Friday, December 17, 2010
1-Day Number Porting Mandatory on Jan. 31, 2011
Neustar's one-day number porting service for small-to-medium-sized telecom operators now is available. The Neustar "PortXpress" is a cloud-based service that enables operators to reduce the interval for number porting requests to just one business day, enabling them to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s new one-day number porting requirements by the January 31, 2011, deadline without system modification or new capital investments.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Comcast, Level 3 Dispute is Still About Money
Comcast says "Level 3 and Comcast engineering teams held several in-person discussions over the past 48 hours to discuss potential significant revisions to parts of our peering and direct connect architecture."
Comcast says the engineers "developed a potential new and different architectural approach" that Comcast wanted to test with Level 3 as soon as next month. The solution would require both to make a "relatively modest investment" that would allow both companies to better understand the traffic, routing, and economic considerations.
Comcast also offered to keep the economics of the existing newly executed agreement at 'no cost' until the companies learned the actual costs of the new approach during this trial.
"Level 3 chose to leave the meeting when we wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome," Comcast said.
"Level 3 chose to leave the meeting when we wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome," Comcast said.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
The Tron Trailers are Gorgeous
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/tronlegacy/
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Are Web Apps the Future of Websites?
Web apps, it is argued, will displace browser-based apps. What seems a fairer statement is that apps will displace some browser-based content and app access.
If you have used both browser and mobile apps on a smartphone with a good touch-based browser, for example, you might not be so convinced that apps are better than web pages in all cases. You might have discovered that self-executing applications such as navigation programs, work best as traditional apps.
In other cases, if you want content richness, an app can provide a leaner experience than the main news page of a content source you are interacting with.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Test of T-Mobile HSPA and Sprint WiMAX Networks
But in a recent test of the T-Mobile myTouch 4G and Samsung Epic 4G in Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J., the T-Mobile USA and Sprint WiMAX networks performed virtually the same in Philadelphia, with the Sprint network performing much better in Trenton, N.J.
The tests also showed differing speeds at various test points in each city, as well. You probably can argue the merits of each network (HSPA+ and WiMAX) based on these tests. They do suggest that HSPA+ can offer comparable throughput to WiMAX, at some times and places.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Social Contact Centers
Social software is starting to be deployed both in the contact center and the enterprise, says Blair Pleasant, COMMfusion owner.
Enterprises basically are starting to treat Twitter and Facebook posts just like another media channel for the contact center.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
MetroPCS Eyes TerreStar Assets - WSJ.com
MetroPCS Communications is exploring a purchase of assets of mobile-communications business TerreStar Networks Inc. out of bankruptcy court, the Wall Street Journal reports.
TerreStar's most attractive assets are government licenses to use spectrum for mobile satellite applications. MetroPCS, the fifth-largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, has been on the hunt for spectrum that will help it become a national operator.
AT&T's "Satellite Augmented Mobile Service" uses the TerreStar network and dual-mode handsets that use both cellular and satellite networks.
The TerreStar "Genus" smartphone operates with terrestrial mobile as the primary default mode and satellite access capability as a secondary option for voice, data and messaging.
The access to the TerreStar satellite network enables wireless communications coverage in remote areas for government, energy, utility, transportation and maritime users, as well as backup satellite communications capabilities for public safety agencies, first responders and disaster recovery groups.
TerreStar's most attractive assets are government licenses to use spectrum for mobile satellite applications. MetroPCS, the fifth-largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, has been on the hunt for spectrum that will help it become a national operator.
It isn't clear whether the spectrum could be "re-purposed" for terrestrial fourth-generation networks, but LightSquared has been able to get such authority, as Terrestar has customers already making use of the satellite communications network.
MetroPCS also could use wholesale capacity from the proposed LightSquared network, as well. MetroPCS might also bid on spectrum Clearwire wants to sell.
MetroPCS also could use wholesale capacity from the proposed LightSquared network, as well. MetroPCS might also bid on spectrum Clearwire wants to sell.
AT&T's "Satellite Augmented Mobile Service" uses the TerreStar network and dual-mode handsets that use both cellular and satellite networks.
The TerreStar "Genus" smartphone operates with terrestrial mobile as the primary default mode and satellite access capability as a secondary option for voice, data and messaging.
The access to the TerreStar satellite network enables wireless communications coverage in remote areas for government, energy, utility, transportation and maritime users, as well as backup satellite communications capabilities for public safety agencies, first responders and disaster recovery groups.
MetroPCS Eyes TerreStar Assets - WSJ.com (subscription required)
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Netflix Encounters Complexity of Content Rights
Netflix said some of its deals with studios and other content providers prevent it from offering its streaming video service on TiVo DVRs distributed by Suddenlink Communications and other multichannel video programming distributors.
"Only those TiVo units sold in the retail channel are licensed to offer the instant streaming functionality from Netflix," Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said.
"Only those TiVo units sold in the retail channel are licensed to offer the instant streaming functionality from Netflix," Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said.
TiVo apparently does not have the rights to offer Netflix on the boxes provided to Suddenlink because Netflix agreements with numerous content providers don't extend to devices distributed by cable companies and perhaps others.
It is likely similar issues will develop as more providers enter the streaming video business, and discover the complexity of rights agreements.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Twitter Illustrates Pareto Distribution
Twitter followers in December 2010 show a clear Pareto distribution, as do people that Twitter users "follow."
The clear implication for things such as market share in any sphere of business will also have a Pareto distribution.
The implications for businesses and organizations that use Twitter as a social tool is that, in all likelihood, modest expectations should be watchword. It is highly unlikely most companies and organizations will ever appear at the head of the tail. Those spots normally are held by celebrities of one sort or another.
That isn't a reason not to use Twitter, just a reminder to be realistic about expectations.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Stuxnet an Instance of Cyber War?
Damage from the Stuxnet virus has apparently set back the Iranian nuclear program by as much as two years, according to a German security expert interviewed by the Jerusalem Post, and may be an instance of cyber warfare.
http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=199475
It is said to have been specifically written to attack Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems used to control and monitor industrial processes.
Stuxnet is a Windows-specific computer worm first discovered in July 2010 by a security firm based in Belarus, according to Wikipedia. While it is not the first time that hackers have targeted industrial systems, it is the first discovered worm that spies on and reprograms industrial systems.
It is said to have been specifically written to attack Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems used to control and monitor industrial processes.
Stuxnet includes the capability to reprogram Programmable Logic Controllers and hide its changes.The worm's probable target is said to have been high value infrastructures in Iran using Siemens control systems.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Will 2011 Be Decisive for Clearwire?
Among the wireless issues to watch in 2011 is what happens with Clearwire. Though in principle the company could go bankrupt if it does not raise some billions of additional funding later in 2011, a more-reasonable bet might be some "change of control" event.
Clearwire could, in principle, be bought, merge with another firm or perhaps even become a firm without a full national footprint. The last option would be complicated, but might involve Clearwire selling off assets in markets it has not built, or finished building, to another firm that would finish the construction. That would seem the least likely of all outcomes, though.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Mobile Charges Based on Time and Apps?
In principle, there is no reason broadband access plans cannot be created for a few favored applications, perhaps Facebook, for example. Jonathon Gordon, Allot Networks marketing director, sees no reason why mobile operators could not create such plans, much as they offer specific plans for text messaging, rather than full access to the mobile web.
Application-focused packages might allow users to buy more-modest mobile broadband plans specifically oriented to a few, or just one, lead application.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Mobile Commerce Cuts Both Ways
Retailers and others in the mobile ecosystem think mobile commerce has lots of potential, in lots of different ways. But mobile commerce cuts two ways. It might prove advantageous for retailers in some ways, and a bit of a threat in other ways.
Until recently, retailers could reasonably assume that if they just lured shoppers to stores with enticing specials, the customers could be coaxed into buying more profitable products as well. The "loss leader" technique perhaps does not work so well when a shopper can do price comparisons using a mobile device, while still inside a store.
Now, marketers must contend with shoppers who can use their smartphones inside stores to check whether the specials are really so special, and if the rest of the merchandise is reasonably priced.
'The retailer's advantage has been eroded,' says Greg Girard of consultancy IDC Retail Insights, which recently found that roughly 45 percent of customers with smartphones had used them to perform due diligence on a store's prices.
Now, marketers must contend with shoppers who can use their smartphones inside stores to check whether the specials are really so special, and if the rest of the merchandise is reasonably priced.
'The retailer's advantage has been eroded,' says Greg Girard of consultancy IDC Retail Insights, which recently found that roughly 45 percent of customers with smartphones had used them to perform due diligence on a store's prices.
Phone-Wielding Shoppers Strike Fear Into Retailers - WSJ.com (subscription required)
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
MMS Campaigns Get Most Views on Verizon
About 37 percent of multimedia messaging service ads sent out during the third quarter of 2010 were viewed on the Verizon Wireless network, Mogreet says. About 31 percent were viewed on the AT&T network.
T-Mobile got 13 percent of views, while Sprint users represented 11 percent of views. Perhaps the results are not too surprising, as Verizon has the most customers, overall, followed by AT&T. Given that Apple iPhone users tend to view the most mobile display ads, though, the findings suggest that user behavior on other devices is significantly different. MMS might be a way to reach users of other devices with rich media or graphically-oriented messages.
T-Mobile got 13 percent of views, while Sprint users represented 11 percent of views. Perhaps the results are not too surprising, as Verizon has the most customers, overall, followed by AT&T. Given that Apple iPhone users tend to view the most mobile display ads, though, the findings suggest that user behavior on other devices is significantly different. MMS might be a way to reach users of other devices with rich media or graphically-oriented messages.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
T-Mobile USA, Nokia Siemens Networks Working on 650 Mbps HSPA
Mobile service providers would be able to achieve peak data rates of more than 650 megabits per second using a proposed HSPA standard supported by T-Mobile USA and Nokia Siemens Networks.
"Long Term HSPA Evolution" would improve mobile broadband with speeds matching those promised by LTE Advanced. T-Mobile USA and Nokia Siemens Networks are driving the technology’s standardization aiming to make it available for commercial deployment by 2013.
The proposed standard would boost bandwidth by allowing use of multiple frequency bands, creating larger channels and hence faster access. The standard might give T-Mobile USA, for example, more opportunity to upgrade its existing HSPA+ network for faster speeds, without requiring a switch to LTE Advanced.
Still, T-Mobile USA might require more spectrum, some of which it might be able to reclaim from frequencies now used to support voice operations on its GSM ntworks.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
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