Mobile Networks Featured Article

If last week was a big CES-induced gadget party, this week just might have been its hangover.

 

The news took a serious tone in telecommunications this week, with Google’s (News - Alert) Nexus One getting so-so user reviews, the great net neutrality debate riling up wireless carriers again and a drought of announcements about cell phones.

 

This week, more than 10,000 respondents – including consumers, wireless and consumer groups, carriers, Internet service providers and government officials – took the time to file comments on the FCC’s net neutrality notice of proposed rulemaking, “Preserving the Open Internet.”

 

The FCC in October proposed the rule, which calls for all Internet traffic to be treated equally, regardless of destination. In doing so, the government agency welcomed comments, especially suggestions on how the commission should handle managed services, such as video and voice. Just one glance at the differing attitudes of service providers and carriers shows that 2010 will mean a whole lot more debating on the extent to which wireless carriers have the rights to manage their wireless networks.

 

While the political debate rages on, there might be some cell phone users debating whether now is the time to switch from tactile keypads to touchscreen interfaces. The latter, it seems is becoming more popular.

 

A recent report by Strategy Analytics (News - Alert) revealed that touchscreen devices, with their large display size, are the next big thing in mobile Internet.  

 

The report, “Touchscreen Mobile Browsers: Best Practice Guidelines and Browser Evaluations,” utilizes benchmark evaluations of leading touchscreen browsers from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Novarra, Opera and Skyfire (News - Alert).

 

While smartphones remain a popular device for businesses and consumers, alike, the applications themselves will likely serve as the dominant tool for users, the head of a Huntington Beach, Calif.-based provider of telepresence and videoconferencing services, told TMCnet.

 

Robert McCandless, CEO and chief technology visionary for BrightCom, told TMC CEO Rich Tehrani (News - Alert) in an interview, that in the mobile space, the telepresence industry will see a boost as businesses continue to look to cut costs and increase their competitive edge.

 

McCandless, who will be speaking at a session called, “Technology Innovations in Videoconferencing,” at ITEXPO (News - Alert) East 2010 in Miami next week, also said that the next few years will serve as a time during which great innovation will develop globally.

 

“We are coming off a long period of a lack of technological investment and innovation in the U.S.,” McCandless said. “The market will grow where the greatest innovations are occurring.”