spectrum

LAS VEGAS--In a keynote address yesterday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski sounded a warning for mobile broadband users. "We're threatened by a looming spectrum crunch," Genachowski said. "This is the dark cloud around the silver lining."

The explosion in innovation in mobile computing, evident everywhere here at CES, could come to a crashing halt if the government can't provide more bandwidth to mobile broadband carriers and their customers. And that, Genachowski said, would threaten U.S. jobs and technical supremacy.

Trouble is, that's precisely the warning Genachowski has delivered in his previous two appearances at CES. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--If Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has his way, the United State would have universal broadband coverage by the end of the decade. And if we really has his way, his agency will be able to reallocate the needed wireless spectrum as it sees fit.

"As you know we've asked Congress to give the FCC the authority to conduct incentive auctions," he said while speaking here today at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. "My message on incentive auctions today is simple: we need to get it done now, and we need to get it … Read more

LAS VEGAS--I'm starting to think that LG has a thing for HD, and I'm not complaining.

Not long after launching the LG Nitro HD, LG and Verizon announced the LG Spectrum, one of two new smartphones to inaugurate Sprint's all-new 4G LTE lineup.

Although I didn't have as long as I would have liked to acquaint myself with the Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone (eventually upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich), I immediately liked it. In fact, I can say I clicked with it even more than the pretty lofty Nitro HD.… Read more

LAS VEGAS--The technical hurdle preventing the iPhone from coming to T-Mobile USA could be cleared when the next iteration of the phone comes out.

That's the opinion of Neville Ray, chief technology officer of T-Mobile, who said he believes the iPhone never made it to T-Mobile because of the unique band of spectrum, known as AWS, that it uses for its wireless network.

T-Mobile has been left out in the cold as the other national carriers--and regional carrier C-Spire--have begun selling Apple's hit device. CEO Philipp Humm, speaking at a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show today, … Read more

LG announced a boatload of HDTVs at its Consumer Electronics Show press conference today, but it also showed off a new smartphone.

Dubbed the LG Spectrum, the device comes with a 4.5-inch HD IPS display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and an 8-megapixel camera. And although Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is available now, the device will ship with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), though LG did say that it will be upgradable to Ice Cream Sandwich.

The HD IPS display is arguably one of the most important additions. The screen comes with 329 pixels per inch, helping it … Read more

The full set of hardware details for the Android-powered LG Spectrum has surfaced ahead of a rumored January 19 launch.

Droid Life has obtained leaked information that shows that Verizon could be readying CES announcements for the successor to the LG Revolution.

Hardware for the Spectrum indicates that it will be the carrier's strongest Android phone to date with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and a 4.5-inch HD display. Rounding things out are an 8-megapixel camera, 4GB internal storage, a preinstalled 16GB microSD, and 4G LTE connectivity.

In terms of software, the LG Spectrum will run … Read more

MetroPCS said today it is partnering with a consortium of broadcasters to bring live local television to its wireless customers later this year.

The prepaid mobile service provider is working with Mobile Content Venture, a group of companies with a string of local broadcast networks, to bring the content through a service called Dyle Mobile TV. Samsung Electronics will make the first smartphone to use the Dyle app, although the company hasn't divulged the handset's name.

Broadcast companies have long been looking to get into the mobile television business. More importantly, the companies needed a reason to keep … Read more

For AT&T, it's been a week of lose some, win some.

The wireless carrier said late Thursday that it now has the green light from the Federal Communications Commission to acquire 700MHz licenses from Qualcomm, in a deal valued at $1.9 billion. The companies expect to complete the transaction, which was originally announced a year ago, "in the coming days," AT&T said.

"This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers," said Bob Quinn, AT&T's senior vice president … Read more

Verizon Wireless' deal with cable providers is facing scrutiny from the Justice Department.

That's according to a report today from Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source. The report said the Justice Department would look at whether Verizon would control too much spectrum, and whether the cross-selling component of the deal would violate antitrust laws.

Verizon earlier this month shored up its spectrum needs by acquiring a swath owned by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks for $3.6 billion. As part of the deal, Verizon agreed to resell cable service in its national chain of stores, while the … Read more