The upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction has attracted the biggest fish in the wireless-pond, and the FCC has confirmed 214 qualified bidders that are ready and rearin’ to get their auction-on.

Come Jan. 24, we’ll be seeing the hard-hitters like Google (NSDQ: GOOG), AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless, MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS), Alltel, as well as cable-operators like DISH Network parent company EchoStar Communications. All qualified bidders were required to put up a $128 payment in order to participate in the auction.

Unfortunately, Frontline Wireless’s national-emergency-response-wireless-broadband-network dreams have been dashed, as they failed to qualify for the auction.  The company’s withdrawl from the auction has cast some doubt on Frontline Wireless’s future.

The auction will take about a month to complete, and all bids will be confidential and anonymous, so we have a bit of a wait before we find out exactly which companies will be walking away with a piece of the coveted 700Mhz spectrum.

[Via: CellularNews]

With Sprint still pushing hard to roll out their WiMAX-based XOHM data network (unfortunately labelled as a 3G tech), the other big-dogs in the US wireless landscape should be worrying about possible loss of data-revenue to Sprint (NYSE: S). But, it turns out that Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Communication’s President and COO, Dennis Strigl, isn’t at all worried about Sprint’s impact on Verizon’s choice of LTE as their 4G data network.

Strigl reiterated at Citi’s 18th Annual Global Entertainment, Media & Telecommunications Conference that data revenue was the future greenback-maker for the wireless arm of Verizon. Apparently, only 50% of Verizon users have data-capable devices, so there’s a lot of room to grow in that sector – especially with Verizon’s plan to open their network this year.

However, it seems that Strigl isn’t fazed by Sprint’s looming WiMAX network rollout in a few months (at least publicly). Trials of the 4G LTE data network are slated to kick off this year, but won’t go live for a couple more years. In that light, Verizon may be starting to feel the heat from Sprint – being first to market with a national broadband network is sure to put a dent in Verizon’s data-revenue.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – “First to market, first in our hearts.” If Sprint successfully markets their XOHM network as the must-have data network in the US, we could see slower and lower adoption rates of the LTE technologies from Verizon and AT&T. Sprint is poised to turn around their struggling business with the first national wireless broadband network, and could redefine themselves as the premier data-network in the US. Of course, we’ll be adopting whatever network serves up the best coverage and reliability at any given time, but the run-of-the-mill road warrior will likely be sticking with what they know to work – Sprint had better get it right the first time around.

[Via: MocoNews]

Ahh, the good old days of analog…

Remember your first mobile phone? Chances are, if you’re old enough to buy your own mobile phone and pay the bill, you may remember using the good, ole’ analog networks of yore. Ericsson’s T28 World phone was our first mobile phone and it was a pretty little sucker (at the time).

Well, it looks like those days are about to come to an end. While some small rural carriers will be sticking with the tried and true analog technology, Alltel, AT&T (NYSE: T), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless will be shutting down their analog networks next year. Alltel will shut down its network in a three-stage process ending in September, while AT&T and Verizon Wireless will be pulling the plug a bit more abruptly.

Customers of GM’s OnStar system will also feel the analog-shutdown. Customers with older OnStar systems may be left without service once the analog signals go silent. Oh GM, you guys really can’t get anything right.

[Via: AP]

So, the AT&T (NYSE: T) deal with Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) to bring the mobile TV technology MediaFLO to its stable of mobile phones (including a few Nokia (NYSE: NOK) handsets) didn’t exactly help calm the Nokia-Qualcomm battle this year. In fact, the incessant quarreling was probably the reason that AT&T had to delay launching its MediaFLO service until next year.

We’re hearing from AT&T that they are working to bring MediaFLO “as soon as possible” in 2008. The network-tests are reportedly going very, very well” and AT&T wants to “make sure the user experience is absolutely optimal” before they go live with the mobile TV service.

So, network test’s are going honky-dory but AT&T wants to delay the launch of MediaFLO? Sounds like the hold-up might have more to do with Qualcomm and Nokia’s bitter-feelings than AT&T’s desire to ensure “absolutely optimal” performance. You see, Nokia is pushing DVB-H as the mobile TV standard of choice, but AT&T’s MediaFLO deal with Qualcomm will require Nokia to do more business with Qualcomm – something we’re sure Nokia is loath to doing.

In any case, AT&T’s MediaFLO-based mobile TV offering will be pretty much on par with Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless’s VCAST TV service (which has been up and running for, like, ever). Unfortunately, we’re also hearing that AT&T’s prmoise of “advanced MediaFLO capabilities” may not make the cut. Datecasting and music features aren’t in the cards for AT&T’s MediaFLO, sorry.

[Via: MocoNews]

Ok, so first we got reports that unlocked iPhones coming out of France’s Orange network were actually only kind of unlocked. You see, the iTunes-based unlocking method for Orange iPhones still requires Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s blessing to roam free on non-Apple-sanctioned networks. It looked like Orange and Apple had colluded to give unlocked-iPhone customers a semi-unlocked handset – one that could work on any non-Orange network, as long as the network was within French borders.

Then we heard Orange’s rebuttal. Orange spokesperson Louis-Michel Aymard publicly announced that unlocked iPhones from Orange would work just fine on any network – even those outside of France. As any unlocked phone should do, the unlocked iPhones were stated to only require an activated SIM card from any GSM  network operator and the phone would be fully functional, save for any network-specific features like Visual Voicemail. We were somewhat skeptical of Orange’s announcement, but hey, they publicly said that their unlocked iPhones were truly unlocked – who are we to doubt a might corporation?

So, that brings us to today. iPhone Atlas, the originators of all this country-locked hoopla, posted a follow-up that seems to confirm those initial reports (and basically calls Orange a big, fat liar). It turns out that the unlocked iPhones aren’t exactly country-locked to France – they’ll accept foreign SIM cards. However, these unlocked iPhones seem to have been crippled when it comes to actually using the phone as, well, a phone. Calls, SMS text messages, recent call lists – they all seem to either crash the iPhone outright or cause it to revert to the screensaver.

What does this all mean? Well, Orange isn’t exactly a big, fat liar. These unlocked iPhones do accept non-France SIM cards and even lock onto foreign cell towers. But, what good is signal acquisition if you can’t even check a text message? Apple had better get their unlocked-iPhone business in order, or risk a ton (more) of bad press. We wouldn’t put it beyond good ole’ Stevie to have intentionally crippled these unlocked iPhones in order to force other carriers to agree to revenue kickback models. “Of course you’ll have iPhone exclusivity, I made sure all those French unlocked iPhones won’t work right anyway” – too far fetched, or just possibly possible?

[Via: iPhone Atlas]

While us Yankees have to wait on Sprint (NYSE: S) to complete their employee-only WiMAX/XOHM network trials, the super-advanced nation of Pakistan has just launched the largest WiMAX network we’ve ever seen. Now, we’re not exactly sure what a huge network looks like, but we’ve been told this one looks fairly big.

Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and Wateen Telecom have teamed up to bring the “first 802.16e commercial WiMAX network” to 22 Pakistani cities, with more cities presumably slated to get the WiMAX goods sometime in the near future. Wateen already has registered interest from 20,000 Pakistanis, so it’s pretty safe to say that the initial launch will do just fine. And, with a 2Mbps WiMAX option (on the downstream, of course), we’re going to bet that Wateen will do just fine in the longer-run.

Motorola has deals with Sprint and Clearwire to bring WiMAX to the States, but we’re more than a few months away from a full-scale commercial launch. And, if Sprint wants to turn their business around with their XOHM network (which is pretty much their only option at this point), then they had better be planning to offer more than 2Mbps of downlink throughput. We’ll take 10Mbps of wireless data, please.

Wateen Telecom

[Via: Telephony Online]

Following in the footsteps of larger MVNOs before it, XE Mobile has just announced that it will be turning off its AT&T (NYSE: T)-leased network on December 31. XE Mobile offered college students cheap prepaid plans on cheap GSM phones, but apparently didn’t get enough cash-strapped college-students to jump on-board their sinking ship.

We can’t say we’re going to miss another MVNO, nor can we say that we didn’t say this wouldn’t happen. But, it looks like the MVNO wave is crashing hard. We hope it was fun while it lastest. Nice to (kind of) know you, XE Mobile.

[Via: PhoneScoop]

We’ve been whining about Sprint (NYSE: S)’s seeming lack of focus on its WiMAX (XOHM) network, and all that complaining may have paid off. Actually, our incessant goading probably had little nothing to do with Sprint’s newest announcement, but it’s nice to think we had some sort of influence.

Sprint’s WiMAX network is slated to go live this week in a limited trial-run. The 4G (well, it’s officially a 3G standard, but we think it qualifies as 4G) WiMAX network will be rolled out this week for Sprint employees only – in an effort to get its network ready for prime-time trials in Q1 of 2008. As it stands, Sprint will be flipping the WiMAX-switch on the downtown centers of Chicago, Baltimore and Washington – expanding to other US cities based on wireless data demand. Clearwire is out of the picture, but we’re assuming that Sprint’s leaving the door open to other investors to help with the nationwide network launch.

The trial-run launch of Sprint’s WiMAX network this week barely makes the carrier’s self-imposed deadline for the launch of its 4G network by year’s end. We’ve heard rumor after rumor that put the entire WiMAX venture in doubt, so it’s good to see that Sprint is still committed to bringing their mobile broadband 4G network online in-time for a 2008 commercial roll-out. The full commercial launch should cement Sprint’s position as the premier high-speed wireless data provider in the States – Verizon and AT&T’s LTE network won’t even see the light of day until 2009. All your financial woes may take a turn for the better, Sprint. Keep on keepin’ on!

[Via: Telephony Online]

Our favorite mobile chipmaker (Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)) has joined forces with Nortel to test a new service that combines Nortel’s IP Multimedia Subsystem-based (IMS) Voice Call Continuity (VCC) application with Qualcomm’s VCC compatible chipset to bring dual-mode cellular/WiFi call-switching to all compatible handsets. WiFi-enabled handsets are nothing new, but Qualcomm and Nortel’s new system would allow the user to seamlessly switch voice calls between CDMA cellular and WiFi networks – saving the user a few bucks whenever a WiFi access point is within range. Qualcomm and Nortel have just wrapped up testing of the VCC application and has announced a commercial launch slated for next year.

The duo has announced that future handsets equipped with Qualcomm’s VCC compatible chipsets will be able to take advantage of Nortel’s Voice Call Continuity system with no additional software installs or configurations. But, before the service can work, network operators must sign-on to employ Nortel’s IMS framework to allow cellular, WiFi, and wireline services to cooperate seamlessly.

We’re looking for Nortel to make the VCC application available in Q1 2008, with Qualcomm aiming to have VCC-compatible chips installed in handsets by mid-2008. We can’t wait to put all these WiFi hotspots to good use. Or, at least a better use than surfing CraigsList for random junk.

[Via: InformationWeek]

With Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s recent announcement to kick off LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G network tests next year (in partnership with Vodafone), it’s starting to look like LTE  will dominate the US mobile-broadband landscape in the future. And, following on successful initial testing of LTE networks by Nokia (NYSE: NOK), and the recent adoption of the standard by the GSMA as a global 4G standard, Nokia has announced their support of Verizon in helping proliferate the use of LTE technology as the worldwide 4G standard – which should help drive down manufacturing costs as more and more LTE-proponents help scale-up production of LTE-hardware.

“Nokia has long been committed to working closely with operators in the US and around the world, and is very pleased to support Verizon Wireless in their choice of LTE as their global 4G evolution path,” said Mark Louison, President, Nokia Inc., the North American arm of Nokia. “It is very exciting to see Verizon Wireless, one of the world’s leading wireless providers, announce their open development initiative for devices and their decision to evolve their network to the open, global specification of LTE.”

It’s nice to see the industry’s big-wigs essentially “high-five” each other in the public eye. Nokia’s seems to be seriously brown-nosing the CDMA carrier – they called Verizon “one of the world’s leading wireless providers.” We can only surmise this is an effort to get more Nokia handsets onto Verizon’s network, especially with future LTE-based mobile phones. Bring on the Verizon-branded, LTE-packed Nokia handsets!

Full press release on the link.

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