Unfortunately there are no test photos, so we don’t know what the Google H840 looks like. The report suggests it was tested with a USB-connected Dell monitor, though that’s presumably to access either the LCD’s USB hub or its memory card slot, since that particular model doesn’t support video input over USB.

Anything else is, at this stage, speculative, though given the launch of Google Play Music All Access this past week at I/O, some sort of Sonos-style streaming box would seem an obvious guess. That could be hooked up to a set of external speakers or alternatively have onboard speakers and amplification.

Google isn’t the only company tipped to be working on a streaming media device. Earlier this month, it was rumored that Amazon’s hardware lab is developing a wireless audio adapter which could be used with its own cloud music locker service.

The Google H840 would presumably be a more focused device than the Nexus Q, which was unveiled at I/O in 2012 and then swiftly killed off as market feedback proved uncertain. The orb-shaped streamer was intended to funnel YouTube videos, music, and other content direct to a TV, with communal playlist control from multiple Android-powered phones and tablets.

However, a combination of high price – partly because Google intended it to be manufactured in the US – and confusing purpose meant the Nexus Q project was axed. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Google would not be officially supporting the streamer with the All Access subscription music jukebox service.

The H840 (its H2G2-42 product code a combination of the fan abbreviation for Hitchhiker’s Guide and the “meaning of life”: the number 42) looks to be the second attempt at the market, though when Google will actually unveil it officially remains to be seen.

VIA: TabletGuide

Wheeler is taking over for Julius Genachowski, who stepped down from the position last month, and is temporarily being replaced by Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Such credentials attached to Tom Wheeler include being the head of CTIA Wireless for over 10 years, as well serving as president of the National Cable Television Association.

Wheeler will be put into some tough shoes, as he becomes head of an organization that maintains and polices wireless airwaves and regulates telephone networks, as well as television. In a fast-paced technology world where standards are changing, Wheeler will hopefully add a fresh presence to the FCC.

There’s also the chance that the FCC will approve certain proposals under Wheeler that the FCC wouldn’t approve otherwise. For instance, Wheeler has said in the past that he would have allowed AT&T to acquire T-Mobile, but a lawsuit brought on put an end to the acquisition, which was also supported by Genachowski.

[via Wall Street Journal]

The bill is backed by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and it’s being called the Broadband Adoption Act of 2013, which would instruct the FCC to modify the Lifeline program in order to include broadband internet. Matsui says that the Lifeline program is fantastic, but it needs to be updated and modernized to fit within the 21st century.

Lifeline is funded by the “Universal Service” system, which helps low-income Americans pay for their landline phone, but this new bill would see Universal Services also helping pay for broadband internet access. In addition to subsidizing services, the Universal Service also helps pay for telephone service in rural areas around the country.

However, the discussion of whether or not to provide low-income households with cheaper broadband internet has been up and down in Washington for several years now, with a 2010 government report showing up that recommended the addition of broadband internet to the existing Lifeline program. Plus, Matsui introduced similar legislation in 2011, but it quickly faded away.

[via Ars Technica]

Says the Federal Communications Commission, 97-percent of mobile device users in the United States are now covered by the high bill alert system. The remaining 3-percent are using carriers who weren’t part of the voluntary agreement Consumer Code for Wireless Service. That doesn’t mean those carriers won’t send out alerts to their customers, only that they won’t be doing so under the CTIA-sponsored agreement.

Participating carriers include Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Clearwire, Cellcome, and a few others, all of which provide voice, data, roaming, and text alerts (if applicable). The high bill alerts will be provided free of charge, so users don’t have to worry about the notifications eating into their text limits, for example.

Obviously, the alerts will only be given to those who have a plan where there’s a limitation in place with penalties for going over it, such as a limited number of minutes. Also, alerts will be provided if someone is roaming and doesn’t have a roaming package, putting them at risk of higher fees. The alerts are automatically generated and delivered. Those who want more info should head over to the CTIA’s website.

[via FCC]

The 600MHz frequency band will be sold at the auction. Currently, AT&T and Verizon Wireless have a similar low-band 700MHz frequency, which they are currently using to build out their 4G LTE coverage. However, many smaller carriers have very little of these lower frequency bands. In fact, T-Mobile has none. These low-frequency bands are highly coveted, as they can penetrate through buildings, and travel long distances.

The DOJ told the FCC that if AT&T and Verizon Wireless were to purchase all the spectrum they want from the auction, they won’t use the spectrum efficiently. It believes that the two major wireless carriers will purchase the spectrum just to make sure the smaller carriers don’t have the chance to use them. Without the added competition, the major carriers would be able to continue to charge high fees. The DOJ stated in its filing,

“A large incumbent may benefit from acquiring spectrum even if its uses of the spectrum are not the most efficient if that acquisition helps preserve high prices.”

The DOJ also states,

“Namely, the more concentrated a wireless market is, the more likely a carrier will find it profitable to acquire spectrum with the aim of raising competitors’ costs. This could take the shape, for example, of pursuing spectrum in order to prevent its use by a competitor, independent of how efficientialy the carrier uses.”

The DOJ states that by giving smaller carriers a chance to purchase the spectrum they need, more competition would ensue, which would be the best thing for the wireless business. If smaller carriers are able to secure low-band frequencies from the auction, they will be able to improve their coverage, and in turn “make them stronger, more aggressive competitors.” It’s still undecided how the DOJ and FCC will regulate the auction, however the DOJ suggested that the larger carriers be only allowed to purchase smaller blocks of the low-frequency spectrum.

[via CNET]

In 2012, the Government Accountability Office released a report after spending a year researching the health aspects of cell phone usage that stated the radiation limit needed to be reevaluated, the first time such a required had been made in nearly two decades. At the time of the report, the FCC had the SAR (specific absorption rate) set at 1.6W/kg.

The FCC reevaluated the radiation limit after the report was published, and has now published its own response, in which it states that the SAR limit is staying the same as it has been for many years. However, all is not staying unchanged. Per the report, the outer part of the ear has been reclassified as an extremity, a designation that legally allows it to absorb more radiation under current specifications.

The effects of cell phone radiation on humans is mostly unknown, but is typically regarded to be safe and to not cause some of the speculated conditions that populate conspiracy boards. Still, more research is needed on RF radiation and its potential health effects, something that could be prodded by the ever-increasing use of smartphones in our digital, mobile world.

[via The Verge]

The information was given to the Wall Street Journal by a source said to be an FCC official. This doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been watching the situation, with unnamed sources telling the Washington Post earlier this month that Genachowski would be stepping down in the relatively near future – as early as April, in fact.

This is despite the fact that Genachowski’s term will end this upcoming July; a request for an official statement on the matter was declined. Notes the Washington Post, the top candidates to replace the current chairman include venture capitalist Tom Wheeler, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ambassador Karen Kornbluh, and the Commerce Department’s head of tech Lawrence Strickling.

Such a rumor not only prompts speculation about who will replace Genachowski, but also what he plans to do after he steps down. He could already have plans in place for where he will go next, but nothing has been provided and he could very well be eyeing retirement. Regardless, if the rumor proves true, we’ll have more details for you tomorrow, so stay tuned.

[via The Verge]

As it’s been discovered by Engadget, the LG Optimus G Pro phantom is running on the bands that AT&T does indeed use. That’s 4G LTE and all, ready to rock with all the Optimus G Pro excellence we’ve seen come out of this device just this past month internationally. When we had a look at it, we made sure to test out what LG let us know it was very proud of in its photography skills.

The LG Optimus G Pro works with a massive 5.5-inch display that’s sharp as a tack – 1080p and working with the Qualcomm Snadragon 600 quad-core processor. That’s the same beast we’re seeing work some real magic in the HTC One, this time also packing heat with 2GB of RAM and Android 4.1+ Jelly Bean up front. We’ve seen this device in white and in black – and they’re both rather fabulous.

Have a peek at our LG Optimus G Pro tour of Barcelona and let us know if you’d be all about this smartphone if it’d be released by AT&T super, super soon. Or better yet, if you’re thinking about getting a massive smartphone such as this but want to wait to see if IFA 2013 is home to the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note III! Or maybe just a Tab or two.

Have a peek at the LG Optimus G Pro timeline below as well for more up-to-date massively LG action than you can handle!

Robocalls are allowed on most landline numbers if certain rules are met, but they are strictly prohibited to mobile phones unless it’s for emergency purposes or the person receiving the call has given prior permission. The FCC has cited two marketing companies for making millions of robocalls to mobile phones illegally.

Robocalls were made from Dialing Services of Roswell, New Mexico and Democratic Dialing of Aurora, Colorado, both companies didn’t have permission from mobile phone users to call them. The FCC found that these two companies sent out millions of robocalls in 2011 and 2012, including the 2012 presidential election campaigns.

The maximum penalty for making illegal robocalls to mobile phones is $16,000 per call, which means that if each company made millions of robocalls throughout the past couple of years, they could end up owing billions of dollars in fines. It’s estimated that 4.7 million illegal robocalls were made from Dialing Services and 1.1 million by Democratic Dialing.

Chris Kolker, founder and CEO of Dialing Services, said that his company is “simply a service provider” that makes it possible for another company to make robocalls. He says that his company doesn’t make the calls themselves, and that they “inform customers about the laws, but [the company] cannot possibly police all of them.”

[via NBC News]

The FCC’s statement also makes clear that this merger will very possibly create a “more robust, national network” and will move to make the fourth-largest carrier in the United States a service provider with “improved quality of service” from top to bottom. The FCC has concluded that, per their mission to decide,

“Any potential public interest harms would be outweighed by the resulting public interest benefits” – FCC

This decision is made with several conclusions including that Deutsche Telekom has the right to select a name other than the one listed above any time prior to the close of the deal “Deutsche Telekom AG Application, ULS File No. 0005446627, Exhibit 1, Description of Transaction and Public Interest Statement at 3 n.5″ Deutsche Telekom is the parent company of T-Mobile USA, you should know, if you did not know before right this minute.

Four FCC heads, Chairman Genachowski, Commissioner Rosenworcel, and Commissioner Pai, have released statements in support of the approval, letting the public know why they’ve supported the merger and how it’ll affect us all.

“When markets are competitive, consumers are better off when the government forbears from intervening and allows private parties to negotiate and enter into voluntary agreements. As I have said before, mutual consent implies mutual benefit, and it is accordingly in the public interest for freely-negotiated contracts to be allowed and enforced so long as third parties are not harmed. ” – Commissioner Pai

“I have expressed to the parties my concern that as they move ahead, American workers do not get left behind. Major job losses are not in the public interest. The companies have pledged to me that they have no plans to close any domestic call centers, to move them offshore, to close any retail stores, or to reduce retail positions as a result of this deal. They have also assured me that they plan to increase the overall number of workers they employ in the United States. I expect that the company will keep its word—and live up to these promises.” – Commissioner Goldman

Above you’ll see Commissioner Pai‘s statement as well as the statement of Commissioner Goldman. You’ll see that Goldman made a point to assure the public hat both T-Mobile and MetroPCS have promised to keep all of the stores and workers they’d had before this deal, and have no plans to fire any workers or close any stores as a result of the deal.

“Mobile broadband is a key engine of economic growth, with U.S. annual wireless capital investment up 40% over the last four years, the largest increase in the world, and few sectors having more potential to create jobs. In this fast-moving space, of course challenges remain, including the need to unleash even more spectrum for mobile broadband and continuing to promote competition and protect consumers. The Commission will stay focused on these vital goals.” – Chairman Genachoswki

Above you’ll also see the statement of FCC Chairman Genachoswki, who opts to address the situation from a more broad perspective. Have a peek at the timeline below to see more on the history of this deal as it began and ran through to today, where it’s closer than ever to being fully approved.

This device works with a lovely 4.3-inch back-lit color display with a 1GHz dual-core processor from Qualcomm and will be arriving in the states in a variety of colors. Though we’ve seen the device in just Blue and White, you’ll be seeing Black and possible Red coming in as well. And then there’s the case options – case options galore!

UPDATE: We’ve seen black as well – the colors are endless!

Below you’re going to see a hands-on look at the Nokia Lumia 720 as we saw it at Mobile World Congress. Here we’re rolling out at the official Nokia stand, you’ll notice too. This stand was more of a whole experience in and of itself, complete with massive shows of the devices revealed that week – Nokia Lumia 520 as well as the smaller devices too! Have a peek at more of our MWC 2013 content right this minute to see the full run-down.

WIth the Lumia 720 we’re expecting some more awesome customization of options too – have a peek at our hands-on with the brand new Nokia NFC-laden car stand to see how Nokia continues to innovate with their accessories surrounding the whole Lumia lineup. Then get pumped up about the release of the Lumia 720 which should be coming up quick – with Windows Phone 8 included – straight to a AT&T outlet near you!

[via FCC]

The public trial brings Google one step closer to becoming a certified database administrator for white spaces. Currently the only database administrators are Spectrum Bridge, Inc. and Telcordia Technologies, Inc. Many other companies are applying to be certified, including a big dog like Microsoft. With companies like Google and Microsoft becoming certified, discovery of white spaces should increase monumentally.

Google’s trial allows all industry stakeholders, including broadcasters, cable, wireless microphone users, and licensed spectrum holders, to provide feedback to the Google Spectrum Database. It also allows anyone to track how much TV white space is available in their given area. This entire process is known as dynamic spectrum sharing.

Google’s trial, as well as the collective help of all the other spectrum data administrators, will help unlock more wireless spectrum. It’s a necessity as there is an increasing number of people who are wirelessly connecting to the internet via smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other wireless devices. This trial will open new doors to more wireless coverage (especially in dead zones), Wi-Fi hotspots, and other “wireless technologies”.

[via Google]

Earlier today, the FCC approved an NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking), to look at opening up parts of the 5GHz spectrum to unlicensed use; presently, it is reserved for government and similar use. Specifically, the agency is looking at opening up 195MHz of the 5GHz, increasing the unlicensed access to the spectrum by 35-percent.

Said the FCC’s Chairman Julius Genachowski: “Wi-Fi congestion is a very real and growing problem. Like licensed spectrum, demand for unlicensed spectrum threatens to outpace supply.” Wi-Fi congestion is particularly high as cellular carriers unload some of their tasks onto wireless networks, in addition to the growing number of mobile users and the increasing demand for data and speeds.

In addition to this issue, the FCC also approved earlier today a measure to set rules concerning signal boosters. The rules give carriers, which have complained that signal boosters can cause interference, the ability to block use of certain boosters, as well as requiring consumers to register their boosters before using them.

[via PC World]

This call to action (or call to stop action, as it were), comes after FCC Chairman Julius Genachoski spoke up at CES 2013 about cracking open unlicensed spectrum for a speed boost in wireless internet across the USA. It was then that Genachowski let it be known that this move would “free up a substantial amount of spectrum for wifi to relieve wifi congestion and improve wifi speeds” across the country – conferences, airports, and homes included.

Image above via SlashGear Chevrolet Sonic post about Siri integration and other wireless-related technologies therein. Slightly different from what the future holds with car-to-car communications.

The FCC’s plan includes a clearing of 195 MHz of spectrum in the 5GHz band to be used by wifi networks exclusively. The ITSA has spoken up this week with a note that their future plans for a highly secure wireless technology connecting network-ready cars could be interfered with by the FCC’s new move. This technology would allow cars to get information about their speed, acceleration, breaking, trajectories, and destinations to allow them better knowledge on how they’ll be getting where they’re going.

Instead of asking that this wifi expansion be stopped before its started, the auto group has asked that the FCC put safeguards in place to guarantee their future networks would not be hindered in any way. If the two sets of wireless technology did cross over in one way or another, the auto industry would be on the short end of the stick. Any sign of safety being at risk in vehicles using this up and coming short-range technology would be a big boon for the whole collection of auto makers hoping to make usage widespread.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America is made up of members such as Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz – not to mention AAA. This should be an interesting battle (or kind, gentle, measured talk between friends) that you’ll want to follow!

[via GigaOM]

[Image credit: Matthijs Rouw]

Research conducted by the FCC for the newspaper into subscribers on Virgin Mobile, AT&T, Telrite, Tag Mobile, and Verizon, indicated more than 40-percent of Lifeline subscribers either could not demonstrate their eligibility, or simply did not respond to demands for proof.

Changes in the FCC rules around Lifeline came into effect last year, toughening considerably what hoops would-be subscribers needed to jump through in order to get service. For instance, some states had permitted applications without any evidence of eligibility – which includes being on Medicaid, food stamps, or various other criteria – while others allowed self-certification rather than production of official evidence.

Carriers are paid $9.25 per customer, per month by the Universal Service Administrative Co., which organizes the Lifeline scheme. Roughly $2.50 is contributed per month by American tax payers, though that is subsequently spread across several of the subsidy schemes, including broadband and landline access.

As a result of the new research, the FCC is apparently considering levying fines on carriers which have been particularly liberal with their Lifeline sign-ups. That could prove expensive: up to $150,000 per violation per day, though that’s capped at $1.5m.

The carriers, meanwhile, argue that the previous lax criteria – and the absence of a central database of those involved in the scheme – had made it difficult for them to monitor users; there were also few checks as to whether households did indeed have only one active Lifeline account, as is the rules. Still, the FCC expects savings of up to $2bn over the next three years through toughening the checks.

The FCC tested the accessory with a Verizon Galaxy S III (SCH-I535) equipped with an official Qi-compatible battery cover. Wireless power support was one of the launch-day features of the Galaxy S III, albeit with a separate charging station and back plate, but Samsung has yet to capitalize on those plans.

Interestingly, Samsung doesn’t appear too bothered about confidentiality at this stage. According to the company’s cover letter to the FCC, the only aspects of the EAD-W10EWE pad that need to be kept secret are the block diagram, operational description, schematics, and part list. Everything else – including the terse user guide, which basically amounts to “plug it in and put your phone on it” is left open.

When, then, Samsung might decide to officially launch the charging pad is unclear, though with Mobile World Congress at the end of the month, that seems a strong possibility. Whether it also means that the much-rumored Galaxy S4 will also come set up for wireless charging out of the box remains to be seen, but the feature was one of the few absences from the Galaxy S III’s native capabilities, something that is likely to leave it high on the agenda for inclusion this time around.

[via Engadget]

According to the Washington Post, the FCC is thinking about buying back spectrum from TV stations that would allow for “super WiFi,” that would blanket the country with wide-ranging, highly-penetrative networks. While ISPs are furious about the proposition, the large tech companies like Google and Microsoft are all for the idea.

This free WiFi network would work similarly to how cellular networks work now. You would have constant connection to the internet no matter where you were, and while you can easily achieve this through LTE, that obviously costs quite a bit per month, while this new WiFi network would be absolutely free, and potentially faster than LTE.

Pretty much all wireless providers, including handset manufacturers, and those invested in the mobile phone industry are not liking the idea one bit, and they don’t want their lucrative business interrupted. However, Google and Microsoft both said that increased internet access means more potential users, and it would open up to a massive boom in innovation if more people could access the internet anywhere.

It’s not said exactly when the free nationwide WiFi could be set up. It would have to get approval first, and even after that’s done, it would take several years for the network to be completely built. So, while it may come in the future, don’t expect it anytime soon.

[via The Washington Post]

In the FCC paperwork, the model number is referred to as “XEB,” and this was the first model that was tested back in November. The application mentions that the glasses will have 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, but it won’t support both at the same time, meaning communication can only be active through one or the other at a time.

Other than that, we’re not seeing anything else too special, but we’re positive that we’ll hear more about them in no time. Of course, we were promised a January 2013 release date for the glasses back during Google I/O, and now it looks like it won’t be for a couple more months, but a trip through the FCC is proof that these glasses are actually real, and that we’ll see them real soon.

We saw glimpses of Google’s Glass project earlier last year, and at Google I/O over the summer, the company went all-out to demonstrate the new technology. Developers will be able to get their hands on a pair soon, at a price of $1,500, while regular consumers are said to be able buy a pair sometime within a year from now.

[via Engadget]

Despite the improvements in mobile phone cameras, inadequate lighting is still a common issue and one of the reasons photographs end up dim and grainy. Google’s patent filing would seem to be a partial solution to that issue with multiple flash lights on a phone. Depending on the external lighting situation, one flash or multiple flashes would be utilized by the phone.

One of the sketches gives us a good idea of what Google is up to, showing multiple flash bulbs that can be re-positioned via tracking in the back of the phone. Another image shows a different design with the flashes stationary. The flashes that are mobile are nestled in different designs, with one being circular in nature and the other resembling the π symbol.

Not only would multiple flashes increase the overall lighting, but it would also provide better lighting in individual environments and help eliminate shadows by adjusting which lights go off. Another use indicated for the multi-flashes is HDR photography, with the flashes being used to simulate different exposures, which would then be stitched together. Of course, as with all patents, this might never come to fruition, but it is an interesting concept nonetheless.

[via Android Community]

According to the diagram, the A1469 model measures in at 93.7mm, while the current model is 98mm, making it just a tad smaller. MacRumors noted Apple TV’s software update shows an AppleTV3,2 model, rumored to be for international shelves. Whether it is and this model is that one or a different one altogether is unknown.

This follows the Apple TV update we reported on yesterday, which added Bluetooth keyboard support, iTunes Match improvements, and a feature called Up Next. Owners of 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TVs can nab the update over-the-air if they haven’t already installed it. After downloading, the device can be synced with a Bluetooth keyboard, freeing things up.

The Up Next feature added via the update is the same that was rolled out on iTunes 11, queuing and automatically playing content for the user without the need to create a specific playlist. As for the A1469 model, little else is known aside from its existence and dimensions. We’ll keep an eye out for any new details that surface, so stay tuned.

[via Engadget]

In the One Touch Evo 7, we’re working with a 7-inch display that touts 1024 x 600 resolution. Under the hood, you’ll have a single-core CPU clocked at 1GHz working in tandem with 1GB of RAM. The tablet’s 4GB of internal storage can be expanded on thanks to the microSD slot the Evo 7 ships with, and users can expect it to be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

In other words, there’s next to nothing for technophiles to get excited about with the One Touch Evo 7. Even though Alcatel hasn’t announced a price yet, we’re expecting this tablet to be pretty cheap, and that’s where the main draw will be. The HD variant will have a price tag of $179, so we can probably expect a price point around $150 for the standard Evo 7.

That definitely isn’t bad for someone who’s looking to enter the realm of tablets for the first time, but for everyone else, we imagine they’ll ultimately look someplace else. In any case, if you’re interested, you can take a look at some of the internal and external shots Alcatel has included in its FCC filing. There isn’t any release date for the standard Evo 7 yet, but for what it’s worth, the HD model should begin shipping in May.

[via Engadget]

Genachowski is calling it the “Gigabit City Challenge,” and he wants all 50 states to have at least one city with gigabit internet availability by the time 2015 rolls around. He’s relying upon ISPs and state governments to help make it all a reality. Of course, other areas in the US have already implemented the faster internet protocol, mostly thanks to private funding, but Genachowski wants ISPs to step up.

Overall, the FCC said that there are currently 42 communities in 14 states with access to fiber-based internet, so we’re already seeing some progress, but Genachowksi notes that as long as “we build it, innovation will come.” He also says that the US ultimately needs this in order to “drive economic growth” and compete globally.

Of course, this is only a goal of the FCC’s and not necessarily a mandate, so they’re really only encouraging ISPs and state governments to step up, rather than force them to introduce gigabit internet, so we’re going to have to see a lot of cooperation between certain parties if we want to see high-speed, fiber internet in all 50 states anytime soon.

Image via Flickr

New photos from the incoming Steve Jobs biopic are showing us what John Gad looks like as Steve Wozniak, with Time Warner Cable accusing Netflix of discriminating against its customers today. Carrier-specific Galaxy Nexus phones are getting updates to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean save for Verizon’s version, while Sony showed off the construction of products that were new to CES in a five-minute video. King.com has unseated Zynga for the top spot on Facebook’s charts, and 13-inch Retina MacBooks are now available in Apple’s refurbished store.

Dish network is asking the FCC view SoftBank’s deal with Sprint as “unripe for consideration,” and Sony announced that Classic White PS3 bundles will be making their way to North America on January 27. Speaking of the PlayStation family, we learned today that the PS Vita can only hold 100 apps, even if there’s room on the memory card for more. Google CEO Larry Page talked about what kind of influence the company has over Motorola, while in the same interview talking about why Google may not exist if it weren’t for Nikola Tesla.

Skype said today that it isn’t helping Facebook with its new calling service, while a new patent suggests that Google Glass could be outfitted with laser-projected keyboards. American Airlines unveiled a new look today, and Temple Run 2 was busy burning up the iOS App Store’s free chart just hours after release. NASA says 2012 was the 9th-warmest year on record since the 1880s, and Valve has announced that it will be showing off a virtual reality port of Team Fortress 2 at GDC 2013. Finally tonight, Don Reisinger asks if Apple doubt is beginning to creep in. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

A regulatory filing has been filed this week by Dish Network that they hope will ultimately leave Sprint on its own without the cash to purchase Clearwire, leaving them able to do so themselves. The following fact list should make this situation rather clear to you – or to the FCC – or both! Have a peek at how this is all about to go down – these are in chronological order, mind you:

1. Sprint owns 50% of Clearwire (and has since before these dealings started last year).

2. Softbank enters into agreement to purchase Sprint (a controlling interest, that is, 70% of the company) for $20.1bn USD. This deal remains under consideration by the FCC to this day.

3. Sprint offers Clearwire $2.90 USD a share for all remaining shares ($2.1bn USD contingent on Softbank deal going through)

4. Softbank limits Sprint’s bid on Clearwire to $2.97 a share ($2.2bn total) and Clearwire accepts. (December 14th, 2012) NOTE: Bloomberg reports here now on January 17th, 2013, that the following is true: “While it has made no decision to reconsider Sprint’s offer, Clearwire said it plans to talk to Dish, which is led by Chairman Charlie Ergen, and will keep its options open by not drawing on financing offered by Sprint.”

5. According to CNET, Dish Network makes an unsolicited bid of $3.30 USD a share for the stocks they’ve just agreed to sell to Sprint, (this being the same 50% of Clearwire not yet owned by Sprint), this totaling $5.15bn USD. Clearwire states that it is “severely limited by its current contractual obligations.” (January 8th, 2013)

6. Dish initiates regulatory filing with FCC that you can access at the FCC right now with a big fat “REQUEST TO HOLD PROCEEDING IN ABEYANCE” neat the head:

“DISH Network L.L.C. (“DISH”) requests that the above-captioned proceeding, for which petitions to deny are currently due January 28, 2013, be held in abeyance, and that the “shot clock” in this proceeding be paused, until the resolution of significant unresolved contingencies concerning Sprint Nextel Corporation’s (“Sprint”) offer to acquire all of Clearwire Corporation (“Clearwire”). In this proceeding, Sprint seeks not only the authority to be acquired by SoftBank Corporation (“SoftBank”); it also requests authority to acquire the stock of Clearwire that it does not already own, as well as de facto control over Clearwire.

But Sprint’s acquisition of control over Clearwire is subject to, among other things, a vote of the non-Sprint shareholders in the face of a higher value offer made by DISH and Clearwire’s response to DISH’s offer. These contingencies make SoftBank’s and Sprint’s applications unripe for consideration.” – Dish Network

They add the following – and a whole lot more that you can read on your own if you wish – including reference to “the Eagle River purchase.” Eagle River is the group from which whoever ends up purchasing the remaining shares of Clearwire will be buying them from, clean and simple. Also included is a reference to “Crest”, this being Crest Financial, a minority stakeholder in Clearwire and one of two groups seeking the FCC’s reconsideration in approving Sprint’s purchase of the remaining stocks in Clearwire (the other being Dish). This is Dish Network’s case:

“Moreover, whether the Eagle River purchase gave Sprint de facto control (as Crest alleges) or not (as Clearwire does), there is no doubt that it facilitates the acceptance of Sprint’s offer to buy the rest of Clearwire. First things first: the Commission should evaluate the propriety of the cursory treatment received by the Eagle River purchase before it takes up the larger SoftBank-Sprint transaction. ” – Dish Network

So it’s a good time had by all! It would seem that if Dish Network is successful detaching Softbank’s deal with Sprint to pick up Clearwire, the remaining stocks would probably be delivered to Dish with a bow. It all depends on the FCC though, of course, and we’ll be watching this deal closely as it continues to unfold through the Spring of 2013.

Bonus! AT&T carefully objected to the Softbank/Sprint acquisition two days after it was announced, well before the Clearwire dealings, too!

[via CNET]

Talk has been focused primarily on mobile broadband, with demand for both bandwidth and speed increasing rapidly. Wireless Internet needs some attention too, however, according to the FCC. By making this move, wireless networks in general, and particularly public wifi networks, will be relieved by sharing this new spectrum.

Genachowski offered this statement. “[The FCC is] announcing today that we’re moving to free up a substantial amount of spectrum for wifi to relieve wifi congestion and improve wifi speeds at conferences and airports and, ultimately, in people’s homes. There’s also a wifi traffic jam, and anyone who has been to conferences and airports knows that it is true.”

The spectrum in question is the 5GHz band, which is currently in use by the Department of Defense and other government agencies. For now, a proceeding is set for February to move forward with opening the spectrum. Genachowski is estimating that 35-percent of the spectrum will be opened, but says the number may change.

[via The Register]

So, we’ll just have to use our imaginations for another month or so. The RFH121LW could possibly be one of the phones RIM plans to unveil during its BlackBerry 10 launch event next month, so we may see more of it then. Whatever happens there, we know it’s going to be big, as RIM has to blow the socks off everyone if it wants to make an impact and get people to pay attention to the new mobile operating system meant to bring the company back from the brink.

We’ve seen our share of BlackBerry 10 handsets before this, though. Over the weekend, new images of what’s reportedly the BlackBerry X10 leaked out, following numerous leaks of the BlackBerry Z10. RIM will be offering all-touch BlackBerry 10 devices alongside phones that retain the famous BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard, so there should be something for all kinds of smartphones lovers when it comes to BlackBerry 10.

So far, we’ve been hearing pretty good things about BlackBerry 10. RIM has been citing an enthusiastic response from developers and retail partners alike, so there’s a chance that the company could knock it out of the park with this release. We’ll be seeing all of what BlackBerry 10 has to offer in no time at all, as RIM is set to host its launch event on January 30. Stay tuned.

[via Engadget]

According to some critics of the current process, the hassle involved in obtaining licensing for in-flight wireless Internet is the reason why it is not more widely available. According to the FCC’s Chairman Julius Genachowski, once the application process is in place, the amount of time it takes for an airline to get in-flight Internet approval will be cut in half.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires in-flight wireless Internet to be thoroughly tested for possible navigation/piloting interference. Says the Washington Post, while the FAA acknowledged that the FCC’s application process will indeed speed up the time it takes to get an in-flight wifi system in place on planes, it did not specify anything pertaining to its own involvement and requirements.

This comes at a time when the FAA has been reviewing its regulations about the use of certain devices that do not interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft, such as ereaders. Internet and gadgets are becoming a staple of society, and as such, both airlines and government agencies are being forced to adjust to keep pace. Says the FCC, “Whether traveling for work or leisure, Americans increasingly expect broadband access everywhere they go.”

[via Washington Post]

The Pebble has enjoyed widespread success on Kickstarter, hitting the $1 million mark in funding and breaking records – the smartwatch got to its $100k goal in only 120 minutes, in fact. But the product has been likewise plagued with continually delayed shipping. Back in July, it was revealed that the smartwatch wouldn’t be shipping in September, as it was originally intended.

Then there was bad news again on December 7, when it was announced that shipping had been delayed once again. Those who were expecting to receive the smartwatch by the holidays would have to run out and grab something else, because all they were getting on the Pebble front was a digital card with a cheesy apology rhyme. Now it seems the watch is closer to shipping than it ever has been, appearing on the FCC’s website and gaining approval.

The filing doesn’t show us much of anything that we didn’t already know about the watch. Pebble recently stated that the product verification build starts this week, meaning that the next phase is mass production. There’s no word on how long product verification will take, however, and no info on when backers can expect the watch to ship.

It’s not clear if that soundtrack will be played in stereo or some sort of virtual surround sound; the FCC filing is sparse on details, with only the label (and its rough location on the PLAYBAR itself) shown. However, the presence of WiFi 802.11n is confirmed, though since Sonos uses that for its proprietary mesh-networking system, that comes as little surprise. The fact that it is dual-band is an advancement on current Sonos components, nonetheless.

Sonos hasn’t been shy about its ambitions to challenge the A/V industry. The company’s CEO confirmed last year that some sort of home theater system could be on the cards, but argued that Sonos would do so in a way that challenged traditional “straightforward” options such as from Bose with greater audio quality.

The speakerbar would make a natural companion to the Sonos SUB subwoofer we reviewed recently, and the ideal centerpiece to a Sonos home theater system. Throw in a few “PLAY:1″ satellite speakers and the setup would do equally well for music as for accompanying your big-screen TV.

[via Gizmodo]

Lending further support to what we see in the images is the filing itself, which mentions T-Mobile’s WCDMA 1700 AWS network. It is safe to assume, then, that the Grand X will be hitting the market via the carrier, although when that could happen and what price range we’re looking at is anybody’s guess. Thus far, nary a peep has been uttered in the rumorsphere about either of them.

ZTE’s Grand X features a nicely-sized IPS display at 4.3-inches with a resolution of 960 x 540. Inside you’ll find a dual-core 1GHz processor, and, assuming the specs are the same as the one we got our hands on back in July, there will be 4GB of internal storage space and 512MB of RAM. Around back you’ll find a 5-megapixel camera, and a 1,650mAH battery to run it all.

We took a peek through the user manual up on the FCC’s website, and nothing stands out as particularly different or new. While the specs are decent, the handset will run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, meaning there is officially nothing exciting about the device. Still, given ZTE’s usually low price-point, this could end up being a decent budget phone for those wanting a large display.

[via Android Community]

What we saw from Panasonic before was the ELUGA (also seen above), a device we tossed in a dish of water at Mobile World Congress 2012. That machine was fairly neat at the time, but looks positively lacking compared to what the P-02E is being tipped as bringing to the smartphone game. Unfortunate for everyone outside of Japan is the rumor that this machine will only be hitting that small land mass, but we can dream!

What we’re seeing here is the Panasonic P-02E, complete with a massive 1080 x 1920 pixel display which we must assume will be spread across an approximately 5-inch display diagonally. This machine will be running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and will working with 4G LTE, NFC, and mobile TV. This is another indicator that it’ll only be appearing in Japan: in its current showing, it’s got a real retractable antenna.

The FCC approval generally lends itself to a USA or Euro release, but in this case given the Panasonic market share and their ability to push devices abroad in the smartphone segment, we’re almost certainly looking to see a home-terf release. We’ll quite likely be seeing this device appear at Mobile World Congress 2013 – seeya there! Hit up our MWC 2013 tag to check out all the action from here until February!

[via FCC]

Apparently, the white paper caught the attention of a Democratic senator from Oregon named Ron Wyden. Wyden has introduced legislation to regulate the use of data caps this week. The Senators Bill would allow the use of data caps only to control congestion on a network and would not allow them to be used to maximize a carrier’s revenue.

Wyden plans to address three major issues with his bill. He wants to increase the accuracy and amount of information carriers provide consumers. This bill also proposes to allow the FCC to regulate methods used by carriers for measuring bandwidth. The second major issue the bill seeks to address would be to require any data caps used by ISPs to “reasonably limit network congestion without unnecessarily restricting Internet use.”

A statement released along with the legislation noted that some data caps might work to discourage Internet use even when it has no effect on network congestion. The third thing the legislation seeks to address could be the most controversial. The bill would require any data cap in place not be used to provide preferential treatment of data based on the source or content of the data. That would mean the legislation would eliminate any paid fast lane for data, which has been proposed by some users.

[via ArsTechnica]

“In this Order, we consider the applications of AT&T Inc., Comcast, Horizon, NextWave, and San Diego Gas & Electric (the “Applicants”) for Commission consent to the assignment and transfer of control to AT&T of Wireless Communications Service (WCS) and Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-1) licenses in 608 CMAs. Based on our review of the competitive effects of AT&T’s post-transaction spectrum holdings on a local and national level, we find that these transactions are not likely to result in competitive or other public interest harms. We also anticipate that these transactions are likely to result in certain public interest benefits by facilitating the transition of long-underutilized WCS spectrum towards mobile broadband use, thereby supporting our goal of expanding mobile broadband deployment throughout the country. Thus, we conclude that, on balance, these transactions are in the public interest and accordingly approve them” FCC

According to the deal, AT&T gains AWS-1 and WCS spectrum in 608 CMAs, fifteen of which cover 82-percent of the population of the contiguous 48 US states. Currently, problems with incompatibility with other spectrum use and the cost of rolling out new networks have seen the frequencies left idle.

AT&T’s attempt to secure new spectrum isn’t the only wireless deal in progress in the US. Back in August, the FCC approved Verizon’s purchase of $3.9bn in spectrum holdings from a variety of cable companies. Part of that deal involved licensing out some of the newly acquired spectrum to T-Mobile USA.

All of the major US carriers are in the process of developing out their 4G networks. Sprint announced plans to acquire the entirety of Clearwire in a $2.2bn deal earlier this week, while Verizon marked its two year anniversary of LTE coverage recently.

With the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, those who sign up will get locally-relevant alerts about abductions on top of “Presidential and Imminent threat alerts.” Rolled out by CTIA, the FCC, and FEMA, WEA offers one particularly useful improvement over WAA. Those who are signed up to receive WEA will get AMBER Alerts for the area they’re presently in, regardless of whether or not they live in that area.

The announcement gives an example of someone from Chicago who is visiting Boston. If that person is signed up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts and an abduction happens in Boston, they’ll get the alert despite the fact that they’re normally in Chicago. On the flip side, alerts for abductions that occur in Chicago while this person is in Boston won’t be sent to their phone.

So, mobile AMBER Alerts aren’t going away, they’re just being rolled into a more comprehensive alert system. The Wireless AMBER Alert system is scheduled to go dark on December 31, 2012 after running since 2005. We’ll likely hear more about this shut down as we get closer to December 31, so stay tuned.

Dish Network requested FCC approval for a waiver that would allow it to utilize the 2GHz band’s 40MHz spectrum. The FCC then dragged its feet in approving the request, and stated that Dish Network would have to follow some limitations put in place to keep it from disrupting other airwaves. The idea of Dish launching its own wireless network, however, was warmly received due to the competition it would add to the industry.

Dish’s Senior Vice President Jeff Blum offered this statement. “We appreciate the hard work and focus of the FCC and its staff throughout this process … Following a more thorough review of the order and its technical details, DISH will consider its strategic options and the optimal approach to put this spectrum to use for the benefit of consumers.”

Dish Network is the second biggest satellite provider in the United States, falling behind DirecTV. Although it has not been confirmed what Dish plans to do with its newly acquired airwaves, we can make a guess based on things the company has stated over the past few months. On December 5, we reported that Dish-owned Blockbuster plans to sell phones in its retail stores following a statement by the company’s chairman stating that Dish planed to unveil a wireless service pending FCC approval.

[via WSJ]

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski write a letter to acting administrator of the FAA, Michael Huerta, calling on the administration to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights. In the letter, Genachowski also said that he would be willing to work with the FAA, airlines, and manufacturers to make his proposal a reality.

Genachowski’s reasoning is something that all passengers can agree with. He says that “mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives. They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness.” We certainly can’t argue with him on that, but the reason behind the electronics ban during flights is much deeper than what’s on the cover.

While you can still technically use electronics once the aircraft hits cruising altitude, usually you’re required to keep them in airplane mode unless the airline offers WiFi. However, it’s always been a strict rule that all electronics are supposed to be completely turned off during landing and takeoff. Hopefully the letter from Genachowski will help the FAA aim in the right direction.

[via The Hill]

Image via Flickr

We reported back in May that Verizon was looking at allowing consumers to text 911, something that pleased both the FCC and consumers. Now the big four, in partnership with the NENA 911 Association and the Association for Public Safety Communications Officials International, are seeking to make this a reality over the next year.

NENA’s President Barbara Jaeger offered this statement. “As the public becomes more mobile and embraces new methods for communicating, 9-1-1 has to be ready to answer non-voice requests for assistance. This historic agreement demonstrates the shared commitment of parties to serve the evolving needs of citizens in the digital age.”

The platform needed to enable text-to-911 will be launched in May 2014, with a bounce-back service for those who try to text emergency services in an unsupported area implemented by June 30th of the 2013. The service will allow the deaf and mute to get emergency help, as well as those in a situation where it is dangerous to speak. However, it is being stressed that placing a voice call is still the ideal way to get emergency help and should be used when possible.

That federal appeals court has now upheld the FCC’s data roaming regulations and denied Verizon’s claims. The opinion of the three-judge panel at the US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit was unanimous and upheld the FCC decision to extend “voice roaming” requirements to wireless firms did not violate the rights of the carriers. Verizon had argued that the FCC lacked the legal authority to make such a decision.

The appeals court judges noted that the FCC regulations bared some “marks of common carriage” but the appeals judges also noted that “we deferred to the commission’s determination the rule imposes no common carrier obligations on mobile Internet providers.” The court also noted that the FCC regulations were not unconstitutional, arbitrary, or capricious. The judges on the appeals court also found no validity in arguments made by Verizon that the FCC lacked the legal authority to impose these regulations.

Verizon wireless argued that the new FCC regulations on data roaming were prohibited by the Communications Act. All three Appeals Court judges disagreed with Verizon’s claims. What Verizon was fighting was FCC regulations forcing the nation’s largest carrier to open its network to smaller regional carriers to allow them to compete on a national marketplace.

[via Politico]

Shortcuts include Netflix, Amazon Video, YouTube, Vudu, HBO Go, and Crackle, though there are also keys for search and for live TV. Inside the main box there’s WiFi 802.11n along with Bluetooth 3.0; it’s not clear what processor is doing main duties, but an ARM-based chip pretty much a lock-in.

Engadget scored a few shots of a prototype unit, along with some feedback from beta testers. According to the tipsters, the shortcut keys are locked to the labeled services, and there have been some issues with the STB as a whole overheating. There’s also the possibility of an aesthetic redesign before release.

Netgear has already used the NeoTV name for a range of non-Google TV media streamers, updating the line as recently as September with three new models. Priced from $49.99, they use an HTML5 interface allowing Netgear to easily change the service on offer, introduce new features, or iron out bugs; the included remote with the $69.99 NeoTV Max also has a QWERTY keyboard on one side, though it lacks the touchpad of this Google TV model.

No word on when we could see an official launch of the NeoTV Prime, but a CES 2013 debut seems likely.

[via GTV Hacker]

As notes Engadget, the O!Mobile Control Center and Remote mobile app listings on Google Play indicate a few things about the Qube. One, it may utilize Marvell Armada processors, which are used in current Google TV settops. And two, it may offer more extensive remote control via mobile devices than the remote app from Google.

Google TV has more than its share of critics, but it has been plugging along, and seems to be picking up momentum. Google recently rolled out an update for the service that added voice search, as well as the new section PrimeTime that is the movies and TV shows category. LG’s G2 TVs, which are Google TV-equipped, were the first to see the new update.

Google TV provides users with access to all sorts of video content, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and, of course, the Google Play Store, where users can choose from thousands of TV shows and flicks. As for the ASUS Qube, we’ll have to wait for more details to pop up. When, where, and how the device will be made available is yet to be seen.

[via Engadget]