Telecom

Overheard: A La Mobile introduces first Andoid prototype

A La Mobile, based in San Ramon, Calif., a start-up dedicated to Linux-based “open” systems for mobile devices, says [today’s] demonstration proves that Android can deliver on its promise of making it easier for consumers to get access to all sorts of applications. Leslie Cauley, Introducing the first Android prototype

Andy Rubin, Google’s senior director of mobile platforms, says the coalition is on track to roll out an Android-based phone in the second half of this year.

According to Google: “Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. This early look at the Android SDK provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language.”

Overheard: iPhone will be most disruptive tech of 2008

But as important as the iPhone has been to the fortunes of Apple and AT&T, its real impact is on the structure of the $11 billion-a-year US mobile phone industry. Fred Vogelstein The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry

This was a great “big picture” story.

Overheard: Did Web 2.0 bubble puts national public safety network in jeopardy?

Frontline Wireless, which has made no secret of its desire to bid and win on the D-block spectrum, has a released a statement saying ” Frontline is closed for business at this time. We have no further comment.” Paul Miller, 700MHz hopeful Frontline “closed for business”

Frontline Wireless LLC was the only prospective bidder that seemed interested in buying the D-block spectrum, the only spectrum in the upcoming FCC auction that was earmarked to be shared with public safety. According the New York Times, Frontline wasn’t able to raise the $128 million dollars it had to pony up to stay in the auction.

It came as a shock because the Silicon Valley startup had big backers. Frontline’s management includes former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Telecommunications Policy Janice Obuchowski.

Whispers of “Web 2.0 bubble” began to turn into out-loud happy hour conversations, but I’m not buying it. The inabilty to raise funds is more likely tied to the fact that the FCC was asking for too much. Figuratively and literally.

The auction rules for the D-block are ridiculously complex, requiring that public safety officials get the last word when it comes to deciding how to build the network — and what private company wants to have to deal with that? Even worse, whoever builds the network has to foot the entire bill, which is expected to be in the billions. Sure I’d like to spend billions of my own money and have a government bureaucracy call the shots for me. Wouldn’t you?

Quiz: What’s new in mobile and telecom?

You’re an expert in your own area of technology, but how much do you know about what’s going on in the mobile/telecom game?

1. The Federal Communication Commission’s auction will begin on January 24, shortly before Super Bowl XLII. What are they auctioning off?
a) analog airwaves returned by television broadcasters
b) antenna space on new and existing towers
Answer

2. Why was there a blogswarm and lots of TV news about Frontline Wireless closing its doors?
a) it was the first big Web 2.0 startup to fail
b) it was the only company that expressed interest in creating a U.S. National Public Safety Network
Answer

3. According to Forbes Magazine, what is America’s most wired city?
a) Seattle
b) Atlanta
Answer

4. Which government agency lost phone service because they couldn’t keep track of charges and neglected to pay their bill?
a) Federal Bureau of Investigation
b) Federal Communications Commission
Answer

5. What is wireless charging?
a) a proposed national standard for mobile phone charging, using USB instead of propritary connectors and voltages
b) a way to charge your cell phone without actually having to plug it in to something
Answer

6. Why is the iPhone considered to be a disruptive technology?
a) because there are so many features on one device (iPod, phone, Internet, photos, text messaging,video, etc.)
b) because it showed the wireless industry that a profit could be made on mobile devices, not just cell phone contracts
Answer

7. What is air-time marketing?
a) a business model where cell phone service would be absolutely free because sponsors would foot the bill
b) permission-based advertising via Bluetooth — for instance you might walk past a pizza parlor and receive a coupon on your phone
Answer

8. What is the Open Handset Alliance?
a) a consortium led by Google to develop open standards for mobile devices
b) a group of teen-age hackers who claimed responsibility for unlocking the iPhone
Answer

9. What is Android?
a) a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications
b) mobile humanoid robots equipped with VoIP phones that will take the place of traditional phone booths in Grand Central Station
Answer

10. What is the purpose of a cell phone jammer?
a) to prevent rude people with cell phones from talking by sending out a radio signal so powerful that their cell phone is overwhelmed and cannot communicate with a cell tower
b) it allows users in different cell phone networks to initiate free conference calls
Answer

Overheard: The most wired city in the United States is…???

For the second year in a row, Atlanta tops Forbes.com’s survey of America’s most wired cities in the U.S.To calculate our list, we looked at the percentage of Internet users with high-speed access, the range of service providers within a city and the availability of public wireless hot spots. Elizabeth Woyke, America’s Most Wired Cities

Overheard: Wireless charging demo’d at CES

Imagine walking into a room and your phone suddenly beeps with a green LED flashing at the corner indicating a wireless charging source is available in the vicinity. Your handphone/iPod/moblie device then asks you to allow/deny charging. You press “ALLOW” and your phone is wirelessly charging. Techie-Talks, CES: Showcasing the best of wireless charging

YES! I love technology.

Overheard: FBI gets confused by their phone bill just like the rest of us

The FBI routinely failed to pay telecom companies promptly for providing phone and internet lines to the FBI’s impressive domestic surveillance architecture — resulting in at least one phone company cutting off a foreign intelligence wiretap until the FBI paid its bill, Ryan Singel, FBI Wiretap Cut Off After Feds Fail To Pay Telecom Spying Bills

Ironically, it seems that some of the problems stemmed from the FBI’s inability to decipher and keep track of the charges on their phone bills. Welcome to the real world.

Overheard: Analog TV is already dying, goodbye rabbit ears

On Jan. 24, the FCC will begin auctioning off the spectrum currently used for analog television. That portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless providers and is expected to bring in as much as $15 billion. David Sharos, Customers, companies prepare for digital TV switch coming in ‘09

Aaron Kutzner, a sales associate for Sounds Deluxe, said customers have already reported they are losing channels. “I have customers who watch television in their bedroom with an analog tuner, and they tell me things like the Hallmark channel (isn’t) working anymore,” Kutzner said. “I’m sure it’s going to happen to some of the bigger stations before much longer - you could say that the revolution has begun.”

Overheard: Imagine never having to go outside to get a good connection

“If they catch on, femtocells have the potential to save carriers hundreds of millions of dollars in cell-tower costs. In effect, carriers would be shifting the burden of providing complete coverage to their customers — a nifty trick if they can pull it off.” Bryan Gardiner, Femtocells May Help Improve Cellular Coverage — On Your Dime

Overheard: Mobile business model about to change

Google is going to put serious pressure on the wireless communications industry to change their business models from subscription based survival to active air time marketing based on their numbers of subscribers. Gary E. Sattler, Android: Google’s answer to open source mobile

Note to self: Need to find out more about “active air time marketing” and what the business model will look like.