AT&T to boost HSPA+ network coverage in Philadelphia
AT&T has announced network improvement plans designed to enable HSPA+ speeds and enhanced backhaul in Philadelphia and surrounding communities including in southern New Jersey and Delaware.
The mobile network will enhance plans that are part of AT&T’s planned US$ 19 billion investment in its mobile and wireline networks and other capital projects this year.
The project includes deploying enhanced backhaul connections to approximately 1000 mobile sites to enable HSPA+ speeds and add capacity to support more mobile traffic, installing more than a dozen mobile sites, adding spectrum carriers to roughly 900 mobile sites and deploying DAS networks at seven venues to enhance network coverage during events including one planned at Lincoln Financial Field.
Verizon iPhone may cost company $5 billion in 2011 (USA)
Analysts believes that Verizon Wireless, set to get Apple Inc.’s iPhone this month after four years of waiting, may spend $3 billion to $5 billion to subsidize customer purchases of the device this year, cutting into profits.
According to sources, Verizon, the largest U.S. wireless carrier, will announce that it’s getting the device at an event in New York today and plans to put it on sale later in the month.
According to the analysts, while the smartphone will help Verizon add more subscribers this year than rival AT&T Inc., currently the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, it will also crimp profits. Verizon may sell 13 million of the devices with an estimated $400 subsidy this year, which would add up to a total of $5.2 billion.
Another analysts estimates Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based Verizon will sell at least 9 million iPhones this year with a subsidy of about $350. That would add up to $3.2 billion this year.
Wireless operators pay companies such as Apple one price for a phone and then sell them to consumers for less to encourage people to sign up for two-year service contracts. The iPhone subsidy, at $400, is higher than the $200 to $300 that carriers pay for most smartphones.
Japan’s KDDI invests in Mobile Banking Service Provider
Japan’s KDDI Corp has invested US$22 million in USA based Microfinance International Corp. (MFIC) to support its global expansion. This will help in developing an open mobile payment platform worldwide.
According to KDDI, it aimed to combine its relationship with over 600 carriers and MFIC’s money transfer solution, which is connected to a network of payers in 90 countries to develop mobile banking applications.
According to Takashi Tanaka, President of KDDI, the company is seeing more and more convergence of telecommunications and financial services going on worldwide, still most of them are local movements. In such circumstances, the company is very excited and looking forward to the collaboration with MFIC who has extensive financial expertise, bringing both of them a chance for true global business development.
As the first step of collaboration, in January 2011 Locus Telecommunications, KDDI’s subsidiary headquartered in New Jersey is launching a new service in the US, allowing customers to send money overseas using a multi-purpose calling card.
According to CGAP, a micro-finance group based at the World Bank, the number of those who lack a bank account but have mobile phone will reach 1.7 billion in 2012, about 70% of the entire unbanked population worldwide.
Verizon to introduce faster 4G Wireless network Dec. 5
Verizon Wireless will start its faster, 4G mobile service Dec. 5, among the first U.S. carriers to introduce such a network as competition for users who spend money on Web browsing and video intensifies.
According to the company, contracts will start at $50 a month, giving users 5GB of data. The company introduced two modems that allow laptop users to connect to the network and it plans to unveil mobile phones for the service next year.
Verizon added that the network, which uses technology called LTE, gives customers speeds ten times faster than older 3G networks, eventually enabling features like high definition video and live television streaming. Verizon is using the faster speeds to lure users from rivals such as AT&T Inc., the exclusive carrier for Apple Inc.’s iPhone, which won’t start a 4G service until next year.
According to the CTIA mobile industry association, Verizon Wireless, based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and rivals are vying for customers as the pool of new users shrinks. There are enough mobile devices for 93% of the population.
Wireless Telecom Group Announces Third Quarter Financial Results Including Year to Date Revenue Growth of 6% and $1.1 Million Increase in Net Income from Continuing Operations
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc announced today results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company reported net sales from continuing operations of $17,928,000, compared to $16,924,000 for the same period in 2009, an increase of 6%.
For the first nine months of 2010, the Company reported net income from continuing operations of $657,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(440,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, for the same period of 2009, representing an increase of approximately $1.1 million over the previous year.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company reported net sales from continuing operations of $5,710,000, compared to $6,240,000 for the same period in 2009, a decrease of 8%.
The Company also reported net income from continuing operations of $39,000 or $0.00 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2010, compared to a net loss of $(18,000), or $(0.00) per diluted share for the third quarter of 2009.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company reported no activity from discontinued operations, compared to net income of $181,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company reported a net loss from discontinued operations of $(1,743,000) or $(0.07) per diluted share, compared to net income of $240,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the same period of 2009. The nine month loss in 2010 from discontinued operations consists of an operating loss of $(1,312,000), or $(0.05) per diluted share and an adjustment of $(431,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, which reflects a change in the estimated carrying value less the costs to dispose of the net assets of Willtek.
Paul Genova, CEO of Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., stated, “Our year to date sales reflect an improvement over last year of 6% due to improving market conditions for our products, and while third quarter sales were below the comparative quarter last year, overall order activity is improved. This trend has continued since the end of the third quarter, increasing our order backlog which we expect to reflect well in our results for the remainder of the year. Our cost reduction efforts have also delivered improvement with operating expenses reduced by approximately 9% for the quarter and nine months compared to last year and we continue to maintain a strong balance sheet with approximately $11.4 million in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2010.
“With the completion of the sale of Willtek on May 7, 2010, we continue to focus our efforts on our core business as we look to expand our customer and product base. We believe the global demand for high speed data transmission and the need for improved communications infrastructure bodes well for our Microlab products for In-Building Distributed Antenna Systems. Further, we are developing several specific applications for our flagship products in our Noisecom and Boonton brands which will enable our customers to perform sophisticated test & measurement procedures and meet the demands of a growing worldwide market.”
Wireless Telecom Group designs and manufactures radio frequency (RF) and microwave-based products for wireless and advanced communications industries and markets its products and services worldwide under the Boonton, Microlab and Noisecom brands. Its complementary suite of high performance instruments and components includes peak power meters, signal analyzers, power splitters, combiners, diplexers, noise modules, precision noise and generators. The Company serves both commercial and government markets with workflow-oriented, WiFi, WiMAX, satellite, cable, radar, avionics, medical, and computing applications. Wireless Telecom Group is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, in the New York City metropolitan area, and maintains a global network of Sales and Service offices for excellent product service and support.
Wireless Telecom Group’s website address is http://www.wtcom.com. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. Such risks and uncertainties are identified in the Company’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
See following Selected Financial Results
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three months ended Nine months ended
Sep 30, Sep 30,
————————- ————————–
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
2010 2009 2010 2009
———– ————- ———— ————-
Statement of Operations Data:
Net sales $ 5,710 $ 6,240 $ 17,928 $ 16,924
Gross profit 2,696 2,929 8,455 7,778
Operating expenses
Research and development 544 508 1,639 1,561
Sales and marketing 1,180 1,129 3,132 3,272
General and administrative 1,013 1,355 3,092 3,822
——– ——– ——— ——
Total operating expenses 2,737 2,992 7,863 8,655
Interest and other (income) – net (88) (126) (93) (114)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
before income taxes 47 63 685 (763)
Income (loss) from continuing operations 39 (18) 657 (440)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations -
net of taxes - 181 (1,743) 240
Net income (loss) $ 39 $ 163 $ (1,085) $ (200)
======== ======== =========== == ====== ==
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic and diluted
Continuing operations $0.00 ($0.00) $0.03 ($0.02)
Discontinued operations 0.00 0.01 (0.07) 0.01
——– ——– ———– ——
Net income (loss) per common share $0.00 $0.01 ($0.04) ($0.01)
======== ======== =========== ====== ==
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 25,658 25,658 25,658 25,658
Diluted 25,658 25,658 25,687 25,658
September 30, December 31,
2010 2009
————————- ————————–
(Unaudited)
Balance Sheet Data:
——————————————–
Cash & cash equivalents $ 11,389 $ 14,076
Working capital $ 22,240 $ 26,154
Total assets $ 37,084 $ 45,132
Total liabilities $ 5,756 $ 11,942
Shareholders’ equity $ 31,328 $ 33,190
AT&T, Verizon May caution Mobile-Phone Users exceeding monthly Limits
Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc. may have to start alerting mobile-phone subscribers who are on the brink of exceeding their monthly limits and generate higher service charges.
According to Chairman, Julius Genachowski, the Federal Communications Commission will propose rules tomorrow and may take a final vote in coming months.
According to reports citing FCC’s e-mail, subscribers may get voice or text alerts when they use too many minutes in a month or place calls using more expensive networks outside the U.S.
Genachowski further stated that it’s clear that the magnitude of this problem is significant, and that it’s time to take action. A survey by the FCC showed 30 million Americans, or one in every six mobile-phone users, had experienced bill shock.
Carriers led by Verizon Wireless, under FCC investigation for overcharging 15 million customers for data, have stated that mandatory messages aren’t necessary because carriers give customers ways to track use of data, voice and text features.
According to Christopher Guttman-McCabe, a vice president for CTIA- the Wireless Association, a Washington-based trade group, providers are concerned about prescriptive and costly rules. The industry continues to develop tools to keep customers informed about their level of usage.
According to the summary, the FCC’s proposal would require clear disclosure of the tools to track minutes of use, in part because too many consumers don’t know about them.
According to FCC, a Verizon Wireless customer, Robert St. Germain of Dover, Massachusetts, faced an $18,000 bill after free data downloads expired without warning. The company agreed to forego the charges after the bill was featured in a newspaper article and the FCC intervened.
According to Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based Verizon Wireless, the company was able to resolve that issue. There are occasions when company messes up, and sometimes it takes awhile to get it right.
T-Mobile USA to continue HSPA+ roll out
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Rolling out of HSPA+ network is planned to be continued by T-Mobile USA in a number of densely populated markets in the Northeast of the country, including New York City, parts of New Jersey, upstate New York, Connecticut and Providence.
Memphis and Las Vegas are also included in the list of the initial areas of Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
According to the telecom operator, the 21Mbps version of the HSPA+ standard now covers more than 30 million potential customers with plans to cover 100 metro areas and 185 million pops by the end of the year.
T- Mobile expands HSPA+ network (USA)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Plans to carry out the up gradation work of 3G networks to HSPA+ standard has been outlined by T- Mobile USA. T-Mobile expects to deploy HSPA across the breadth of its 3G footprint by the end of 2010, covering more than 100 metropolitan areas and 185 million people.
According to Neville Ray, senior vice president of engineering and operations for T-Mobile USA, consumers want a mobile broadband experience that’s easy and as good as their connection at home on the best wireless devices available and this year T-Mobile will upgrade its national 3G network to HSPA+ which will support faster speeds and give customers a superior wireless data experience when they access their mobile social network, stream videos or share content.
A successful launch of HSPA+ network was completed by T-Mobile in Philadelphia last autumn. HSPA+ has been made commercially available by the telco in new markets including major areas of New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and suburban Washington, D.C. Los Angeles is going to be the latest entry in the list.
Verizon stands tall, Dolan Family running out of gas
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless appears to be in a bidding war with T-Mobile USA Inc. over the valuable F-block licenses up for grabs in the advanced wireless services spectrum auction. Meanwhile, Sprint Nextel Corp.’s joint venture with four cable companies is focusing on buying spectrum within the footprints of the cable operators. Also, another cable bidder-Dolan Family Holdings L.L.C., backed by CableVision System Corp.’s chairman-appears to be close to dropping out of the auction.
The 25 highest bids placed in the 22nd round of bidding were all from wireless operators, except for three placed by the Sprint Nextel-cable company JV covering licenses in Los Angeles and New York City.
Verizon Wireless made high bids on four of the six 20 megahertz regional F-block licenses; T-mobile
USA hung onto the other two, along with 124 other regional and local market licenses. T-Mobile USA bid a total of $3.2 billion in the latest round, and Verizon Wireless bid $2.8 billion on the four F-block licenses.Charles Dolan’s Dolan Family Holdings bidding entity appears close to dropping out of the auction. The bidding entity dropped from initial bidding eligibility of about $150 million to $71 million in round 18 to less than $2 million in round 22. After provisionally winning as many as nine licenses in earlier rounds, Dolan Family Holdings had no high bids in the two latest rounds of bidding.
Dolan Family Holdings could follow satellite television providers EchoStar Communications Corp. and DirecTV Group Inc., which dropped out of the auction yesterday.
As for other players in round 22, MetroPCS Communications Inc. ended the round with high bids on nine licenses: two 10 megahertz regional licenses in the West and Northeast and market-specific licenses covering cities such as Dallas-Ft. Worth;
Flint, Mich.; and
Sarasota and
Orlando, Fla.Leap Wireless International Inc. stayed in the game, garnering high bids of $247 million for 29 licenses covering parts of
Georgia,
Tennessee,
California,
Arizona and the
Carolinas as well as one 10 megahertz license covering the Central region of the
United States. Meanwhile, Leap-backed Denali Spectrum License L.L.C. placed two high bids worth about $700 million on a regional 10 megahertz license in the
Great Lakes and a
New Jersey-
New York metro area license.Other auction action included:c U.S. Cellular Corp. placed high bids of $232 million for two licenses: one covering the
Chicago metro area and parts of
Indiana and another regional 10 megahertz license for the
Mississippi
Valley.c Dobson Communications Corp. placed high bids of $12.3 million on 25 licenses in
New York, Maryland,
Alaska and
Pennsylvania.Almost 75 percent of the total 1,122 available licenses have now received bids. More then 260 bids were placed in the 22nd round, and the auction has raised a total of $10.7 billion so far.
Source - http://www.rcrnews.com
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Ice Rocket : MetroPCS, Mobile, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless
