Proposed Bill To Put Spotlight on ATandT and T-Mobile’s Fake 4G Networks

Posted on 25. Jun, 2011 by Scott Sutton in 4G LTE

Rep. Eshoo has bill in the works that would require companies to define their 4G network.

Rep. Anna Eshoo

If Democratic Rep. of California Anna Eshoo has her way AT&T and T-Mobile will be in the hot seat for their rebranding of their 3G network.  As of now AT&T and T-Mobile have for the most part just rebranded their 3G networks and started calling them 4G.  Representative Eshoo has proposed a bill requiring carriers to define what they mean by 4G and to even go as far as provide side-by-side comparisons to other carriers’ 4G networks.

Read more here.

Read more 4G LTE blog post here.

A No Nonsense Guide to 4G and the Future of Mobile Communications: A Series on 4G LTE

Posted on 09. Jun, 2011 by Cellular Sales in 4G LTE, A No Nonsense Guide to 4G

Comparing 4G Networks

Several companies advertise 4G networks or 4G speeds including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. If you compare the technology, the network performance and the coverage areas, Verizon Wireless dominates the field and will dominate for years to come. Why? For two main reason: they were an early adopter to the technology that is become the standard of transition into 4G: LTE (Long Term Evolution). Secondly, they have been aggressively preparing for this switch for several years, so they are ahead of their competition on the basis of network area launch time and network performance.

AT&T and T-Mobile focused primarily on improving network speeds by investing heavily in HSPA+ technology. But now AT&T is quickly trying to catch up by investing in LTE. HSPA+ is simply not a long term solution since it relies on old standards. As a stopgap measure between 3G and 4G, HSPA+ provides faster download and upload speeds in areas of availability.

So the main advantage of HSPA+ is faster speeds in the interim while these networks catch up with the newest technologies. Unfortunately, PC World has reported that some users of the new HSPA+ technology are reporting slower speeds than 3G.^[1] Slashgear’s Shane McGlaun expressed disappointment that AT&T was promoting HSPA+ as 4G and said that the speeds weren’t terribly impressing.^[2] In spite of repeated claims for 6Mbps downloading speeds, PC World reports that most users appear to be averaging speeds closer to 2.5Mbps.^[3]

Even in places and on products where HSPA+ is delivering higher speeds, this technology is still not true 4G and will be superseded by LTE. In fact, the AT&T Mobility CEO admitted that AT&T is at least two years behind Verizon Wireless at the recent “All Things Done” conference.^[4] This explains part of the drive for AT&T to merge with T Mobile, but even with a merger, both networks will still be behind on LTE coverage.

Sprint was the first company to advertise 4G speeds with their WiMax technology. While Sprint’s WiMax is a 4G technology, it’s performance speeds are still well below LTE. As a result, Sprint is now focusing on developing LTE coverage as well.

For those wanting true 4G LTE coverage, Verizon Wireless is the only real option and will be for several years to come. How did Verizon corner the market?

With the impending end of all analog signal transmission in the United States (June 2009), the FCC offered operation rights for the 700 MHz frequency formally used primarily by UHF channels. The United States 2008 Spectrum Auction (known officially as Auction 73) starting auctioning rights in January 2008.^[5]

Verizon Wireless was the big winner.^[6] As it turns, Verizon had big plans for the 700 MHz rights. They were looking ahead to the implementation of 4G and LTE technology across the United States. They started an aggressive rollout schedule for the 4G LTE Network.

On December 5, 2010, Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE network in 39 major metropolitan cities, covering more than 110 million Americans. By the end of 2011, Verizon plans to offer their 4G LTE network in more than 175 markets. Every month, more and more Americans are enjoying the blazing speed of this true 4G LTE network by Verizon.

PC Mag, PC World, ZDNet and a critics all across the mobile communications industry agree that the new 4G LTE network from Verizon is the fastest network available. ^[7] On the day Verizon launched the 4G LTE Network in December 2, 2010, Gizmodo tracked test results from across the nation. Speeds included:

MSNBC – 32Mbps download and 11.99Mbps upload

Engadget – 7.14Mbps download and 1.12Mbps upload

Slashgear – 12.44Mbps download and 6.73Mbps upload

GigaOm – 11.7Mbps download and 5.6Mbps upload

Network World – 7.5Mbps download and 6.5Mbps upload

Gizmodo – 9.5Mbps download and 2.9Mbps upload^[8]

From the technology to network coverage^[9] to performance to available 4G products, Verizon Wireless gives customers the ability to enjoy the full advantages of 4G now and in the years to come.

- Doug Flyod

AT&T Uses the “Fake it Till You Make it” Approach with 4G LTE

Posted on 03. Jun, 2011 by Scott Sutton in 4G LTE, Wireless Industry

AT&T claims 4G but then announces 4G LTE roll out this summer.

AT&T’s CEO, Ralph de la Vega, admits that their network will be inferior for years to come. At the D9 Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California Vega said that it will be two to three years until their LTE coverage is “indistinguishable” from Verizon’s. Ok, if they aren’t even starting to rollout 4G LTE until this summer, what have they been talking about in their commercials?

It turns out that, along with T-Mobile, AT&T has just been rebranding their network 4G.  That is, they have just been renaming their networks 4G with out actually having 4G service. For now AT&T is trying to pass their subpar HSPA+ off as 4G until they can move over to LTE this summer. Nice try…

The Big Red ain’t scared!

Posted on 22. Mar, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Company News, Wireless Industry

Verizon CEO, Daniel Mead, isn’t interested in a buyout of Sprint nor is he worried about the AT&T / T-Mobile merger.

Sprint only took a few hours to put forward their concerns about a AT&T /  T-Mobile merger.  However, Verizon Wireless isn’t even worried.  Its CEO, Daniel Mead, said anything can go through with enough concessions and then also mentioned that, “We’re not interested in Sprint. We don’t need them.”  Mead is more interested in profitability than being the largest wireless company.

See the rest of the story from Engadget  here.

Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T Sign Up To Support Wireless Payment Project

Posted on 16. Nov, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Wireless Industry

As if your cellphone weren’t already important enough to you, it might soon also replace your wallet.

Looks like the providers are lining up behind the “Isis project” to get the job done.  Here’s a story in the LA Times:

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon partner on Isis mobile payment project

Verizon Smartphone Customers Use 25% More Data Than iPhone Users.

Posted on 26. Jul, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Wireless Industry

This data usage report came from Validas, a wireless billing data analysis firm (interesting company!).

And a follow-up to our announcement about adding jobs to the Knoxville area, from WBIR.com:
Cellular Sales sees huge amount of applications since announcing new jobs

Rule The Air.

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Wireless Industry

Verizon is reworking its image with the new “Rule The Air” campaign.  The campaign is focusing on “empowering” the user.

Check out a new “Rule The Air” commercial:

-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising, Cellular Sales

Smartphone In’s And Out’s

Posted on 28. May, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Wireless Industry

Here’s a good article explaining the difference between the iPhone OS and Android, and the in’s and out’s of the battle for smartphone supremacy.  Marketshare for advanced devices is nearing 40% of wireless users in the US.  In related news, my mom got my dad an iPad this past weekend, which is either a sign of the end of days, or a sign that ANYone can embrace technology.  I’ll optimistically assume it’s the latter.  And that your grandmother will soon be updating her FB status: OMG, I luv these precious LOLcats!!

Excerpt from “What Makes Android Tick” on TechNewsWorld.com:
Oddly, Android’s primary strength might be Apple’s exclusive agreement with AT&T. This deal forced Verizon, which is in its own fierce battle for market share, to search for an alternative to the iPhone. The first offspring of the Verizon-Android alliance, the Motorola Droid, showcased the ever-improving capabilities of the Android platform and solidified its place as a player in the smartphone ecosystem.

-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising, Cellular Sales

This Is Pure Gossip And Hearsay, But…

Posted on 29. Mar, 2010 by Cellular Sales in Marketing and Advertising

I loved Luke Wilson before he started doing the misleading AT&T commercials.  I have tried to separate the man from the acting gig, but I saw this article today and thought it was time to go on and throw him under the bus.

Luke Wilson A Diva On The Set Of His AT&T Commercials, Source Says.

PS: To clarify the misleading part of AT&T’s ad campaign, the maps in Verizon’s commercials show 3G coverage, not basic coverage.  Verizon Wireless blows AT&T out of the water when it comes to 3G coverage.  Don’t let the diva convince you otherwise.

-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising

How Wireless Carriers Are Faring as Consumers Cut Costs

Posted on 06. Mar, 2009 by Cellular Sales in Wireless Industry

This data was compiled by the Geezeo Main Street Spending Index (MSSI).

Consumers are looking to cut costs wherever they can. Looking at MSSI statistics of five major wireless carriers reveals that the cell phone industry is no different. Spending levels at Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) have all seen changes since October of last year.

This month’s MSSI data shows that monthly average spending at Verizon and Sprint increased by 3% and 1% respectively, whereas T-Mobile and AT&T observed declines of slightly more than 1% each. But how are these firms fairing in a longer time frame?

In October the results for these four firms are more noteworthy. Both Verizon and AT&T have seen relatively stable revenues, with the average Geezeo customer spending 4% more and AT&T customer 1% over this period.

The numbers are not as encouraging at competitors Sprint and T-Mobile. The two firms have both seen average spending by Geezeo users fall overall since October. T-Mobile’s customers spending dropped by 9.36% and Sprint’s customers by an even larger 13.36%.

Since all these firms operate on contractually set rates, such declines indicate that Sprint and T-Mobile are seeing less new or continued contract agreements than their larger competitors, which can lead to lower revenues from both subscription fees and other earnings from extra features. It important to note, however, that all four of these firms have seen positive spending figures from this time last year, in both overall and year on year statistics.

This being the case, Verizon and AT&T seem to be large enough to handle this economic environment better than Sprint and T-Mobile.