2600hz is part of a new movement to turn the data center into the new telco. That’s one way to puit it. Another is to realize that our 100-year old phone system is decomposing. → Read More
Editor’s note: Steve Patterson’s observations and writing are based on his 20 years working in the primordial ooze of start-ups in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Silicon Valley leads the nation with more than 50 percent of telecom venture investments, and its share is growing. The reason for this is that companies such as Google, Apple, VMware and Salesforce have redefined the meaning… → Read More
Plivo, a telephony startup from the current Y Combinator batch, is today launching its API platform for voice and SMS applications. Despite the sound of it, Plivo is not a direct competitor with developer-friendly Twilio, but is targeting larger businesses in need of scale.
The company’s founders, Venkatesh B and Michael Ricordeau (who go by Venky and Mike), met over GitHub two years ago… → Read More
For most of the last decade, the carriers have called the shots. Likened to “Soviet ministries” by Walt Mossberg, carriers had full control of their environment, from billing to customer service to device availability. There were four carriers and each competed on different platforms but generally handset manufacturers went to them, hat in hand, and showed off a crop of new devices. Like mad… → Read More
The State Ministry of Industry in China has “outlawed” VoIP calling, suggesting workers use good old China telecom for their important calls out into the Capitalist wilds. According to a report, the ministry suggested that 30 million current users are using “illegal VoIP operators” and they have been given a number to call to report use of VoIP in their neighborhoods. → Read More
Good news for our readers across the pond today. Skype and mobile provider 3 have partnered on a handset that will allow you to make free Skype calls using your account. Bearing a striking resemblance to NETGEAR’s SPH-101 Skype WiFi phone, the phone will cost 49.99 pounds (about $102) on a pay-as-you-go plan and goes on sale Friday, November 2nd. Get this though: if you’re already a 3… → Read More
It’s no surprise that Google was considering a bid in the FCC’s upcoming auction for the 700MHz spectrum. Now Google is saying that if the FCC allows the auction to proceed with open-access requirements, it will bid. The company has at least $4.6 billion available to play with for the auction, so things could get quite interesting. Google recently sent a letter to the FCC’s… → Read More
Today Sprint and Clearwire announced that the two companies will be partnering to create a nationwide mobile broadband network. Using the 2.5GHz spectrum as the foundation, this network looks to be one of the first of its kind. With super-fast speeds and availability from New York to San Francisco, this could very well be the boost Sprint needs for its image in light of recent consumer-related… → Read More
One of the biggest concerns from other carriers regarding the iPhone was that customers would be jumping ship to go with AT&T. Sure, maybe a handful of iPhone buyers would switch, but how big of an impact could it possible make? Try a huge one. Turns out that 25 percent of iPhone buyers switched to AT&T from another carrier according to reports from American Technology Research. Even with… → Read More
During the extravaganzafest known as the iPhone launch, we somehow overlooked this AT&T purchase. Seems AT&T is hell-bent on becoming an absolute telecom behemoth. Now with the purchase of Dobson, which cost a whopping $5.1 billion, AT&T has now scooped up all of Cellular One’s customers. Seems the number of GSM options for consumers is quickly shrinking. To be honest though, I… → Read More
Sprint is striking out on its own and is wiping the Nextel brand from its slate. Seems the problem lies within botched advertising and a faulty network, which caused many customers to drop Sprint as a carrier. So what happens when you’re trying to invent a new image for yourself? You use a new tagline, that’s what. Sprint is now adopting the slogan, “Sprint ahead” in hopes… → Read More
While the excitement over the iPhone builds here in the US with the upcoming June launch, Europe’s telecom companies are fighting over distribution rights. Right now, T-Mobile seems to be the biggest player due to its foray into the mobile music market. Vodafone and Orange UK are still interested, but might lose out to T-Mobile if they don’t play their cards right. But T-Mobile might… → Read More
An interesting little tidbit of information here. Comstar UTS and Moscow’s City Telephone Network will be teaming up to deliver 200 WiFi-enabled coin-box telephones throughout the city. These phones will be placed in subways, airports, hotels, and other public places. Each phone will allow customers to pay via coins, pre-paid cards, sms-authorization, and MGTS phone cards. Apparently… → Read More
http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/NQNhq253PPWkUciv4 Way back in the early 1990s, AT&T put out a series of videos showcasing what its idea of a technology-filled future would be. The above video, which is part six in the series, shows two women ordering lunch from Ronny’s (the cobb salad is to DIE for), shopping for dresses with virtual mannequins, and seeing how they’d look in dresses… → Read More
Not sure how many of you use Helio, but if you do, we’ve got some great news for you. As part of the “all-in” package Helio offers, you can now call other Helio users for free, anytime, anywhere. If you don’t do the “all-in” package, then you can add it to your plan for $5 bucks a month a la carte. Useful? If you have a lot of pals or family who use Helio as a… → Read More
Seeing items from Japan like TVs and cars all over the US is nothing but commonplace these days. But in a rather interesting move, Japanese-based cell provider KDDI will be launching a new MVNO in the US. It will leech off of Sprint’s network, so expect lots of media and 3G features to be a part of the upcoming network. A newspaper in Japan reports that KDDI is already stepping into gear and… → Read More
Skype must be wanting to cash in on the fact that America is hooked on cellphones. Yesterday, they sent a letter to the FCC asking for cellular carriers to allow customers to run any communication application they so choose. In a nutshell, Skype basically wants companies like T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint to allow customers to install a cellular version of Skype for making inexpensive or… → Read More
Shame on you Verizon. First you run out on your wife, then get into a bitter battle over alimony. Now the telecom giant is going to jail for failure to appear in court. Some guy named “Poodleman” was hosed by Verizon when they double-billed him, messed up his credit and didn’t do anything to fix it. Verizon was sued, Poodleman won and he was supposed to be paid. Well Verizon took… → Read More
Most of us are aware that Cingular has switched over to using the AT&T name instead. Not only is this another odd telecom move, it’s also confusing. Lucky for us, we have Stephen Colbert on our side to explain how it all works. His powerful graphs and gripping lingo make for an awesome clip to watch. The funny part is, it’s actually quite informative. Stephen Colbert Helps Explain… → Read More
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