States, even neighboring ones, can have wildly different average Internet speeds, according to Akamai's "State of the Internet" report. Broadview Networks put the report's data together in a map.
First up is texting. The Federal Communications Commission is set to codify policies that make sure that providers of text messages have systems capable of supporting text-to-911 service. This means that texting services that have become so essential for so many of us can be there for everyone when reaching out in crisis.
Second, I want to update you on wireless 911 location accuracy. Today, under the FCC’s rules, if you call 911 from a wired phone, first responders know where you are and where to send help. If you call 911 from a wireless phone outdoors, the FCC has standards that help ensure first responders can locate you and send assistance. But if you call 911 from a wireless phone indoors, you should cross your fingers and hope and pray, because no location accuracy standards apply. So the FCC started a rulemaking to narrow this gap and fix this problem.
Finally, the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet) just launched what are called Initial Consultations under the law. This is an essential step in the development of state plans. But that’s not all. FirstNet is in the development stages of preparing a draft request for a proposal. This is the beginning of the critical process to identify a comprehensive network solution for the nationwide network.
After ending its effort to acquire T-Mobile US, mobile carrier Sprint named Marcelo Claure as its new chief executive and president.
Claure replaces Dan Hesse, who has served as Sprint's chief executive since 2007. Claure is the founder of Brightstar, which provides services for wireless careers and mobile device manufacturers. He will resign as its chief executive on Aug 11, when he is expected to start at Sprint.
There doesn’t seem to be much consensus about what Sprint’s decision to drop its plan to purchase T-Mobile means for the companies and for the industry in general.
While some industry observers expect both companies to focus on internal growth and/or to consider alternative merger-and-acquisition options, others say this is a posturing move and the companies will take another go at merging after the next election, when they hope to find a regulatory environment more open to such a deal.
The most amazing thing about AOL’s business is the thing that drives AOL’s business: Millions of people, who started paying the company a monthly fee for Internet access more than a decade ago, who continue to pay the company a monthly fee for Internet access, even though they likely aren’t getting Internet access from AOL anymore.
Here’s how AOL makes money: Getting a shrinking number of subscribers -- 2.34 million this quarter, down from 3.62 million at the beginning of 2011 -- to pay an increasing amount -- the average AOL subscriber now pays $20.86 per month, up from around $18 a few years ago.
After years of hitting sour notes with artists, Pandora seems to have struck the right chord at last. Pandora unveiled its first hand-in-hand partnership with music creators and distributors through Merlin, a group representing more than 20,000 independent labels worldwide.
Pandora will use its recommendation engine to match Merlin members' musicians to the right listeners and will turn over metadata about that listening directly to artists for the first time, as well as set up customized channels for acts to communicate with fans.
The real music to artists' ears? Merlin CEO Charles Caldas said he expects to see "royalty payments increase significantly."
Not surprisingly, Time Warner told analysts not to ask it about Fox’s now-dormant $80 billion bid.
Instead, analysts asked Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, in several different ways, to explain why he rejected the deal.
If you like succinct versions, here it is: There’s really no point in us buying a big company or being bought by a big company, because we’re really big, and those deals are a mess. But never say never!
Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen said he remains open to a partnership with T-Mobile US or another wireless carrier.
He also said that Sprint's decision to abandon merger talks with T-Mobile increases Dish's options for entering the wireless market. Ergen also reiterated that it is "relatively unlikely" that Dish will try to build out its spectrum by itself or just sell its spectrum.
Now that its Allbritton purchase is done, Sinclair CEO David Smith says he’s eager to start taking on Fox News Channel and MSNBC with NewsChannel 8.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), a Chinese anti-trust regulator, conducted new raids on Microsoft and partner in China Accenture.
SAIC raided offices in Beijing, Liaoning, Fujian and Hubei. SAIC also raided the Dalian offices of IT consultancy Accenture, to whom Microsoft outsources financial work.
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