Microsoft to Acquire Nokia Handset Business on Friday

By Matt Paulson

According to an official statement from Microsoft, the long-delayed agreement for the company to purchase Nokia's handset business will finally close this Friday, on April 25. Though the sum of $7.5 billion was agreed upon between the two companies as far back as September, pending approvals that ha…
04/22/2014

Restricting Bidding at Spectrum Auction Will Not Necessarily Reduce Revenue

By Joe Rizzo

In an effort to increase LTE deployments and extend the network, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to auction off airwaves that would be worth billions to wireless companies. In an attempt to be fair to all of the carriers, regardless of size, and to increase overall revenue f…
04/22/2014

Apple Filing to Patent Gesture Unlocking Tech for Mobile Devices

By Joe Rizzo

According to Apple Insider, several new documents came to light last week showing that Apple may be gearing up to deliver a gesture-based unlock function for its mobile devices. On April 16, 2014, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published two Apple patent applications, both of which are entitle…
04/22/2014

The Sum of the Samsung Galaxy S5's Parts Revealed In IHS Teardown

By Steve Anderson

The whole is more than the sum of its parts. That's usually the case in just about anything, where it's not only the value of what goes into something's construction, but the value derived from its use that needs to be considered. But preliminary estimates released by IHS Technology's Teardown Mobil…
04/21/2014

Apple & Shazam Want iOS 8 To Know What Song Is Playing

By Steve Anderson

You know that annoying feeling when the name of a song is on the tip of your tongue but can't quite get the words out? Apple and Shazam are partnering to make that a thing of the past. They are working on a new addition to iOS 8, or so the current reports go, that should help out on that front: a so…
04/21/2014

Toshiba Unveils 4K Ultra HD Display Laptops

By Oliver VanDervoort

There is very little doubt that 4K devices are just starting to take off. While most people are only thinking about 4K televisions, there are a host of other devices that are starting to embrace the technology. One area in which Toshiba is trying to take the next step is the laptop. The company just…
04/21/2014

Satellite Cellular Tech Looking to Take the Reigns from Terrestrial Towers when it Comes to Expanded Coverage

By Oliver VanDervoort

A new report by Frost & Sullivan, Satellite Backhaul of 3G and LTE Radio Access Networks, has shed some light on the best way the industry analyst believes companies can extend their network reach when it comes to 3G/LTE coverage. The firm says that using satellite backhaul is easily the best way to…
04/21/2014

Will AT&T Participate in the Incentive Spectrum Auction?

By Joe Rizzo

In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to auction off airwaves worth billions to wireless companies. Next year's highly anticipated auction will involve buying airwaves back from broadcasters and then selling new licenses for those airwaves to spectrum hungry wireless companies …
04/21/2014

Comings and Goings:Ericsson Announces Search For New Senior Vice President

By Oliver VanDervoort

Ericsson has been working hard to make itself a strong company over the last few years. The firm has decided it is best to shake up the team running the company. Ericsson announced earlier this week that the executive leadership team has been changed up a bit, in hopes of jumpstarting revenue number…
04/21/2014

Google Testing Balloon-Based Internet Access Using Licensed Frequencies

By Gary Kim

Up to this point, it appears that Google's Project Loon has been testing high altitude balloons providing Internet access using unlicensed frequencies. Now Google is testing such balloons in Nevada, under a license that allows Google to use Long Term Evolution and WiMAX air interfaces.
04/21/2014