From Futurity: Double wireless capacity with ‘full-duplex’

RICE U. (US) — A new technology that allows wireless devices to “talk” and “listen” on the same frequency could pave the way for 4.5G and 5G networks.

The “full-duplex” technology developed by engineers at Rice University also could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower.
“Our solution requires minimal new hardware, both for mobile devices and for networks, which is why we’ve attracted the attention of just about every wireless company in the world,” says Ashutosh Sabharwal, professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Read the full article here: Double wireless capacity with ‘full-duplex’.

Verizon to announce iPhone offering today

According to multiple sources, including the Wall Street Journal, Verizon will formally announce later today the carrier will begin offering the Apple iPhone at the end of January. This will mark the end of AT&T’s exclusivity deal with Apple regarding the devices, but also represents a pivotal moment for both AT&T and Verizon in terms of Wall Street and network performance.

The impact to AT&T could be substantial given the network capacity and quality issues that subscribers have reported, leading to frustrations that could result in a switch of service providers. Quarterly churn numbers could jump significantly if there’s a mass exodus from AT&T, but that’s not likely. A vast majority of AT&T’s installed base of iPhone users are tied to family or corporate plans, making it more difficult to switch without prohibitive financial penalties.

The network capacity and quality issues caused by an overwhelming amount of data traffic on AT&T’s network could replicate themselves on Verizon’s network as well. While Verizon maintains their network is ready to handle the demand, there’s no guarantee and no way to predict what actual demand will be. For example, several studies have cited that Android users (the bulk of Verizon’s non-Blackberry smart phone portfolio) use more data than current iPhone users on AT&T’s network.

Perhaps the most significant difference (and differentiator) in the network offerings of AT&T and Verizon is the ability to talk and use data simultaneously – an advantage AT&T has leveraged in the marketplace since launching 3G services. This functionality is important to many subscribers, and may prove problematic for Verizon if the majority of potential new subscribers are not aware of the technology difference.

The most interesting metric to observe, if the announcement happens as planned, will not be the bleeding of customers from AT&T to Verizon – it will be the battle for market share between Android, Apple and RIM in the Verizon customer base.

Given the announcement is still pending, Telwares believes:

- Verizon will announce the iPhone with an unlimited data plan, attempting to lure dissatisfied AT&T users across carrier lines and attracting smart phone upgrades within their installed base of subscribers.

- Verizon will have 7 to 9 million iPhones in its subscriber base by the end of 2011.

- Verizon will not experience the network issues that AT&T has endured; all service providers are now beyond the shock factor of data usage from smart phones, and Verizon has the advantage of the lessons learned from AT&T’s deployment.

- AT&T’s quarterly churn numbers will be moderately impacted, but will not drastically impact stock price during 2011.

Telwares Mobility Leader Speaks on Handset Evolution at Interop

Telwares EVP Michael Voellinger will address the accelerating diversity in mobile handsets and operating systems at Interop New York, happening Oct. 18-22 at the Javits Convention Center. http://www.interop.com/newyork/conference/wireless-and-mobility.php

Voellinger will be a featured panelist in a thought leadership session titled “Darwin and the Handset: Who Survives?” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21. He will be joined by representatives from Research in Motion and Sprint on the panel, moderated by Michael Finneran, principal of dBrn Associates.

The session will tackle tough questions faced by enterprise technology executives:

• Which wireless platforms will survive?
• What will these look like going forward?
• How can the enterprise successfully plan the evolution of mobility given these shifting sands?

“Mobility is becoming an essential component of every organization’s IT strategy,” says Interop GM Lenny Heymann. “At Interop New York, we’ll explore perspectives and best practices from the leaders driving them in the marketplace.”

Telwares advises enterprises globally on technology, infrastructure, convergence, policy, sourcing and expense management. “The tremendous diversity between wireless devices and platforms makes mobility management extremely challenging for enterprise communication technology professionals,” Voellinger says. “Compounding these challenges, organizations must adapt and innovate as tech-savvy end users insist on bringing their consumer technologies into the workplace, and leverage those technologies to solve business issues.”

“Mobile diversity is one of the drivers of a new holistic approach by IT organizations,” notes Telwares CEO Charlotte Yates. “The collision of SaaS, cloud services and consumer-based technologies means today’s CIO needs to focus more on the alignment of business enablement and technology than ever before,” she adds.

Interop® drives the adoption of technology, providing knowledge and insight to help IT and corporate decision-makers achieve business success. Part of UBM TechWeb’s family of global brands, Interop is the leading business technology event series. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique InteropNet program, Interop provides the forum for the most powerful innovations and solutions the industry has to offer. For more information about these events, visit http://www.interop.com/.

RIM and Nokia Fight Back after Apple Press Conference

Apple CEO Steve Jobs had to know he was opening a can of feisty worms when he accused RIM, Nokia and other handset manufacturers of the same antenna design flaw that’s haunted the launch of Apple’s iPhone 4.

Users report dropped calls and weakened signals when holding Apple’s iPhone 4 a certain way. Jobs defended the phone at a July 16 press conference and offered free “bumpers” to prevent signal disruption.

Jobs tried to deflect criticism by characterizing antenna problems as a challenge faced by the whole wireless industry, and then pointed to alleged similar flaws with the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and Samsung Omnia II.

It took only hours for RIM to defend its BlackBerry antenna design:

“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable,” say RIM co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie in an official statement posted on Crackberry.com. “Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation.”

“RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage,” Lazaridis and Balsillie continue. “One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smart phone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”

Nokia also fought back with a statement. As reported by Engadget:

“We prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict,” Nokia says. “Antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That’s why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real-life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design.”

It’s unlikely that we’ll see the end of the antenna scandal soon. In the meantime, Telwares’ mobility experts urge enterprises to take the same measured approach to deploying the iPhone 4 as they would any other brand, carrier or platform. There’s no fundamental need for a change in direction for any enterprise evaluating the merits of deploying the iPhone to its user community.

Telwares instructs enterprise organizations that have already deployed the iPhone 4 to closely scrutinize their commercial agreements with AT&T to determine device support from multiple channels, how they can approach implementing the remedies Apple has outlined with minimal business interruption and the contractual implications where the need to terminate specific services exists.

Defensive Jobs Hosts iPhone 4 Press Conference

The iPhone 4 “antennagate” scandal has been blown out of proportion, Apple CEO Steve Jobs insisted when he took the stage at an Apple press conference held today to address complaints about the device.

Users report dropped calls and weakened signals when holding the phone a certain way. Jobs countered that more than 3 million iPhone 4s were sold in the three weeks since the iPhone 4 launched, and that it’s received the highest customer satisfaction rating of any iPhone or any smart phone, Engadget reports.

Antenna problems are a challenge faced by the whole wireless industry, Jobs says, as he pointed to alleged similar flaws with the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and Samsung Omnia II.

Jobs also acknowledged that iPhones use a faulty algorithm to calculate signal strength. But even the updated algorithm in a forthcoming software update will show a signal strength decrease when the phone is held the wrong way.

But the degradation is slight, Jobs maintains: The iPhone 4 drops one more call per 100 than the iPhone 3GS. Only 0.55% of iPhone 4 users have called AppleCare to report signal degradation, and 1.7% of iPhone 4s have been returned – a decrease from the 6% of iPhone 3GSs returned.

Apple will attempt to combat the negative publicity by giving away free cases to mitigate the antenna problem and issue refunds to users who bought the cases proactively. Users can also return the iPhone 4 for a full refund (and no restocking fee) within 30 days of purchase. Jobs indicated he thinks AT&T will refund money spent on its service contracts when users return iPhone 4s.

Here’s the bottom line for enterprises: There’s no fundamental need for a change in direction for any enterprise evaluating the merits of deploying the iPhone to its user community, according to Telwares’ mobility experts.

The issues and challenges faced by some end users on the iPhone are not drastically different than any other brand, carrier or platform. The same measured approach to deploying any enterprise technology still applies and is not altered based on the data available today.

Telwares instructs enterprise organizations that have already deployed the iPhone 4 to closely scrutinize their commercial agreements with AT&T to determine device support from multiple channels, how they can approach implementing the remedies Apple has outlined with minimal business interruption and the contractual implications where the need to terminate specific services exists.

Telwares in the media: smartphones

Telwares was quoted today in InfoWorld on the topic of corporate ownership of smartphones. You can access the full article by visiting:

http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/who-should-own-your-smartphones-173

Telwares mention in Infoworld

Telwares was quoted today in an article on the National Broadband Plan, released Tuesday.

“The lobbying and PR blitz by special interests has already started. Let me quote from a story that ran in the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday: “The agency’s proposal may force TV stations ‘to change channels and reduce service areas, perhaps standing millions of viewers,’ David Donovan, president of the broadcasters Asociation for Maximum Service Television, said Monday.”

Yikes! Pretty scary — or is it? In fact, because the plan lacks specifics, there is no way to judge if reallocation of some spectrum would squeeze out broadcast TV, says Michael Voellinger, executive vice president of Telwares, an IT and telecom consultancy that has looked hard at spectrum issues. ”Anyone faced with a potential loss of spectrum is going to defend that turf,” he says. But on the surface at least, that scary outcome doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, Voellinger says.

Even so, there is no doubt that wireless service is being crowded by a lack of spectrum, a shortage that will only get worse as wireless demand continues to grow.”

To access the full article, please visit: http://www.infoworld.com/t/regulation/national-broadband-plan-needs-be-fixed-already-997?page=0,0

To access the National Broadband Plan, please visit www.broadband.gov

Behind the curtain: Corporate versus individual liability in wireless

The topic of who owns and who pays for an employee’s wireless services is once again heating up, and has been for the past year. It’s no coincidence – from a financial perspective, times are tough and companies need cost out opportunities. On the technology side, smart devices  continue to penetrate the enterprise at ever-increasing rates…sometimes even alarming rates. This is a recipe for direct conflict and the issue is multifaceted.

Many organizations think moving to a stipend or pure T&E model will solve the cost issue in wireless. Some companies are questioning the concept of subsidizing wireless at all. The real truth is that no single model will solve the financial requirement for cost out, and certainly won’t solve the technical issues. It’s all about having a relevant mix of liability models (think bell curve that spans the wireless population) that drives the optimal impact. Basically, the “IL versus CL” debate is based in financial logic today, but will quickly evolve into the relevant discussion of risk tolerance, security, culture, and ultimately competitive advantage. Here’s why:

•It’s not about the simple MRC versus a stipend: the TCO and IT impacts shape the story and drastically impact end results (you still need to support connectivity, which then spins into security, compliance and support)

•A stabilized (or at least consistent) environment to launch back office enablement or enterprise tools becomes front and center in the argument to own the assets – not for finance, but for consistency and foundation and speed of deployment

•There is no such thing as a liability model without layers of exceptions including tiered stipends (what happens if I spike?), T&E (I exceeded my cap, now what?), or a pure consumer model (you don’t reimburse, I don’t answer the phone)

•The ultimate mix of liability models depends almost entirely on the subtleties of IT capabilities, business requirements, financial conditions and organizational culture

•Almost every organization embraces multiple liability models, whether they are formally acknowledged or not

As financial conditions tighten, cost out often leads to demand destruction – the outright removal of devices from the subsidized population of employees. Cost out can also mean the removal of certain services, the potential downgrade of support, or refinement of eligibility or entitlement policies. The math might work in the short term, but the business effects can last long after the short term savings gain. The point here is to vet out eligibility early, and be smart about what is fundamentally impacted by making changes. It can be financially and culturally painful if not executed carefully.

The bottom line, corporate liability is a consistent best practice for most organizations. What’s changing is the need to be specific and savvy about how to apply it, and how to bolster it with smart options.

Look for more thoughts from Telwares on this topic next week in a media feature, link to be posted here Monday.