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| July 7, 2015
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T-Mobile Ordered to Turn Over Most Customer Info

T-MT-Mobile Ordered to Turn Over Most Customer Infoobile received the most government requests for subscriber data in 2014 according to a report from CNET. U.S. governments made nearly 351,940 requests for data from T-Mobile (TMUS) in 2014. The author, Roger Cheng states that the 351,940 government requests for data are the most out of any of the four national wireless carriers.

The number 4 U.S. carrier by subscriber base recently released its first transparency report. The article breaks down the government requests for T-Mobile information:

  • 177,549 criminal and civil subpoenas
  • 17,316 warrants
  • 3,000+ wiretap orders
  • Between 2,000 and 2,250 national security requests,
  • 8 requests from foreign governments.

These numbers represent an 11% increase in government demands for subscriber information over last 2013.

The article claims that Verizon and AT&T each have twice as many customers, but T-Mobile fielded more requests than its rivals.

  • Verizon (VZ) with 132 million subscribers in Q4 of 2014, saw 287,559 government requests.
  • AT&T (T), with nearly 121 million subscribers in Q4 of 2014, saw 263,755 government requests,
  • Sprint (S) with 55.5 million subscribers in Q4 of 2014, saw 308,937 government requests.
  • T-Mobile with just over 55 million subscribers in Q4 of 2014, saw 351,940 government requests.

Here is how the four wireless carriers’ government information requests compare.

CarrierSubscribersSupeanasWarrantsWireTap OrdersTotal Requests
Verizon132 million138,158`31,2141,433351,940
AT&T121 million201,75420,9852,420263,755
Sprint55.5 million308,93713,5403,772308,936
T-Mobile55 million177,43917,3163,087251,940
Totals358.5 million826,28883,05510,7121,176,571

surveillance programsTransparency reports have become increasingly popular over the past year as civil liberties groups, shareholder and consumer advocates have pressured companies to be more open about when they disclose customer information. The article claims T-Mobile was the last of the four national carriers to issue a transparency report, which comes amid continued scrutiny of surveillance programs run by U.S. three-letter agencies and friends— including the bulk collection of phone call data — that was revealed when former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified government documents.

The author notes that companies aren’t under a legal obligation to show the data in transparency reports, but have been willing to share with the hope that the reports will help repair their reputations, which have been damaged by the Snowden revelations of the past two years.

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government demands for subscriber informationThis data only represents data requests where they bothered to follow U.S. laws to legally request data. How much more is there sitting in a data warehouse in the sky?  

Why is the T-Mobile number so high? Is it bad luck? Do they fight the requests the most? Are they playing ball with the TLA’s?  We may never know. VentureBeat speculates that the best way to measure how willing T-Mobile works with the government is by looking at the percentage of government requests to which T-Mobile delivered data. But T-Mobile refused to offer that information to VentureBeat.

“Regarding the additional question on breaking out the numbers further than what’s currently provided in the report, our systems were not designed to track the kind of detailed reporting that other companies engage in today,” a T-Mobile spokesperson wrote to VentureBeat.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| June 13, 2013
Comments Off on iDEN Shutdown is a Massive Recycling Project

iDEN Shutdown is a Massive Recycling Project

Sprint iDEN Shutdown Makes Massive Recycling ProjectSprint Nextel (S) is set to shut down its Nextel iDEN network to make room for LTE. The shutdown will result in nearly 30,000 iDEN installations being taken off the air. All of that ewaste needs to be part of a recycling Project.

FierceBroadbandWireless explains that Sprint has deployed FDD-LTE using the 1900 MHz Band 25 spectrum. Sprint holds two 5 MHz channels in the G band adjacent to the PCS spectrum. The carrier’s Band 26 800 MHz spectrum is currently used for CDMA as well as end-of-life iDEN service. Sprint will gain another two 5 MHz channels for LTE once it shutters its iDEN network on June 30 and re-purposes that 800 MHz spectrum for LTE.

Sprint without Nextel logoAccording to Sprint, its last full day of iDEN service will be June 29. Sprint said it will close switch locations “in rapid succession on June 30.” After the shutdown equipment will be powered down and backhaul at each cell site will be eliminated. Tens of thousands of iDEN cell sites will be deconstructed and taken off the air. Sites, where CDMA and LTE equipment are colocated, will be left intact, minus the iDEN gear, said Sprint.

100 million pounds of recycling

The shutdown will generate over 100 million pounds of leftover iDEN network gear. The equipment and materials include cables, batteries, radios, server racks, antennas, air conditioners, and other equipment. Much of the equipment s being staged for recycling vendors. Most concrete shelters housing iDEN cell sites will be crushed and turned into a composite for roads and bridges, said Sprint.

Recycling a nationwide wireless network is a huge undertakingThe iDEN recycling project is expected to continue into early 2014. “Recycling a nationwide wireless network is a huge undertaking, but one that we’re committed to,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-network. “The company has earned a reputation for environmental stewardship. The iDEN recycling effort extends our commitment.”

The market for used iDen equipment is pretty limited. GigaOm points out that iDEN is a dying technology, and Nextel was the world’s largest iDEN carrier. iDEN’s sole manufacturer, Motorola Solutions, still supports the technology, and a handful of operators in North and South America, as well as Asia, still use it.

make money from recyclingThe recycling and reusing move isn’t just about PR. GigaOm says that Sprint can save significant money by reusing its tech. They could make money from recycling if it sells the scrap to a waste vendor. There are also some state laws that require the recycling of certain types of e-waste, particularly substances that could be hazardous material that could seep into a landfill.

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| March 27, 2013
Comments Off on Mobile Patent Troll Sues Everyone

Mobile Patent Troll Sues Everyone

Mobile Patent Troll Sues EveryoneSurprise, surprise there’s another mobile-related patent lawsuit. at GigaOM says this time the plaintiff is an obscure Delaware-registered limited liability non-practicing entity called Steelhead. The patent in question covers ‘mobile radio handover initiation determination’ – in other words, choosing which cellular base station has the best signal as the handset moves from one place to another.

Cell phonesThe defendants are a who’s who of the mobile world: Apple (AAPL), AT&T (T), Google (GOOG), HTC, Kyocera (KYO), LG (LGLD), MetroPCS (PCS), Motorola Mobility, NEC Corporation (6701), Pantech, Research In Motion (RIMM), Sony (SNE), Sprint (S), T-Mobile, Verizon (VZ) and ZTE (763). The article says these firms committed the mortal sin of allowing their mobile phones to act like mobile phones. But the interesting thing about this particular suit is the origin of the suit – or, more precisely, the reporting around that origin.

Mr. Meyer reports that U.S. Patent No. 5,491,834 comes from BT (BT). It was filed in 1993 and granted in 1996. The patent is still listed by the USPTO as belonging to BT. In its court filings provided by the author, (the Motorola/Google example is here), Steelhead notes that it “owns all rights of recovery under the ‘834 Patent, including the exclusive right to recover for past infringement.”

aggressively monetizingThe author suggests that this case may not be BT “aggressively monetizing” its patent portfolio. BT told Mr. Meyer, “BT sold all of its rights to the patents last year. We have no involvement in Steelhead Licensing LLC’s litigation activity.”

BT claims the troll is not a shell front for the firm. A spokesperson for the telecom giant told GigaOM,  “BT doesn’t share in Steelhead’s licensing income”.

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I have covered the mobile patent wars many times here. I don’t know why I find patent trolling so interesting to follow. Maybe it is the same reason I watch NASCAR highlights, for the crashes, or the buy a few Powerball tickets, just in case.

Maybe someday all the money spent on lawyers will actually go back to making things and creating jobs.

Kids squabblingShame on BT if this is a legit patent and they were not smart enough to enforce their claim when they had it. I’m no lawyer, it seems to me that mobiles that can’t find a cell tower to connect to don’t work.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| January 26, 2012
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Your Dog Can Run, But He Can’t Hide

Your Dog Can Run, But He Can't HideThere is a new pet-oriented Global Positioning Systems (GPS) on the market. The new GPS system now makes it possible to constantly track your best friend according to a report in MIT’s Technology Review. The GPS devices made just for pets are generally small enough to be attached to a dog or cat collar which allows Owners to track their furry companion’s every paw print in real-time.

GPSThe New Jersey Star-Ledger points out unlike microchips embedded in the skin of an animal which store identifying information, these devices aren’t invasive, and owners don’t have to wait for a stranger to find and bring their lost pet to an animal shelter to scan the chip.

“This could easily be a multi-million-dollar category,” David Lummis, a “pet market analyst,” at New York-based market research firm Packaged Facts, recently told the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Dog owners are now more “crazy” about their four-legged friends than ever. If the recession is any indication, Mr. Lummis told the paper that the $58 billion pet products industry has merely slowed a few percentage points during the recession.

tagg logoThat kind of consistent growth has attracted the attention of Qualcomm (QCOM) the biggest maker of mobile phone chips.  San Diego-based Snaptracs, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm, has released Tagg the Pet Tracker.

The rechargeable Tagg device can be attached to a collar (provided it’s not a spiked or bejeweled one), plus a home base unit. Owners are able to set a virtual perimeter for the dog to wander. TR says a text message or email alert will be sent if Fido strays too far. The device has a battery life of some 30 days and is water-resistant; it’s intended for dogs (or cats) 10 pounds or heavier. The necessary hardware and one year of Verizon (VZ) service cost $200 according to Technology Review. The service costs $5 a month after that. It’s a small price to pay, Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs told the paper, considering pets are becoming increasingly “like family members.” Users can also find their pets at any time through a computer or smartphone.

Jessie and WileyGPS giant Garmin (GRMN), has also entered the dog lo-jack market. The paper says the Olathe, Kansas-based company released the GTU 10 device, a 1.7-ounce gadget. Garmin users can also set up a perimeter and receive alerts, or track real-time from a mobile device or computer. The GTU 10 operates on AT&T‘s (T) wireless network and costs $200 for the first year and $50 a year after that.

Another competitor is Retriever. TR says Retriever has similar functions with virtual fences and alerts but adds a social networking element. Retriever will share Spot’s location with a friend, presumably so if your dog gets loose while you’re out-of-town, you can help steer the on-site rescue. To judge from its site, Retriever appears to not yet be on the market, nor is a projected price listed.

Technology Review also notes other products in this niche. Global Pet Finder, is not available any more on Amazon (AMZN) as of this article. The SpotLight device costs $169.99 and is limited to T-Mobile coverage. SpotLight costs $179.88 per year for a subscription. The Love My Pets device and 1-year subscription cost $189.95 use the Sprint (S) network. The Love My Pets system costs $14.95 per month for a subscription according to a CSR.

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Qualcomm’s goal is to encourage new uses of its radio chips, not to make a hit product. These products are part of the Internet of Things. As the Apple (AAPL) iPod and iPhone have shown, people are willing to shell out a lot of cash for things, but it is in the services where the money is to be made on the Internet of Things. Content is still king.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| September 20, 2011
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Super-Fi OK’d by IEEE

Super-Fi OK'd by IEEEI usually don’t have a problem getting a wireless signal where in my Bach Seat. However, there are some areas where I coordinate technical services that don’t get wired or wireless Internet. In these rural areas, where AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), Sprint Nextel (S), and Comcast (CMCSA) and their fellow travelers fear to tread because they can’t make a buck in these areas, some help may be on the way from the IEEE.

IEEE logoIn 2009, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) started the development of IEEE standard 802.22, which addressed the need for broadband wireless access in rural areas, those where it is not economical to deploy a wired infrastructure. In July 2011, the IEEE announced that it has published the standard titled: “IEEE 802.22-2011 Standard for Wireless Regional Area Networks in TV Whitespaces” (PDF).

The IEEE press release states: “This new standard for Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) takes advantage of the favorable transmission characteristics of the VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband wireless access over a large area up to 100 km (60 miles) from the transmitter. Each WRAN will deliver up to 22 Mbps per channel without interfering with reception of existing TV broadcast stations, using the so-called white spaces between the occupied TV channels.”That part of the spectrum, known as white spaces, sits between broadcast TV channels and will become available when broadcast TV stations switch from analog to digital in 2009.

VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband wireless accessThe White Space Coalition led by Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG), Dell (DELL), and other tech titans strongly support the use of the white spaces in the U.S., going up against strong opposition lead by Michigan’s own John Dingell and big media like the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NHL, NCAA, PGA Tour and ESPN who say unlicensed devices in the TV bands would interfere with their signals.IEEE 802.22 reportedly will not interfere with TV broadcasts, because it incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including:

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I met Mr. Dingell about a dozen years ago, at a school to encourage the politician to support schools when the USF started the eRate program for schools. I recall Mr. Dingell telling me he could not support eRate because he did not trust the FCC to get it right. At least he is consistent.

I believe there is a very good chance this technology will never be a commercial success. The wireless carriers will squash this technology like they have squashed municipal wi-fi and community fiber networks. The improved speeds and coverage areas are a threat to their limited 4G coverage and they would lose out on their monthly pound of flesh capped rate-limited data plan.

It will be up to us in the public sector to implement this technology for our clients.

What do you think?

Will Super-Fi ever see the light of day?

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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