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How Long Do Cell Phone Companies Keep Information About Your Location, Usage & Bills?

Todd Ogasawara — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:56:51 +0000

Graphic courtesy of Wired.

Do you know how long mobile phone service providers keep records about which cell tower you used? Or, text messages? Or, call detail records? Wired took a look at a photo copy of a U.S. Department of Justice summary table titled “Retention Periods of Major Cellular Service Providers” that provides the specifics.
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Whose Smartphone Customers Use the Most Data Per Month? AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon?

Todd Ogasawara — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:43:44 +0000

Electronista doesn’t have to work too hard to convince me that mobile phone companies’ wireless data plans charge way too much for people who do not even come close to their plan’s monthly data quota. Here, they report on a study by Validas.
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Verizon Android Market Share Dropping Due to Verizon iPhone? Maybe Not

Todd Ogasawara — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:31:41 +0000

Lomg before Apple even hinted that the iPhone would be available from Verizon, there was a lot of doomsday speculation that huge number of AT&T iPhone customers would defect to Verizon to get improved call quality (fewer dropped calls). However, while Verizon now has an estimated 23.9% of U.S. iPhone customers, it appears that defections from AT&T is not the only big factor.
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First Sprint, Now Verizon: AmEx Serve Mobile Payment Service

Todd Ogasawara — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:53:20 +0000

It looks like mobile payments systems are getting traction. However, the current leader is not depending on NFC (Near Field Communications) which requires special hardware in phones (like the Nexus S). American Express’s Serve found a partner in Sprint last month.

Sprint Rolling Out American Express’ Serve Mobile Payment System to Select Android Phones

And, now the even bigger CDMA mobile giant, Verizon Wireless, signed up for Serve.

Serve simplifies the online checkout experience by authenticating a mobile number, then allowing a customer to make a purchase on-screen. Verizon Wireless customers who use Serve can expect to buy goods and services on their mobile phone in just a few clicks. Merchants who accept Serve mobile payments will enjoy a streamlined option for processing and settlement. The Serve card is currently accepted by the millions of merchants in the United States who accept American Express.

Serve supports select Android devices and iOS (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad). Support is planned for Microsoft Windows Phone and RIM BlackBerry.

Verizon to Integrate American Express’ Serve on Wireless Phones and Tablets

Via GigaOm: American Express’ Serve digital wallet now serving Verizon devices

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Verizon iPhone Has Little Impact On AT&T iPhone Sales

Frank McPherson — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:25:56 +0000

When AT&T was the exclusive provider of the iPhone, there was much speculation about what would happen when the day came that a competitor would start selling the iPhone. Verizon started selling the iPhone in February, and enough time has now passed to take a look back and see what the impact has been.
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Verizon Moving to Tiered Data Plans on July 7. WiFi May Be VZW Customer’s Best Friend

Todd Ogasawara — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:55:45 +0000

After looking at Nielsen’s report titled “Average U.S. Smartphone Data Usage Up 89% as Cost per MB Goes Down 46%,” I wrote:
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Verizon/Google Team to Block 3rd Party Android Tethering Apps

Todd Ogasawara — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:01:55 +0000

You’ve probably seen Verizon Wireless’ commercial of three people downloading media to 4G tablets while a rocket speeds to destory a 4G MiFi hotspot. If you have a 4G capable Android phone running OS 2.2 (Froyo) or newer, you don’t need a MiFi hotspot since the phone can become a hotspot itself. However, Verizon Wireless has apparently asked Google to block third tethering apps in the Android Market. These apps are apparently not directly detected by Verizon and provides a way to avoid tethering fees. CNET reports that an advocay group has filed a complaint to the FCC about this blockage because an FCC rule states that Verizon cannot “deny, limit or restrict” applications use by customers.

Complaint to FCC: Verizon mustn’t bar 4G tethering

It should be noted that if tethering apps available outside of the Android Market can be downloaded and installed as a “sideload.”

Video courtesy of Verizon Wireless

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Verizon Selling its First Windows Phone Device Starting May 26: HTC Trophy

Todd Ogasawara — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:19:57 +0000

Windows Phone 7′s launch last Fall had some interesting twists for those of us in the United States. Windows Phone devices were available in Europe a month earlier than the U.S. And, when it launched in the U.S., devices were not available on the two CDMA networks: Sprint and Verizon. Sprint picked up a device earlier this year. But, Verizon’s first Windows Phone device is only now in the pipeline.

Verizon HTC Trophy on sale May 26 (Microsoft Windows Phone Blog)

The HTC Trophy follows the design specifications Microsoft laid out for the first round of hardware devices with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera (no front facing camera), and 720p video capture. It adds virtual surround sounds with SRS WOW HD like the HTC Surround sold by AT&T Wireless. The Trophy does not have the slideout speaker found in the 7 Surround, however.

Verizon is adding the incentive of a free Xbox 360 game (up to $60) for people who buy an HTC Trophy before July 15.

Microsoft announcement about their next major update for Windows Phone (“Mango”) is on May 24. So, those who buy a Trophy on May 26 will have a clear roadmap of what is ahead for them.

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A Family Plan for Wireless Data? Verizon is Giving it Serious Consideration

Todd Ogasawara — Fri, 20 May 2011 02:36:02 +0000

All of the major cell phone companies in the U.S. offer some kind of family plan that lets family members share a pool of voice call minutes. However, each smartphone requires its own data plan that usually costs about $30 per month. Reuters reports that Verizon Wireless is considering changing this status quo by offering a family plan for wireless data too.

Verizon eyes family data plans

Indications are that Verizon could roll out a family data plan sometime this summer. Pricing structure information was not disclosed. A pooled data plan could help Verizon maintain and attract customeres. If allowed, it may even help individual users who want, for example, both a smartphone and a tablet on a single pooled data plan.

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ISIS NFC Mobile Commerce: Not in 2011

Todd Ogasawara — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:07:28 +0000

ISIS demo

Near Field Communications (NFC) is a short range wireless technology designed for secure mobile e-commerce. Some people (including me) believed that 2011 would be the year of NFC. However, as 2010 came to a close, it started to look like the NFC effort was much too fragmented. There were at least three separate projects by groups of major players that I reported on here.

ISIS (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) NFC-driven Mobile Commerce in a Few Years?

Google Led NFC Mobile Payment Group on One Side. ISIS Mobile Carrier Group on the Other

Sprint Goes Alone for its NFC Wireless eCommerce Plan

We probably should not be surprised that this fragmented approach might not be good for getting NFC deployed in 2011. Based on this report from Reuters, it looks like the effort to get NFC implemented may be unraveling.

Wireless carriers scale down scope of mobile payment system

Retuers reports that Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA, AT&T and Verizon Wireless have now adopted a less ambitious goal to set up a “mobile wallet”.

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Skyfire Browser 4.0 for Android Brings Tighter Facebook & Twitter Integration + $3 Charge for Video Optimization (except for Verizon Customers)

Todd Ogasawara — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:18:18 +0000

Skyfire provides an alternative browser for Android that is available for free in the Android Market.

Skyfire 4.0

The latest release (4.0.0) is a major one that provides simpler access to Facebook and Twitter. Skyfire provides dedicated buttons for these two social network services. The app provides tighter integration with these services in other ways too. For example, the new Facbook QuickView feature keeps your Facebook page loaded in the cloud for easy, one touch access to your news feed, profile, friends, inbox, events and places. There’s also a Fireplace Feed Reader that only includes links to browsable web pages, images, and videos posted by your Facebook friends.

I found navigating these new features to be a little touchy (pun intended). I found myself faced with unintentionally selected pages and even unintentionally exiting the app. Heavy Facebook and Twitter users will appreciate the easy access to the services, however.

Video optimization is now a $2.99 optional in-app purchase. Current Verizon customers, however, will find this fee waived as a special promotion. The new $2.99 charge for video optimization will certainly raise the eyebrows (if not more) of non-Verizon Android users.

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Will Apple’s iOS 4.3.2 Update Address Reported Verizon 3G iPad 2 Issues?

Todd Ogasawara — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:40:41 +0000

I have a Verizon 3G iPad 2. However, since I wirelessly tether it to an AT&T iPhone 4, I haven’t experienced the iPad 2 Verizon 3G connectivity and FaceTime problems that have become a hot topic.

Why I Tether a Verizon 3G iPad 2 to an AT&T iPhone 4

The problem is apparently widespread. BGR reports that an iOS update is being prepared for near future release to address the problem.

Apple iOS 4.3.2 to fix Verizon iPad 2 connectivity and FaceTime issues, we go hands-on!

I hope 4.3.2 also provides some WiFi enhancements. I’ve noticed that the iPad 2 drops WiFi connectivity more frequently than the original iPad.

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Why I Tether a Verizon 3G iPad 2 to an AT&T iPhone 4

Todd Ogasawara — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:15:24 +0000

After spending 4.5 hours standing in line to buy an iPad 2 on its first day of availability, I ended up buying a model I did not intend to buy 4.5 hours earlier. My goal was to buy the $599 32GB WiFi-only model. It provided the right mix of price and storage for me. Having used a 16GB WiFi-only iPad 1 for nearly a year, I didn’t see a need for a 3G model. However, the 32GB and 64GB WiFi models were sold out by the time I reached the doors of my local Apple Store. In fact, all the 32GB models were sold out as was the AT&T 3G 64GB iPad 2. My choices were a WiFi-only 16GB model (too small) and the 64GB Verizon 3G model. So, I ended the proud owner of a $829 Verizon 3G 64GB iPad 2 which can be purchased without the requirement to purchase a 3G plan.

While toying with the idea of activating Verizon’s 3G data plan for my iPad 2, I began thinking about my existing and little used Verizon plan for my Motorola Droid. I was paying nearly $80 per month for a service I rarely used. So, I called Verizon Wireless last week to cancel my Droid service and to see if that action would provide Verizon a reason to sweeten the 3G data plan for the iPad 2. They didn’t make any offers. So, here’s the arithmetic I looked at and the reason I ended up with a 3G-less Verizon 3G iPad 2 tethered to an AT&T iPhone 4.

1. Verizon’s 1GB 3G service for the iPad 2 costs $20 per month. That seemed a little low.
2. Verizon’s 3GB per month plan costs $35.
3. The iPad 2 cannot be used as a mobile hotspot (tether other WiFi devices to its 3G data)
4. My iPhone 4′s grandfathered unlimited 3G data plan cost $30 per month
5. AT&T’s tethered 4GB per month 3G data plan costs $45 per month. Any three of my WiFi enabled devices can share its 3G data service – This includes my iPad 2. The net increase in my monthly recurring fee is $15.

So, tethering my Verizon 3G iPad 2 to an AT&T iPhone 4 ended up:
- Less expensive: $15 net monthly increase vs. $20 or $35
- Providing more data: 4GB vs. 3GB
- Letting me tether any WiFi-enabled device including my iPad 2
- Providing the ability to make or accept voice calls without dropping a tethered data session

And, since I also dropped the Verizon voice+data plan for my Droid, I ended up with a net $65 per month savings (80-15) at the cost of my former AT&T unlimited 3G plan.

I’ve found myself tethering an iPad, MacBook, or netbook to my iPhone 4 far more frequently than I thought I would. These have all been for relatively short sessions and for light activity (mostly email and some web browsing). Even these brief tethered periods were very useful to me. AT&T’s iPhone 4 app reports that I’ve used 69.34MB of my 4GB data since April 2. I don’t think it captured my initial tests before they started the billing cycle, so let’s call it 100MB of data. Careful use of 3G tethered access should keep me well below my monthly 4GB data cap. This means no video streaming, system updates, or any other large data activities that I can avoid. Email with attachments is a tricky one. I need to look at my current MacBook/netbook email client (Thunderbird) and see if I can tell it not to download attachments automatically.

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ChangeWave iPhone 4 User Survey Reveals: AT&T Dropped Calls Getting Worse Over Time

Todd Ogasawara — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:15:28 +0000

ChangeWave survey more than 4000 consumers to learn their view of various aspects of iPhone 4 use on AT&T’s and Verizon’s networks. Assuming the results provide a reasonably accurate reflection of the general population of iPhone 4 users, the results are fascinating.

ChangeWave Survey Results: AT&T iPhone 4 Owners vs. Verizon iPhone 4 Owners

As expected, Verizon iPhone 4 customers reported dropped calls less than AT&T iPhone customers (1.8% to 4.8%). However, what is even more interesting is ChangeWave’s historical chart of dropped call responses for 90 day periods going back to September 2008. These figures do not involve the iPhone 4 which did not exist at that point but provide an interesting overall perspective of dropped calls by each company. Verizon started with a relatively low reported rate (2.7%) and has steadily improved to 1.4% (note that the iPhone 4 reported rate is 1.8%). AT&T, on the other hand, has become steadily worse over time. They started with 3.6% dropped calls peaked at a horrendous 6% in September 2010 and improved to 4.6% in the last report. However, it is still worse than the 3.6% rate they started with in September 2008. You can see this clearly in ChangeWave’s Percentage of Overall Dropped Calls chart reproduced here.

Surprisingly, dropped calls do not appear to significantly influence iPhone 4 users’ overal satisfication levels. ChangeWave notes: In terms of overall satisfaction the two iPhones are virtually indistinguishable.

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Study: US Mobile Carriers To Be Unprofitable By 2013, Thanks to iPhone and Android

Bilal Hameed — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:00:31 +0000

US mobile operators like Verizon and AT&T are not capable of surviving the iPhone age and unless they transform their networks and business models, they would become an endangered race within the next three years, according to a new study conducted by Tellabs.

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