Tag Archive for Verizon

| March 27, 2013
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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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| 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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| August 30, 2011
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Verizon Upgrades Michigan Service to 4G – Almost

Verizon Upgrades Michigan Service to 4G - Almost

I was going to let this press release from Verizon Wireless slide without comment until I got to the end and then I had to jump right out of my Bach Seat and crank out this post. Verizon Wireless (VZ) told MiTechNews they are investing $850,000 in Michigan to upgrade 450 antennas on all of its cell sites between the Saginaw Bay north to the Mackinaw Bridge and east of Interstate 75 to Lake Huron. The company reports the new antenna equipment has resulted in incremental network coverage gains of up to one mile, improving overall reliability for customers.

The project will be complete when the company can swap equipment on one last tower in Roscommon where a nest of osprey chicks has called home since March.

Michigan“Our customers in eastern northern Michigan are able to use their devices in more places, especially in buildings,” explained David MacBeth, executive director–Network, Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky region, Verizon Wireless. “We’re constantly refining our network to ensure our customers have the best experience every time they pick up their wireless device.”

The company’s ongoing network investment in Michigan now totals more than $1.6 billion to increase the coverage and capacity of its network and to add new services.

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Despite what Mr. MacBeth claims, I’ve heard about an organization that moved to VZW from another wireless provider and VZW could not provide the 4G or any G service in the building. When the customer pushed on VZW to provide any G or basic voice service in their building, the sales rep. came back and said, “we won’t help you because we spent all of our money.”

Verizon Wireless logoApparently, that was the wrong answer, the organization reportedly moved 20 smartphones accounts from VZW back to the previous provider. But hey it is a good press release at least because VZW cares about baby birdies.

What do you think?

Are you satisfied with Verizon Wireless 4G service indoors?

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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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| May 18, 2011
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Tech Regulatory Capture

Tech Regulatory CaptureRegulatory capture occurs when governmental bodies created to act in the public interest instead advances the commercial or special interests that dominate the industry or sector it is charged with regulating. Regulatory capture is a form of government failure, as it can encourage large firms to exploit the public.

Sunlight: Congress’ Revolving Door to Telecom, Cable Firms

Congress' Revolving Door to Telecom, Cable FirmsAccording to a 2010 Washington Post article, broadband providers including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T and Verizon Communications have amassed armies of former government officials to lobby against net neutrality and other regulations at the Federal Communications Commission, according to a report by the Sunlight Foundation. The nonprofit public interest organization said those firms hired 276 former government officials, including 18 former members of Congress, to fight against rules that would require them to treat all Web sites and content equally on their networks.

AT&T (T) has hired Republicans and Democrats from the US House and Senate to lobby for them including:

  • Jim Davis former Democratic congressman from Florida;
  • Trent Lott former Republican senator from Mississippi;
  • Vic Fazio former Democratic representative from California;
  • John Breaux former Republican senator from Louisiana;
  • J.C. Watts former Republican representative from Oklahoma.

Comcast (CMCSA) has also hired former politicians like:

Verizon (VZ) hired Republican representative Jack Fields from Texas.

The cable industry trade group National Cable & Telecommunications Association, hired Chip Pickering, a former Republican congressman from Mississippi.

The US Telecom Association, the Broadband Association hired Al Wynn former Democratic representative from Maryland.

Revolution LLC.

Revolution LLC.Ron Klain is General Counsel of former AOL CEO Steve Case’s Revolution LLC. Prior to joining Mr. Case’s firm Mr. Klain has extensive public service, most recently as a senior White House aide to President Obama, and Chief of Staff to Vice President Biden. He has also served as Chief of Staff or Staff Director for Vice President Al Gore, Attorney General Janet Reno, the Senate Democratic Leadership Committee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Klain was also Associate Counsel to President Clinton and a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Byron White. He has served as a top debate preparation advisor to Presidents Obama and Clinton, and Democratic Presidential nominees Al Gore and John Kerry.

State Department’s Katie Stanton Moves to Twitter

State Department's Katie Stanton Moves to TwitterTwitter has captured Katie Stanton, a special adviser at the State Department and former White House staffer. She is heading to Twitter to work on international business strategy according to the Washington Post.  Ms. Stanton tweeted her move to the social information platform’s San Francisco office. The Post says Ms. Stanton will be a vice president driving Twitter’s international business strategy and operations. Ms. Stanton previously worked at Google as a product manager for the search engine’s finance application.

She joined the White House as the director of citizen participation after working on new media strategies for President Obama’s election campaign. Stanton moved to the State Department last year, working with Alec Ross, senior adviser for innovation, on how to use social media tools and technology for diplomatic goals.

Facebook Hires White House Adviser as New VP

Facebook Hires White House Adviser as New VPAppScout reported that Facebook has captured an economic adviser to President Obama to serve as its new vice president of global public policy.  Marne Levine is the special assistant to the president for economic policy and chief of staff for the National Economic Council at the White House.

“With over 70 percent of our users living outside the United States, her unique mix of government and Internet industry experience will be invaluable to help Facebook address some of the most interesting questions at the intersection of technology and public policy,” Elliot Schrage, vice president of global communications at Facebook, said in a statement.

Levine will work out of Facebook’s D.C. office where she will oversee and coördinate interactions with governments and non-governmental organizations, Facebook said. She will also help to build Facebook policy teams in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

According to the article Ms, Levine helped launch an online peer-to-peer payment platform and helped manage its privacy and compliance issues which are probably why Facebook hired her so she can lobby her former boss on privacy and banking issues.

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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 21, 2011
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Wireless Spends Big Bucks Lobbying Congress

Wireless Spends Big Bucks Lobbying CongressCTIA, the Wireless Association, CTIA is the wireless industry’s largest trade group spent $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2010 to lobby federal officials. Bloomberg cites a quarterly disclosure report filed with the U.S House of Representatives.  This marks a new high in CTIA lobbying spending. CTIA spent $2 million spent in the second quarter and $1.3 million that it spent on lobbying in the third quarter of last year, reports Bloomberg. Bloomberg says the trade association lobbied Washington on:

  • MCTIA, the Wireless Associationore radio spectrum for wireless Internet services.
  • The FCC’s recently adopted “network neutrality” rules, which prohibit broadband providers from interfering with Internet traffic traveling over their systems.
  • The FCC’s legal framework for regulating broadband.
  • “Bill shock” rules, which would require wireless companies to alert subscribers before they run out of minutes, hit data usage or text messaging caps, or start racking up international roaming charges.
  • The CTIA which represents wireless carriers, like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, says it now generates annual revenues of $155.8 billion.

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Not only is the wireless industry lobbying group, CTIA spending millions every year to buy influence legislation, but the wireless companies are also the leaders in lobbying spending. I wrote about AT&T and Verizon (VZ) both spending over $3 million on lobbying in 2010 here. I wrote about AT&T’s (T) long tradition of spreading its money around to buy influence legislation here. The rational business use of this money says that these firms are getting more benefit by lobbying lawmakers than investing it in their networks, paying a dividend, or putting the money in the bank, but are the best decisions for the rest of us?

Who do you think the politicians are really looking out for?

 

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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