Chris Welch

The New Class of CEOs at Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile

There's been a sweeping change across the United States’ biggest wireless carriers. Over the past decade, the leaders of Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T oversaw a shift from simplistic feature phones into the era of smartphones and streaming. After early iPhones and Android devices strained their cellular networks, the major carriers gradually evolved their infrastructure to provide the robust, nationwide LTE coverage on offer today.

Sprint’s 5G network is here, and it’s completely different from what Verizon and AT&T are doing

Sprint is launching its 5G network in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City, becoming the third major US operator to kick off the next era of mobile data. For Sprint, 5G is about a lot more than coverage: it’s about dependability.

Verizon temporarily unlocks all Pixel 3 phones after complaints

Verizon will allow all of its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones to immediately be used on different carriers. Previously, buyers noticed that the Pixel 3 was locked to Verizon’s network until it was activated. Once activated with a Verizon SIM, the device would be unlocked overnight for use with other carriers. But now Verizon is lifting the lock fully and immediately — but maybe only temporarily. “At launch, there was an update related to an automatic overnight unlock on Pixel 3s, which also showed up on phones sold in Best Buy stores,” a spokesperson said.

Google is equipping more rural school buses with Wi-Fi and Chromebooks

Google announced an expansion of its Rolling Study Halls initiative to over 16 additional school districts, giving “thousands” of students access to Wi-Fi and Chromebooks on their buses. Google has piloted the program in North Carolina and South Carolina over the last couple years, focusing its efforts on rural communities where some students have lengthy bus rides between home and the classroom each day. Google contributes mobile Wi-Fi routers, data plans, and Chromebook devices. Each Rolling Study Hall also has an “onboard educator” who’s able to provide direct assistance.

FCC has received over 647,000 net neutrality comments as deadline approaches

Over half a million Americans have shared their feelings on network neutrality with the Federal Communications Commission as the agency ponders new rules that could drastically reshape the Internet.

Earlier, Chairman Tom Wheeler reported that the FCC has so far received around 647,000 comments as the July 15 deadline for initial feedback approaches. The commission will then accept responses to those comments into the month of September.

At best, a final decision on the controversial net neutrality proposal isn't expected until near the end of 2014.

Google is quietly testing a service for registering website domains

Google has quietly launched its own Internet domain registration service. And like many Google projects, Google Domains is starting off in beta; you'll need an invite to get in and purchase your own URL.

But the company's latest effort could present GoDaddy -- the world's leading domain registrar -- with some fresh competition. With Google Domains, you can set up a custom domain of your choosing, but Google won't actually be hosting your website. It's only handling the domain registration aspect; for everything else, the company has partnered with Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, and Shopify -- businesses that specialize in helping consumers build complete websites in mere minutes.

First, Google is promising not to charge users anything extra to conceal personal information (e.g. name and address) that must be provided when registering a URL. Lastly, there's the benefit of real customer support. Google says phone and email support will be available Monday through Friday from 9AM to 9PM EST.

AT&T can bail on $48.5 billion merger if DirecTV loses NFL Sunday Ticket

If DirecTV fails to lock up NFL Sunday Ticket beyond this coming season, AT&T has given itself the right to back away from the colossal $48.5 billion acquisition.

The out clause contained in the proposal’s fine print shows just how valuable of a property the NFL is.

"The parties also have agreed that in the unlikely event that DirecTV’s agreement for the NFL Sunday Ticket service is not renewed substantially on the terms discussed between the parties, AT&T may elect not to consummate the merger," it reads. The careful wording also says that AT&T won’t be able to collect any damages if this scenario plays out.

DirecTV just has to prove that it "used its reasonable best efforts to obtain such renewal." And from the sounds of it, the satellite provider is already trying its best to get the deal done.

Google will partner with wireless carriers to make Project Loon a reality

Google opted not to buy "a relatively thin piece of harmonized spectrum" and decided Project Loon would instead use spectrum that's already owned by wireless carriers across the globe.

Rather than pay to license spectrum, Google will lease the balloons to carriers as they fly over countries where each company provides service.

"That actually makes you feel much more comfortable that I’m not invading your country or I’m about to take your users," Teller said. "So now you and I can be great friends, and we don’t even need to buy the spectrum." This approach also gives Google a "much thicker wedge" offering far more bandwidth.

Google encrypts Gmail between data centers to keep the NSA out of your inbox

Google just announced that Gmail is more secure than ever before. And the company isn't hiding the fact that it's actively trying to stop the government from spying on your e-mail activity.

Google says that Gmail will now use a secure HTTPS connection whenever you check or send e-mail, regardless of where you're accessing Gmail from -- be it your home network or public Wi-Fi -- or what device you're using.

Google made HTTPS encryption the default for its users back in 2010, but it's continually making improvements wherever possible to keep out prying eyes. As an added barrier between you and the National Security Agency, Google is making another change: every single e-mail message Gmail users send or receive will now be encrypted as it moves internally between the company's data centers.