NetStumbler.com

The FCC’s latest release may actually become this year’s top read. The rules for the upcoming 700 MHz auction is apparently riveting and controversial.

One large chunk of spectrum has a number of open access conditions attached to it while the other requires bidders be active in the public/private public safety network. But the new rules don’t restrict the same company from buying both of these slots. There are also three other large blocks that will be up for auction.

It is possible for one company to come in and purchase all 5 blocks of spectrum but it’s highly unlikely that anyone would as the built-out requirements for each segment are quite expansive and unique, meaning the work involved in just one segment will require a very specialized committment.

Expect the C block to garner the most attention as it could be used for a national high-speed wireless service and many of the telecoms have already expressed their interest.
Via [arstechnica.com]

Skype’s explanation on the service’s recent two-day blackout was met with skepticism. In a statement, the VoIP provider said: “The disruption was triggered by a massive restart of our users’ computers across the globe within a very short timeframe as they re-booted after receiving a routine set of patches through Windows Update.”

Windows maker, Microsoft, balked at the idea that its updates caused the outage. “Windows Update is a routine service Microsoft provides to its users to receive software updates, including last Tuesday’s security updates, which were not unique.” Indeed, an analysis of recent monthly updates showed that there is nothing different in this event as compared to similar incidents in the past.

Aron Rosenberg, chief technology officer of VoIP company SightSpeed, deemed Skype’s clarification as an excuse. He noted that Windows updates are default downloaded and installed at 3 am, arguing that “at the very least, then, systems would have rebooted time zone by time zone, not all at once.” Likewise, the security fixes are normally released on the second Tuesday of each month since October 2003. His question: why now?

Rosenberg, however, conceded that the minority system of Skype’s networks suffer from infrastructure vulnerabilities. When “supernodes” — or computers with surplus bandwidth and processor cycles — go offline, the service could collapse.
Via [computerworld.com]

Sprint’s new WiMAX has a name…Xohm. The company feels the X at the beginning of Xohm gives it an edgy feel but notes the pronounciation is like “home” but with a “z” sound at the beginning.

However, the announcement of the name isn’t the only leap the company is taking. They also plan on rolling out a new business model that is internet-based, not telecom-based. A year ago Sprint stated this venture could cost them $3 million, but new partnerships with companies like Google and Clearwire Corp. may have changed that investment a bit.

Xohm is expected to provide speeds at about 3 to 4 times what 3G is currently offering its customers and the WiMAX network will be operating over a licensed spectrum.
Via [computerworld.com]

The city of San Francisco has had its ups and downs with a citywide Wi-Fi system and still there is no system in sight. Google has most recently entered the fray, at least peripherally.

Meraki, Google funded start up, claims it can cover the city with Wi-Fi for a fraction of the current plan’s costs, won’t require any commitment from the city, and they will use hardware that is more reliable than Earthlink. So far the company has set up internet access points across the city that have been hit by approximately 7000 different machines. They’re now hoping to expand their coverage to the rest of the city.

Rather than following Earthlink’s expensive and flawed system of placing access points on light poles, Meraki relies on volunteers who place transmitters in their windows and allow neighbors to piggy back on the service, in fact some people are actually providing access to their own DSL connections.

All of the kinks aren’t worked out of the system, but it looks as if Meraki’s neighborly approach may be the solution to San Francisco’s internet woes.
Via [theregister.co.uk]

LinuxDevices has discovered that Sprint will be offering an internet tablet similar to Nokia’s N800 next year. This addition to the Mobile WiMAX market will take advantage of Sprint’s 4G wireless services, which may reach more than 100 million people by 2008.

In 2006 Sprint announced their plans to begin the 4G nationwide broadband mobile network and has now made public their plans to use Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005) to launch this technology.

On the other side, Nokia’s N800 will probably include WiFi and Bluetooth and is moving forward, determined to capture the marketplace.
Via [linuxdevices.com]

We have received word and rumors are spreading that Apple and Starbucks/T-Mobile will be announcing a special deal to allow for iPhone Wi-Fi access at Starbucks/T-Mobile sites.

The terms and details of the announcement are not yet known, but we hear that this is going to arrive at the same time that the iTunes store will be turned on for the iPhone.

The ability to purchase and downloads songs on the iPhone! Eureka! Over Wi-Fi?!?! Good Lord!

Qualcomm continues to lose the war over patents with Broadcom. U.S. President George W. Bush has announced he will not overturn a June ruling by the International Trade Commission banning the importation of cell phones housing chips infringing Broadcom patents. Qualcomm, however, is determined not to give up the fight. Aside from preparing an appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the firm has teamed up with its clients and operators to devise new software that would sidestep the patent. “We will pursue all legal and technical options available to us to minimize the impact of the ITC order on consumers, our customers and the entire wireless industry,” said Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs.

Broadcom is obviously happy with Bush’s decision. “This decision strengthens the intellectual property rights of all U.S. companies, not just Broadcom,” remarked David A. Dull, Broadcom’s senior vice president and general counsel. “And (it) sends a clear message to all those who would seek to escape the consequences of their patent infringement. In upholding the ITC remedy, the administration is also encouraging a market-based solution to patent issues that is in the best interests of American consumers, U.S. companies and global patent protection.”
Via [news.com.com]

Juneau, Alaska residents can now avail of wireless WiMax-based broadband Internet service from AT&T Inc.’s subsidiary AT&T Alascom for $19.95 per month. The company said it is its first venture as part of a statewide plan to broaden broadband coverage via WiMax. The Juneau network will use Alvarion Ltd. equipment and will blanket the Douglas, Lena Point and Mendenhall Valley areas. It is expected to deliver downstream and upstream speeds of up to 1 Mbps. Coverage is likely to include more Alaskan communities later this year and next year.
Via [computerworld.com]

Earthlink has abandoned its original business strategy for municipal wireless networks. “We’re also beginning a dialog with the municipalities that we’ve partnered with, and that we’re considering partnering with,” said Earthlink President and CEO Rolla P. Huff. “The Wi-Fi business as currently constituted will not provide an acceptable return … We’re going to look for municipal governments to step up and become a meaningful anchor tenant on completion of the build,” Huff added.

The review came amid contract negotiations with San Francisco, whose mayor, Gavin Newsom, voiced frustration over the hold-ups from the Board of Supervisors and revealed that the city lacks a back-up plan if Earthlink and Google withdraw from the project.

Muni-wireless expert Craig Settles said EarthLink’s announcement could bring “some sanity” in WiFi project talks. “If there’s hope for this industry, it’s that more cities will start serious benefit analyses within governments of the impact of muni wireless on operations, as well as conduct similar analyses within business, medical and education constituencies that could all be anchor tenants,” Settles remarked. “San Francisco, unfortunately, may not be demonstrating good judgment if they dismiss anchor tenancy out of hand unless they still have their sights on owning the network. I’m surprised — sort of — by the smaller cities that stomp their feet and pout like petulant kids, refusing to even discuss buying services because they think their cities deserve a free ride.”
Via [govtech.com]

The $800 million El Cajon Dam in Mexico reached completion early this year and a cutting-edge wireless voice and data communications helped made that possible. Raul Orozco, the IT and telecommunications director at the principal contractor of the dam, said the technology not only produced savings but also ensured the safety of workers — as many as 10,000 — during the four-year construction period. According to Orozco “there were no fatalities, a world record for a dam project like this,” and “some say that is because of the communications system.”

Cisco provided the $8 million data and voice system, which has Wi-Fi and mesh wireless components, as well unified communications technology, voice-over-IP phones linked to e-mail and other online functions, and core routing and switching over some wired links. The technology enabled for sharing of 3-D architectural models over the links among workers, dissemination of news and information, and efficient management of payroll needs.
Via [computerworld.com]

Could computer wires become extinct soon? Scientists at the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC) at Georgia Tech are looking at that possibility, with the use of extremely high radio frequencies. Prof. Joy Laskar, GEDC director and one of the lead researchers on the project, said the study aims to “maximize data throughput to make possible a host of new wireless applications for home and office connectivity.”

The research involves RF frequencies around 60 GHz, which anyone can freely use as they are unlicensed. So far, GEDC scientists have seen wireless data-transfer rates of 15 Gbps over a 1-meter distance, 10 Gbps at 2 meters and 5 Gbps at 5 meters. Laskar is optimistic that very rapid peer-to-peer data connections will emerge in the near future, possibly within two years. Such technology can benefit devices like external hard drives, laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, and commercial kiosks that need to transmit large data volume in seconds.
Via [gatech.edu]

San Francisco has spent three long years working toward citywide Wi-Fi and it appears as though a November election will finally settle the debate. The problem is the city’s deal with EarthLink may go south before it is ever implemented.

EarthLink has raised concerns about the citywide Wi-Fi agreements they have signed and are no longer willing to add new buildouts until they can insure the deal will be profitable.

So, it appears as if the city of San Francisco has worked up a deal that the city is content with but the Wi-Fi provider is unable to deliver.
Via [infoworld.com]

Wi-Fi hackers have gotten more advanced and your private information is even more at risk. The recent Black Hat conference in Las Vegas featured a demonstration by Errata Security that detailed how a hacker can use new tools to steal your encrypted cookies and passwords and then control your online sessions.

Errata has combated this new hack threat with their own tools, Hamster and Ferret, which prevent attacks. It appears that the good guys are following closely behind the bad guys but they’re still slightly behind and all Wi-Fi users need to be careful.
Via [securecomputing.net.au]

AirCell and American Airlines have just announced that they will be testing broadband services beginning in 2008. The goal is to enable passengers to use their laptops, PDAs, iPhones and BlackBerrys, and portable gaming systems.

AirCell is the leader in global airborne communications and its products are found in many commercial airplanes. In 2006 AirCell won the FCC’s exclusive broadband frequency license which gives them a unque air-to-ground network, making in-flight high-speed broadband service is possible.

American Airlines is very excited about this possibility and says that its customers list broadband access as one of their top wishes for future flights.

Rural residents may finally get the respect and attention they deserve from the communication giants. AT&T recently purchased Dobson Communications for $2.8 million and created some waves among rivals as they too race to develop this previously ignored market.

Verizon responded by striking a deal to purchase Rural Cellular for an approximate value of $2.67 billion. The deal gives Verizon a slew of benefits including first dibs at 15 rural markets, more than 700,000 new customers, 4.7 million licensed points of presence and a joint venture with Vodafone.

Residents in these areas will finally get a broader range of voice and data services.
Via [internetnews.com]