerper from Motorola. Both gentlemen are personally and deeply involved with the WiMAX standard and rollout recently announced by Sprint Nextel and had some great insight into this rather-important WiMAX announcement.
  3. Google exec frustrated over pace of negotiation of San Francisco's wireless network
    Uh-oh, there appears to be trouble in paradise for San Francisco and its wireless network plans.
  4. Mobile TV has captured the "industry's" attention -- what about the consumer?
    In yet another interesting line about the mobile industry preaching the effects of mobile television, it still bugs me that the *industry* won't really ask their specific customers exactly what *they* want. After all, the *industry* can harp about mobile TV all day long -- but at the end of the day, if consumers don't bit, then the entire effort has been wasted.
  5. FCC seeks to lift ban from airlines offering WiFi at Boston's Logan Airport
    The chairman of the FCC has stepped into the fray over the ban imposed in 2004 by Boston's Logan International Airport over WiFi services offered by individual airlines at the facility.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-09-23T07:00:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast, Special Edition -- September 20, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/20/the-wireless-report-podcast-special-edition-september-20-20/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/20/the-wireless-report-podcast-special-edition-september-20-20/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/20/the-wireless-report-podcast-special-edition-september-20-20/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We are pleased to bring you a special edition of the The Wireless Report Podcast. I recently spoke with Peter Cannistra from Sprint Nextel and Gary Koerper from Motorola. Both gentlemen are personally and deeply involved with the WiMAX standard and rollout recently announced by Sprint Nextel and had some great insight into this rather-important WiMAX announcement.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly --
your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Host
Brian White

File Format
17:10 length, 7.8MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Topics and Questions asked to Peter and Gary:
  • Sprint's EV-DO Revision A strategy coexisting with the new WiMAX network and how these networks will inter-relate
  • Who will be providing the infrastructure for the WiMAX base stations and customer premise equipment?
  • What will Motorola's position be within the Sprint WiMAX network (what will the company be responsible for?
  • Is Motorola going to assist in the marketing efforts to launch the WiMAX network to the public?
  • Does Sprint have a public roadmap of WiMAX deployment available yet?
  • Does Sprint plan to position its WiMAX network against wired, home broadband alternatives like cable modems and DSL service?
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>ClearwireIntel WiMAXIntelWimaxMotorolaMotorola WiMAXMotorolaWimaxSprint NextelSprint WiMAXSprintNextelSprintWimaxBrian White2006-09-20T12:11:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- September 16, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/16/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-16-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/16/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-16-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/16/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-16-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the fifteenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about a recent, dirt-uncovering "fastest wireless high-speed national network" feature post that pits Cingular Wireless against Sprint Nextel first up to bat. Remember -- truth in advertising is not just a forgotten concept.

Mike and I will then segue into the need for priority-based emergency wireless networks with live, on-the-fly information being needed by first responders and emergency personnel. New York City and the U.S. Army are making great strides in this area.

Finally, we'll wrap things up with a semi-review of Immersion's VibeTonz haptics technology, which I recently reviewed. I'll be honest -- this technology may be the next big thin in mobile entertainment. It was wild, and very cool.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Mike Sciannamea and Brian White

File Format
1:02:24 length, 28.5MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

2:45 The Cingular Wireless vs. Sprint Nextel "fastest wireless high-speed data network" boxing match. See who won in Round 1, with more rounds to come in the future. Hey, networks never stop evolving, right?

27:58 The need for emergency wireless systems based on priority for first responders and the need for constant and live wireless informational updates to emergency personnel when disaster strikes

45:45 My take on Immersion's VibeTonz technology for mobile handsets -- this is killer software, folks. Simple "on/off" vibrating motors have nothing on this.

58:35 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Cingular WirelessCingularWirelessEmergency WirelessEmergencyWirelessEV-DOHSDPAImmersionSprint NextelSprintNextelVibeTonzBrian White2006-09-16T13:06:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- September 9, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-9-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-9-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/09/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-september-9-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the fourteenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the tricky situation unfolding with the rather-large citywide WiFi contract going down in Silicon Valley (free access, as-supported model) and about Toronto's new municipal WiFi network that will be free for six months before customers have to pay for it.

We'll also be discussing Google's new mobile advertising platform, Google AdWords for Mobile, that could possibly change mobile advertising like text ads have changed online advertising (and Google's bankroll proves that).

Another interesting nugget we will be discussing will be amp'd mobile's prediction that the MVNO will have 150,000 customers by the end of December this year. That's a pretty lofty goal to state publicly, so amp'd better get selling!

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
1:02:03 length, 28.4MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

5:02 Municipal WiFi happenings in Silicon Valley -- which wants to build an ad-supported wireless network. We both still have reservations about a citywide WiFi network funded solely by advertising. St. Petersburg, Florida received five bids for building its municipal WiFi network as well -- with a request for low to no-access fees. Hmm.

Also, Toronto has unveiled a city-built and funded municipal WiFi network that will be free for the first six months to everyone. After than, the rate will be $5/hour, $10/day and then $29/month -- not a bad tier system if you ask us.

31:23 Google's new AdWords for Mobile program -- text ads are coming to Google searches that happen over Google's mobile search engine. Will this start -- or revolutionize -- mobile and wireless handset advertising? First, Google has to get customers using the service, which will be an uphill climb in the U.S.

47:30 amp'd mobile wants to reach 150,000 customers by December of this year -- and they have a ways to go. Get our take on whether amp'd mobile can make it.

52:59 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>amp'd mobileAmp'dMobileCitywide WiFiCitywideWifiGOOGGoogleMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiMVNOWiMAXBrian White2006-09-09T12:12:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- August 26, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-august-26-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-august-26-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-august-26-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the thirteenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the MetroFi's rather unique gamble on the ad-supported business model it's pushing in some citywide WiFi markets like Portland, Oregon and Santa Clara, California. It looks like MetroFi will be pushing this model going forward as well, but are we convinced of its viability? Listen to find out.

In addition, Mike and myself will be talking about all the activity that has gone on in the past two weeks with the FCC's advanced wireless services (AWS) licenses -- some large, billion-dollar bids have gone up from T-Mobile and Verizon, which the satellite television companies (partnership between DISH and DirecTV) have dropped out of the bidding completely, and unexpectedly. Listen to the podcast and see what we think.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
57:58 length, 26.5MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline

4:30 The FCC's advanced wireless services auction has passed $13 billion as of today and we discuss and dissect the bidding results thus far in the auction. The top three bidders are T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Sprint-Cable Company joint venture -- and Wireless DBS (the DirecTV-DISH venture) has dropped out of the auction this week due to low to no bidding activity. This auction will shape wireless technology in the U.S. in a huge way, so the impacts of this auction are pretty large.

28:45 MetroFi's latest business model -- installing citywide WiFi networks paid for by private donations and selling advertising space, with no cost to the end customer. Is this a viable model going forward? Nobody knows -- but MetroFi is sticking its tongue out further on the frozen flagpole compared to competitors Earthlink and MobilePro.

52:59 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>FCC auctionFccAuctionPodcastBrian White2006-08-26T11:32:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- August 12, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/the-wireles-report-podcast-august-12-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/the-wireles-report-podcast-august-12-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/the-wireles-report-podcast-august-12-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the twelfth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the Boston's rather unique MVNO-like citywide WiFi proposal (we hope this experiment works) in addition to the ruffled feathers going on in the Portland, Oregon citywide WiFi network regarding the price for power to all those WiFi transmitters on telephone poles and city utility poles all over town.

In addition, Mike and myself will be talking about this past week's Sprint 4G WiMAX announcement, and how the lines are blurring more than ever on how broadband Internet content wil be passing into and out of consumer homes as well as business locations. Need cable modem service? DSL? EV-DO mobility? How about WiMAX broadband? These questions may crop up at the start of 2008, and broadband choices will be as plentiful as ever by then -- most likely. Is Sprint's 4G WiMAX decision relevant to just one market segment or all of them? Listen to the podcast and see what we think.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
54:52 length, 25.1MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline
3:35 Boston's citywide wireless network will feature $20 million in donations to build the infrastructure from private donations, and then will be bidded out to multiple ISPs (wholesale bandwidth resale) who will then turn around and offer service to businesses and customers. We can't want to see how this experiment in citywide wireless pans out.

23:55 Portland's power struggle with MetroFi's planned installed citywide wireless network and the local power company's monetary demand for the power supply to all those transmitters. This will not be an isolated incident in future citywide wireless networks.

30:05 Sprint's decision to commit to WiMAX as its 4G wireless data technology, and the $3 billion decision to partner with Motorola, Intel and Samsung for this. I interviewed Bin Shen, VP of Broadband Strategy for Sprint this week on the announcement, and I posed some questions to Mr. Shen about this committment.

51:03 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Boston Citywide wirelessBoston WiFiBostonCitywideWirelessBostonWifiCitywide WiFiCitywide wirelessCitywideWifiCitywideWirelessPodcastPortland WiFiPortlandWifiSprint 4GSprint WiMAXSprint4gSprintWimaxWireless PodcastWirelessPodcastBrian White2006-08-12T12:34:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/12/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It's been another hectic week here at The Wireless Report. Check out the five best fruits of our labor. Enjoy!

  1. The Wireless Report Podcast -- Interview with Sprint Nextel
    We are pleased to bring you a special edition of The Wireless Report Podcast. I recently spoke with Mr. Barry Tishgart, Director of Marketing for Sprint.
  2. EarthLink VP discusses Pasadena citywide network
    Last week, EarthLink scored another big citywide wireless network win with the city of Pasadena, California approving its bid to develop and deploy the network. As we've stated here in this blog and in our podcasts a number of times before, EarthLink continues to lead the pack when it comes to municipal wireless. The competition is getting tougher--companies such as MobilePro Corp. and MetroFi are pulling up seats at the citywide wireless table. However, EarthLink continues to sit at the head of this table and it'll take a big effort from their competitors to unseat them.
  3. What the wireless carriers should make a #1 priority
    With wireless service becoming somewhat of a commodity perception in many customer's eyes (although it really isn't), the defining factor of differentiation in many cases becomes customer service. Sure, the changes in prices and coverage areas are the two selling points many mobile operators have over the competition, but when it comes down to it, poor customer service can eradicate all that niceity.
  4. Cellphone usage growing in Iraq
    In war-torn Iraq, cellphones are becoming a primary means of communication between people. In fact, text messaging has become all the rage.
  5. Will advanced music phones be able to compete with the iPod?
    After reading this review over at MobileBurn, I am left to wonder if advanced music wireless phones will ever be able to steadily challenge the de-facto music player, the Apple iPod. Many -- including me -- argue that the iPod is not a single product. Its integration with the iTunes movie and music store and the sheer ease-of-use makes the iPod ecosystem hard to resist for many consumers.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-08-12T07:40:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- Interview with Sprint Nextelhttp://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-interview-with-sprint-nextel/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-interview-with-sprint-nextel/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/08/09/the-wireless-report-podcast-interview-with-sprint-nextel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We are pleased to bring you a special edition of The Wireless Report Podcast. I recently spoke with Mr. Barry Tishgart, Director of Marketing for Sprint.

I asked Mr. Tishgart about Sprint's plans for EV-DO evolution and the iDEN network from the Nextel side, a discussion of Sprint's high-level network plans for the next 19-24 months as well as receiving a very detailed business overview of Sprint's business solutions moving into the latter half of 2006 and into 2007.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White

File Format
15:45 length, 7.21MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Contents:
  • Mr. Tishgart provides a high-level overview of Sprint Business' focus, initiatives and key areas for the second half of 2006 and beyond that as well
  • Mr. Tishgart discusses the competitive landscape on the business mobility front and how Sprint Business Services is addressing business customer needs
  • We get the lowdown on Sprint's high-level network plans and forward-looking product portfolio for business
  • Mr. Tishgart gives insight into Sprint's upcoming EV-DO revision A network upgrade as well as what is happening with the Nextel iDEN network and its future development
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>CDMAEV-DOEV-DO Revision AEv-doRevisionASprint NextelSprintNextelBrian White2006-08-09T12:23:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/29/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/29/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/29/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's the heat wave edition of The Wireless Report's Top 5 stories of the week. Check out these scorching hot wireless stories! Enjoy!

  1. The Wireless Report Podcast -- July 26, 2006
    We are pleased to bring you the eleventh regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the resurgence Motorola has seen recently with a bevy of new handsets, an excellent quarter for profit and unit shipments, the successor to the uber-popular RAZR phone and what the recent Motorola-Yahoo! Go announcement will mean for Motorola's future in 2007. Can Motorola once again become the #1 handset maker in the world 11 years after Nokia stole that title from them? The race should be interesting.
  2. Many issues to address for Long Island wireless network supporters
    Here's a really good overview of the plan by Long Island counties to develop and deploy a wireless network. There are many challenges to address in this entire project, namely how best to cover 1,200 square miles with wireless access. And, let's not forget the cost to build it, which could run as high as $100 million or more.
  3. Motorola has gone thin-crazy once again
    Motorola has continued its onslaught of new models from earlier this week and has introduced a 9mm-thick phone without a camera, MP3 player or even a color screen this time. Instead, the new Motorola MOTOFONE will be an extremely entry-level handset with a new electrophoretic display and hardly any features -- except extreme slimness.
  4. Wireless skills becoming more necessary for I.T. professionals
    Interesting story on how wireless skills are considered almost mandatory for any new I.T. network job postings. It stands to reason that as more companies look to expand their networks beyond the home office, that the ability to develop and deploy wireless communications for employees would be a necessary skillset.
  5. 1.5 billion wireless handsets to ship in 2011
    Just when we all thought that 400 million handsets shipped globally in a year would be plenty, the consulting company Analysys has predicted that 1.5 billion (with a "b") handsets will ship globally by the year 2011, a mere five years away.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-07-29T12:00:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- July 26, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-26-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-26-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/26/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-26-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the eleventh regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the resurgence Motorola has seen recently with a bevy of new handsets, an excellent quarter for profit and unit shipments, the successor to the uber-popular RAZR phone and what the recent Motorola-Yahoo! Go announcement will mean for Motorola's future in 2007. Can Motorola once again become the #1 handset maker in the world 11 years after Nokia stole that title from them? The race should be interesting.

We're also following a rather neat municipal WiFi situation in Bettendorf, Iowa. This is a small town with a population of 31, 000 that does not appear to have a "digital divide" like larger metro areas, so what can municipal WiFi do for a town like that? Plenty, but the thinking has to be changed. Citywide WiFi deployments can be for several reasons (civil, consumer, corporate). We'll also talk about how ad-supported municipal WiFi networks are not looking good -- this from a recent report from Craig Settles, a leading citywide wireless analyst.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
57:17 length, 26.2MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline
3:23 Motorola's recent handset announcements, quarterly results and basic "doing all things cool" may make the company a viable #1 competitor to market leader Nokia. Yahoo!'s announcement to embed its services directly in tens of millions of Motorola handsets can only help the handset manufacturer. Y

27:01 The citywide WiFi situation in Bettendorf, Iowa -- why what happens here could actually be a blueprint for smaller communities to deploy citywide WiFi, even if there is not a need for bridging the "digital divide".

42:35 Craig Settles and his analysis and research on why advertising-supported municipal WiFi networks cannot survive on ad revenue alone. As we've said before, perhaps tiered service levels like with cable modem and DSL service are options to support newer municipal WiFi networks?

53:35 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Citywide WiFiCitywideWifiMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiWireless podcastWirelessPodcastBrian White2006-07-26T12:10:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- July 12, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/12/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-12-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/12/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-12-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/12/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-12-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the tenth regular installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about New York City's entry into the citywide WiFi neighborhood to start the 'cast off. With the world's arguably largest municipal WiFi network at stake (or at least the most visible), will WiFi be coming to the NYC area outside the Central Park area? Will all the politics and infighting that are sure to happen dampen the hopes for a quick municipal WiFi network? The pending avalanche of vendor participation will sure to be, well, an avalanche. Keep your snow shows handy if you're in the NYC area.

Additionally, we'll cover the recently-developed $900 million investment in Clearwire -- the wireless broadband company -- by both Intel and Motorola. This is a huge deal for Clearwire and a possible sign of a coming battle with cable modem and DSL services already deployed across the U.S.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
53:59 length, 24.7MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline
2:39  NYC and the pending muncipal WiFi network for The Big Apple. There are quite a few details involved from politics to vendors to customer prices, so the NYC municipal WiFi deployment will be something to watch, for lack of a better phrase.

25:01  Intel and Motorola's combined $900 million investment in Crag McCaw's Clearwire -- WiMAX hits the mainstream insofar as publicity with this type of investment. Clearwire even pulled its IPO due to this investment, and we are sure to see more markets pop up with Clearwire's wireless broadband offering soon. The battle may be heating up with cable and telco companies (cable modem and DSL service)

49:26 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Citywide WiFiCitywideWifiMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiPodcastWiMAXWireless PodcastWirelessPodcastBrian White2006-07-12T12:18:00+00:00Wireless Etiquette Interview with Jacqueline Whitmorehttp://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/10/wireless-etiquette-interview-with-jacqueline-whitmore/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/10/wireless-etiquette-interview-with-jacqueline-whitmore/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/10/wireless-etiquette-interview-with-jacqueline-whitmore/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With July being national Wireless Etiquette month, we sat down (well, virtually, anyway) and spoke with Jacqueline Whitmore recently, who is a nationally-recognized expert on the subject of wireless etiquette.

She works directly with Sprint Nextel to ensure public awareness of wireless etiquette is known to as many customers as possible -- no easy feat considering the sheer number of wirless phone customers just in the U.S. these days.

Jacqueline was kind enough to give us insight into many areas of wireless etiquette from loud and obnoxious wireless chatters in public to Blackberry and Treo usage in meetings.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White

File Format
21:21 length, 9.77MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)



The Wireless Report is proud to present a special Monday podcast with Ms. Whitmore below. Here are the topics you'll find discussed in this special-edition podcast:

  • We've all seen telephone booths for old payphones. Now, there seems to be a movement for wireless phone "booths" -- for use with wireless phones. Could you describe these new "booths" for our audience, and who is installing them, just out of curiosity?
  • Push-to-talk seems to be an incredible productivity tool for many. However, many people become dismayed when at dinner, at the movies, with friends, etc. when a customer with, for example, a Nextel phone starts "chirping" back and forth. What is your advice to PTT users about considerations of the surrounding environment, even though these users generally must be "in touch" at all times?
  • Are schedule-heavy executives and other corporate personnel missing important information (hence, lot productivity) during meetings by sending the replying to email messages during these meetings, and are RIM Blackberries and Palm Treos the usual culprits?
  • Instead of annoying your surroundings and the people you are with, is it a good idea for wireless customers to let people they are with know that they may need to step away if a call comes in? A bit of forewarning can go along way towards being couth, right?
  • Are text messages a suitable alternative to making and receiving a phone call in certain situations? They both take your attention away, but one seems bothersome to others while the other does not.
  • What is your advice for wireless usage while driving? Many experts believe that manipulation of the handset or evern wireless handsfree units are not the cause of inattentive drivers, but the conversational environment is to blame. Should we not even use wireless phones in vehicles at all?
  • Are the dizzying and confusing array of the way many features are implemented in handsets the reason for wireless customers not using these features? For example, do many wireless users not know how to change ring styles to "soft" and "vibrate" when needed? Do you find that the way alerts are managed on most handsets to be clumsy for customers to use, or are people just forgetting to use these alert features when in different environments?
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Jacqueline WhitmoreJacquelineWhitmoreSprintSprint PCSSprintPcsBrian White2006-07-10T12:31:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/08/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/08/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/08/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's yet another version of The Wireless Report's Top 5 stories of the week. Sometimes its hard to big just five stories, but these are the ones we feel deserve the most attention. Enjoy!

  1. The Wireless Report Podcast -- July 5, 2006
    We are pleased to bring you the ninth installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the current implementations of mobile television between services offered by Sprint Nextel and Cingular Wireless. Sprint Nextel's "Sprint TV" offering is the one to beat for now -- it's much nicer than "Cingular Video", although I didn't have Verizon's VCast service to directly compare.
  2. A wireless network in NYC's future?
    It's about time! New York City's Economic Development Corporation announced it will be conducting a feasibility study to determine whether a citywide wireless network can be effectively developed and deployed within the city.
  3. Are wireless bill taxes too high? In Maryland, they are
    I think wireless taxes are unreal -- there are no less than six different taxes on my own wireless bill. Everyone from the state to the county to the city to the feds get a chunk of my money on my wireless bill every month. Another ridiculous way to suck the money and blow it on who-knows-what in the land of government non-accountability.
  4. Intel, Motorola pour $900 million into Clearwire's WiMax network
    It's certainly a big payday for Clearwire as Intel and Motorola announced they are investing $900 million into Craig McCaw's company in order to foster development of Clearwire's WiMax network capabilities.
  5. The word is out -- thin is definitely in
    With the buzz continuing to center around the Motorola RAZR in terms of overall popularity worldwide, Motorola has unwittingly started a major shift in general consumer handsets to thin phones. Motorola, Samsung, LG and others seem to be dropping thin phones out the window every other week.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-07-08T12:00:00+00:00The Wireless Report Podcast -- July 5, 2006http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/05/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-5-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/05/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-5-2006/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/05/the-wireless-report-podcast-july-5-2006/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We are pleased to bring you the ninth installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about the current implementations of mobile television between services offered by Sprint Nextel and Cingular Wireless. Sprint Nextel's "Sprint TV" offering is the one to beat for now -- it's much nicer than "Cingular Video", although I didn't have Verizon's VCast service to directly compare.

We'll also be covering the side of "managing expectations" side of citywide WiFi deployments, and why some city governments are getting it all wrong. Additionally, we'll cover the MVNO outlook for the U.S., and why so many virtual wireless carriers are probably going to cause the MVNO market to thin in the next few years.

There are several ways to receive The Wireless Report podcast: Subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to our RSS feed, or just hit the MP3 file directly -- your choice!

Receive TWR Podcast using one of these methods:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS] Add The Wireless Report Podcast feed to your RSS feedreader and have it delivered automatically
 [MP3] Download the podcast directly

Hosts
Brian White and Mike Sciannamea

File Format
1:06:58 length, 30.6MB size, MP3 format (64kbps)

Podcast Timeline
2:57  Mobile television offerings by Sprint Nextel and Cingular Wireless -- a direct comparison and who, for now, wins hands-down on quality and price.

28:15  Managing the expectations of citywide WiFi -- what can carriers and network deployers do to ensure "customers" of all segments know what to expect with their tier of citywide WiFi? Is it free -- but if so, how fast will it be? Does it cost $15 a month -- and if so, how fast will that be?

46:30  A look at the MVNO community in the U.S. right now -- do we have too many? I think so, and we'll talk about the MVNO outlook for the next few years, and how the market will probably thin out.

64:45 Wrap-up and conclusion
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Cingular 3GCingular3gCitywide WiFiCitywideWifiMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiPodcastWiFiBrian White2006-07-05T12:06:00+00:00TWR's Top 5http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/01/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/01/twrs-top-5/http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/07/01/twrs-top-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's our special holiday edition of The Wireless Report's Top 5 stories of the past week. They're as hot as a firecracker! Enjoy!

  1. The Wireless Report Podcast -- June 28, 2006
    We are pleased to bring you the eighth installment of The Wireless Report Podcast. We'll be talking about citywide WiFi -- in depth this time! -- in regards to tiered pricing offerings and how the business models need to evolve, we'll be talking about existing and upcoming 3G data services and how these may be competing with citywide WiFi and upcoming WiMAX services (that is, until 4G offerings come down the road).
  2. Hello? Am I above the legal limit?
    As we already know, people carry their cellphones with them everywhere they go, and that includes places where alcohol is being served and consumed. In taking a step in the prevention of people indulging too much and getting behind the wheel of a car, LG of South Korea is introducing its LP4100 model handset later this year which features an embbeded Breathalyzer application.
  3. Wireless regulation coming to a state near you?
    With wired telephone services regulated as utilities by most states (or so it seems), is that kind of scenario coming to wireless services in your area? With the possibility of each state being quite restricted in responding to wireless complaints (terms & conditions of wireless contracts are generally the culprit), union and consumer groups are fuming over this pending legislation.
  4. A possible solution for increasing coverage capacity of muni WiFi networks
    With the continued emergence of citywide wireless networks comes the problem of developers making sure that as much of an area is blanketed with coverage as possible. Of course, providing that coverage involves hardware (routers, antennas, etc.), which costs money. This type of situation could lead to compromises being made in bigger municipalities with some areas and residents being left out of the access equation.
  5. To increase wireless web use, give the farm away for free
    How do you increase the use of wireless carrier customers to wireless web and data usage on your phones? Why, content providers of all that glorious wireless web content should give everything away for free, of course. Free seems to be the magic word to increase adoption -- in any industry.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
]]>Michael Sciannamea2006-07-01T07:00:00+00:00