---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <E69706E1-3367-4A9A-9A42-DD9C629817B8@roscom.com> Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 00:17:47 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Sprint, Looking to Get Bigger to Survive, Weighs Deal- Making The company and its backer, SoftBank, have had talks with both Charter and T-Mobile to improve its fortunes as it falls behind rivals. Masayoshi Son, the Japanese telecommunications mogul, has always been known as an inveterate deal maker. But amid a breakneck spree of investing in start-ups, Mr. Son's most anticipated moves will likely involve an old-line phone service provider: Sprint. The reason is clear. Sprint, controlled by Mr. Son's SoftBank, has long lagged behind the two titans of American wireless, Verizon and AT&T, each of which has more subscribers than Sprint and T-Mobile combined. Mr. Son has never let go of the idea that Sprint needs to get bigger to survive, and has had on-again, off-again discussions with T-Mobile. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/06/business/dealbook/sprint-charter-tmobile-softbank-masayoshi-son.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20170809043333.GA31076@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2017 00:33:33 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: How Much Room to Run Does Verizon Have Left with Its Spectrum? Verizon recently snapped up a war chest full of 28 GHz and 39 GHz spectrum licenses in its $1.05 billion Straight Path buy, and it seems that move was quite timely - not just because of 5G. In a Monday research note, BTIG's Walter Piecyk reported Verizon recently began turning up the remaining 10 MHz of its PCS spectrum in New York City. While that's a good strategy for meeting increasing traffic demand, Piecyk observed the move comes earlier than expected and leaves Verizon with just 20 MHz of open spectrum for LTE in that market. But those 850 MHz airwaves, he noted, are currently tied up delivering CDMS voice and 3G data services. At least 10 MHz of that is expected to continue to serve those functions for the next several years, Piecyk said. https://www.wirelessweek.com/blog/2017/08/how-much-room-run-does-verizon-have-left-its-spectrum -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1593BEAA-2215-4970-B343-833948A80B3C@roscom.com> Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 15:16:59 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: T-Mobile's new plan gives seniors a much-needed upgrade T-Mobile's new Unlimited 55+ gives seniors a much-needed upgrade on cell service T-Mobile is launching its newest unlimited plan, which might be its best yet, offering two lines of unlimited data for $60 (including taxes, fees, etc.). There's just one catch: the new T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+ plan is only available for customers aged 55 and up. In a video explaining the plan, T-Mobile CEO John Legere says the new Unlimited 55+ offering is meant to give seniors a full-fledged cellphone plan for smartphones and modern devices. T-Mobile's latest option takes a jab at competitor AT&T's Senior Nation plan, which costs a similar $29.99 a month per line for customers over 65. But in comparison, AT&T's plan is almost comically outdated, offering just 200 anytime minutes, 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited calling to other AT&T customers. These are distinctions for a cellphone plan that I haven't had to consider in over a decade. AT&T's Senior Nation plan is "only eligible for basic phones and not eligible on smartphones or tablets." https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/7/16106266/tmobile-one-unlimited-55-seniors-60-cell-phone-plan-deal-discount ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20170809045259.GA31221@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2017 00:52:59 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Verizon's advice to parents buying phones for kids LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - In today's digital age, back to school can also mean new tech for students. And, with that, could require serious talks to have with your young ones. With those tablets and apps, comes concern about things like cyberbullying, or accessing inappropriate material. Experts urge parents to have conversations with children as soon as the devices hit their hands. Parents are also urged to look into parental apps and controls that can block out stuff not suitable for young ones, and to learn how to use them. http://www.wave3.com/story/36091150/verizon-gives-tech-tips-for-back-to-school -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7F8855EB-E17A-4F30-9659-D452251F133C@roscom.com> Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 23:39:26 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: These 42 Disney apps are allegedly spying on your kids These 42 Disney apps are allegedly spying on your kids The Walt Disney Co. secretly collects personal information on some of their youngest customers and shares that data illegally with advertisers without parental consent, according to a federal lawsuit filed late last week in California. The class-action suit targets Disney and three other software companies - Upsight, Unity and Kochava - alleging that the mobile apps they built together violate the law by gathering insights about app users across the Internet, including those under the age of 13, in ways that facilitate "commercial exploitation." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/08/07/these-42-disney-apps-are-allegedly-spying-on-your-kids/ ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Wed, 09 Aug 2017