May 2012

iPad '4G' claims face scrutiny from UK regulator

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has widened its inquiry into the advertising of the Apple iPad. The BBC understands the regulator is not satisfied that Apple has complied with an agreement to amend claims about the latest iPad's 4G capabilities. The UK does not yet have widespread 4G coverage, and the iPad will be incompatible with it when it does. The regulator said it had received dozens of complaints in relation to the issue. Apple has declined to comment. The regulator had resolved some of the complaints after discussions with Apple about changes to its advertising, but said it is now looking into further concerns raised by consumers.

Data Engineer in Google Case Is Identified

At the center of the uproar over a Google project that scooped up personal data from potentially millions of unsuspecting people is the company software engineer who wrote the code. Now a former state investigator involved in another inquiry into Street View has identified Engineer Doe.

The former investigator said he was Marius Milner, a programmer with a background in telecommunications who is highly regarded in the field of Wi-Fi networking, essential to the project. On his LinkedIn page, Milner lists his occupation as “hacker,” and under the category called “Specialties,” his entry reads, “I know more than I want to about Wi-Fi.” The former state investigator spoke on the condition that he not be identified because he was not authorized to speak. Although the Federal Communications Commission declined to identify the engineer, a footnote in the full text of its report said Google told the agency the identity of Engineer Doe “only because it had disclosed his name to state investigators on December 17, 2010.”

In Tale of Two Bookstore Stocks, Digital Strategy Sets One Apart

The controlling shareholder of Books-A-Million of Birmingham, Alabama, offered to take the company private, valuing the 257-store chain at just $49 million. The news pushed Books-A-Million shares up 25% to $3.19 in 4 p.m. trading, returning them to where they were a few weeks ago. Barnes & Noble stock surged 52% on the Microsoft news to close at $20.75, its highest level in nearly two years. The run-up lifted the company's market capitalization to $1.4 billion. The difference between the two companies is simple: Barnes & Noble has a robust digital business, with the Nook e-reader and e-book store, which has a 27% share of the U.S. market. Books-A-Million doesn't, and instead is a pure play in the declining business of physical books. The retailer offers books on its website as well as through its stores and also sells the Nook.

Prospects poor for US cybersecurity bill

US internet security experts think there is only a slim chance that important cybersecurity legislation will emerge from Congress this year, despite continuing attacks and approval of a controversial bill by the House of Representatives late last week.

The Republican-controlled House approved the Cyber Intelligence and Protection Act (CISPA), but although the bill passed the House with bipartisan support, it is likely to face tougher scrutiny in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where opponents, concerned that it might be used to spy on US citizens, are gearing up for a protracted fight. “The prospects for cybersecurity [legislation] this term are fairly poor because the question of legislation on cyber has become a subset of the political situation on the Hill which exists not just for cyber but for most initiatives,” said Sam Visner, a former chief of intelligence programs at the National Security Agency, who now overseas cyber strategy for CSC, an IT consultancy.

Google, Oracle attorneys wrap up first part of trial

Jurors began deliberating in the crucial first phase of a high-stakes trial over Google's Android mobile software, after attorneys traded final arguments over Oracle's claim that Android violates valuable copyrights for the Java programming system.

Google executives "knew they needed a license" to use key elements of the Java system, but they didn't get one, Oracle attorney Michael Jacobs told jurors in U.S. District Court. Instead, he said, Google took shortcuts and piggybacked on Java's popularity. "They put it in Android because it suited them, to get to market faster," he said. But Google attorney Robert Van Nest contended Android is a "transformative product" that Google engineers created "from scratch, using their own ingenuity and open-source products," including parts of the Java platform that were available in the public domain.

Public Interest Groups Hammer Comcast Over Reports of Hulu's Change in Streaming Model

Public interest groups were quick to jump on reports that Hulu was going start requiring a cable TV subscription to access its content (the cable industry's "authentication" model for putting its programming online), though they differed over what that move meant.

Free Press said it called into question whether Comcast was living up to its NBCU deal conditions (NBC is a co-owner of Hulu), and asked for an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, which approved the Comcast/NBCU deal. By contrast, Public Knowledge apparently did not think moving the content behind a pay wall violated any of the deal conditions. In fact, it said the FCC specifically did not adopt such a condition, even though it was recommended by some. Comcast says it has no role in Hulu management decisions, which was a condition in the deal.

FCC Launches Competition To Identify The Best Ways To Increase Broadband Adoption Among Low-Income Americans

For the first time ever – and as a result of tens of millions in savings from reform of its Lifeline program – the Federal Communications Commission is launching a competition to discover the best ways to increase broadband adoption rates among low-income Americans.

The competition is funded by the newly created “Broadband Adoption Lifeline Pilot Program.” It builds on the Connect to Compete initiative, a public-private partnership aimed at helping to close the broadband adoption gap that was launched by the Commission last year. This competition uses $25 million in savings from major reforms earlier this year of the Lifeline program to launch pilot projects across the country to test best practices around issues of cost, digital literacy and relevancy.

A Public Notice announces criteria for the competition and a deadline of July 2, 2012 for applications. Winners will begin their year-long projects in the fall of this year.

The Pilot will gather high-quality data that will guide long-term efforts to increase broadband adoption among low-income Americans. Applicants must be telecommunications carriers eligible to participate in Lifeline. But they are encouraged to partner with existing broadband adoption programs as well as schools, libraries, state and local governments, non-profits and others. The winners will reflect a diversity of geographic areas (rural, urban), technologies (fixed, mobile), and service plans. At least one project will explore providing support on Tribal lands.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski Names Renee Wentzel Legal Advisor And Charles Mathias Special Counsel

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski named Renee Wentzel Legal Advisor to the Chairman and Charles Mathias Special Counsel to the Chairman.

In her role, Wentzel will have particular responsibility for wireless and engineering and technology issues, including removing barriers to mobile broadband deployment and unlicensed spectrum policy. She will begin May 7.

Mathias, currently Acting Legal Advisor, will have responsibility for public safety and homeland security issues, as well as for certain spectrum policy issues. He will also lead a team on government reform to develop and implement procedural and regulatory reforms to further innovation in government, extending the work previously led by Ruth Milkman, who will continue to serve as Special Counsel to the Chairman and Co-Lead of the Incentive Auction Task Force.

Ignoring critics, Verizon, Comcast dive deeper into cross-selling pact

Six new regions are getting the Verizon-Comcast treatment.

The wireless operator and the cable provider revealed today they’re selling their cross-network bundle of mobile and broadband services in and around Atlanta; Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; Salt Lake City and throughout Colorado. The U.S. Department of Justice may well find that cross-selling pact anticompetitive, but Verizon and its cable partners aren’t stopping until they’re told they have to. As in the case with other such launches, Verizon and its cable partner are offering a Visa prepaid card valued between $50 and $300 for customers that couple Verizon Wireless mobile service with a Comcast residential broadband or TV plan. They’re even adding a little extra incentive in this new round of launches with a “double your data package” promotion, which will combine a 12-month upgrade to Comcast’s 30 Mbps Blast cable modem service with Verizon’s PowerBoost offer, which doubles a smartphone user’s monthly data cap.

Mobile data is growing, but voice & sms slowing

The iPhones, the Androids, the iPads and hot-spots — whatever the device might be, one thing is for sure: the demand for mobile broadband is continuing to grow unabated. Two different reports, one from Akamai and another from Chetan Sharma show that we are using more mobile data in more places, and this is going to keep changing how we live, work, create and consume.

Benton

Search