Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 09/12/11 by Mobile Future Team
The Obama Administration signaled its intention to include a measure to expand wireless coverage and increase mobile spectrum as part of the American Jobs Act. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter responded to the measure, stating:
“We applaud the President’s recognition of the crucial role mobile broadband can play in spurring job growth and boosting the nation’s economy. Recent data shows that making additional spectrum available for wireless will lead to 500,000 new jobs in America. We strongly encourage lawmakers to make more wireless spectrum available quickly to meet exploding consumer demand, fuel our technology-driven economy, and unleash investment and new economic opportunities.”
To read the full statement, go here.
Posted: 08/24/11 by Mobile Future Team
Today, Mobile Future and Roger Entner of Recon Analytics, released a new report, What’s It Worth To You? Comparing Wireless Pricing in 14 Countries. The analysis finds that Americans consume more than five times the wireless services at more affordable rates than those in key countries around the world.
“Never has it been cheaper and more affordable for Americans to take full advantage of all that mobile connectivity has to offer,” Entner said. “Putting both voice and data spending together, Americans pay more than $4 less per month on mobile communications than they did three years ago, all while enjoying faster speeds and increased utility through more applications and tools. That is a remarkable value given the exponential growth in recent years in U.S. mobile Internet use.”
Among the key findings of the report, the United States is:
- #1 in Overall Value: From 2007 to 2010, consumer spending on wireless voice and data combined has dropped more than $4 per month.
- #1 in Lowest Per-Minute Costs: U.S. consumers get significantly more “bang for their buck” with one minute of average work earnings buying 19 minutes of talk time – nearly four times more than the second most affordable country, Finland where one minute of work buys 5 minutes of talk time.
- #1 in Mobile Voice Usage: In 2010 Americans talked 875 minutes per month on their mobile devices—more than the next two most talkative countries combined—Canada (375 minutes) and Israel (360 minutes).
- #1 in consumption: Americans consume more wireless minutes, messages and data than anywhere else while paying less than nearly all the countries surveyed.
“American consumers are leading the world in embracing the mobile future, and the value they receive for their hard-earned dollar is the envy of the world,” said Mobile Future Chair Jonathan Spalter. “This is a testament to the intensely competitive nature of the U.S. mobile marketplace and the untapped potential that still exists to create jobs and move our innovation economy forward if we take the right policy steps today, particularly in the spectrum arena, to continue the rapid expansion of the mobile Internet here in the United States.”
To read the full statement, go 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: 05/19/11 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:
- Smartphones Set the Stage. Smartphones, with their robust and appealing capabilities, generate 24 times more data traffic than a basic feature cell phone--putting vast and quickly escalating strain on existing mobile network capacity;
- Tablet Torrent. As consumers quickly embrace additional devices, led by iPads and other tablets, these devices generate 120 times the data traffic of basic cell phones;
- Everyone's Smart. By next year, more than half of all new phones purchased will be smartphones, exponentially driving up demand for adequate spectrum; and
- Everything Connects. By 2014, 70% of all consumer electronics (not to mention medical, education, public safety and business tools) will connect to the mobile Internet.
Too little spectrum leaves too few options for the mobile innovation community: Unreliable service and performance, potentially higher connectivity costs and even rationing of wireless services. The good news? It doesn't have to be that way. If Washington takes the right steps, right now, to constructively address the spectrum crisis and meet fast-expanding consumer demand, we can have all the wireless Internet we need to keep the mobile future bright.
Today, over 300 million American consumers take their mobile connectivity for granted. And, 90% of us feel so strongly about this connectivity that we keep our favorite device close to our hearts--literally within arm's reach 24 hours a day. To keep mobile connectivity working for all of us, it's time to raise our voices and be clear to our nation's leaders: We need spectrum now.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
Posted: 05/18/11 by Mobile Future Team
Our nation has an extraordinary appetite for wireless products, data, and services across a dizzying array of applications and devices. The massive growth of internet mobility, however, is quickly exceeding the available wireless spectrum, the invisible infrastructure that powers the mobile ecosystem.
We at Mobile Future have outlined the serious impacts sharply increasing data consumption will have on networks if additional wireless spectrum is not made available soon in this Spectrum: Fueling the Mobile Future Video.
Key highlights from the video include:
- By 2012, more than half of all new phones purchased will be smartphones.
- A smartphone uses 24x more spectrum than a feature phone. An iPad uses 120x more.
- By 2014, 70% of all consumer electronics will be wirelessly connected to the Internet.
- If we don’t allocate more spectrum for mobile, our nation’s appetite for wireless will out-strip capacity as early as 2014.
To watch the video, go here.
Posted: 05/06/11 by Mobile Future Team
Earlier this week, Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter spoke on “The Next Internet Revolution” panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. To watch the discussion, click here.
Posted: 04/18/11
Mobile Future Advisory Board Member Diane Smith discussed how technology advancements have allowed entrepreneurs to live and work in rural America in The Flathead Beacon, “Entrepreneurship in the New Rural America.”
As Smith stated:
“So long as a rural area has the proper wired and wireless technology infrastructure, entrepreneurs can set up shop with no large cities nearby, enabling them to enjoy the quality of life that places like Montana offer.”
To read the article, click here.
Posted: 04/07/11 by Mobile Future Team
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter attended the White House Summit,“Spectrum Auctions: Unlocking the Innovative Potential of Wireless Broadband,” where leaders in the technology sector, policymakers and top economists discussed how freeing up spectrum will benefit the economy, consumers and expand wireless coverage across the U.S.
In a statement released after the event, Spalter said:
“Today’s White House spectrum summit underscores the broad recognition that growing consumer demand for wireless technologies and mobile innovations are fundamentally transforming our nation’s economic future. Efficiently and responsibly making more spectrum available through incentive auctions is critical to help meet President Obama’s ambitious goal of expanding access to wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans.”
To read the full statement, click here.
Posted: 03/21/11 by Mobile Future Team
This week, Mobile Future will be at the CTIA Wireless show. If you're in Orlando, be sure to visit us in Booth 4037.
Posted: 02/15/11 by Mobile Future Team
With the continuous release of new apps and services ever-changing the mobile ecosystem, it’s important to take a step back every now and then to see what trends have taken hold and how the mobile economy has grown. Keeping up with developments in the wireless space is no easy task, but thankfully comScore has just released the findings in their U.S. Digital Year in Review 2010, A Recap of the Year in Digital Media.
According to comScore’s recap, smartphone adoption reached new heights this past year as 1 in 4 Americans now have a smartphone and half of mobile subscribers use 3G services. What are Americans doing on their mobile devices? The recap found the number one mobile activity was text messaging with 68% of Americans sending text messages in the past year, while 52.4% of mobile Americans took a photo, 39.5% accessed news and information, 36.4% used the browser and 34. 4% used an application.
comScore attributes the mobile surge to a “perfect storm” of smartphone adoption, device innovations and network investment. Best of all, the recap projects that “these factors will continue to be strong drivers of mobile media consumption in 2011.”
Check back with us for regular updates on the state of the wireless space.
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Tags: Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, Innovation, Mobile Future, News, President Obama, Spectrum, White House, Wireless Innovation