February 25, 2013
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Today's Top Stories
1. Verizon prowling for LTE roaming partners, to deploy 200 LTE small cells in 2013
2. AT&T's LTE service to replace Verizon in GM's OnStar
3. Sprint launches prepaid LTE service through Virgin, Boost
4. Mozilla's Firefox OS unlikely to reach the U.S. market until 2014
5. HTC's Mackenzie: We can be a strong No. 3 in smartphonesEditor's Corner: New MWC venue sparks criticism and acclaim
Also Noted: FierceSurveys
Spotlight On... Mobile World Congress 2013 kicks off
HP announces Slate 7 Android tablet; Asus announces PadFone Infinity Android smartphone and much more...
Complete coverage of Mobile World Congress 2013
The Fierce team will be covering all aspects of this year's Mobile World Congress 2013 show at the Fira Gran in Barcelona, Spain. Phil Goldstein, Tammy Parker, Sue Marek, Sandhya Raman and Mike Dano will be on the ground covering all the keynotes, press conferences and events at this year's show. Please stay tuned to this page for all our Mobile World Congress coverage, including articles, features, analysis and pictures. MWCLive
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News From Across the Wireless Industry:
1. Nokia Siemens CEO: We will be one of three surviving network vendors
2. LG acquires HP's webOS to power smart TVs
3. Vodafone, Telefónica CEOs explain their OTT responses, lambaste regulatory stipulations
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New MWC venue sparks criticism and acclaim
By Sue Marek Comment |
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BARCELONA, Spain--Change is never easy. And for the 70,000-plus attendees attending this week's Mobile World Congress here, the transition from the old venue, the Fira Montjuic, to the new facility, the Fira Gran Via, is both good and bad.
Many attendees I spoke with bemoaned the loss of the old-world flavor of the Fira Montjuic with its fountains and Spanish architecture. The Fira Gran Via, with its modern design, lacks that same charm.
Nevertheless, nearly everyone I spoke with appreciates the extra space offered by the new location. Exhibitors are thrilled with the additional room to hold meetings and demonstrate their wares. Attendees like the moving walkway through the various halls, the abundant restaurants and the numerous seating areas outside.
The opening keynote addresses were well-attended and, unlike in the past, there was plenty of room for attendees. No need for overflow rooms with the speakers and their presentations live-streamed on screens.
But bigger isn't always better. The extra space means more time navigating from one meeting to the next. While the GSMA should be commended for its numerous information desks and people available to answer questions, the new venue does require some time to get around.
Perhaps the greatest criticism regarding the Fira Gran Via is the difficulty getting to and from it. The city's subway system doesn't yet reach the new venue so most attendees staying in the city have to find another mode of transportation. The GSMA recommends taking the subway and then switching to the train or a bus--which works--but can be cumbersome and crowded, especially if you are heading to or from the Fira at the same time as the other attendees.
Aside from the new venue, the big buzz at Mobile World Congress so far is Mozilla's Firefox OS debut and the fact that it is unlikely to hit the U.S. market until 2014. Big infrastructure vendors are talking (again) about LTE Advanced and small cell deployments. The concept of the "connected car" is gaining momentum with Ford Motor Co. expanding its Applink program and AT&T and General Motors announced plans to use AT&T's LTE network for General Motors' Onstar program starting in 2014.
Notably missing from the show are any major handset or device launches. It appears that device makers are now hosting their own events instead of debuting devices at big shows like the Mobile World. Congress where they risk getting lost among the noise of other annoucements.
We'll be bringing you news from Mobile World Congress all week. Check out all our coverage of here.--Sue
Read more about: Connected Car, MWC13
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This week's sponsor is Sequans.
Today's Top News
1. Verizon prowling for LTE roaming partners, to deploy 200 LTE small cells in 2013
By Sue Marek
BARCELONA, Spain--Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) is at the Mobile World Congress trade show here looking for global LTE roaming partners. In addition, the company is fine-tuning its LTE network and has plans to deploy 200 LTE small cells this year, along with 5,000 LTE cell sites in its AWS spectrum this year.
In an interview with FierceWireless, CTO Nicola Palmer said the company will announce at least one international LTE roaming partner this year with more to follow. She said Verizon will implement LTE roaming in Canada and other countries. Verizon currently has 3G roaming relationships with more than 200 carriers worldwide, and Palmer said the company hopes to extend those relationships to LTE. She noted that the LTE ecosystem globally is still developing and she believes the operator is in a strong position to secure those roaming agreements.
Verizon's LTE network currently covers 260 million POPs in the United States Competitor AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) LTE network covers 150 million POPs and the company plans to cover 250 million POPs by year-end.
Palmer also said that the company will deploy 200 LTE small cells this year--and while many of Verizon's competitors have announced bigger small cell deployments (AT&T has said it plans to deploy 40,000 small cells by 2015), Palmer said that she is focused on the macro LTE network and will only deploy LTE small cells in areas where there are some coverage gaps. "Yes we see a place for small cells," she said, adding that she will only deploy small cells if they are more economical than deploying a macrocell.
Palmer also said the company is also planning to deploy 5,000 LTE cell sites in its AWS spectrum. The company has indicated it plans to use the AWS spectrum to augment its existing LTE network, which runs on its 700 MHz spectrum.
Verizon added to its existing AWS spectrum holdings with the purchase last year of $3.9 billion worth of AWS spectrum licenses from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Cox Communications.
Related Articles:
Verizon device with support for AWS LTE approved by FCC
Verizon's Shammo: We'll finish LTE buildout by mid-2013
Verizon CFO: Our 700 MHz spectrum sale is not a 'fire sale'
Verizon CTO: 35% of data traffic now goes over LTE
Verizon's Shammo: We have enough spectrum for 4-5 yearsRead more about: MWC13
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2. AT&T's LTE service to replace Verizon in GM's OnStar
By Mike Dano
General Motors will replace Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) service with AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) service in its OnStar offering beginning in 2014. The news represents a blow to Verizon, which has powered OnStar's service since it launched in the 1990s.
"Introducing 4G LTE into GM vehicles is a game-changing opportunity, and we couldn't be better positioned to help drive this movement," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility. "We're working closely with GM to grow the connected car base, and provide unique and relevant services that will improve the connected experience inside automobiles for both drivers and passengers."
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. OnStar counts more than 6 million customers in the United States, Canada and China, and its service starts at $18.95 per month.
AT&T will provide service to GM's OnStar in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles. The companies said AT&T will power OnStar's existing calling and monitoring services, and will support "a new suite of infotainment services like streaming audio, web access, applications, and even video for backseat passengers." AT&T will also power GM's in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspots and voice calling services.
AT&T has worked to expand its machine-to-machine communications business, which falls under the carrier's "emerging devices" unit headed by Glenn Lurie. The unit added 246,000 connected devices during AT&T's fourth quarter.
That the new GM-AT&T deal includes mention of LTE is notable in light of AT&T's efforts to expand the network. AT&T currently covers 174 million POPs with LTE, and plans to hit at least 250 million POPs by the end of 2013 and 300 million POPs by the end of 2014. In contrast, Verizon now covers 273.5 million POPs with LTE, or roughly 89 percent of the U.S. population. Verizon expects to finish its initial LTE deployment by mid-year.
"OnStar remains a valued customer, and we look forward to providing the outstanding service that millions of customers will continue to enjoy on the reliable Verizon Wireless network," said Verizon spokeswoman Debi Lewis in response to questions from FierceWireless.
Verizon Communications acquired Hughes Telematics last year for $612 million, a deal that could have soured the relationship between GM and Verizon.
The connected car continues to represent a major opportunity for wireless carriers looking to expand beyond sales of smartphones.
For more:
- see this release
- see this AllThingsD article
- see this Reuters articleRelated Articles:
Hold: Auto makers still test driving broadband connections in cars
Driving the business case for the connected car
Did OnStar contribute to Verizon's 490,000 wholesale customer losses in Q4?Read more about: M2M, AT&T Mobility
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3. Sprint launches prepaid LTE service through Virgin, Boost
By Mike Dano
Less than a year after switching on its LTE network, Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) announced it will offer LTE services through its prepaid brands: Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile. The action dramatically lowers the cost of Sprint's LTE service and could put pressure on Sprint's larger rivals AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ), neither of which offers prepaid LTE service.
Virgin Mobile will sell the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE Android smartphone for $299.99. Virgin's No-Contract Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans start at $35 per month. Boost will sell the LTE-capable HTC One SV Android smartphone for $299.99 and the LTE-capable Boost Force Android smartphone for $199.99. The phones can be paired with Boost's no-contract $55 Android "Monthly Unlimited with Shrinking Payments" plan, which reduces the monthly price of the plan by $5 every six months (with on-time payments) to as low as $40 a month.
Interestingly, both Virgin and Boost said they will throttle users' speeds if they consume more than 2.5 GB of data per month. According to Virgin: "All plans include 2.5GB/month of 3G/4G high speed data or 3.5GB/month with purchase of mobile hotspot capable device and plan. Adaptive protocol video limited to 600 Kbps. Speeds (including video) reduced to 256 Kbps for remainder of plan cycle, with speeds restored at beginning of next plan cycle. Additional terms apply."
Both Virgin and Boost instituted speed-throttling technology last year on their 3G services, likely in response to users' increasing demands for data.
That Sprint is adding LTE to its prepaid strategy is not a total surprise. Both Boost and Virgin started offering smartphones last year running on Clearwire's (NASDAQ:CLWR) mobile WiMAX network, and they both currently sell the WiMAX-capable Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Evo Design. Before launching LTE, Sprint resold Clearwire's WiMAX service.
Sprint is by no means the first carrier to offer prepaid LTE services. No-contract carrier MetroPCS (NYSE:PCS) was the first carrier in the United States to launch LTE, in 2010, and continues to offer LTE service with prepaid pricing options. However, Sprint is the first Tier 1 carrier to combine LTE network speeds with no-contract pricing plans.
Sprint, which first launched LTE in mid-July 2012, now offers LTE in 58 cities. The carrier said it now expects to cover 200 million POPs with LTE by the end of 2013.
Sprint's prepaid brands--which stretch from Virgin to Boost to Assurance Wireless to Sprint's new "Sprint As You Go" brand--continue to drive significant business for the carrier. In the fourth quarter, Sprint reported net prepaid subscriber additions of 525,000, down from 899,000 in the year-ago period but up from 459,000 in the third quarter.
For more:
- see this Boost release
- see this Virgin releaseRelated Articles:
Rumor Mill: Sprint to launch Sprint-branded prepaid service
Sprint loses 337,000 net subs, lowers LTE coverage goal to 200M by year-end
Sprint's Boost Mobile to start smartphone throttling in January
Rumor Mill: Sprint's Boost, Virgin to launch LTE smartphones in Q1 2013
Virgin Mobile to begin smartphone data throttling in MarchRead more about: Virgin Mobile, One SV
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4. Mozilla's Firefox OS unlikely to reach the U.S. market until 2014
By Phil Goldstein
BARCELONA, Spain--Mozilla formally launched its Firefox OS here ahead of the start of Mobile World Congress. However, the smartphone platform is focusing its attention on emerging markets and will likely not launch in the U.S. market until 2014.
Mozilla, best known for its Firefox browser, said the first Firefox OS devices will be available to consumers in Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Venezuela, and that additional markets will be announced soon. The platform seems clearly aimed at emerging markets, and Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs said the platform likely will not hit the U.S. market until 2014.
Mozilla said 17 operators have so far committed to launching Firefox OS devices, including Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S), América Móvil, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa's Three Group, KDDI, KT, MegaFon, Qtel, SingTel, Smart, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, TMN and VimpelCom. Telstra indicated it is open to the initiative. Further, Mozilla said that TCL's Alcatel brand, LG Electronics and ZTE will build the first Firefox OS devices, with Huawei to follow later this year. More handset makers will likely be added in the future. All of the devices will run on Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) Snapdragon processors.
Kovacs said that Mozilla wants to give consumers more operating system choices than what currently exists, "That's a broken model and it needs to change," he said.
Kovacs stressed how deeply invovled operator partners were in developing Firefox OS and it appears operators will have more control over how consumers will consume apps and interact with the carriers than the existing platforms. "I think it's crucial to work together very closely," Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann said. "If that works I think it will be to the benefit of everyone. It's about creating another successful ecosystem, which, if we don't do it collectively, it's not going to work."
The first wave of Firefox devices will come from América Móvil, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Telenor, with more devices launching around mid-year. Sprint did not indicate when it will launch Firefox OS devices.
Mozilla said the platform includes standard phone features like messaging, email and camera as well as built-in cost controls, social features with Facebook and Twitter, location-based services and the Firefox Web browser. In addition, it will let consumers discover one-time use and downloadable apps, Firefox Marketplace and other features. Users can enter any search term and instantly create a one-time use or downloadable app. Firefox OS also offers a deep contextual search that will let users search both within apps and on the Web at the same time.
The platform will launch with Firefox Marketplace, which will offer apps in categories like games, news and media, business and productivity. At launch Firefox Marketplace will include popular apps such as AccuWeather, Airbnb, Box, Cut the Rope, Disney Mobile Games, EA games, Facebook, Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) HERE, MTV Brasil, Pulse News, SoundCloud, SporTV, Terra, Time Out and Twitter as well as personally-tailored and local apps that are relevant to users in their respective regions. The Marketplace will also enable direct operator billing and developers will be able to deliver apps directly to consumers as well. Firefox Marketplace can be previewed on Firefox for Android and will be offered with the first Firefox OS phones to launch later this year.
Mozilla's Firefox OS is just one of many fledgling open source platforms that are vying for attention from carriers, developers and consumers. Firefox is going up against smaller platforms Tizen and Ubuntu, as well as more established players like Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS, Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone and BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY) 10. Microsoft and BlackBerry are trying to establish themselves as the clear No. 3 in smartphones after Google and Apple but both face uphill struggles of their own, putting into stark contrast the kind of effort Mozilla will need to gain traction.
Ovum analyst Tony Cripps, said the "real acid test for Firefox OS and its long-term prospects is the quality of the software itself and the user and developer experiences that it fosters. However, it will be difficult to say whether it meets those needs sufficiently until we have seen retail devices. What is clear from the Firefox OS demonstration handsets that we have seen was that they are still some way from being market ready, being both slow and buggy."
"These issues must be overcome before Firefox OS devices find their way into consumers' hands. Even low-cost smartphones--the primary target market for Firefox OS--can't afford to hide behind price as a justification for poor performance," he added. "This is especially true at a time when upgraded feature phones, such as Nokia's Asha Touch and Samsung's Rex ranges, are gradually eating into the low-end Android market."
For more:
- see this Mozilla release
- see this separate Mozilla release
- see this The Verge article
- see this Engadget article
Related Articles:
Mozilla unveils first Firefox OS developer preview phones
Forecast: Firefox OS will power just 1 percent of smartphones shipped in 2013
ZTE to launch Firefox OS smartphones in shift away from Android
Sprint vows support for Mozilla's Firefox mobile OS
Mozilla, Telefónica target Brazil for Boot to Gecko smartphone launch
Mozilla partners with Telefónica for first Boot to Gecko smartphonesRead more about: MWC13, Sprint, Mozilla
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5. HTC's Mackenzie: We can be a strong No. 3 in smartphones
By Phil Goldstein
BARCELONA, Spain--HTC can break out of its sales slump and rank behind Samsung Electronics and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) as No. 3 in terms of smartphone sales if it executes on an aggressive new marketing strategy for its flagship HTC One smartphone, according to a senior HTC executive.
In an interview with FierceWireless here at the Mobile World Congress trade show, Jason Mackenzie, HTC's president of global sales strategy, said HTC is well positioned with the One Android phone, which it introduced last week, to make a strong push to be No. 3 behind the two dominant OEMs.
"If we do a good job in getting our message out and executing on our plan in terms of driving consumer demand, we believe HTC has the best opportunity of any OEM to be a strong No. 3," he said, adding that HTC can not only become the No. 3 player but can "actually grow from that position." He noted that the One will be available globally through more than 185 operators and major retailers in more than 80 regions and countries beginning in March.
HTC was once synonymous with Android, having delivered the first Android phones to the market and captured major attention and sales with the Evo and Droid Incredible lines in the United States. However, over the past year, HTC has been challenged at the high end from the likes of Samsung and Apple as well as from companies like Huawei and ZTE at the lower end of the market. According to research firm IDC, HTC captured 4.6 percent of the global smartphone market for the full-year 2012, down from 8.8 percent in 2011.
HTC reported a 91 percent drop in net income in the fourth quarter and forecast continued declines in revenue. According to IDC, HTC was not in the top 5 smartphone rankings in the fourth quarter and was No. 4 for the year, behind Samsung, Apple and Nokia (NYSE:NOK).
Mackenzie said looking back, he realizes now that in the fourth quarter of 2011 the smartphone market started to change and the OEM brand became more important than anything else. He said HTC always prided itself on its slogan, "quietly brilliant," and wasn't flashy or aggressive in promoting its own brand by itself, preferring to work with partners to develop customized products, like the Evo for Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S). That spread HTC's marketing message "too thin," he said. "We want HTC to be synonymous with the best smartphones in the world."
Last year HTC focused on its camera and audio capabilities for the One series of phones, but that did little to boost sales. Mackenzie concedes that the marketing message was "too vague" last year. "We will be more aggressive in communication," he said. "We need to take ownership of our innovation."
HTC will be highlighting in its marketing three main innovations in the One, which it has trademarked. The first is BlinkFeed, which turns the device's home screen into a single live stream of personally relevant information that includes social updates, entertainment and lifestyle updates, news and photos. The intuitive and innovative service can be easily customized. He said HTC will also focus on its BoomSound speaker and audio technology, which includes Beats audio and putting dual-stereo speakers on the front of the device with amplifiers. HTC will also focus heavily on its camera, which uses "UltraPixels" to let 300 percent more light into photos, and what it calls "Zoes," which turn a series of photos and videos into mini-movies that can be remixed and shared with friends.
HTC tried to do that last year and ran into the buzz saw of Samsung, which started marketing its Galaxy S III last spring. Samsung wound up selling 40 million Galaxy S III units by January, more than the 32.1 million units Gartner said HTC sold for all of 2012. Samsung has confirmed it will announce its next flagship, the Galaxy S IV, on March 14. Mackenzie said this year will be different.
"We need to not stop marketing when they launch," he said. "We'll continue and really invest. We're going to invest more than we ever have in terms of marketing." He declined to give a specific figure. Mackenzie said HTC will have a national marketing footprint but will also be very aggressive in certain markets, including Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle, where it can reach its target customers. HTC will use that approach in other countries as well. Mackenzie noted that HTC had a strong year in 2011 (Gartner reported it sold 43.2 million phones that year) and that many of those customers are coming up on two-year contracts, so HTC will try to get them to upgrade to the One.
"We're embracing that we need to be a challenger," Mackenzie said. "We're a challenger." referring to Samsung and Apple, he said, "We're fighting against two of the biggest companies in the world."Related Articles:
HTC launches comeback with HTC One, but no Verizon support
Rumor Mill: HTC M7 to launch via AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile
HTC posts 91% drop in Q4 net profit, looks to emerging markets for growth
HTC's Chou vows to improve marketing, innovation in 2013
HTC not bringing Windows Phone 8S to U.S. market
HTC appoints new CMO, looks to get back smartphone sparkRead more about: samsung
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Also Noted
This week's sponsor is FierceSurveys. Survey: Small Cell Solution Technology
This research survey will examine mobile network provider perception of small cell solution technology, application and implementation of small cell solutions, and vendor value. As a thank you for your time and input, the first 50 respondents will receive a $10 Amazon eCard. Complete the Survey Today!
SPOTLIGHT ON... Mobile World Congress 2013 kicks off
BARCELONA, Spain--The 2013 Mobile World Congress trade show officially got underway here on Monday, and the Fierce team was out in force, attending keynotes and press conferences, roaming the show floor and the halls of the new venue, the Fira Gran Via. There is so much news coming out of Barcelona that there is not nearly enough room in our newsletter to handle it all. Here are some of the stories you might have missed from Barcelona. For all of our Mobile World Congress news, please check back throughout the week at our MWC min-site. Meanwhile, here are more Fierce MWC stories:
- Huawei releases Ascend P2 smartphone
- Nokia Siemens CEO: We will be one of three surviving network vendors
- Nokia debuts feature-rich, lower priced Lumia 520 and 720 Windows Phones
- LG expands Optimus lineup, emphasizes LTE devices
- Ericsson CEO: 90% of network traffic will be video
- Vodafone, Telefónica CEOs explain their OTT responses, lambaste regulatory stipulations
- Oovoo to refresh iOS, Android apps in June; promises BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone apps this year
- MasterCard launches MasterPass digital payments platform
- Ford forges partnership with Spotify, expands AppLink
- Intel sees Tizen as mobile growth opportunity
- Broadcom targets 2014 as sweet spot for LTE smartphones
- Nokia to focus marketing more on products and features, less on Lumia brand
Quick news from around the Web.
@FierceWireless: WebOS Finds New Life Yet Again, This Time in LG Televisions -by@inafried. Article | Follow@FierceWireless
> Samsung confirmed it will unveil the Galaxy S IV at a March 14 event. Article
> Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 8.0. Article
> LG plans to sell 40 million smartphones this year. Article
> Barnes & Noble may move away from making Nook ereaders. Article
> LG announced it has no plans to build Windows Phone devices. Article
> Japan's Docomo said it will offer 112.5 Mbps LTE. Article
> Asus announced its new PadFone Infinity Android smartphone, with a 5-inch screen. Article
> Lenovo announced three new Android tablets. Article
> ZTE announced its Grand Memo phablet, which sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Article
> Mobile data revenues are projected to overtake mobile voice revenues in 2018. Article
> Samsung is targeting BlackBerry with its new Knox mobile enterprise service. Article
> Android overtook iOS in the United States, according to a new survey. Article
> Qualcomm showed off LTE carrier aggregation technology. Article
> China Mobile and Korea Telecom Mobile and Clearwire announced successful TD-LTE/LTE-FDD roaming trials. Release
> The Sony Xperia Z tablet will hit the U.S. market at $499. Article
> MVNO Republic Wireless reported a glitch in its service that temporarily blocked SMS messages over Wi-Fi. Post
> Hewlett-Packard announced the new Slate 7 Android tablet. Article
Mobile Content News
> MasterCard updated its NFC-powered mobile payment service with its new MasterPass cloud service. Article
> Roughly a month after Facebook added free VoIP calling to its standalone Messenger application for Apple's iOS, the social media giant is expanding the voice service to its flagship iOS app. Article
> LG Electronics is acquiring the webOS mobile operating system from Hewlett-Packard, stating it will resurrect the platform to power smart TVs, not smartphones. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Article
> Facebook will offer discounted messaging services in some emerging markets. Article
> Visa and Samsung inked a mobile payments deal. Article
Broadband Wireless News
> Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks, contends the slowing telecom infrastructure market will soon be able to support only three profitable network vendors, and NSN aims to be one of them. Article
> AirHop Communications aims to help mobile operators lay out their small cell deployments with vSON, its new virtualization software platform for self-organized networks (SONs). Article
> Vodafone is testing Siklu's 60 GHz V band small cell backhaul gear via a street-level deployment within a major UK city. Article
European Wireless News
> The LTE spectrum auction in the UK produced £2.34 billion (€2.68 billion) in revenue for the British government, significantly below the government's expectation of £3.5 billion. Article
> Ericsson and Huawei battled for leadership in the Radio Access Network market throughout 2012, according to a new study from ABI Research. Both vendors were closely matched in RAN market share, with about 24 per cent each during the year. Article
> ZTE is to take a more substantial role in the LTE expansion of KPN's German operation E-Plus. Article
And finally… BlackBerry Z10 launches in India for $800. Article
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Webinars
* Post listing: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here.
> Personal Data and Privacy - Is the consumer the boss? - March 14, 2pm ET / 11am PT
This webinar will explore Forrester Analyst Fatemeh Khatibloo's characterization of a new Personal Identity Management market as well as solutions for participating in the Identity Economy. Register Today.
Events
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* General ad info: Click here.
> Mobile Today and Tomorrow at Mobile World Congress - February 25, 2013 - Barcelona, Spain
Worldview session for professionals involved in every aspect of mobility who need to know about the transition to next-generation mobile technology, devices, and applications. More information at www.andrewseybold.com
> Final Chance to Register: Connected Car Luncheon for Fierce Readers at MWC 2013! - February 27, 2013 - Hotel Solvasa Barcelona
Executives from AT&T, Ford, Glympse, and RACO Wireless explore how the connected car is moving from concept to reality. Join FierceWireless Editor-in-Chief Sue Marek for this exclusive luncheon event at Mobile World Congress, Feb. 27th, in Barcelona. Sponsored by AT&T, RACO Wireless, HARMAN, and Synchronoss. FINAL CHANCE: REGISTER TODAY!
> Next Generation SCADA Systems to Support the Smart Grid - Holiday Inn Amsterdam, Netherlands - 21 - 22 March 2013
As smart grid deployment gains momentum, supporting systems and processes must be upgraded and integrated to ensure optimal grid performance and security. This 2-day conference brings together T&D Control professionals to discuss new system requirements, integration opportunities, data management challenges, and much more. Case study presentations will be given by leading European utilities such as: E.ON, ERDF, EDP, Enel, Enexis, Dong Energy, and many others. For the latest programme updates visit: www.nextgenscada-europe.com
> 2013 NAB Show - April 6-11 - Las Vegas, NV
There's no better destination than NAB Show® to capitalize on opportunity as this industry morphs to keep up with evolving platforms, devices and consumer expectations for increased mobility, interactivity, customization and an all-encompassing entertainment experience. Register today for a Free Exhibits-only Pass!
> TM Forum's Management World 2013 - May 13 -16 - Nice, France
The Digital Services and M2M Forum focuses on the huge opportunity for service providers, enabling everything from enterprise cloud through to consumer services. This Forum examines the management and enablement challenges that complex services bring. Learn More and Register!
> Andrew Seybold Wireless University at CTIA 2013 - May 20, 2013 - Las Vegas, Nevada
LTE worldwide broadband standard is changing wireless forever. Delve into the technologies, spectrum, deployments, ecosystems, and devices. Understand the implications. More information at www.andrewseybold.com
> AnDevCon - May 28-31 - Boston, MA
AnDevCon is the technical conference for software developers building Android apps. Featuring tutorials, technical classes and 40+ exhibitors. Receive a $100 discount off either the 4-day or 3-day pass by inserting the code MEDIASPONSOR when prompted. Register Now!
> Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 Live Announcement of this Year's Winners - Now Available On-Demand
Please join Jason Nelson, Publisher of FierceWireless, FierceTelecom, and FierceCable as we announce the winners of the Fierce Innovation Awards 2012. Click here to RSVP today.
Marketplace
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> Research: M-commerce in the UK 2012 | Verdict Channel Reports
M-commerce has expanded rapidly in 2011 and 2012, as both retailers and consumers continue to adapt to the potential of mobile devices. Not only are more people making purchases, but also more apps and mobile optimised websites have furthered the possible uses of mobile devices for shoppers. Download Now.
> Research: Software: Global Industry Guide
Software: Global Industry Guide is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Software industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, textual analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, and profiles of the leading companies. This incisive report provides expert analysis on a global, regional and country basis. Download Now.
> Research: Enterprise Applications Market Forecast in the US to 2014
Enterprise Applications Market Forecast in the US to 2014 is a comprehensive resource for the market split by technology (ERP, product lifecycle management, customer relationship management [CRM], human resources [HR] and payroll, financial, supply chain management [SCM], and commerce applications). This Databook also provides data split by nine industry verticals. Download Now.
> eBook: Knowledge Management: 5 Steps to Getting it Right the First Time
This eBook sets out 5 simple steps for optimizing customer service and support with an effective, best-practice-led knowledge management initiative. Download today!
> Whitepaper: Ensuring Your Apps Work in the Real World
See why companies of all sizes are moving a portion of their testing out of the lab and into the real world. This whitepaper highlights the benefits of testing your apps with real testers, on real devices, in real environments. Download now!
> Managing "Data Everywhere": Lessons Learned from Over 100 Commercial Deployments
As operators shift from network- to subscriber-oriented business models, they're challenged with breaking old paradigms to properly execute their user data consolidation transformation. This paper outlines the fundamental dos and don'ts of managing the mobile broadband 'data everywhere' challenge. Download now!
> eBook: Minimizing the OTT Threat
This eBook will provide an in-depth look at the threat from OTT providers, and examine how operators are making progress in delivering content to their customers. Click here to download today.
> Whitepaper: Subscriber Data: Creating New Opportunities in a Competitive Market
It's a critical time for telco companies fending off competitive threats. Carriers can stay on the defensive, or they can take a new approach. This white paper examines how subscrib.er data is the best asset for delivering game-changing services. Find out more!
> Survey: Small Cell Solution Technology
This research survey will examine mobile network provider perception of small cell solution technology, application and implementation of small cell solutions, and vendor value. As a thank you for your time and input, the first 50 qualified respondents will receive a $10 Amazon eCard. Complete the Survey Today!
> Whitepaper: Testing the Cloud
Whether a cloud carrier, cloud provider or both, this white paper will explain the importance of visibility into the cloud. It also explains the tools and metrics necessary to provide speedy delivery and high-quality of service and experience demanded in today's environment. Download Today.
> Whitepaper: Converging Telecom & IT in the LTE RAN
Discover how by deploying IT technology in the RAN and locating memory, compute, application logic and content closer to the user, operators are able to redesign service platforms to meet and stimulate demand for richer, more sophisticated services. Download Now!
> eBook: The Roadmap to LTE Advanced
This eBook from FierceWireless will look at the various aspects of the LTE-Advanced standard as well as how operators are likely to deploy the technology. Download for free today.
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