FCC Officially Approves Dish's Spectrum Plans
The Federal Communications Commission today voted in favor of Dish Network's request to use its satellite spectrum for a terrestrial cellular wireless network. The plan was first greenlighted by FCC chairman Julius Genachowski last month, but it now has full commission approval. The FCC has, however, placed several conditions on the proposal that may hobble Dish's effectiveness at providing competitive service. First, a new spectrum auction will be required, and some of the airwaves auctioned off will have to be used to build a dedicated first-responder network. The new auction, which the FCC hopes will take place next year, will see the AWS-H Block spectrum sold to interested bidders. The proceeds from the auction will be used to fund the first responder network. Second, the FCC is requiring that Dish ramp down its power levels so that it doesn't interfere with neighboring spectrum owned by Sprint. Dish today said it will "consider its strategic options and the optimal approach to put this spectrum to use for the benefit of consumers."
Broadcom Intros Combo Radio Chip with NFC
Broadcom today announced a new combination chip that it believes will be a natural fit with mid-range Android smartphones. The BCM43341 has four radios on board: dual-band 2.5GHz/5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and an FM radio receiver. Broadcom says the standard-based chip meets worldwide regulatory approval. The chip will be available to hardware makers during the first half of 2013. Broadcom also recently announced plans to offer LTE 4G chips to its smartphone customers in 2013, though it has yet to announce any specific products.
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Find My iPhone Gains Driving Directions in Latest Update
Apple today pushed out a revised version of its Find My iPhone application. The utility app helps iPhone (and iPad or iPod Touch) owners help locate lost or stolen devices on a map. The new version of Find My iPhone includes driving directions that will route device owners from their current location to the location of their lost or stolen device. The app also makes it easier for device owners to make their device play a sound, put it into lost mode, or erase it. Find My iPhone is a free application and service for Apple's iOS devices.
Sprint Looking to Acquire Clearwire
Sprint Nextel is seeking to purchase the remaining shares of Clearwire that it does not already own, reports the Wall Street Journal. Citing sources familiar with Sprint's plans, the Journal says Sprint believes the acquisition could help it resolve control issues regarding Clearwire, in which it holds a significant stake. Sprint also wants Clearwire's vast spectrum holdings to supplement its future network plans. Sprint's pending partial acquisition by Japan's Softbank may complicate its attempt to take ownership of Clearwire, however, and the talks may fall through. Earlier this year, AT&T; warned the FCC that it should weigh carefully any transaction that gives Softbank control over so much U.S. spectrum.
Rebtel Intros New Voice SDK for Android and iOS Apps
Rebtel today announced a new tool that will allow developers to add VoIP-based voice calling features to practically any Android or iOS application. Through a new SDK, Rebtel is making it easy for developers to voice-enable their applications. Rebtel believes voice-enabled apps can improve the user experience for many services, such as games and social networks. According to Rebtel, the SDK is free, can be added to apps in about 15 minutes, provides for free calling over Wi-Fi or 3G with HD Voice technology, and requires no back-end support from the developer. Worldwide, Rebtel has some 17 million users and is second only to Skype in terms of size. The SDK is being made available in a private beta at first, but Rebtel expects it to become more widely available over time.
RIM's BlackBerry 10 SDK Goes Gold
Research In Motion today announced the "gold" version of its BlackBerry 10 software developer kit (SDK). This is the final build of the SDK for developers, which can be used to write applications for RIM's forthcoming BlackBerry 10 platform and handsets. To-date, the SDK has been in various stages of beta release. The gold SDK includes all the components, APIs (application programming interfaces), and other tools needed to create native BB10 applications. The SDK is available in several different configurations, including HTML5 WebWorks, Adobe AIR, C/C++, and Qt. RIM is hoping to stock the BlackBerry World application store with as many apps as possible ahead of BlackBerry 10's launch. RIM plans to fully reveal BlackBerry 10 on January 30.
Yahoo Revamps Android and iOS Mail Apps
Yahoo today announced that it has refreshed its Yahoo! Mail client across a number of platforms, including the web, Windows 8 PCs, and Android and iOS smartphones. In particular, Yahoo redesigned the user interface of Yahoo! Mail to reduce clutter and make it faster and easier to get to and read email messages. The Android mobile application has been updated so it offers the same look and feel of the web/desktop apps. Yahoo introduced a brand new Yahoo! Mail app for iOS today that behaves just as the Android Yahoo! Mail app does. Yahoo! Mail is a free download from the Google Play Store and iPhone App Store.
RIM Dinged with Bluetooth-Related Patent Suit
Wi-LAN has filed a lawsuit against Research In Motion alleging that the BlackBerry maker is infringing on a single patent related to Bluetooth technology. Wi-LAN says a number of RIM's smartphones, such as the Bold, Pearl, Storm, and Torch, infringe on the patent. It is seeking damages and an injunction to halt sales of the devices in the U.S. Wi-LAN is a patent licensing firm. It has filed similar lawsuits against Apple, HTC, and Sierra Wireless over LTE technology. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Google Sells Motorola's Manufacturing Facilities
Google recently announced that Flextronics has agreed to purchase two manufacturing facilities owned by Motorola. Motorola is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Google. The factories in question are located in Tianjin, China, and Jaguariuna, Brazil. The assets and employees of these facilities will be transferred from Google to Flextronics. At the same time, Flextronics has signed a service agreement with Google to manufacture its Android and other mobile devices moving forward. The companies did not disclose terms of the deal, which requires regulatory approval before it can be completed. Google and Flextronics expect the deal to close during the first half of 2013. The news follows Google's announcement that it plans to shutter Motorola's research and design and marketing organizations in Korea.
Intel Develops Mobile SoC with TriGate Transistors
Intel revealed today in a technical paper a new breakthrough that it intends to bring to its mobile processors. The company has figured out how to port its TriGate transistors, which are three-dimensional transistor structures it created for desktop PCs last year, to mobile processors. The new TriGate transistors will be part of a new system-on-a-chip configuration from Intel that bundles together several different smartphone components. The new SoC uses a 22nm processes that will boost speeds by 22% to 65% compared to Intel's 32nm chips, while also making gains in power efficiency. The chips are not expected to become available until the second half of 2013. Intel has so far gained little traction in the smartphone market. Only a handful of smartphones shipped with Intel processors this year.
Twitter Unrolls Instagram-Like Photo Filters
Twitter today made available new versions of its Android and iPhone mobile applications that allow smartphone owners to add filters and effects to their photos before sharing them to the microblogging service. The new feature, which competes directly with Facebook-owned Instagram, includes eight filters, the ability to crop and focus images, as well as an auto-enhance tool that brightens images and makes colors pop. The new version of the Twitter mobile application with photo filters is available to Android and iOS devices for free from their respective app stores.
Instagram Pushes Out Significant App Refresh
Instragram today announced revisions to its Android and iOS applications, which have been updated and given a handful of new features. The camera function within the app itself has been heavily revised with a new composition screen, shutter button, and framing tools. Instagram's tilt-shift feature provides a more realistic depth-of-field. The app now provides previews of the most recent shots in the camera roll in the composition screen. Instagram also adds a new filter called Willow, which delivers a monochrome look with purple accents and hues. Last, the application will store Instagram photos in a separate folder rather than the camera roll. The revised Instagram application will be available to both the iOS and Android platforms via their respective links later today.
FCC Forms 'Technology Transitions Policy Task Force'
The Federal Communications Commission today announced the formation of a new group that will oversee the transition of the United States' existing analog circuit-switched networks to all-digital, packet-switched IP networks. The group is called the Technology Transitions Policy Task Force, and is being led by Sean Lev and Rebekah Goodheart. "The task force will play a critical role in answering the fundamental policy question for communications in the 21st century," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. "In a broadband world, how can we best ensure that our nation's communications policies continue to drive a virtuous cycle of innovation and investment, promote competition, and protect consumers?" The group will pay attention to the broadband needs of businesses and consumers alike, and will have a particular focus on voice and wireless services. It will also set the resiliency requirements of communications networks for the next 100 years. Genachowski remarked, "Many of the Commission's existing rules draw technology-based distinctions. So the ongoing changes in our nation's communications networks require a hard look at many rules that were written for a different technological and market landscape." The task force will not only oversee the technology, but also the policy that governs the technology moving forward. The idea was first proposed earlier this year by Commissioner Ajit Pai, who said, "[This] is a big deal. Without question, the legal and policy challenges involved will be substantial, as will be the demands on our talented staff. But so too could be the rewards. If we get this right—if we can establish a modern, deregulatory framework for the dynamic, competitive IP world—innovation will flourish, infrastructure investment will increase, and American consumers will benefit even more fully from the bounty of the digital age."
FTC Says App Makers Still Collecting Too Much Kid Data
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission today published a report on its findings concerning mobile applications used by children. The FTC concludes that app makers, handset makers, and network operators have not made much progress in protecting the information of children. Specifically, the FTC says app makers are not proving parents with enough information about the type of data being collected, nor what is done with that data. Many of the apps are transmitting data -- including location details -- to the developer, advertisers, and analytic firms. "Our study shows that kids' apps siphon an alarming amount of information from mobile devices without disclosing this fact to parents," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a statement. "All of the companies in the mobile app space, especially the gatekeepers of the app stores, need to do a better job." In response, the Obama administration said it plans to investigate the makers of these apps to see if they are violating privacy laws regarding minors.
Consumer Cellular Intros Doro PhoneEasy 618
Consumer Cellular today announced the availability of the Doro PhoneEasy 618, a new flip phone designed for easy use by senior citizens. The 618's primary feature is its 3.2-megapixel camera that has a dedicated key, built-in flash, and easy MMS (picture messaging) tools. The Doro PhoneEasy 618 also includes large buttons, dual displays, speakerphone, an emergency call button, Bluetooth, and an FM radio. The 618 is available directly from Consumer Cellular today, and will reach Sears stores beginning in January. It costs $60.
Motorola to Slash Korea R&D; Operations
Motorola has confirmed plans to reduce its global footprint even further by shuttering the bulk of its operations in Korea. The company plans to close a research and design facility there, as well as close down its mobile device marketing organization. In a statement provided to TheNextWeb, Motorola said, "The changes in Korea reflect our plans to consolidate our global R&D; efforts to foster collaboration, and to focus more attention on markets where we are best positioned to compete effectively." Approximately 90% of the employees in those facilities will lose their jobs, while the remaining 10% will be offered relocation. Motorola will continue to operate its Home and iDEN business units in Korea, as well as its handset warranty service operations. Motorola, which is owned by Google, has been cutting jobs and consolidating its office locations as it restructures.
BlackBerry Messenger 7 with Voice Calls Graduates from Beta
Research In Motion today made a final release of BlackBerry Messenger 7 available to BlackBerry smartphones. The software has been in beta testing since mid-November. This new version of BlackBerry Messenger adds the ability to make voice calls over Wi-Fi. The calling feature connects BBM users to other BBM users for free. The app supports a split-screen function that lets customers talk and text at the same time. The app includes a presence indicator so users know when their contacts are available for a voice call. Calls can be rejected with a text message, and the service works with accessories, such as Bluetooth headsets. The new BBM for BlackBerry 7 is a free download from BlackBerry World. RIM has not said if this feature will be included in BBM for its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 platform.
LTE Hits Four More AT&T; Markets
AT&T; today announced that it has launched its LTE 4G service in four more markets. AT&T; customers with LTE-enabled equipment in Auburn-Opelika, Ala.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Nashua, N.H.; and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., all have access to AT&T;'s faster data network. AT&T; is on track to cover 150 million POPs in more than 100 markets with LTE by the end of the year. AT&T; plans to cover 250 million POPs by the end of 2013 and 300 million by the end of 2014.
