Rivada and U.S. Cellular are working together on a plan for New Hampshire first responders as an alternative to FirstNet, the companies said in a Tuesday news release. An official familiar with Rivada’s strategy said the two are likely to work together in other states as well. “It is not a one-off, and we've been in discussions with them for some time about the FirstNet opportunity,” the official said. "We are working with Rivada on the New Hampshire opportunity right now, but nothing precludes us from working with them on additional opportunities," a U.S. Cellular spokesperson emailed. Rivada said it signed a “no-cost, no-obligation” contract with New Hampshire a year ago and delivered a draft plan in March. FirstNet’s proposal for the state is before Gov. Chris Sununu (R). His spokesman didn’t comment. FirstNet and AT&T didn't comment.
More sophisticated features drove the wearables market in Q2 as shipments jumped 10.3 percent vs. the year-ago quarter, IDC reported. The quarter marked a turning point as sales of basic models that don’t run third-party apps declined for the first time while smartwatch shipments surged 61 percent, said IDC. What were once niche features -- GPS and health tracking -- are now standard in smartwatches, said analyst Jitesh Ubrani. Xiaomi led the global wearables market with 3.5 million shipments, followed by Apple and Fitbit, tied, then Garmin and Fossil.
Qualcomm introduced Friday a reference design based around the 9150 Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) chipset to be used in advanced driver assistance systems. Based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 14 specifications for PC5-based direct communications, it's said to enhance situational awareness by detecting and exchanging information using low latency transmission in the 5.9 GHz band for vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios without the need for a SIM card, cellular subscription or network assistance. Described as a complement to direct communication transmissions, it's designed to use a wireless operators’ 4G and 5G wireless networks. The chipset is “major milestone" toward 5G and safe autonomous driving, said Thomas Müller, head of electrics/electronics at Audi. Don Butler, Ford’s executive director-connected vehicle and services, called V2X communications a "critical technology" to improve vehicle safety and efficiency.
The FCC set the comment dates on a Further NPRM on a unified regulatory framework for wireless radio services (WRS) rules. Commissioners approved an order and the further notice at their Aug. 3 meeting (see 1708030026). "To encourage investment in wireless networks, facilitate access to scarce spectrum resources, and promote the rapid deployment of mobile services to rural Americans, the FNPRM seeks comment on whether additional, reasonable construction obligations during renewal terms that are targeted to reach rural areas that lack adequate service would help achieve the Commission’s goals,” said the Friday notice in the Federal Register. Comments are due Oct. 2, replies Oct. 31, in docket 10-112.
The FCC published in Friday's Federal Register a further notice on wireless mics approved by commissioners in July (see 1707130055). “This proposed action promotes the Commission’s goal of accommodating wireless microphone users’ needs through access to spectrum resources following the incentive auction and reconfiguration of the TV bands,” the notice said. The FCC said the risk of wireless mic operations causing harmful interference to incumbent users of the spectrum “is low considering that wireless microphones operate at relatively low power over short ranges.” In addition to TV spectrum, venues that qualify would be able to use portions of the 900 MHz band, as well as in the 1435-1525 MHz and 6975-7125 MHz band, under the FCC proposal. Comments are due Oct. 2 in docket 14–166, replies Oct. 16.
Qualcomm filed at the FCC for an experimental license to test 5G technologies near its San Diego campus. The tests would use 3.4-3.55 GHz spectrum. “The network supported by this experimental license is critical for Qualcomm to develop, validate, and then demonstrate 5G technology wireless communications systems,” said the application. “Qualcomm designed the network to generate the smallest amount of RF interference to incumbents in the requested frequency range while also providing the RF coverage area required for engineering development and showcasing advanced wireless technology for indoor, outdoor, static and mobility user environments. The network is required to support both conventional passive antennas configurations as well as advanced beam forming technologies that will be utilized by 5G networks.”
Competitive Carriers Association representatives met with FCC Public Safety Bureau staff and aides to all five FCC commissioners to discuss the group’s request that the regulator extend the deadline on new requirements for wireless emergency alerts by at least a year (see 1708160063). “Technical capabilities necessary to implement embedded references could result in increased network congestion and undermine network performance during times of emergency,” said Thursday's filing in docket 15-91. “This will overtax vital control channels normally used to place and receive voice calls and text messages when an alert is deployed.”
Voxx closed on its sale of Hirschmann Car Communication to a subsidiary of TE Connectivity, it said in a Thursday announcement. The company said in June (see 1706260020 or 1706260033) it was selling Hirschmann and its antenna and tuner business but will continue its automotive aftermarket business through proprietary brands and third-party distribution agreements for rear-seat infotainment, satellite radio products, telematics, car security and remote start products. Voxx received approximately $170 million from the sale.
Video & Audio Center believes the “showrooming” that took place in the early days of e-commerce has reversed, and customers are now researching products online first and validating research in stores, where purchases are then made. “You can’t make a decision looking at a 4-5-inch screen on your smartphone,” said a spokesman. The Los Angeles-area electronics retailer began buildout of a “technology showplace” in the Westfield Century City Mall this week with plans to open this fall, he said. The space will be interactive with “nothing you can’t touch,” the representative said, including connected appliances and home automation powered by a 5G network with “miles and miles” of fiber optic cable. The mall, a $1.4 billion overhaul begun in 2015, is on track to house 230 retail stores when it’s complete, including technology stores from Amazon, Apple, Bose and Microsoft.
Microsoft representatives met with aides to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr over the company’s proposal to launch rural broadband using TV white spaces spectrum (see 1707100042). “We discussed Microsoft’s efforts to eliminate the rural broadband gap in the United States through its Rural Airband Initiative, and the importance of the Commission’s proposals to preserve a single vacant channel in each market for a total of three usable channels in the UHF band in each market,” Microsoft said in a filing in docket 12-268.