Despite the difficult economy, 40% of consumers in a recent Frank N. Magid Associates study said they plan to shop for a new TV set in the next year. And 62% of those shoppers said Internet connectivity was an important factor in their decision to purchase a new TV. Read the rest of this entry »
Unfiltered
Frank discussion with telecom's most experienced editors
Cable companies get a bad case of the [usage-based billing] jitters
To defend themselves against the onslaught of Netflix and Hulu, at least one cable company will implement usage based billing during 2012, Craig Moffett predicted on Bloomberg.
To defend themselves against the onslaught of….No, it doesn’t sound any better if you say it twice. Read the rest of this entry »
Dell’Oro Group sees big jump in DOCSIS 3.0 shipments
Shipments of cable modems supporting DOCSIS 3.0 and wireless LAN connectivity doubled between third quarter 2010 and the same period of 2011, reports Dell’Oro Group. Read the rest of this entry »
cVidya takes communications fraud prevention skills primetime
Tele-voting fraud does not instantly ring ‘state security at risk’ alarm bells but as with all fraud it can damage trust, the reputation of every player in the value chain – and cost millions. Israeli TV producer and operator Keshet taps cVidya’s fraud prevention expertize to defeat tele-voting fraud. As with most broadcasters, Keshet uses tele-voting on games and reality TV shows, where audience voting is done via phone call, SMS, web or social media channels. Read the rest of this entry »
HBO makes an OTT power move — one that telcos, MSOs should like
When it comes to over-the-top video, it’s more often than not seen as competing with traditional cable and telco TV offerings – not to mention putting a massive strain on those companies’ broadband networks. But HBO and its HBO Go service are determined to buck the trend. In particular, the premium content provider says it has no plans to detach its content offerings from cable/telco subscriptions. Read the rest of this entry »
FCC outlines plans for discounted computers for low-income users
Redemtech, a little-known Ohio-based company, plans to make refurbished “business class” computers available for $150 to low-income users, FCC officials said today. In addition, Microsoft plans to make laptops available for educational use for $250 beginning next year, the officials said. Read the rest of this entry »
Universal Service reform order has bad news for Halo Wireless
The Universal Service and inter-carrier compensation reform order recently issued by the FCC contains some bad news for Halo Wireless, the company that offers wholesale voice termination services that enable at least one enhanced service provider customer to avoid paying long-distance access charges (CP: Halo Wireless defends access charge avoidance methodology). Halo Wireless claimed its mode of operation is legal because it re-originates long-distance calls placed by its ESP customer’s customers through its mobile network infrastructure, thereby converting the calls into local calls. Read the rest of this entry »
Android and iPhone are 71% of smartphones, doing 83% of downloading
Google’s Android OS is still on top in the United States, according to new third-quarter data from Nielsen — despite Apple’s iOS holding a majority share in the U.K. in October (Unfiltered: Apple iPhone is best-selling phone in U.K. in October, despite Android’s reigning Q3). Read the rest of this entry »
The first of the top trends for 2012, including: Micro-transactions for everyone
It is the time of year when consultants and analysts bearing gifts sharpen their fingers and address their keyboards with the trends, tips and troubles that will comprise our world for the following year.
In one the first of this year’s offerings, communications and media private equity firm M/C Partners has produced its top ten for 2012. Read the rest of this entry »
Location, location, location — the key to context and the customer experience
The mobile locations based services (LBS) market in North America is forecast to grow from $620 million in 2010 to $ 710 million in 2016. This is partly driven by a larger installed base of GPS-enabled handsets and smartphones than elsewhere, according to research house Berg Insight. Read the rest of this entry »