Hasta La Gadget!

Calling all app developers: Amazon just launched a new tool that you’ll no doubt want to take a peek at. The company’s Web Services (AWS) division has just introduced Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS) with Mobile Push, which is described as a “fully managed, cross-platform push notification service in the cloud.” The real kicker, of course, is this nugget: “With one simple API, application developers can easily send notifications to Apple iOS, Google Android and Kindle Fire devices.” Amazon’s allowing all AWS customers to use the service for free so long as the reach remains under one million users, but even if you exceed that, you’ll only be asked to pay $1 for each additional million.

Devs who have historically had to build and maintain different push architectures for separate platforms will likely fawn over such a universal approach, and while it’s certainly not the first of its kind, it’s the first to be backed by a stalwart such as Amazon. Hit up the outfit’s SNS portal to get started, but please, don’t take this as a green flag to up your spamming efforts — we all know how that turned out for Farmville.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Amazon

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Source: Amazon

Verizon was the first US carrier to launch (and famously fumble) its LTE rollout back in 2010, but its long road to 4G nationwide coverage has finally come to a near close. As of today, the operator’s LTE footprint now blankets more than 298 million people in 500 markets across the US, with Parkersburg, West Virginia claiming that 500th market distinction. It’s a milestone Verizon managed to achieve in a little over two years’ time, as the company’s Chief Network Officer Nicola Palmer was quick to point out. The completion of this initial LTE rollout also brings Alaska into Verizon’s coverage map as early as next month — a territory that, before today, didn’t even have 3G — marking the carrier’s network as available in all 50 states.

With a full LTE expansion, however, comes network congestion problems, as subscribers in major cities like New York are already starting to experience. Palmer assured us that solutions are currently underway to shore up capacity in these LTE markets. Verizon’s AWS holdings, in particular, should serve to augment LTE reception in select areas starting in the second half of this year. The same goes for small cell site deployment, which Palmer stressed is an LTE-only initiative. News on the carrier’s plans for LTE-Advanced remain just as vague as ever, with Palmer positioning the standard as yet another tool to enhance current LTE capacity. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for LTE-A nor address concerns about the potential for new pricing tiers when it does eventually launch. Still, Verizon subs will at least have VoLTE (voice over LTE) to look forward to next year — that is, when it eventually clears the company’s rigorous lab and field testing.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Verizon Wireless

Telus’ bid to acquire Mobilicity was primarily a play for more spectrum, and the Canadian government’s obligation to block the related frequency deal largely killed the merger’s reason for being. However, the carrier isn’t fighting that fatal setback to the bitter end, AT&T-style — instead, it’s backing out entirely. That’s undoubtedly a relief for Canucks wanting a competitive cellular marketplace, although we wouldn’t cheer too loudly. Mobilicity was partly hoping the deal would eliminate its financial woes, and it now has to fend for itself once again. There’s also no guarantee that we’ll avoid an eventual repeat: it could be open season on Mobilicity when there’s no longer a moratorium on spectrum transfers.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Via: MobileSyrup

Source: Canada Newswire

Wireless use along the US-Canada border can be problematic: when there isn’t direct interference, there’s sometimes a fight over which devices get dibs on given frequencies. Don’t worry that the countries will rekindle their old disputes, though — instead, they’ve just struck interim deals to share more of their spectrum. Along with harmonizing 700MHz public safety networks, the pacts address AWS (1,700MHz and 2,100MHz), PCS (1,900MHz), 3.7GHz wireless broadband, mesh networks and even WiFi hotspots. When possible, both sides will use contention protocols to automatically resolve any conflicts. While the deals aren’t yet final, they should be strong enough to maintain some semblance of peace on the northern airwaves.

[Image credit: National Film Board of Canada. Photothèque / Library and Archives Canada]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Networking

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Source: FCC

Canadians have been enjoying a minor renaissance in wireless competition since its AWS auction allowed a slew of smaller carriers to join the fray. Unfortunately, that diversity might be shrinking soon. The Globe and Mail reportedly has documents showing that Telus has been in active talks to buy Mobilicity through a share buyout deal. While the apparent leak doesn’t mention the exact motivations, it’s thought to be a spectrum grab when LTE on major Canadian carriers primarily leans on the very AWS frequencies that Mobilicity also uses for its 3G service. Neither Telus nor Mobilicity is commenting, although we’d note that there may be a few roadblocks (however temporary) if the scoop is accurate. Rules meant to preserve competition will prevent Telus from buying any newcomers’ spectrum until early 2014, and Mobilicity left the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association just this week while accusing the industry group of being a puppet for bigger networks like Telus. If negotiations are real and still in progress, there could be some very awkward meetings ahead.

[Image credit: Andrew Currie, Flickr]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Via: MobileSyrup (1), (2)

Source: The Globe and Mail