ZTE launched at CES its Blade series of smartphones for the U.S. market, starting with the no-contract Blade V8 Pro, the company announced. It includes a fingerprint sensor, Dolby Audio, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology and expandable storage.

Samsung Electronics America Chief Operating Officer Tim Baxter led off the company’s CES news conference acknowledging the “challenging year” of 2016, especially regarding the Galaxy Note7, which it had to pull from the market due to faulty battery design. The company is continuing its “intensive efforts internally and with third-party experts to understand what happened and to make sure it does not happen again," Baxter said. The company will share the root cause report on the Note7 soon, Baxter said Wednesday in Las Vegas. Areas of 2017 focus include mobile devices, he said. For TVs, another area of focus, the firm added search features to make it easier to find 4K and HDR content, said Executive Vice President WonJin Lee. It's launching Samsung Checkout to offer a fast way to find, buy and watch 4K content, partnering with Fandango Now, Rakuten and TV Digital, said Lee. Its Chromebook line now has 2 million apps, said Vice President Alanna Cotton.

FCC staff cleared an AT&T/U.S. Cellular spectrum swap and an AT&T spectrum buy from Eastern Colorado Wireless. In the first deal, AT&T will take over seven lower 700 MHz B and C Block licenses in six local markets and U.S. Cellular will take over four AWS-1 licenses and one broadband PCS license in four local markets, said a Wireless Bureau order Thursday in docket 16-178. The bureau said competitive harm would be unlikely despite AT&T surpassing one-third of the suitable below-1-GHz spectrum in five of the six markets, which subjected the deal to "enhanced" scrutiny. Similarly, in another order Thursday, in docket 16-189, approving AT&T's purchase of one Eastern Colorado Wireless lower 700 MHz C Block license, the bureau said there was unlikely to be competitive harm despite AT&T exceeding one-third of the below-1-GHz spectrum. In both cases, the bureau also found public-interest benefits would be likely through improved network quality and consumer experience.

Harman, which Samsung is buying for $8 billion (see 1611140030), unveiled products Wednesday (see here, here and here) focused on connected cars and other technology, at CES in Las Vegas. Cleared by the FTC last month (see 1612210031), Samsung/Harman is expected to close by mid-2017. One new platform has 3D maps, IoT integration with home-to-car transfers of preferences and connected services, and an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems monitor. An intelligent vehicle cockpit supports an integrated digital assistant, car-to-home IoT functionality and augmented reality navigation.

AT&T, Qualcomm and Ericsson plan 5G interoperability testing and over-the-air field trials using 5G new radio (NR) specifications in development by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and expected as part of Release 15, the companies said in a Tuesday news release. They plan to start trials in the second half of 2017, they said. The trials will support operation in millimeter-wave spectrum in the 28 and 39 GHz bands, which are expected to increase network capacity and reach multi-Gbps data rates, the companies said. The trials will use Qualcomm devices, Ericsson base stations and AT&T spectrum, and will use 3GPP 5G NR multiple-input multiple-output antenna technology with adaptive beamforming and beam tracking techniques, the companies said.

The National Tribal Telecommunications Association asked the FCC to reverse a Dec. 1 Wireline Bureau order designating certain mobile wireless resellers to be Lifeline broadband providers (LBP): Spot On Networks, Boomerang Wireless, KonaTel and STS Media (FreedomPop) (see 1612010070). NTTA's petition for reconsideration said there isn't evidence in the record the carriers complied with FCC rule Section 54.202(c) to provide tribal governments and their regulators notice of their LBP petitions. It asked the FCC to make clear that LBP applications must comply with the rule's requirements and acknowledge its own need to notify tribal authorities of such petitions. The grant of LBP status to KonaTel and FreedomPop also should be reconsidered because the comment period on their applications hadn't ended before the bureau acted, NTTA said.

Over-the-air wireless charging technology company Energous is getting a $5 million investment from telecom carrier JT Group. JT will be the preferred backhaul and cloud connectivity partner for IoT customers adopting Energous’ WattUp technology, said the companies Tuesday. Energous is showcasing WattUp technology at its suite at the Hard Rock Hotel during CES here in Las Vegas.

T-Mobile will unveil the next phase of its "Un-carrier" initiatives Thursday from CES in Las Vegas, the carrier said in a Tuesday news release. The company “will announce what’s next for the Un-carrier and how the company will continue to change wireless for good,” it said. “In addition, T-Mobile executives will provide an update on the business.” The event starts at 11 a.m. PST and will be webcast.

Intel said it's buying 15 percent of Here, a global provider of digital maps and location-based services for the automotive industry and the IoT. The companies also signed an agreement to collaborate on research and development of a “highly scalable proof-of-concept architecture that supports real-time updates of high definition maps for highly and fully automated driving,” they said a Tuesday news release. They also agreed to “jointly explore strategic opportunities that result from enriching edge-computing devices with location data.” Doug Davis, Intel senior vice president-Automated Driving Group, will join the Netherlands-based company’s supervisory board, the companies said. "Cars are rapidly becoming some of the world's most intelligent, connected devices," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. The companies said they hope to close the deal in Q1. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

FirstNet will be at CES to talk about technology and the broadband network for first responders, the authority said in a blog post. “The technology industry is moving toward developing 5G technologies that will enable virtual reality, the Internet of Things, and more,” FirstNet said. “Nowhere is the future of technology on more display than at CES, a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow. One area where mobile broadband and the technology demonstrated at CES every year could make a (lifesaving) difference is in the public safety sector. This year, FirstNet is bringing that message to CES.” FirstNet President TJ Kennedy is to discuss the network at the CES broadband summit Wednesday at 1 p.m. PST.