Posted: 12/15/11 by Mobile Future Team
In 2011, the mobile space saw profound growth and a vast array of new wireless innovations and services emerge. Our annual video, The 2011 Mobile Year in Review, takes a look at the major accomplishments and ground-breaking developments in the wireless space this year. For a more in-depth view of the mobile landscape in 2011, see our accompanying paper 2011 Mobile Year in Review.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 09/22/11 by Jonathan Spalter
In the upcoming election year, virtually every American will be a 'single-issue voter,' going to the ballot box with the nation's economy and their own job prospects top of mind. It's critical that leaders on both sides of the partisan divide recognize that U.S. mobile policy is a poster-child for just the sort of forward momentum the President and leaders in Congress are seeking to gather to get the nation back on a healthy and sustainable job growth track.
President Obama and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski have amassed a strong track record in support of mobile innovation, which today puts 2.4 million Americans to work. The crown jewel of these efforts has been their press for more spectrum to power the next wave of mobile Internet-fueled growth.
And, particularly with the Department of Justice's recent aggressive stance with regard to the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, all eyes are on what comes next: Will U.S. innovation policies become more restrictive or continue to build on the proven success of consumer-guided progress coupled with light-touch regulation? As we look for answers that can create jobs and drive innovation, here are five key questions to watch:
Will consumers get more spectrum for the mobile Internet? President Obama and Chairman Genachowski are right to make today's spectrum crunch a national priority. A recent report by Credit Suisse finds that U.S. wireless networks run at 80% of capacity on a typical day, well above our global competitors. And, this isn't a race we want to win. Analysis by Peter Rysavy finds that without additional spectrum, U.S. wireless networks will run out of capacity within four years. There is no higher innovation policy priority than averting such a disastrous--and avoidable--outcome.
Will policymakers make the connection between spectrum and jobs? If the President is successful in his push for an additional 500 MHz of spectrum to support the mobile Internet, we can create 500,000 American jobs and add $400 billion to the nation's GDP. And, that forecast doesn't include the biggest job creator of all--the 'X-factor' of the next Facebook or Google--that will inevitably arise out of a more spectrum-rich environment. All the government needs to do to nurture this growth (and raise billions in auction proceeds for the U.S. Treasury) is put more spectrum up for sale.
Will the markets see a balanced outcome for AT&T/T-Mo? The Department of Justice's challenge to the AT&T-T-Mobile merger has been met with pointed expressions of concern from Silicon Valley to Wall Street. Matt Murphy of respected Sand Hill Road VC firm Kleiner Perkins noted the move has put tech investment "in stalemate mode." The Administration is right to ask tough questions about the merger. But its ability to avoid a protracted court battle and deliver a timely and constructive outcome will signal to the markets that a steady hand is at the economic helm.
Will regulators' definition of competition keep pace with the market? Even with a combined AT&T/T-Mo, American consumers have far more choices for their mobile service than most of our country's leading global competitors. Many other benchmarks must come into play to get a true gauge of competition. Case in point: The recent revelation that Sprint, with its Clearwire assets, has more spectrum holdings in an average city than both Verizon and a combined AT&T and T-Mobile. This puts into a whole new light Sprint's vocal objections to the merger on the grounds that its market rival doesn't need more spectrum. Clearly, it does to compete.
Will jobs policy value the role of small tech entrepreneurs? Over the past 15 years, small firms created 64% of new jobs in this country.[1] In the tech industry, 40% of workers are employed by small businesses. Without adequate spectrum, these innovators won't have the opportunity to create the next best thing--or the jobs that come with it.
At the beginning of the year, President Obama used his State of the Union address to call on policymakers to "make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans." Now is the time for our leaders--in the Administration and on Capitol Hill--to take concrete steps to make good on that promise and send a clear signal to the market that U.S. innovation policy will remain steady, balanced and constructive. They should start by recognizing that our nation's jobs policy and our innovation policy must be one and the same.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 08/02/11 by Jonathan Spalter
As the dust settles around the debt ceiling debate, there is broad hope that our nation's leaders continue to focus in a constructive way on getting our fiscal house in order. While recent debate centered around whether we raise taxes or cut government programs, too little discussion has focused on what it will take to support the most powerful engine of lasting and sustainable economic recovery and job creation--the private sector.
Much attention has rightly noted the promise of the mobile Internet to be a catalyst for an economic turnaround. This week, Mobile Future released fresh analysis to support this claim. The paper, authored by David Sosa and Marc Van Audenrode of the Analysis Group, explores some of the key positive economic impacts, including job creation, associated with achieving the Federal Communications Commission's objective of making an additional 500 MHz of spectrum available to support expansion of the mobile Internet.
The report calculates the economic benefits of policymakers making more spectrum available to support mobile Internet expansion. Among the key findings:
The risks associated with the debt ceiling debate were cast as one economic challenge our nation's policymakers could readily avoid through timely action. In a much more constructive way, making more spectrum available to fuel healthy, robust expansion of the mobile Internet is another positive step that policymakers can make today. The action doesn't focus on preventing economic calamity. Instead it emphasizes building for the future. It focuses on giving this wide ecosystem of mobile innovation--from applications developers to gadget makers to carriers and the millions of entrepreneurs who leverage mobile connectivity to expand their diverse businesses.
Timely action to ensure a healthy and expanding mobile Internet gives all of these companies--and the many game-changing businesses yet to come--the greatest possible shot at creating good-paying jobs and healthy, real and sustainable economic growth. After all the energy devoted to avoid default, it's time to put that same determination behind a concrete roadmap for genuine recovery--and the leadership and global competitiveness that must be our shared, ultimate objective in a connected world.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 07/15/11 by Jonathan Spalter
Official Washington already is slugging-it out in the inside-baseball of the next presidential election. But tech policy circles are pouring over the details of another closely watched horserace--the Federal Communications Commission's annual analysis of the competitive nature of the U.S. wireless market. With every manner of mobile device now bursting from our pockets and the airwaves awash in ads from a range of companies competing for our wireless dollars, the answer is fairly obvious. Nevertheless, the Commission this year provided a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the many yardsticks that combine to deliver a thriving, innovative and competitive mobile marketplace.
The report comes not a moment too soon as both Congress and the White House take up the urgent need to make more spectrum available to support U.S. consumers' fast-expanding appetite for wireless connectivity. With spectrum legislation circulating in both the House and Senate, tomorrow in the latest in a series of hearings, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will examine long-term spectrum solutions for our nation.
As it does so, the 300-plus page FCC report makes a powerful case for continuing the rapid progress of the mobile Internet--and the perils for policymakers who don't keep pace with their connected constituents.
Among the highlights:
Competition, choice, innovation and growth all rely on the same thing--more spectrum and more infrastructure. As Washington seeks to close the budget gap, the public revenues that would be generated by making more spectrum available to support mobile Internet expansion are a win-win for consumers and our economy, and for America's competitive position in the world. While consumers vote in the marketplace today--soon they will vote for the policymakers who have a big say in what the next chapter of mobile innovation will look like for our nation. Rest assured that connected consumers--90% of whom reportedly sleep with their mobile device--will vote early and vote often.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 06/30/11 by Jonathan Spalter
In the nation's capital we are beginning to see movement on a critical issue for U.S. wireless consumers with a voracious appetite for innovative mobile services, products and devices -- initial steps to address the coming mobile capacity crunch.
As the mercury rises in the nation's capital, it's not just leaders from Capitol Hill to the White House to the Federal Communications Commission who are calling for timely action on the spectrum exhaustion our nation faces. A broad array of influential voices are now stepping forward to make clear the high and shared stake -- for our economy, consumers and American innovation -- of ensuring the wireless web can continue to keep pace with fast-expanding consumer demand.
Here are four key highlights for those keeping score at home:
Network engineers sound the alarm. According to a study by Rysavy Research commissioned by Mobile Future, "capacity will not be able, absent additional spectrum, to meet the data demands of consumers in three to four years if consumers use the applications they desire." The clock is ticking and much bolder moves are needed now by the government to help free up more spectrum for connected consumers. In my view, the AT&T-T-Mobile merger is an important step in easing the spectrum crunch through market-based mechanisms. That said, it's a dangerous myth to assume one business merger -- even one of this magnitude -- can "solve" the spectrum shortage.
Top U.S. tech companies back robust wireless networks. Three years ago, we'd never heard the word "app." Today, wireless consumers can choose from nearly 1 million of them--sold by 26 competing online stores. By 2015, the "apps economy" is forecast to climb to $38 billion. That's real jobs and economic opportunities flowing primarily to the U.S. No surprise then that leading U.S. tech companies, including Microsoft, Facebook and Yahoo, recently weighed in with the FCC that "an increasingly robust and efficient wireless network is part of a virtuous innovation cycle and a healthy wireless ecosystem is an important part of our global competitiveness."
Key technology investors urge timely fix. From helping grow the economy to keeping up with consumers and innovators, we must have reliable and fast mobile connectivity. That's why prominent venture capital firms also took the rare step of weighing in with the FCC, both in support of the merger and the broader spectrum effort. "The greatest opportunity for economic growth involves wireless broadband and mobile devices," they wrote. "But this great growth opportunity faces a major impediment with the looming prospect of 'spectrum exhaust.'"
Key groups link to digital divide. In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for 98 percent of Americans to have access to the mobile Internet within five years. That would be a significant milestone for our economy and for closing the digital divide. Mobile broadband opens doors for all Americans -- from helping a blind person walk down the street with voice-activated directions to assisting people living with chronic illnesses in managing their health. Too often overlooked in the debates, African Americans and Hispanics lead the nation in cell phone ownership and wireless Internet use, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. So important is the mobile Internet that 14 national Latino groups co-signed a letter stating that "this merger could provide opportunities to achieve many of these objectives by bringing the possibility of faster, smarter wireless networks to more Hispanics, further shrinking the digital divide."
Spectrum is a complex debate. Even more true, it's an essential one to get right today. Congress is starting to move on spectrum legislation, but the clock is ticking. Today, we see a rising tide of voices -- innovators, entrepreneurs, capital investors and community representatives -- joining the call for spectrum now. The question that remains is will Washington answer -- and do so in time to keep the mobile future bright, healthy and growing for us all.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 06/29/11 by Mobile Future Team
Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission released an assessment of competition in the wireless marketplace. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter responded to the report, stating:
“It is surprising that while the report shows that 89.6% of Americans can choose from five or more service providers, the Commission's latest assessment does not acknowledge what 300 million American wireless consumers have come to experience every day – a competitive U.S. wireless market that delivers more innovative choices than ever before. Skyrocketing consumer demand, declining prices, unparalleled wireless investment, and astounding growth in new services, products, usage and options clearly point to a highly competitive wireless sector that continues to meet and exceed consumer expectations.”
To read the full statement, click here.
Posted: 06/27/11 by Mobile Future Team
According to Mashable, it is estimated that Instagram enthusiasts have uploaded more than 100 million photos to date. The popular photo-sharing app is currently accessed by more than 5 million users who post around 860,000 photos a day.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 05/27/11 by Jonathan Spalter
Part of what makes America a global leader—from innovation, to our economy to our democracy—is the notion that we can always do better. It’s an important principle that keeps us on our toes and pushing the boundaries of progress. Currently in the world of mobile innovation, much attention is rightly focused on ensuring our nation keeps its competitive edge with the world—while reaping the many benefits of intensive wireless competition for consumers here at home.
From speculation about the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming annual report on wireless competition, and the debates about the proposed purchase by AT&T of T-Mobile, we hear from many corners that our nation can do better. While I believe that is always the case, I fear that getting lost in the debate is the critical acknowledgement that our nation has the most competitive wireless market on earth. From innovative devices to exceptional value on our monthly bills to the boom in applications, our nation leads the world. And, while we push to make continued progress, it’s equally important that we stop and recognize the many things we’re already getting right.
In the early years of wireless, competition could be measured by a simple yardstick: How many carriers were in the market? That remains an important question, but many new ones deserve equal time. In today’s rich, diverse, and ever innovating mobile ecosystem, the benchmarks are far more complex and rapidly shifting. From applications and devices to new business models and market players, assessing the rapidly expanding mobile marketplace is a far more complex endeavor.
As important competition debates get underway, here are six things to consider:
1) 5+ National Carriers. Let’s start with the old stand-by—number of carriers—and face the elephant in the room: Even with an AT&T-T-Mobile merger, the vast majority of Americans will have no less than 5 national carriers to choose from—before you even get to the nimble regional players who are establishing a strong foothold in key markets today.
2) The Price is Right. Think about how you use your mobile device today versus just three years ago. U.S. consumers enjoy the lowest wireless per-minute voice prices in the world and have options to add data for as little as $15 a month. It all adds up to real value.
3) Diverse devices, diverse choices. Americans can choose from more than 630 devices supplied by at least 32 manufacturers... and counting. Our mobile hungry public is a magnet for intense competition in this segment of the marketplace, as well. The latest evidence? The early success of the iPad proved the viability and size of the fast-emerging tablet market and—thanks to competition—many other market players are joining the fray, including Samsung, Blackberry, Motorola and other tech heavyweights.
4) Apps Abound. It began with the introduction of Apple’s app store in 2008. Today, U.S. wireless customers can access nearly 1 million mobile applications from 26 competing apps stores. This marketplace has seen astronomical growth -- more than 10 billion app downloads from the Apple store alone by last count -- and is just getting started. By 2015, the “apps economy” is projected to generate $38 billion in sales—those are real jobs and economic opportunities flowing primarily to the U.S.
5) New Entrants, New Rivalries. With the current environment of constant innovation, new and serious competitors are emerging. Many in the tech world are closely watching Microsoft’s purchase of Skype. Is the Redmond company on the fast track to becoming the next major wireless provider? Will this new combination catalyze the nascent video chat market? Another potential disruptor is the recent claim of Google’s Eric Schmidt that the company’s Android phone wallet “could replace your credit card.” The mobile payment market barely exists in the U.S. today, but it is likely to take shape quickly and have far-reaching implications throughout the mobile ecosystem.
6) Customer Satisfaction. And let’s not forget what consumers themselves have to say about their mobile experience: 92% of U.S. wireless customers tell the FCC they are satisfied with their mobile service. Those are boffo numbers for any heavily used retail offering and a strong indication that value, innovation and choice abound.
Americans get an incredible amount of value and innovation from their mobile experience. And, in no small measure, credit is due to policymakers who for the past couple of decades have gotten it right by taking a light-touch approach to regulation. Their vigilance today is admirable—and appropriate. But it doesn’t change the fact that American mobile innovation remains the envy of the world and there’s no reason to believe consumers won’t continue to enjoy these mobile benefits and opportunities going forward. Without a doubt, we must stay on our toes to continue the success story, to continue to innovate, and to continue to stay competitive globally. But key to maintaining our edge is recognizing the extraordinary competition that has carved it so sharply to date.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 05/26/11 by Mobile Future Team
Square, the mobile payment company, recently announced the release of its Card Case App which is taking mobile payments to the next level by literally transforming smartphones into virtual wallets.
As the NYTimes article explained, the new app- which looks like a wallet once opened up- allows customers to set up virtual tabs at participating Square businesses and checkout by giving the cashier their name. The customer’s picture then pops up on the cashier’s end for verification and Square digitally sends customers their receipts.
The Card Case App also lets customers view menus and search for restaurants based on user’s location.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 05/19/11 by Jonathan Spalter
Smartphones, tablets and an ever-expanding array of mobile gadgetry have become ubiquitous in society. In ways large and small, we all bear witness every day to the fact that modern life is being transformed by the power of the Internet in the palms of our hands.
What makes it all possible? A pivotal resource with an elusive definition. In geek-speak we call it spectrum. But what IS spectrum? In a nutshell, it is the essential 'invisible infrastructure' that makes all mobile connectivity possible. Without allocating more spectrum for mobile, our nation's appetite for wireless could outstrip capacity in as little as three to four years.
Today, Mobile Future is releasing a video, "Spectrum: Fueling the Mobile Future," that seeks to explain why we need more spectrum to power the ongoing expansion of the mobile Internet, and the strong stake our nation's 300 million wireless consumers have in what has so far been a highly technical and inside-Washington debate about the future of this critical resource.
What's driving the sense of urgency? Fast-expanding mobile connectivity is poised to power the next wave of American innovation and job creation. Ensuring there's adequate spectrum to keep pace is essential to the quality and reliability of mobile service that consumers take for granted today.
A few key facts about the coming (yet easily avoided) mobile capacity crunch:
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
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Tags: Applications, Competition, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, Innovation, Mobile Phone, Spectrum, Wireless Devices, Wireless Innovation, Investment/Competition