September 17, 2007
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Editor’s note:
Wireless spreads out with 700Mhz

What's New:
• Palm Treo 500 runs Windows Mobile
• Google phone details emerge

Executive Analysis:
• 700 Mhz train wreck
• The end of Ethernet?

Also Noted:
Blog from your iPhone; California teen cell ban;
And much more...

Hands-On Wireless:
• Yahoo sees mobile convergence
• Qualcomm ban stayed

Only a few months ago, the wireless world picked up energy as we waited for the introduction of Apple's iPhone. That energy will, I think, pale in comparison to what's coming next January: the auction of spectrum and the build-out of new services based on analog television frequencies. So far, the debate over how that spectrum should be auctioned has been fairly predictable. The companies that won the original cell phone auctions have built enormous businesses based on the current model and think it should be repeated with 700 MHz. Companies that weren't part of that process think the auction should be different. The FCC decided to make both sides equally miserable with its decision--it remains to be seen whether the direst predictions from either side come to pass. I believe that we're going to end up with creative people finding creative solutions to the shortcomings of the system, and bringing new services to market. Between the new services, WiMAX, and 802.11n, the next 12-24 months promise to be some of the most exciting times we've ever seen in wireless networking and applications. I don't know about you, but I can't wait. -Curtis

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What’s New

1. Palm Treo 500 runs Windows Mobile

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It's been a while since we felt shocked by a Treo running Windows, but the latest offering provides evidence that people can still be impressed by a low-cost smartphone from Palm. That, at least, seems to be the hope of Palm and its provider partners. The new Treo 500 looks to be a Windows Mobile device with no touch screen and 3G network support, leading some to point to a consumer-market focus for the new device. Time (and more partners) will tell.

For more on the new Palm smartphone:
- see this DailyTechRag article
- and these photos of the new device

2. Google phone details emerge

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Google's smartphone has been a very poorly-kept secret in general, but details have been hard to come by. Slowly, though, bits and pieces of specific information are starting to seep through the wall of non-disclosure agreements. The first tantalizing bit is the name: gPhone seems the leading candidate for the upcoming device. The platform will likely include an operating system, mobile versions of Google software, and built-in developer tools. In total, it looks like a product that will change the ways developers work with Google as much as it changes the communications for customers.

For more on the possible Google phone:
- read the behind-the-scenes report at Newsfactor

Executive Analysis

1. 700 Mhz train wreck

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It seems like players from many different market segments are excited about the upcoming 700 Mhz spectrum auction. Not everyone, though, is optimistic about the possibilities of the new bands' success. The CTIA's Steve Largent, for example, points to the market uncertainties of the new, hybrid auction scheme and wonders whether it can possibly meet the goals established by FCC regulations. The results of next year's FCC auction could impact your mobile plans for years to come--paying attention to winners and losers (and the ramifications of winning or losing) makes sense.

For more on potential auction troubles:
- read the editorial at WirelessWeek

ALSO: Verizon sues the FCC over 700Mhz rules. Article

2. The end of Ethernet?

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Does the promise of high-speed 802.11n wireless networking mean the end of network cables in your office? On one level, it seems unlikely: even at its best, 802.11n is 180 shared Mbps versus the 1 Gbps switched bandwidth of most current Ethernet connections. The bandwidth-only discussion, though, ignores the mobile promise that 802.11n brings to the table. When you combine 802.11n's mobility and speed, you may well have a package that's good enough for enterprise deployment.

For more on 802.11n's impact on the enterprise:
- read the technology assessment at NetworkWorld

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> California teen cell ban. Article

> TypePad iPhone blogging. Article

> AT&T bundles more services. Article

Hands-On Wireless

1. Yahoo sees mobile convergence

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Google isn't the only Internet brand making a serious move into mobile phones: Yahoo! is taking the mobile Internet very seriously, too. Now that's not to say that Yahoo! has ignored the mobile market to this point--according to M:Metrics the brand actually has a broader mobile reach than Google. The new Yahoo! Go for Mobile will expand that reach and could mark the beginning of the mobile browser and service wars in earnest.

For more on Yahoo! mobile plans:
- read the full report at WirelessWeek

2. Qualcomm ban stayed

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After a year of almost unrelenting bad legal news, Qualcomm finally has a break: a federal appeals court has granted the chip-maker a stay of the ruling banning import of many of its products into the U.S. After winning the initial suit before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Broadcom sought and won a ban on imports, which the White House declined to overturn. Now, Qualcomm and its partners have a break that should give them well into 2008 to seek other solutions.

For more on Qualcomm's good legal news:
- read the complete story at CIO-Today

©2007 FierceMarkets, Inc. This email was sent to tayllorcriss@gmail.com as part of the IT-Wireless email list which is administered by FierceMarkets, 1319 F Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20004, (202) 628-8778.

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