| Today's Top Stories
1. Analysts expect Apple, HTC, Samsung to dominate handsets in Q2
2. T-Mobile expands HSPA+ 42 network to 56 more markets
3. Sprint scolds Verizon's tiered data plans with new unlimited ads
4. RIM execs respond to criticism of BlackBerry strategy at shareholder meeting
5. AT&T to launch Sony's Android-powered S2 tablet later this year Editor's Corner: Voice and text usage alerts: A lost opportunity for wireless carriers Also Noted: Spotlight On... FCC requires carriers move to handset-based E911
Oct. 4 launch hinted for iPhone 5; AT&T to sell faster HP TouchPad and much more...  Zaarly's iOS app and how it works
Zaarly, which targets local buying, allows users to name something they want, the price they're willing to pay for it and how long the offer is available. Zaarly's app and business model, profiled in FierceDeveloper's latest Developer Workshop, is essentially a cross-platform, peer-to-peer digital marketplace. The hyper-local service automatically connects the request with fellow users who bid for the right to facilitate the transaction. Since launching in mid-May, Zaarly has already brought together thousands of buyers and sellers and generated $1 million in seed funding. Special feature
News From Across the Wireless Industry:
1. Electronic Arts to acquire PopCap Games
2. Google unveils redesigned Android Market for smartphones
3. Facebook for Every Phone launches with free data access
| 
Voice and text usage alerts: A lost opportunity for wireless carriers
With Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) elimination of its unlimited smartphone data plan, the nation's two largest wireless carriers are now capping their subscribers' monthly voice minutes, texting messages and smartphone data usage--and are charging overage fees when subscribers surpass their monthly allotments. However, the way Verizon and AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) are handling overage alerts for voice and texting isn't very friendly or helpful.
For example, Verizon Wireless announced its smartphone subscribers will receive free text message alerts when their data usage crosses thresholds of 50 percent, 75 percent, 90 percent, 100 percent and 110 percent of their data plans' monthly allowances. AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), which ended its unlimited smartphone data plan last year, employs a similar tactic: The carrier sends text notifications when subscribers reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of their monthly data threshold. But when it comes to voice minutes and text messages, neither Verizon nor AT&T provide usage warnings. So if a customer subscribes to a monthly postpaid plan with 450 anytime minutes per month, for example, that subscriber will not be warned when they use up 449 minutes in the month. The same goes for text messages: If a subscriber reaches their monthly allotment of 200 text messages, for example, they are not alerted about it. (AT&T said it provides text-based alerts when customers incur around $15 to $20 in total overage charges on text messaging plans. Isn't that nice?) Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) doesn't warn its subscribers of impending overage charges either, but T-Mobile USA does. The nation's fourth largest wireless carrier alerts its Even More Plus subscribers when they get within 45 minutes of their voice minute limit for the month, and then again when they go over their allotment. T-Mobile doesn't provide alerts for text messages, however, or for plans other than Even More Plus. (U.S. Cellular appears to be one of the only carriers bucking the trend in this area: The operator's Overage Protection offering sends a text to users who reach 75 and 100 percent of their voice minute or text message buckets.) To be clear, there are plenty of ways for customers to find out if they're approaching their usage limits, from calling #BAL to checking a smartphone app to visiting their carrier's website. Further, there are other service options, including unlimited services and prepaid services, that remove the need for usage alerts. But that's not the point. Subscribers should be alerted before they go over their allotments. Not after...Continued  More
Read more about: Sprint, AT&T, SMS, Text Messages
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| Sponsor: Mobile Ecosystem Events > The Muther! of all Hackathons + DevCon: Innovation trumps sleep. Always. Silicon Valley - June 24/25
> Mobile Forum on Backhaul - July 20 - Juniper Networks, Sunnyvale, CA
> TC3: Telecom Council Carrier Connections - Sept 15 - Mountain View, CA
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> BlackBerry DevCon Americas - Oct. 18-20 - San Francisco, CA
> The Open Mobile Summit: NEW DATES ANNOUNCED - November 2-4 2011 - San Francisco, CA
> Appcelerate: At the Open Mobile Summit - November 4, 2011 - San Francisco, CA
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> Sr. RF Engineer at SyChip, Inc. in Plano, TX
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* General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Analysts expect Apple, HTC, Samsung to dominate handsets in Q2
As the second-quarter earnings season gets under way, analysts expect Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), HTC and Samsung to take in the lion's share of the gains in the global handset market, with industry stalwarts Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and LG continuing to lose share. According to a poll of 46 analysts conducted by Reuters, analysts are increasingly confident that Samsung could supplant Nokia as the world's largest smartphone maker by volume in the second quarter. Analysts predict Samsung will sell around 19 million smartphones in the quarter, powered by models like the Galaxy S II, which has sold more than 3 million units since April. Taiwan's HTC already reported second-quarter earnings and said handset shipments topped 11 million, more than the 5.4 million it shipped in the year-ago period. HTC said its net profit more than doubled to $608 million, up from $299 million in the year-ago period. Sales also exceeded expectations, coming in at $4.32 billion. Apple is expected to ship 16.9 million iPhones during the quarter, more than double its shipments from the year-ago period but less than the 18.6 million it shipped in the first quarter. Analysts said interest in the iPhone 4 is starting to wane in advance of a new model. Others, however, have already signaled that the second quarter will be rough. In late May Nokia slashed its forecast for its key devices and services business for the second quarter, warning that net sales will be "substantially below" its previous forecast. And LG just last week sharply cut its full-year sales targets for both smartphones and handsets overall, and said it remains unclear when its handset business will turn around. "We expect second quarter earnings to reveal a widening gulf between the winners and losers and further illustrate the 'changing of the guard' as Apple, HTC and Samsung continue to increase market share," CCS Insight analyst Geoff Blaber told Reuters. For more:
- see this Reuters article Special Report: Wireless in the second quarter of 2011 Related Articles:
Analyst: Samsung to overtake Nokia's top smartphone spot in Q2
Samsung clings to smartphones as bright spot in Q1
Sony Ericsson's profit halved in Q1, warns of supply chain issues
Nokia cuts Q2 forecast, says Windows Phone transition on track
LG slashes 2011 smartphone, handset sales targets Read more about: Apple, Nokia, samsung, LG
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2. T-Mobile expands HSPA+ 42 network to 56 more markets
T-Mobile USA continues to roll out its faster HSPA+ 42 network upgrade, and said it now has HSPA+ 42 coverage in 152 markets nationwide, covering 170 million POPs. The carrier's 56 new HSPA+ 42 markets include Baltimore; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Hartford and New Haven, Conn.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Lancaster, Pa.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Providence, R.I.; and Washington, D.C. T-Mobile first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that it would upgrade its HSPA network to HSPA+ 42 technology. At the time, the carrier said HSPA+ 42 will provide speeds comparable with Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) LTE network, which Verizon advertises as providing real-world downlink speeds of 5-12 Mbps. T-Mobile said in a statement that its upgraded HSPA+ 42 network offers average downlink speeds approaching 10 Mbps, with peak speeds of 27 Mbps. The equipment for T-Mobile's upgrade comes from T-Mobile's existing suppliers, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Nokia Siemens Networks. T-Mobile's faster speeds are a result of dual carrier, also called dual cell, technology. The technology uses multiplexing techniques to combine two wireless data carriers into a single carrier. So far, T-Mobile offers only one HSPA+ 42 device, the ZTE-made T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 laptop stick.
A T-Mobile spokesman told FierceWireless that the backhaul the carrier has in place is very scalable. "Today we have Ethernet over Fiber to the vast majority of our cell sites and more than 80 percent of our mobile broadband traffic is running over fiber Ethernet. With the upgrade to 42 Mbps, we move to 50 or 100 Mbps of capacity per site depending on the location," he said. "This upgrade is well underway in the new 42 Mbps markets we announced today." Interestingly, T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42 upgrade outpaces AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) own HSPA+ network expansion. AT&T, which intends to purchase T-Mobile for $39 billion, plans to launch LTE this summer with a fallback to its HSPA+ 21 network. John Stankey, the president of AT&T's business solutions unit, said in late May that AT&T remains committed to deploying enhanced Ethernet backhaul to two-thirds of its cell sites by year-end, and will exit the second quarter with roughly half of those sites having enhanced backhaul. For more:
- see this release
Related Articles:
Cincinnati Bell joins 4G parade with HSPA+ rollout
T-Mobile takes on LTE with HSPA+ 42 Mbps launch in 55 markets
In 4G radio network rollouts, AT&T takes the lead
Lawmaker introduces bill to verify '4G' marketing claims
Battle erupts over T-Mobile's 'largest 4G network' claims Article update July 13 with comment from T-Mobile about backhaul. Read more about: zte, LTE, HSPA, AT&T Mobility
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3. Sprint scolds Verizon's tiered data plans with new unlimited ads
Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) wasted no time in pouncing on Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) recent move to stop offering unlimited data service to new smartphone users. Sprint this week introduced a series of new ads that highlight the data caps and throttling employed by its competitors and reiterate Sprint's offer of uncapped smartphone data.  | | Click here to watch Sprint's latest TV commercial for its unlimited smartphone data service. | In Sprint's new TV commercial, the carrier points out that AT&T Mobility (NYSE:S) and Verizon "charge you extra for going over 2 GB of data." "T-Mobile claims they're unlimited, but use your phone a lot, and they slow down your data speed," according to Sprint's ad. "With Sprint, you don't get charged extra, you don't slow down." Sprint said the ads will run across TV (both broadcast and cable), print and online nationally. The new unlimited ads are an extension of the carrier's "All. Together. Now." tagline and ad campaign, announced in April. The carrier declined to say how much it is spending on the ads. The ads are the clearest indication yet that Sprint plans to heavily leverage its position as the last Tier 1 carrier offering unfettered smartphone data services. AT&T last year implemented tiered pricing for its smartphone data services, and Verizon enacted a similar scheme last week; both carriers levy additional fees on customers who surpass their monthly data thresholds. T-Mobile USA doesn't charge overage fees, but the carrier does throttle users' data speeds down to an EDGE, or 2G, experience of around 100 Kbps or less when they go over their allotments. Tiered pricing and speed throttling represent efforts by carriers to curtail users' skyrocketing demands for smartphone data--or at least cash in on it. Indeed, Sprint, isn't immune to the crush: The carrier in January tacked on an extra $10 per month fee for unlimited data for smartphone users. For more:
- watch this Sprint TV commercial
- see this Sprint print ad (PDF)
Related Articles:
Verizon confirms it will ditch unlimited smartphone data plans starting July 7
New Sprint ad campaign hinges on unlimited data
Verizon will switch to usage-based smartphone data pricing in July
Verizon CFO: We will combat heavy data users with overage charges, not throttling
Verizon Wireless to offer family data plans
T-Mobile unveils new tiered data plans for smartphones, details throttling speeds Read more about: ad campaign, Verizon, unlimited data plans, Simply Everything
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4. RIM execs respond to criticism of BlackBerry strategy at shareholder meeting
Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) co-CEOs, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, deflected criticism about their leadership and management at the BlackBerry maker's annual shareholder meeting, which, according to reports, was more subdued than some analysts expected. Nonetheless, some shareholders vented their frustration with RIM's position in the smartphone market, which has taken a beating thanks to Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. RIM has cut its forecasts twice this year, and the company's shares have lost half their value since January. "You're letting Apple and Android eat your lunch," one investor said at the company's annual general meeting, according to Reuters. "You're an innovator, but you're not good at selling what you make." Lazaridis said that RIM will introduce seven new smartphones over the next several months. He acknowledged that RIM could have brought the new BlackBerry Bold to market sooner but took it back to its labs to refine the product to counter the "arms race" in the smartphone market. The decision "may have delayed us but we're going to come out ahead," Lazaridis said. According to the Wall Street Journal, Balsillie was asked if the company is preparing for a takeover bid, considering the drop in its stock price. He said that RIM is focused on performance, which should remove speculation about a takeover. The meeting also came a day after analysts at RBC Capital Markets called for RIM to split into two companies to improve shareholder value, similar to what Motorola did when it split into Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) and Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI). "RIM's organization needs modernization," RBC said. "By acting now, splitting RIM into network and handset businesses may target opportunities and unlock significant shareholder value." For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)
- see this Reuters article
- see this Bloomberg article
- see this AllThingsD article
Related Articles:
RIM adds 1M EMEA BlackBerry subs, faces pressure on management plans
ComScore: Android, iOS stretch U.S. lead as BlackBerry falls again
RIM responds to anonymous 'open letter,' says it is addressing issues
Rumor Mill: RIM scraps plans for 10-inch PlayBook tablet
RIM posts weak Q1 BlackBerry shipments, plans job cuts
Analysts criticize RIM's dual-CEO structure, product uncertainty
RIM faces securities fraud lawsuit Read more about: BlackBerry, Google, RIM, Apple
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5. AT&T to launch Sony's Android-powered S2 tablet later this year
AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) will bolster its tablet lineup with the announcement that it will be the exclusive U.S. provider for Sony's forthcoming S2 Android-based tablet.  | | Sony announced the S1, left, and S2 Android tablets in April. | AT&T and Sony did not provide pricing or a release date for the S2, which was announced in April. However, the companies said the device will have HSPA+ and Wi-Fi support. Little is known about the specifications for the S2 other than it will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb, it will have two 5.5-inch displays that can be folded, and it will feature cameras. In addition to Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad 2, the S2 will fight for shelf space and attention with other AT&T tablets, including Hewlett-Packard's TouchPad, which AT&T will start selling later this summer. However, so far tablets with 3G connectivity have not fared so well in the market, according to research firm ABI. Analyst Jeff Orr said in the first quarter that around 35 percent of all tablets shipped with 3G connectivity, but that the number of users activating that service was very low. For more:
- see this release Special Report: Testing tablets: What are the pros and cons of today's tablets? Related Articles:
ABI: 25% of iPads sport 3G connections, slightly below industry average
Data price plans are hindering 3G tablet sales
Sony to launch S1 and S2 Android-based tablets later this year
HP positions TouchPad as enterprise play, not iPad killer Read more about: Google, Sony, AT&T Mobility, tablets
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Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... FCC requires carriers move to handset-based E911 The FCC voted to change the nation's E911 rules for mobile phones, requiring carriers to move away from network-based E911 solutions to handset-based ones. Wireless carriers have historically provided E911 location information by one of two methods: handset-based, where location information is generated by GPS or similar technology installed on a handset, or network-based, where location information is generated by triangulating the caller's wireless signal in relation to nearby cell sites. The FCC said that after an eight-year implementation period in early 2019, it will sunset the existing network-based rule and require all wireless carriers to meet the more stringent location accuracy standards in the handset-based rule. AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), T-Mobile USA and smaller carriers are the operators t hat will be primarily impacted by the rule change. Rural Cellular Association President Steve Berry said in a statement provided to FierceWireless that the new E911 rules will be difficult for rural carriers to implement, and that handset exclusivity deals and a lack of interoperability in the 700 MHz band will be impediments to implementation. Release Quick news from across the Web @FierceWireless: RT @IntoMobile: Europe's five major operators don't like the official NFC logo, start project to redesign it. Article | follow@FierceWireless > Leap Wireless' Cricket said it expanded its roaming agreement with Sprint Nextel to include mobile broadband. Article > Time Warner Cable promoted Michael Roudi as head of its wireless efforts. Article > New documents hint at a possible Oct. 4 launch date for the new iPhone. Article > AT&T Mobility introduced new global data plans. Release > The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play appears headed for AT&T Mobility. Article > A faster Hewlett-Packard TouchPad is coming to AT&T Mobility. Post > Nokia and Siemens said they are finished trying to sell off parts of Nokia Siemens Networks to private equity. Release > T-Mobile USA will use a new caller ID service from Cequint. Article > Verizon Wireless opened its new LTE Innovation Center. Article > Jawbone scored $70 million. Article (sub. req.) Mobile Content News > Sprint Nextel launched a business app store. Article > Google announced it upgraded its Android Market to support video rentals, among other features. Article > Electronic Arts purchased PopCap. Article > Facebook expanded its mobile offering to additional, low-end phones. Article And finally... Nokia Live View: Because exploring points of interest using augmented reality is cool, right? Video > The Muther! of all Hackathons + DevCon: Innovation trumps sleep. Always. Silicon Valley - June 24/25 The Muther! is coming and YOU don't want to miss it! A real mashup where Hackathon meets DevCon in a fun, informative format! The real world doesn't focus on a single technology, phone or solution, so neither will the Muther! Join hundreds of Developers, Tool companies, Carriers, Investors and other mobile fanatics for a two day adventure of Master Classes, UnPanels, Coding, New APIs, Prizes, a BBQ and more. Attend! > Mobile Forum on Backhaul - July 20 - Juniper Networks, Sunnyvale, CA As demand continues to increase, the backhaul operations becomes complex. Join Bridgewave Communications, Juniper Networks, Vantrix and more for this important discussion on how to manage this complexity. Save 30% by using "Fierce30off" when you register - http://telecomcouncil.cvent.com/event/MF_Backhaul > TC3: Telecom Council Carrier Connections - Sept 15 - Mountain View, CA Sponsored by Huawei, Blue Coat, and Qualcomm, TC3 connects you to what the carriers are thinking, what they are looking for, and how they find innovation and work with entrepreneurs. It's 15 carriers with 20 strategies in 1 day. Details at http://telecomcouncil.com/tc3 > CTO Telecom Summit - September 18-21, 2011 - Montelucia Resort, Scottsdale, AZ The CTO Telecom Summit, September 18-21, 2011, will bring together CTOs to discuss IT topics and trends currently affecting the industry. The 2011 agenda has been revamped to include focus groups, think tanks, and analyst Q&As, all of which encourage meaningful conversations between delegates, analysts and solution providers. Learn more. > BlackBerry DevCon Americas - Oct. 18-20 - San Francisco, CA The showcase event for mobile developers. Join thousands of BlackBerry enthusiasts & experts for sessions, hands-on labs, demos and much more. Learn how you can maximize your investment in mobile development for the BlackBerry platform. Register early & save at www.blackberrydevcon.com. > The Open Mobile Summit: NEW DATES ANNOUNCED - November 2-4 2011 - San Francisco, CA > Appcelerate: At the Open Mobile Summit - November 4, 2011 - San Francisco, CA Mark your calendar for the app economy event of the year. In its first year, Appcelerate brought 600 of the leading mobile innovators together to explore how to build and monetize a killer app business and featured CEOs Smule, BottleRocket, ngmoco, Shopkick, Disney Mobile and more. Don't miss 2011.. Click here for more info
| > The workhorse of the WiMAX industry is finally available to the rest of the telecom world! The OOD-54DX-GP-42 WiMAX enclosure from DDB Unlimited, Inc. is the superior design in 4G Telecomm cabinets, constructed of aluminum which is as rigid as steel. This enclosure is NEMA rated at class 250 type 4X and offers the protection needed for any severe outdoor environment. With a large stock and "best in the industry" pricing, this enclosure is top of the line in the 4G telecomm industry. For more info on our full product line click here > eBook: Path to 4G In this eBook we will explore the current state of 4G deployments in the U.S., the role of devices in attracting consumers and more. Download this new eBook brought to you by FierceWireless. > New eBook: Building a Better Backhaul Network This eBook from FierceWireless we will look at how operators are designing better backhaul networks and planning ahead for the next round of capacity constraints. Click here to download today. > eBook: OTT Delivery: An Online Video Revolution That Changed TV Forever This eBook from FierceOnlineVideo, will look at which segment stands to benefit the most from this new delivery vehicle, and which stands to lose, as the nascent video revolution marches forward.Click here to download today. > Turbo charge your apps with direct access to network API's from Sprint Network services such as LBS, SMS, MMS, geofencing, presence and more are available through the Sprint Services Framework via a simple Web 2.0 web service. These services can be used for any development interface including browsers, servers, embedded devices and mobile applications. Sign up today! > New Fierce eBook: Cashing in on the Cloud Services Opportunity This eBook from FierceTelecom we will explore the trends, benefits and challenges service providers have in building a profitable cloud service business.Click here to download today.
| > Telecommunications Director, Experian Consumer Direct, Irvine, CA The Telecommunications Director will be the primary point of contact for all voice related systems in the organization. This will include PBX systems, Voice Mail, Call Management Servers, CTI, Call Recording, IVR, Witness Call recording, VoIP technologies, Cell Phones, PDA's and Carrier Services. This role will support multiple Telephony systems in separate locations... Learn more. > Sr. RF Engineer at SyChip, Inc. in Plano, TX If you have RF Engineering experience in wireless technology – this is a great OPPORTUNITY to join an exciting company and to become a part of a winning team Murata Electronics North America, Inc., a leading international electronic component sales organization, is seeking a Senior RF Engineer for our Plano, Texas office. Learn More! > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs | |
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