Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer on Wireless Siting & Law » Page 41 of 48

And it won’t cause explosions, either!

Posted on February 8, 2009February 8, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

motorola-i365is Sprint is featuring this nifty little Motorola handset, the i365IS, which it says “…is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy to ignite fuel and cause a fire or explosion. Intrinsically safe devices are safe to use in hazardous areas that may contain flammable gasses, vapors or dust.”

Cool!

The basic specifications for this little gem are:

Form factor: Intrinsically safe, Mil-spec certified ruggedness in a monolith form factor
Dimensions: 5.3’’ x 2.1’’ x 1.2’’ Weight: 7.05 ounces
Network: iDEN® 800/900 MHz for Nextel Direct Connect¹, interconnect and data
Display: 64K colors; 130 x 130 monolith
Battery Specifications: Max Capacity Li-Ion
Talk Time: Approximately 300 minutes³

Sprint also describes special safety features of this phone, which should sell like a barn burner! (Sorry, bad puns are de rigeur around here). They include:

Intrinsically Safe²: The i365IS offers a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres, when used with IS battery and accessories.

Bundled Advanced Features (AFU)

Emergency Group Call – Takes priority over all other phone activities and makes a special emergency tone in the phones receiving the call. In an emergency, reach everyone in your group instantly.

Multi-Simultaneous Talk-Group – Listen to up to four talk groups at a time. Don’t miss any important details or safety information.

Isolated Site Operation – Allows user to continue to make and receive group calls on the hub last used, even if the connection is lost. Ensures that no one is left behind.

Status Messages – Send call alerts that include predefined text messages to get right to the point.

Ultra-Rugged Design: The i365IS is a rugged and durable monolith handset certified for military specification requirements including humidity, blowing rain, dust, shock and vibration.

No word on pricing, but Sprint sells the Motorola i365 that is NOT intrinsically safe (the IS suffix) for $239.99 minus an instant discount of $150.00 for an end sales price of $89.99. I expect the -IS model will be a wee-bit more than that.

Jonathan

Sprint Nextel to release 4Q08 Results on 2/19/09

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

colorsprintlogo1 OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb 06, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE:S) will release its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2008 on Thursday, Feb. 19. The results will be posted at www.sprint.com/investors at approximately 7 a.m. EST. Sprint Nextel management will host a conference call at 8 a.m. EST to discuss the results.

Sprint Nextel Conference Call Information
Date: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
Time: 8 a.m. EST
Call-in Numbers: Toll free: 866-763-0020 (US/Canada) –
ID Required: 83732306

International: 706-902-1194 – ID Required: 83732306

Please plan on gaining access 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

A simultaneous webcast will be available at www.sprint.com/investors. Please note that questions may only be submitted through the conference call option. Replays of the conference call will be available shortly afterward by calling 800-642-1687, and entering the code: 83732306.

Verizon Hub So Much More Than A Terminal

Posted on February 2, 2009February 2, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

Verizon’s new “HUB” device (pictured below) is starting to get some wings. Specifically, Verizon has inked a deal with Time Inc. so that “Verizon Hub users can now view short-form videos from brands like People.com®, TIME.com®, and RealSimple.com® from Time Inc. brands by simply touching the screen on the Verizon Hub.”

verizonhub1 This move make sense from a bandwidth perspective since the video download will occur via the customer’s broadband connection required by the HUB, rather than across the Verizon Wireless network.

Verizon is positioning the HUB as a every-data terminal, rather than just a femtocell.

Very, very smart.

Kramer: Ahhh-uhhhh-ahhhh-da-da-da

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

Yes, that’s your host imitating the sound you hear in an A.M. radio when your cell phone is on and is near the radio.

I was interviewed last year by O’Reilly Media’s James Turner. He has an Apple I-Phone which he’s not too happy with. He interviewed me regarding that buzzing you hear when you place a cell phone near a radio.

Look, I do a lot of interviews, and frankly, I forgot about my interview by James.

Recently while Googling my name (admit it…you do, too!), I ran across James’s article, which ran at the O’Rielly web site (this is the link).

The neat part of the interview, which also featured Jeff Rodman, CTO and co-founder of Polycom (you know them for their world famous ‘starfish’ business grade speakerphones), is that you listen to the entire 10 minute broadcast by clicking here (opens a new window to play an MP3).

Jonathan

Why do I have to Place the FemtoCell Near a Window?

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

The various femtocells being marketed by the major carriers require that they be place near a window.

Huh? They need a good view to not feel along all day?

Actually, it’s because the femtocells need to know where they are installed so that the carriers can (try to) meet the E-911 location requirements.

Femtocells have built-in GPS receivers that tell the wireless switching center, call the Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO for short) where it is installed. That would be inside your home. Then, if someone makes a 911 call through your femtocell, the MTSO can use your GPS location (latitude and longitude) to help E-911 dispatchers get help to the caller.

So, to parrot the line from Sprint, “Can you find me now? Good!”

=Jonathan=

Like Getting A Million-Dollar Cell Site In Your Home For $249.99

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

That’s the title of Verizon’s news release dated 1/26/09 regarding their new femtocell.

It seems to me that this is a silly comparison, and one that isn’t anywhere near accurate.

A typical macrocell site costs a carrier something like $250,000 to $350,000 to construct. And given that the Verizon femtocells don’t provide 3G services such as EV-DO data, you’re hardly getting a “Million-Dollar Cell Site In Your Home For $249.99”!

Here’s the news release:

Verizon Wireless “Network Extender” Enhances In-Home Call Capabilities

“Like Getting A Million-Dollar Cell Site In Your Home For $249.99” 01/26/2009

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless customers now have a new option for enhancing wireless coverage inside homes where location, geography or structural conditions interfere with reception. Customers can purchase the Verizon Wireless Network Extender online, by phone or at select Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, allowing them to enhance the signal inside their homes using any Verizon Wireless phone.

“Our new Network Extender device will bring the full benefit of the Verizon Wireless voice network to the small but important segment of customers who may experience a weaker signal in their homes because of geographic or structural conditions,” said Jack Plating, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless. “Current and prospective customers have told us they want this, and we are responding to that demand. For those who have wanted to sign up for Verizon Wireless service but hesitated because of reception problems unique to their home location, this is the answer.”

Verizon Wireless Network Extender – a “mini-cell site” manufactured by Samsung – is about the size of a wireless router box or small attaché case and routes Verizon Wireless calls through the customer’s home broadband Internet connection. Network Extender is easy to set up and ready to use right out of the box and can provide coverage in an area of up to 5,000 square feet. The price is $249.99, plus local taxes, and there are no monthly fees.

“It’s like getting a million-dollar cell site in your home for $249.99,” said Mr. Plating. “Network Extender makes Verizon Wireless’ reliable network even more reliable, filling in nooks and crannies for customers who see the need.”

Network Extender is ideal for customers who want to enhance the wireless signal when making voice calls, sending text/picture/video messages, accessing Mobile Web or accessing smartphone/BlackBerry® data in situations that could include houses with structural barriers; basement rooms; or some remote, mountainous or hilly areas. Network Extender also can provide improved network access for customers living on the geographical fringes of the Verizon Wireless network. Network Extender does not support EV-DO speeds and services that require it.

Customers, their Family SharePlan® members and other Verizon Wireless customers can use their current phones and calling plans to place calls using the Network Extender. Customers also can manage access to their Network Extender through the account management feature on their My Verizon online account. Customers do not need to update their plans or add minutes and will incur no additional monthly charges for calls using Network Extender.

Verizon Wireless’ Network Extender is available at www.verizonwireless.com, by calling 800-256-4646, and at select Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/networkextender.

Verizion Wireless “Hub: Stylish

Posted on January 23, 2009January 23, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

Verizon Wireless Logo

February 1, 2009: Verizon Launches the “Verizon Wireless Hub” (it’s version of a femtocell. What distinguishes Verizon’s offering from its competitors is the combination of in home cordless phone, and the extension of the Verizon wireless network via a built in femtocell site.

verizonhub1

The Hub connects back to the Verizon MTSO via any broadband connection. Pricing for this little gem has not be set as of this writing.

President Obama’s PDA and Cell Phone?

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

President Obama has said that he’s going to say connected to the Internet and to email. If he does, he’ll be the first American President to do so. And while he professes his love for his Blackberry, that is certainly NOT the PDA that he’ll use to stay connected.

I suspect that our President will soon be photographed using a General Dynamics Sectéra Edge SME PED (“Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Device”). And at only about $3,200, it’ s a real steal!

As touted by General Dynamics, “[t]he Sectéra Edge is the only SME PED that switches between an integrated classified and unclassified PDA with a single key press.”

Check out these features:

edge_parts_200804

Check out the full details on this little gem by visiting this site.

No, I can’t hear you on Inauguration Day

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

Reporting on the massive cell phone congestion during today’s inauguration of President Obama, the Associated Press reported that call traffic was up 500% from normal for several carriers.

Big surprise.

The carriers are asking people wanting to transfer photos from their phone’s camera to wait to let the data traffic drop back to normal levels.

To read the AP story, please follow this link.

CTIA 2 DC vistrs..Pls txt..dont call.

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer

In a copyrighted story appearing in the January 19, 2009 issue of WirelessWeek, Monica Alleven reports that that the wireless carriers in D.C. are expecting record-breaking crowds for the Obama inauguration, and with it big-time network congestion.

The CTIA suggests that visitors in D.C. text, rather than make voice calls, to help reduce network overloads. As Monica notes in her story, “One of the things SMS has going for it is it uses a small amount of bandwidth compared with voice.”

The story is well worth reading!

Jonathan