Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 02/09/12 by Mobile Future Team
A new study out this week highlights the app market's impact on job creation in the United States. According to TechNet, since 2007 the application economy has created about 500,000 jobs.
As President and CEO of TechNet Rey Ramsey stated:
“America’s App Economy – which had zero jobs just 5 years ago before the iPhone was introduced – demonstrates that we can quickly create economic value and jobs through cutting-edge innovation…Today, the App Economy is creating jobs in every part of America, employing hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers today and even more in the years to come.”
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 02/07/12 by Mobile Future Team
State regulators have gathered from across the country this week for the winter meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) here in Washington. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter participated on a lively panel exploring the exploding demand for mobile connectivity, and what a predicted spectrum crunch means for consumers and the nation’s economy.
Consider the benefits of mobile broadband: constant and instant connectivity with people around the world in the palm of your hand. Near limitless possibilities for innovation and investment. In the U.S., one of the crucial benefits of wireless is the impact on the economy. Researchers Robert Shapiro and KevinHassett concluded that transitions from early wireless networks to more advanced 3G and 4G technology led to some 1.5 million new jobs from April 2007 to June 2011. For every additional 10% increase in adoption of 3G and 4G technologies, 231,000 new jobs may be added in less than a year. Plus, with an additional 500 MHz of spectrum for mobile, the Analysis Group conservatively estimates that we can create 500,000 American jobs and add $400 billion to the nation’s GDP. Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless, becoming more and more vital to our economy and how we conduct our everyday lives.
No one wants to go back to the days of the ‘busy signal.’ If we don’t reallocate more spectrum for wireless now, the capacity constraints could wreak havoc on the consumer experience - more dropped calls, stalled apps, and slow mobile Internet connections. State and federal regulators alike need to support policies that help get spectrum to those who need it the most – the 300 million wireless consumers.
So what can state policymakers do? Some states have the authority to review secondary market transactions within their state. Timely approval of thosetransactions is necessary so providers can swiftly make the best use of thespectrum that is available to them. Additionally, state regulators can help educate local municipalities. Acting as a resource on the capacity constraints of wireless networks may help to smooth tower siting approvals so providers can build out and expand their networks, allowing consumers to continue to enjoy unfettered access to mobile broadband.
State regulators should also encourage their federal counterparts to act now to free more spectrum for mobile. Congress is working on federal legislation authorizing the FCC to conduct incentive auctions and we strongly urge them to enact legislation quickly. As Jonathan said yesterday, “we need to stop playing games; it can take seven to 10 years to put any new spectrum into not only the pipeline but into commercial deployment. We don’t have time to waste.”
Consumers are demanding a mobile future. Policymakers must act now on these opportunities, before the spectrum crunch becomes a reality and millions of Americans are left waiting for many of the advantages mobile broadband can offer.
Posted: 02/03/12 by Mobile Future Team
Mashable recently highlighted a survey by Harris Interactive outlining smartphone users expected mobile activities during Super Bowl XLVI. Almost half of Super Bowl viewers are expected to look at their mobile devices up to ten times during the game and a third of viewers will have their device-in-hand as they watch the game.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 01/31/12 by Mobile Future Team
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that several major auto makers are working to integrate smartphone and tablet apps into vehicles. In the near future, music streaming apps such as Pandora and radio streaming apps such as Stitcher and TuneIn could allow users to customize stations for the road.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 01/20/12 by Mobile Future Team
2011 truly was a banner year for wireless and as CNET recently reported, new data released by traffic site Pingdom points to the frenetic growth in the mobile sector. According to the report, there are now 5.9 billion mobile subscriptions globally, 350 million users log into Facebook from their mobile phone and of all handsets shipped in 2011, 85% were equipped with mobile Internet.
To read more, click here.
Posted: 01/18/12 by Mobile Future Team
Today, the NYTimes reported that Visa is enabling several smartphones with technology to make wireless payments. This near field technology would allow users to make a payment by simply waving their smartphone in front of a merchant’s terminal.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 01/13/12 by Mobile Future Team
In the wake of CES and the debut of numerous new and innovative gadgets, consumers might have the urge to upgrade their current mobile devices. But before users toss discarded phones into a nearby trash bin they would be wise to note the importance of recycling their old devices. As reported in Good Technology, there is heightened attention on responsibly disposing of old electronics and recycling these devices has grown into a five billion dollar industry in the United States alone.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 01/06/12 by Mobile Future Team
As reported by Cnet, new data released by Flurry- a mobile analytics firm- finds that during the final days of 2011 there were over one billion application downloads. According to the research, in the last week of December alone users downloaded 1.2 billion apps, a sixty percent increase in the average number of weekly app downloads.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 11/28/11 by Mobile Future Team
Today, USAToday reported that a new cross-platform app can aid users as they study for standardized tests. BenchPrep helps prepare students for a variety of tests including the SAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT, and students are able to access the application from their smartphones, tablets and even the Internet. This free app offers users mock exams, progress reports, customizable study schedules and the ability to interact with other users who are studying for the same test.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 11/10/11 by Mobile Future Team
As Engadget reported, recent data from Nielsen reveals that individuals between 55 and 64 years old are the fastest smartphone adopters. From Q2 to Q3, smartphone ownership among this demographic rose 5% and now 30% of soon-to-be grandparents are smartphone users.
To learn more, click here.
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Tags: Applications, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, Innovation, News, Smartphone, Wireless Devices, Wireless Innovation