2.6 Billion Wi-Fi Consumer Devices by 2014

There will be an installed base of over 2.6 billion Wi-Fi enabled consumer devices by 2014, according to a report published by Strategy Analytics.

"Consumer demand for the 'everywhere web' will drive Wi-Fi adoption in mobile Internet devices," according to Peter King, Director of the Connected Home Device service at Strategy Analytics. "Even where 3G or 4G technologies are available, Wi-Fi will still be a preferred access route for many, as hot-spots and home networks proliferate."

2.6 Billion Wi-Fi Consumer Devices by 2014

Alcatel-Lucent book details $100 billion development 'shift'

Alcatel-Lucent has published a new book detailing its views on how telecom and service provider opportunities will develop in the future. You can order a copy here http://www.theshiftonline.com/.

The book contains predictions and advice such as the finding that users will pay 25 percent to 35 percent more for a service with three capabilities operating simultaneously, compared to a service with one capability, something network-based development can enable.

More than 50 percent of consumers are comfortable sharing sensitive profile information, such as location, presence and online behaviors, with their mobile provider.

Nearly 50 percent of commercial developers would use network-based APIs and are willing to pay twice as much for APIs bundled together versus those sold separately. Enterprise IP
developers will pay up to three times more.

A third of U.S. advertisers would use network services that enable them to deliver advertisements across social media sites based on user interests and behaviors.

Alcatel-Lucent book details $100 billion development shift

U.S. Consumer Broadband Speeds Double Every Four Years, Prices Down 23%

Despite arguments by many observers that U.S. fixed-line broadband access services are not competitive, it is a curiously "uncompetitive" market where speeds double every four years, for more than a decade, growing 20 percent a year over the last 13 or so years.

Prices are a harder thing to measure, given the changes in the basic product over time. In other words, what a consumer pays today for a broadband connection is not an "apples to apples" comparison, given the doubling of speed every four years. The "product" a consumer can buy today, for any nominal price, is a different product than was purchased four, eight or 12 years ago.

Nevertheless, the American Consumer Institute notes that, between 2004 and 20009 alone, Internet access pricing declined 23 percent.

Another academic study suggests cable modem prices grew 0.8 percent, while digital subscriber line prices grew five percent, between 2004 and 2009. At the same time, cable modem speeds increased 85 percent while DSL speeds increased 80 percent, that same study found.

On a cents-per-bit basis, cable modem prices declined 45 percent, while DSL cost dropped 42 percent. Over that same period of time, the consumer price index grew 14 percent.

Fuel prices increased 26 percent, food increased 15 percent, housing increased 13 percent, medical care prices increased 21 percent and education increased 32 percent.

It is a strange "uncompetitive" market indeed that has doubled "quality" (speeds) every four years while prices overall have declined 23 percent.

Some observers have suggested that the Google-Verizon agreement on how to handle network neutrality is a concession by Verizon that fixed-line broadband actually is "uncompetitive," or at least not as competitive as wireless broadband is. Some observers might argue that Verizon has conceded nothing of the kind.

The FCC study, one might argue, suggests that despite the apparent lack of competition in the fixed-line broadband market, the data suggest consumers are indeed reaping the benefits of competition.

Rich Media, Social Apps Spur Mobile Ad Activity

Social networking is the fastest-growing content category across mobile applications and browsers. Rich media advertising is a beneficiary.

Through its Talk2Me features, iVdopia noted a nearly 80 percent rise in campaigns that used the social rich media ad unit to direct consumers to multiple social networking sites as a call to action within the ad.

A Social Twist to Mobile Ads

Google Got the Most Video Views, Tremor Media the Most Ad Views, in July

Google got the most video views in July, but Tremor Media served up the most video ads in July 2010, according to comScore.

How is RIM’s "Torch" Faring?

In some quarters, fears are mounting that the Torch, RIM’s latest BlackBerry, may not compete so well with the iPhone.

At least one equity analyst has downgraded the company’s rating to neutral from outperform, and to say that last week’s release of the BlackBerry Torch was “decent, but nothing great.”

In addition to downgrading the stock, Wedbush analyst Scott Sutherland also cut his price target on the company’s stock to $57 a share from $65, reports MarketWatch.

RIM’s Stock Falls On Downgrades And Weak Sales Of iPhone Challenger

Signs of Trouble in the Mobile Handset Business?

Trouble might be brewing in the mobile handset business, if one looks at profits in the industry. Apple is the outstanding winner, and Research in Motion isn't immediately troubled, either.

But Apple's growth seems to have come at the expense of other providers, and doesn't seem to have grown the market.

Industry profits dipped to a bit under $4 billion at the trough of the recession, and have recovered to nearly $6 billion in the holiday quarter last year. But the aggregate data hides a stunning shift of market share.

Motorola and Sony Ericsson had been losing money and only recently have reached breakeven status. LG turned negative in the second quarter of 2010.

Samsung has been consistently profitable and has gained market share.

But Apple and RIM now ern about 65 percent of all profits in the business.

asymco

Wireless is Different | AT&T Public Policy Blog

"Unrestricted access rules for wireless networks would hurt users more than help them. They just don’t realize it," writes Fortune.

"Net neutrality would be a serious problem for wireless networks, who all-but-have to prioritize certain types of data-hungry types like say, point-to-point streaming media, over others due to simultaneous usage and current bandwidth limitations," Fortune notes.

"We’ve been making this point for several months now but we can’t emphasize it enough: wireless is simply different," AT&T says on its policy blog.

Wireless is Different | AT&T Public Policy Blog

Fortune article

Verizon Likely Would Use 1 Gbps for B2B Apps

Verizon's recent tests of 1 Gbps service on its FiOS network, aside from marketing implications, might lead to use as mobile backhaul or enterprise access applications, more than a consumer offering, as the firm apparently believes there is little actual end user demand for such services.

Verizon already offers 50 Mbps consumer services and take rates have not apparently been spectacular, for Verizon or any other company that offers such services. You might notice no firm offering such services ever talks about take rates. That typically is because take rates are quite low.

Verizon Discusses 1-Gbit/s

Apple to Launch 7-inch IPad by Christmas?

Apple is readying another tablet similar to the iPad but with a seven-inch touchscreen. It might be launched in time for the Christmas selling season, according to a Taiwan-based Digitimes.

If the report proves correct, we'll get a better test of end user demand for smaller form factor tablets.

Report Says Apple to Launch 7-inch IPad by Christmas

Verizon Wireless Plans More Android Introductions

Verizon Wireless is preparing new Android-based devices for introduction, Boy Genius reports. The Motorola Droid Pro is said to have a 1.3GHz CPU, four-inch screen and global roaming capabilities, with a projected November 2010 launch.

Motorola also is said to be working with Verizon on a “slab form-factor” device that sort of looks like an old Motorola "Q" but features a full touchscreen and global roaming.

Global Android devices from Samsung and HTC also are expected. Samsung is said to be working on a seven-inch screen Android tablet with front-facing camera. Motorola is said to be working on a tablet with a 10-inch screen.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon might reap big iPhone harvest

poll suggests a large number of iPhone users would switch to Verizon if given a chance.
http://www.investorplace.com/investment-research/smartphones/changewave-research-apple-iphone-4users-want-verizon.html

T-Mobile USA May Delay LTE Launch for Two Years

T-Mobile USA does not expect to offer any LTE services for at least the next couple of years and will instead rely on its HSPA+ network. That would be in line with the dominant trend globally, where operators are upgrading now to HSPA+ and getting ready for Long Term Evolution.

'We'll get a fourth-generation wireless network either by buying spectrum or re-farming existing spectrum, or potentially leasing spectrum together with others,' Chief Executive Officer Rene Obermann said. 'I don't think we'll trail others in the next two years.'

T-Mobile USA May Delay LTE Launch for Two Years

Hollywood Opposes Title II Reclassification

Hollywood studios and some major unions say reclassifiying broadband access as a Title II telecom service is not necessary to achieve the open Internet they also support, and is not a desirable method of achieving that public policy goal.

But if the commission does go the Title II route, they argued, there needs to be clear, enforceable rules that give broadband-access providers unambiguous guidance on how to design their networks to avoid online theft without fear of running afoul of the FCC's new regs.

Piracy is the big issue for The Motion Picture Association of America, the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of American, American Federation of Radio and Television Artists and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Apparently the groups think Title II would make it harder for ISPs to combat piracy.

Hollywood: Open Net Can't Be Pirate Haven - 2010-08-13 00:20:00 | Multichannel News

Hulu is Thinking about an Initial Public Offering