Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 05/16/08 by Chris Parandian
In a few weeks, I will be making a trip to Minneapolis to speak at the Free Press Annual Conference.I’ve been asked to speak about how I utilize wireless to enhance myefforts as a citizen journalist. This is a topic that is very importantto me and I’m grateful to have the opportunity.
With that inmind, I thought I would give futurists a little preview of my commentsfor the conference. The theme is Social-Mobile Convergence, a topicthat we have addressed on a few previous posts.
Onthat note, Social-Mobile convergence can be defined by the continuedinnovation and adoption of social technologies combined with theevolution of next generation wireless networks. These forces aregrowing and are peaking at the right time. More unique applicationscome to life everyday and carriers are working hard to upgrade theirnetworks so that these apps can thrive. Not to mention a generation(millennial) that outnumbers the boomers who are mobile centric andvery social. They are leading this revolution and all citizenjournalists stand to reap the benefits.
As a citizenjournalist, your wireless device can augment your storytelling likenever before. The iPhone, Blackberry Curve, Nokia N95 (Ihave two out of the three) and many other 3G devices are great tools toutilize. If you are still in analog, your basic phone can even providethe functionality for mobile blogging.
One tool that Ifrequently use to enhance my reporting is mobile video. Personal mobilebroadcasting from my wireless device has enabled me to bring readersinto a story and have them share the moment with me. For instance, onmy recent trip to New Orleans, words alone wouldn’t have delivered theemotion (I was feeling) of the Katrina devastation or the joy of beingable to give back to the communityat St. Bernard’s. In each of those instances, I wanted you to be therewith me. I wanted you to see what I was seeing. Mobile video can makethis happen.
This mobile revolution on the horizon is excitingand I look forward to learning a few things from you. Please feel freeto contact me by email – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – if I can ever be of assistance.
Posted: 05/14/08 by Jonathan Spalter
Mobile phones and the future of public health are converging in ways never imagined.
I read recently about one mobile application being advanced by a visionary group of engineers at the University of California at Berkeley which may well revolutionize - and democratize -- the world of medical diagnostics.
Their idea is to harness the technology and ubiquity of the mobile phone as a platform for medical imaging, and make it accessible potentially to literally billions of people around the world.
"According to the World Health Organization, some three-quarters of the world's population has no access to ultrasounds, X-rays, magnetic resonance images, and other medical imaging technology used for a wide range of applications, from detecting tumors to confirming tuberculosis infections to monitoring developing fetuses.", according to
Science Daily. And this is where Boris Rubinksy, a UC professor of bioengineering and his team come in.
The team has developed a new technique which would allow a mobile phone to be used as a medical imaging viewer, so medical personnel in the field can retrieve a variety of medical images at points of care where more expensive hardware is not available. This would mean that any healthcare provider can view a variety of medical diagnostic tools - from X-rays to ultrasounds to magnetic resonance imaging -- anywhere at anytime.
"Medical imaging is something we take for granted in industrialized countries," said Rubinsky, UC Berkeley professor of bioengineering and mechanical engineering and head of the team that developed this new application for cell phones. "Imaging is considered one of the most important achievements in modern medicine. Diagnosis and treatment of an estimated 20 percent of diseases would benefit from medical imaging, yet this advancement has been out of reach for millions of people in the world because the equipment is too costly to maintain. Our system would make imaging technology inexpensive and accessible for these underserved populations."
As a demonstration of the application of cell phones for medical imaging, Rubinsky and his colleagues, Antoni Ivorra, and Yair Granot, have focused their first field test on electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which creates images of electrical currents in diseased tissue. Using commercially available parts to acquire electrical current data from patients, the team was able to upload the data to a cell phone via a USB, and the reconstruct the data for viewing on the cell phone.
The results of their test, which were supported by the National Institutes of Health, The Israeli Science Foundation, and Florida Hospital in Orlando, were reported in the open access journal,
Public Library of Science ONE (PLoS ONE), and suggested by the authors that simulated tumors were visible in the cell phone image.
If and when this new approach to using cell phones as a way to facilitate medical diagnoses develops on a broader scale, medically underserved areas around the world could have a viable and accessible means to bring advanced medical diagnostics to patient care where it has not previously been available, or affordable.
Much work remains for Rubinsky and his team, as well as for other innovative mobile phone initiatives, to successfully harness the attributes of cellular technology and deploy them for improving public health. But this new effort is indicative of the exciting efforts underway in the broader world of mobile phone technology, and the remarkable convergence underway between mobile technology and meeting important human needs.
Posted: 05/09/08 by Chris Parandian
This morning I had the privilege of talking with a senior journalism studentat the University of Maryland who is conducting a report on thewireless industry. As a part of that report, she was looking into the efforts of the industry to provide services that can deliver in a timeof need.
With that in mind, I wanted to highlight the story of Elizabeth Shoaf who was held captive in an underground bunker in South Carolina. Ms. Shoaf was able to convince her kidnapper to allow her to play gameswith his cellphone and also took the opportunity to text message her mother when he fell asleep. This led authorities to her location using triangulation and she was rescued.
An Amber Alert was not issued in the Shoaf case but they are another valuable tool in raising awareness of a missing child. The wireless industry worked withthe Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to make this happen. Any wireless subscriber can opt in to receive alerts (you will not be charged for the message alert) and you can sign up here.
Safety is your most important call and amber alerts are another way to participate in your community. Signing up takes little effort and you could make a huge difference in saving a life.
Posted: 05/05/08 by Chris Parandian
Spring brings not only a change of season but also some very exciting news in the telecommunications industry. Brian Fontes, a wireless industry veteran, will be leaving at&t to take the reigns at NENA (National Emergency Number Association). Brian will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the organization.
Brian's passion for wireless and consumers is second to none. Accordingly, it was not a surprise to see him take a position where he can contribute to public safety and the 911 community. Brian's deep experience in telecommunications policy will be incredibly valuable to NENA as it navigates the legislative and regulatory landscapes of a digital age.
We wish Brian all the best and look forward to working with him in his new capacity at NENA.
Posted: 05/05/08 by Jo-Anne Basile
In the spirit of going green, especially with regard to all things electronic, I would like to highlight Recycling for Charities. Recycling for Charities is a non-profit organization (501(c)3, which takes the spirit of recycling to the next level by donating a portion of the proceeds from recycled cell phones and other electronics to the recycler's charity of choice.
How it works: first, you gather all the old cell phones, pda's, iPods and digital cameras that you no longer use or need. On the web site for Recycling for Charities, you select the charity or charities that you would like to benefit from your recycling donation. The website lists nearly 200 charities, but if you want to donate to one not listed have your charity sign up online so they can be placed in the system.
Finally, you print out the shipping label and tax donation form from the Recycling for Charities Web site (i.e. a receipt that acknowledges your donation) and ship the electronics to Recycling for Charities. Recycling for Charities makes a donation based on the amount of your recycled items.
Remember the more items you collect, the greater the donation to your charity of choice, so consider a fundraiser where you can collect many old or no longer used cellphones and other electronics. Because Recycling for Charities is a non-profit and the proceeds go to charities and recycling efforts, the donations are tax deductible. Additionally, Recycling for Charities is committed to ensuring that no items donated to the organization ever end up in a landfill, either in the U.S. or abroad.
Due to the market fluctuations, the amount of the donations varies, but the organization donates a percentage of the market value of each item that can be refurbished, as well as a flat amount for each recycled item.
While there are a number of companies out there getting into the electronics recycling space, Recycling for Charities is currently the only non-profit recycling program for other non-profits. When considering your electronics recycling options, keep in mind the one that benefits the environment and the charity of your choice.
Posted: 05/02/08 by Chris Parandian
I'm still digesting a lot of conversations that occurred last week at the WCA conference. One discussion that would not die was which 4G technology is better for consumers: Wi-Max or LTE.
Wi-Max stands for "worldwide interoperability for microwave access" and is the 4G technology choice to provide wireless broadband for SprintNextel and Clearwire. LTE stands for "Long Term Evolution" and is the 4G technology choice for Verizon Wireless and at&t. Both technologies utilize OFDMA but will utilize different spectrum to deliver mobile high-speed broadband.
In any case, these tired conversations reminded me of the CDMA versus GSM wars that took place earlier this decade. The results of those conversations were nothing but hot air. Ultimately, LTE is not a competing technology and consumers really do not care.
Consumers demand more from wireless service providers these days. Making calls and text messaging isn't going to cut it anymore. We want quick and easy access to the Internet. We want devices that utilize hotspots. We want to watch videos, listen to music and know where our friends are. Some of us want to watch mobile TV or do our own personal mobile broadcasting. We don't care if we get wireless broadband via 3G with HSDPA or EVDO or 4G via LTE or Wi-Max. We just want it to work.
I hope that engineers and company representatives stop selling their respective technologies and lead by listening to consumers. By listening, they will mitigate churn and be on the path to providing folks what they want and where they want it. Ultimately, it is not about Wi-Max "or" LTE but Wi-Max "and" LTE delivering the wireless broadband experience we all imagine...
Posted: 04/29/08 by Diane Smith
As a telecom veteran, E911 usually brings to mind public safety and the ability for emergency personnel to locate someone in trouble. But the folks at Earth 911 put a whole new twist to E911.
The site's goal is to give everyone information on local resources to recycle everything from consumer electronics to all those cans of paint gathering dust in the garage. The site is a treasure trove of resources both broadly on environmental issues, as well as more specific advice, such as its eight tips on responsible use and disposal of technology.
I was curious what the "Act Locally" search would yield for my neck of the woods. The
tool brought up a link to many resources and programs within Montana, such as the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Department of Natural Resources Conservation and The Montana Material Exchange, which connects organizations that have materials they need to get rid of with organizations that can use them. That program keeps things out of the landfills, saves on disposal costs, and allows us to better help each other and the environment.
That led me to notice the sister site, for businesses, Earth 911 for Business. This site offers GreenGuides" that offer tips to green your business, such as how to conduct a waste assessment and create an office recycling program. As an entrepreneur, I am always looking for ways to save money and keep my dollars for growing business. The site has some no-nonsense advice for reusing materials, cutting down on energy costs by just shutting things off when they are not in use, and investing in products that reduce energy costs and last longer.
There are too many tips to list here, but I highly recommend this site for anyone looking to find ways for a greener life.
Posted: 04/25/08 by Chris Parandian
As many futurists know, I was covering the WCA conference in DC this week. Accordingly, I had the opportunity to hear a FCC Roundtable with the wireless staffers for the respective FCC Commissioners. It was very informative.
Fred Campbell (Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau) kicked off the discussion and mentioned his priority to successfully get the D Block auctioned by the end of the DTV transition. Obviously, there are issues regarding the conditions that are a part of holding that license but getting the D Block done was a sentiment shared by all the participants. Mr. Campbell also mentioned his goal of making sure that the AWS III (2155-2175MHz) spectrum got allocated in 9 months (as specified in the NPRM). He did not elaborate on whether that spectrum would be licensed or unlicensed spectrum.
Bruce Gottlieb (Commissioner Copps) mentioned his continued interest in carriers opening up their networks and believes that this move will help unleash more innovations in the wireless sector. He is pleased with the Commission's efforts to get spectrum out in the market but believes the results are a "mixed bag." For instance, he is concerned with excessive concentration of wireless spectrum and is interested in seeing some wholesaling requirements on future allocations.
Renee Roland Crittendon (Commissioner Adelstein) believes oversight of the DTV transition is important and will be watching related education efforts to inform folks of the transition. Ms. Crittendon supports future wholesaling conditions and emphasized that tradeoffs are a part of these policy decisions. She also is interested in making sure spectrum is not sitting fallow and is made available for service providers.
Wayne Leighton (Commissioner Tate) stated that Ms. Tate is passionate about broadband deployment as well as making sure the DTV transition is successful. With regard to wireless broadband deployment, Mr. Leighton is concerned that the weakening capital markets could be an impediment to some of those efforts.
Overall, a very informative panel and all the representatives were excited about our mobile future...
Posted: 04/22/08 by Mobile Future Team
As cell phone technology becomes increasingly innovative, the shelf life of consumers' cell phones becomes shorter and shorter. Currently, the average American gets a new mobile phone every 18 months, according to Inform, a New York organization with a mission to "educate the public about the effects of human activity on the environment and public health." The old phones either get thrown away or linger around the house taking up space. Less than 20 percent of those cell phones are recycled. With more than 250 million wireless users in the United States, the waste adds up.
In order to combat increasing amounts of hazardous electronic waste, the EPA has partnered with electronic manufacturers and retailers "to offer consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle their used electronics" through the Plug-In to eCycling Program. You can find out more about their program here, but we've condensed the information into five ways that you can recycle your old, unused cell phones. However, before you recycle your phone, remember to:
- Terminate your service.
- Clear the phone's memory of contacts and other stored information.
- Remove your phone's SIM card (if applicable).
5 Ways to Recycle Phones:
1. Wireless Carriers
All the major wireless providers - Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Alltel will accept donations of cell phones in their stores regardless of the cell phones' manufacturer or carrier. Simply walk into a store and let the employees know that you would like to recycle your phone, and they will help take care of the rest. More
2. Electronics Stores
In addition to carriers, electronics stores, such as Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples, are also major suppliers of cell phones and are concerned about the effects of electronic waste. As a result, these companies have also instituted in-store programs to aid mobile phone recycling. In each store, there are collection areas where you can drop-off your cellular phone for recycling. More
3. Cell Phone Manufacturers
Many of the major cell phone manufacturers - LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson - offer mail-in options for recycling your cell phones regardless of the cell phones' carrier or manufacturer. You'll need appropriate packing materials to mail your phone, but the manufacturers take care of the postage with pre-paid labels that you can print out. Some additional considerations to remember when mailing your phone:
- If you're including batteries, please ensure that the battery is fully discharged and your phone is powered off. Please do not include any loose batteries.
- Place phones in appropriate packaging/envelope. There's no need to add extra packaging materials.
- Print the pre-paid postage and affix it to the package. Make sure any previous delivery address and barcodes are covered.
- Drop off the package/envelope in the mail.
4. My Green Electronics
The Consumer Electronics Association operates a Web site called My Green Electronics. The site connects consumers wishing to purchase green products and/or looking for local options to recycle or donate used electronics. The site has a zip code tool allowing users to find their local recycling options are displayed. More
5. U.S. Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service is testing a pilot program that allows consumers to discard used electronics. The pilot program involves 1,500 post offices providing free envelopes that can be used to mail back electronics, such as inkjet cartridges, cell phones and MP3 players. The pre-paid envelopes are located in post office lobbies. Presently, the program supports 10 areas, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., but it may expand in the fall if the program is successful. More
Posted: 04/22/08 by Chris Parandian
I am attending the WCA conference in Washington DC this week. The WCA's theme this year is "capitalizing on the 4G Eco-system" and former Governor Mark Warner (VA) gave a keynote speech yesterday. As wireless networks go from delivering just voice to high-speed broadband to consumers it was fitting that Governor Warner could provide some insight on this evolution.
Briefly, Governor Warner was one of the original wireless pioneers (co-founded the company that became Nextel) and understands the business as well. He is currently running for the United States Senate in Virginia and hopes for the opportunity to help spur broadband efforts across the country.
As Governor of Virginia, Mr. Warner is familiar with the challenges of connecting folks in rural areas. During his speech he discussed the success of paving the way for "700 miles" of next generation broadband lines that connected "600,000" Virginians. Uniting folks across the party lines was key to making this happen and he hopes to bring "transformative" change to the Senate.
With regard to wireless, the Governor believes that facilitating the application process for RUS funds for small wireless providers and getting more spectrum available for providers is critical to our mobile future.
Stay tuned for additional updates from the conference....
Chris Parandian is reporting from the WCAconference, keeping us informed about what policymakers are sayingabout issues we care about. We’re not endorsing, just sharing theircomments.
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