Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 03/03/11 by Mobile Future Team
A few new stats caught our eye this week:
- Smartphones outsold PC’s.
- According to IDC, in the fourth quarter of 2010 100.9 million smartphone devices were shipped compared to 92.1 million PC units.
- Mobile app revenues projected to reach $38 billion by 2015.
- Forrester Research analysts also estimate that by 2015 mobile applications, services and business management revenues will reach $54.6 billion a year.
- By 2015, e-commerce is expected to reach $278.9 billion in the United States according to Forrester.
Posted: 02/10/11 by Mobile Future Team
President Obama today announced a new Expanded Wireless Access Initiative intended to help achieve his goal of increasing high speed wireless coverage to 98% of Americans. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter responded to the Initiative, stating:
“President Obama’s Expanded Wireless Access Initiative is a testament to the tremendous role mobile technology plays when it comes to achieving the Administration’s goals of “out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world.”
“We appreciate President Obama’s leadership in creating an unprecedented Administration-wide focus on expanding access to high speed broadband for Americans. The wireless sector is already evolving at an astounding pace and this initiative sets the course for the next wave of mobile opportunities with even more economic growth and continued job creation. While today’s announcement is yet another big step in the right direction, it’s critical that the President and his Administration do all they can to maintain an environment that encourages investment and innovation in today’s highly competitive wireless eco-system."
To read the full statement, click here.
Posted: 01/26/11 by Mobile Future Team
In his State of the Union address last night, President Obama committed to setting policies that promote mobile investment and innovation, stating “within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans.” More details are still to come, but this is a great recognition of the key role that wireless plays in connecting the nation and spurring economic growth.
Here are the president’s comments on wireless from the speech:
“Within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans. This isn’t just about a faster internet and fewer dropped calls. It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It’s about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.”
Posted: 11/08/10 by Mobile Future Team
Today, NTIA released a new report, "Digital Nation II" that analyzes home broadband Internet access and adoption across the United States. Mobile Future responded to the report, pointing specifically to the strides taken by the wireless sector to expediently close the digital divide, made possible by a light touch regulatory environment that fosters innovation, investment and competition.
To read the full statement, click here.
Posted: 09/23/10 by Allison Remsen
A national survey released today found that an overwhelming number of American voters believe the Internet is working well and a clear majority don’t think the government should even consider regulating the Internet.
From Politico’s Morning Tech:
MEANWHILE, POLL SHOWS OPPOSITION TO INTERNET REGS – A survey commissioned by Broadband for America, to be released this morning, shows 75 percent of respondents believe the Internet is currently working well, and 55 percent think the federal government should not regulate the Internet at all. Of the 31 percent who thought the government should regulate, more than two-thirds said the regulation should be focused on privacy, online safety and protecting children. Fun fact: Out of the 800 people surveyed, 36 percent said they voted for McCain in the 2008 presidential election, and 44 percent said they voted for Obama.
With record numbers of Americans going online to look for jobs, gain access to health care resources, and find educational opportunities, the Internet is a key tool to increase the quality of life for Americans—and users clearly recognize its importance.
Posted: 07/14/10 by Mobile Future Team
The wireless industry reached an impressive benchmark last Thursday, with the number of wireless service subscriptions surpassing 5 billion globally. After taking into account individuals with multiple subscriptions, the number, which is up from 720 million in 2000, suggests just under 5 billion of the world’s 6.9 billion people are connected wirelessly. Furthermore, Ericcson, the company who first released the estimates, predicts at the current rate of 2 million additional subscriptions per day, we will see 50 billion connected devices by 2020. The popular and expeditious transition to the mobile Internet shows the demand for wireless devices is here to stay, with consumers realizing more than ever the benefits of mobile connectivity.
To read more about Ericcson's findings, click here.
Posted: 06/30/10 by Mobile Future Team
There are now two types of surfing you can do at the beach; wave surfing and surfing WiiMAX/4G Internet on your laptop. Clearwire®, the mobile Internet product and services provider, rolled out three new devices last week to engage consumers in the WiiMAX revolution. With the Clearspot(s) and mobile 4G USB unit, customers can receive 4G speed Internet anywhere—like the beach—under the clear coverage network, which already includes cities in twenty states with more to be added soon.
Frugal-minded parents rejoice! Just in time for summer vacation and in advance of the back to school blitz, Best Buy is now offering discounted, WiiMAX enabled laptops that can connect to the Clearwire® mobile internet service. Summer road trips will never be the same.
Posted: 05/18/10 by Jonathan Spalter
"High speed Internet empowers people with disabilities to become more independent. [It] can remove barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating in everyday activities such as employment, education, civic responsibilities and social connection."
From a joint statement by: The American Association of People with Disabilities and The Communications Workers of America
For America's 54 million people with disabilities, two important events happen this summer. First, there's Memorial Day, when disabled veterans will proudly lead ceremonies and officials will emphasize the need to help those injured in conflict.
Second, July 26th is the 20th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was a long time in coming and is probably the single most empowering law during the past generation. But while the ADA has been instrumental in providing legal help for Americans with disabilities, something else is doing an important job in improving basic living standards.
It's your mobile phone.
That's the conclusion of a new research paper that Mobile Future issued today. For all the talk about texting, streaming video, gaming and other apps, one of the most heartening mobile developments involve affordable, life-changing improvements for those with disabilities. The FCC also recognizes this development and hosted a workshop to explore ways in which new technologies can offer opportunities to meet the communications access needs of people with disabilities.
Take the hearing impaired. In 2006, according to the CDC, 37 million adults in the United States had trouble hearing (ranging from a little trouble to being deaf). That's an increase of more than five million since 2000.
As described in Mobile Future's paper, a new wireless system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute offers those with hearing difficulties the ability to caption events in real-time. The device translates spoken words into text and displays it on a screen.
Meanwhile, according to Scientific American, researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle) are developing software that lets mobile phone users communicate through sign language and real-time video instead of being limited to text messaging.
But what about those who can't see? Some of the same technology that lets you save money while shopping is also turning the phone into an electronic seeing-eye companion.
As we discovered, mobile apps can use smartphone cameras to scan labels and announce the contents of grocery items, their nutrition labels, and even pill bottles. When merged with GPS technology, these apps can assist the visually impaired by giving them step-by-step directions through their smartphone.
Know someone with a speaking disability? An estimated 6 to 8 million Americans have this challenge. Many, if not most, can now take advantage of low- or no-cost communications apps on their cell phone. There's voice output software that conveys typed messages; downloadable text-to-speech software can be an effective, less-costly alternative to speech devices covered by private insurance and Medicare.
Also, some experts say that children with speech impairments often prefer using "mainstream" technology which is less stigmatizing.
Mobile Future's research paper is meant to be both an assessment and a celebration of the key innovations that are helping those with disabilities. It is also a "look-ahead" at the next phase wireless technologies in the pipeline which promise even more transformational impacts for the one in five Americans who live with disabilities.
This column was originally posted on Huffington Post on May 13, 2010.
Posted: 05/17/10 by Mobile Future Team
Now in its 108th year as a retailer, JC Penney is looking to freshen up its look. And how can you reach out to both new and existing customers quickly? Why, by using something we all have- mobile devices.
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, reporter Rachel Dodes outlines how the American staple is evolving to capitalize on emerging technologies: “Within the next 18 months, Penney shoppers will be able to receive location-specific promotions on their mobile devices when they walk into a store. They'll also be able to get deals and see product reviews in stores by taking pictures of bar codes with their phones.” But it’s also what’s happening behind the scenes that will make a huge difference for customers.
JC Penney is looking to increase inventory efficiency with wireless product trackers and 24 hr shipping updates so managers know exactly where and when products will be arriving to their stores. Saving time and money with a precise supply chain ultimately is a savings for the customer.
Posted: 05/14/10 by Mobile Future Team
Yesterday, Mobile Future released a white paper assessing the role of mobile and wireless technologies in creating opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities.
The white paper, entitled "Mobile Ability: The Transformational Impact of Wireless Innovation for People with Disabilities," examines the advancements in mobile devices and services that enhance quality of life and inclusiveness for Americans with disabilities. For this population especially, the personal customization wireless devices offer unleashes new opportunities in employment, health care, education, and emergency response that can be tailored to meet an individual’s unique needs and preferences.
The paper also explores next generation technologies and the future of mobile innovation in this arena, pointing to several key areas where policymakers can make a difference.
Also happening yesterday, the FCC held a workshop on Expanding Disability Access with Wireless Technologies, demonstrating the pertinence of the white paper in today’s telecommunications landscape. The workshop—which focused on consumer-based components of the National Broadband Plan geared toward maximizing adoption among Americans with disabilities—is one of many laudable examples of the FCC’s commitment to increasing broadband capabilities among the disability community.
We are excited to offer this paper at a time that can complement the FCC’s agenda outlined in the National Broadband Plan, while simultaneously informing beneficial products and meaningful policy moving forward.
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