Two studies released Wednesday indicate the growing power of voice in driving e-commerce sales. CTA reported that one in four U.S. online adults is likely to make a purchase using voice technology in the next year, and most will shop from their living rooms. CTA’s 2018 voice shopping report said consumers who use digital assistants daily are much more likely to voice shop via a smart speaker -- such as Amazon Echo and Google Home -- or a digital assistant such as Apple's Siri. "Digital assistants are enabling a fourth 'voice' sales channel to emerge, joining brick-and-mortar, online, and mobile as an avenue for buying goods and services," said Ben Arnold, CTA senior director-trends and innovation. Though still nascent, voice shopping will increase as brands add more commerce-related skills and capabilities to digital assistants, leading more consumers to experiment with it, Arnold said, and the trend is expected to play out in the upcoming holiday season. Smart speaker ownership nearly tripled to 22 percent this year, making the category one of the fastest-adopted technologies since tablets, said CTA. The living room (53 percent) is the most common place consumers are locating smart speakers, followed by the bedroom (40 percent), kitchen (32 percent), a vehicle (30 percent) and home office (20 percent), it said. Top purchases via smart speaker are for food and groceries, and then household supplies and CE products, it said. CTA findings were based on a national sample of 2,000 U.S adult respondents surveyed May 18-25. A Wednesday Parks Associates report said smart speakers are driving online sales of CE purchases, and a quarter of CE purchases by broadband households are made online vs. 9-10 percent for other categories. With intent to buy on the rise for smart speakers, “online retailers stand to take a larger part of CE purchases going forward," said Parks analyst Kristen Hanich.
Two studies released Wednesday indicate the growing power of voice in driving e-commerce sales. CTA reported that one in four U.S. online adults is likely to make a purchase using voice technology in the next year, and most will shop from their living rooms. CTA’s 2018 voice shopping report said consumers who use digital assistants daily are much more likely to voice shop via a smart speaker -- such as Amazon Echo and Google Home -- or a digital assistant such as Apple's Siri. "Digital assistants are enabling a fourth 'voice' sales channel to emerge, joining brick-and-mortar, online, and mobile as an avenue for buying goods and services," said Ben Arnold, CTA senior director-trends and innovation. Though still nascent, voice shopping will increase as brands add more commerce-related skills and capabilities to digital assistants, leading more consumers to experiment with it, Arnold said, and the trend is expected to play out in the upcoming holiday season. Smart speaker ownership nearly tripled to 22 percent this year, making the category one of the fastest-adopted technologies since tablets, said CTA. The living room (53 percent) is the most common place consumers are locating smart speakers, followed by the bedroom (40 percent), kitchen (32 percent), a vehicle (30 percent) and home office (20 percent), it said. Top purchases via smart speaker are for food and groceries, and then household supplies and CE products, it said. CTA findings were based on a national sample of 2,000 U.S adult respondents surveyed May 18-25. A Wednesday Parks Associates report said smart speakers are driving online sales of CE purchases, and a quarter of CE purchases by broadband households are made online vs. 9-10 percent for other categories. With intent to buy on the rise for smart speakers, “online retailers stand to take a larger part of CE purchases going forward," said Parks analyst Kristen Hanich.
Most cellphones appeared to get wireless emergency alert test messages and most broadcasters appeared to transmit emergency alert system messages, but a number did not, based on a survey of our operations, some others, social media and events we attended during the simulation. On Twitter, #PresidentialAlert trended after the first nationwide test of the WEA system Wednesday. Early results of the fourth nationwide test of the broadcast EAS went largely as expected and mirrored past tests, said EAS officials and broadcasters. The WEA test started at 2:18 p.m. and lasted for 30 minutes, while the EAS test began at 2:20 p.m.
Wednesday’s wireless emergency alert test “will not adversely affect your service or device,” Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman said Tuesday. Silliman posted information about the test due to "controversy on social media” about the alert (see 1809210032). The alerts are “really critical, lifesaving information” that citizens should want to receive, a Federal Emergency Management Agency official said Tuesday on a media call with FCC and FEMA officials who spoke on background, not allowing their names to be used. A journalist and two small-business owners in New York City sued (in Pacer) the government last week at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming the presidential alerts violate First and Fourth Amendment rights to be free from government-compelled listening and warrantless trespass into cellular devices. People mightn't get the alert if their device is configured incorrectly or if they are on a phone call or have an active data session ongoing throughout the 30-minute window, the official said. The wireless industry is working on standards to address those issues, said another FEMA official. The first nationwide WEA test will start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and last 30 minutes, and the fourth nationwide emergency alert system exercise starts at 2:20 p.m., the agencies said. The WEA message will carry the header “Presidential Alert” and read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The EAS simulation will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communication Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones in the nation. Some cell phones will receive the message. Others will not. No action is required.” The FCC looks forward to more dialogue and lesson sharing with stakeholders after the test, Public Safety Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes blogged Tuesday. The agency plans to engage with FEMA and wireless providers, and welcomes public feedback, she said. D.C. text alert subscribers received a notice about the WEA and EAS tests Tuesday. The test was previously postponed due to response efforts to Hurricane Florence.
It’s premature for the FCC to adopt a Z-axis metric for accurate vertical location of wireless calls, commented CTIA and the National Emergency Number Association this week on an August report by carriers in docket 07-114 (see 1809100037). “Rather than adopting ±5 meters as the Z-Axis metric, we suggest that further testing is a better course to advance vertical location solutions that will help to provide ‘floor level’ accuracy,” CTIA commented. NENA agreed the FCC should delay adopting a Z-axis metric until a more accurate one can be validated and supported by test results: “Assuming a modest extension of the Commission’s deadline is possible, NENA hopes that the Test Bed will recognize the exceptional circumstances and allow the additional Stage Z testing to occur as quickly as is practicable for the involved parties.” Citizens and public safety need a z-axis accuracy benchmark of plus-or-minus 3 meters, NENA said. Carriers’ proposal for 5-meter metric “fails the American public and the dedicated public safety professionals who need actionable, accurate location information to find 9-1-1 callers during emergencies,” APCO commented. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council agreed: “A vertical z-axis metric providing floor level accuracy is needed and can be accomplished with available technology, especially within the generous implementation timeframe established in the rules adopted in 2015.” NextNav technology can achieve accuracy within 2 meters, said NextNav and the Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority. NextNav supported a 3-meter metric, while BRETSA said it should be 2 meters.
It’s premature for the FCC to adopt a Z-axis metric for accurate vertical location of wireless calls, commented CTIA and the National Emergency Number Association this week on an August report by carriers in docket 07-114 (see 1809100037). “Rather than adopting ±5 meters as the Z-Axis metric, we suggest that further testing is a better course to advance vertical location solutions that will help to provide ‘floor level’ accuracy,” CTIA commented. NENA agreed the FCC should delay adopting a Z-axis metric until a more accurate one can be validated and supported by test results: “Assuming a modest extension of the Commission’s deadline is possible, NENA hopes that the Test Bed will recognize the exceptional circumstances and allow the additional Stage Z testing to occur as quickly as is practicable for the involved parties.” Citizens and public safety need a z-axis accuracy benchmark of plus-or-minus 3 meters, NENA said. Carriers’ proposal for 5-meter metric “fails the American public and the dedicated public safety professionals who need actionable, accurate location information to find 9-1-1 callers during emergencies,” APCO commented. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council agreed: “A vertical z-axis metric providing floor level accuracy is needed and can be accomplished with available technology, especially within the generous implementation timeframe established in the rules adopted in 2015.” NextNav technology can achieve accuracy within 2 meters, said NextNav and the Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority. NextNav supported a 3-meter metric, while BRETSA said it should be 2 meters.
Wednesday’s wireless emergency alert test “will not adversely affect your service or device,” Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman said Tuesday. Silliman posted information about the test due to "controversy on social media” about the alert (see 1809210032). The alerts are “really critical, lifesaving information” that citizens should want to receive, a Federal Emergency Management Agency official said Tuesday on a media call with FCC and FEMA officials who spoke on background, not allowing their names to be used. A journalist and two small-business owners in New York City sued (in Pacer) the government last week at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming the presidential alerts violate First and Fourth Amendment rights to be free from government-compelled listening and warrantless trespass into cellular devices. People mightn't get the alert if their device is configured incorrectly or if they are on a phone call or have an active data session ongoing throughout the 30-minute window, the official said. The wireless industry is working on standards to address those issues, said another FEMA official. The first nationwide WEA test will start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and last 30 minutes, and the fourth nationwide emergency alert system exercise starts at 2:20 p.m., the agencies said. The WEA message will carry the header “Presidential Alert” and read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The EAS simulation will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communication Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones in the nation. Some cell phones will receive the message. Others will not. No action is required.” The FCC looks forward to more dialogue and lesson sharing with stakeholders after the test, Public Safety Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes blogged Tuesday. The agency plans to engage with FEMA and wireless providers, and welcomes public feedback, she said. D.C. text alert subscribers received a notice about the WEA and EAS tests Tuesday. The test was previously postponed due to response efforts to Hurricane Florence.
Wednesday’s wireless emergency alert test “will not adversely affect your service or device,” Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman said Tuesday. Silliman posted information about the test due to "controversy on social media” about the alert (see 1809210032). The alerts are “really critical, lifesaving information” that citizens should want to receive, a Federal Emergency Management Agency official said Tuesday on a media call with FCC and FEMA officials who spoke on background, not allowing their names to be used. A journalist and two small-business owners in New York City sued (in Pacer) the government last week at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming the presidential alerts violate First and Fourth Amendment rights to be free from government-compelled listening and warrantless trespass into cellular devices. People mightn't get the alert if their device is configured incorrectly or if they are on a phone call or have an active data session ongoing throughout the 30-minute window, the official said. The wireless industry is working on standards to address those issues, said another FEMA official. The first nationwide WEA test will start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and last 30 minutes, and the fourth nationwide emergency alert system exercise starts at 2:20 p.m., the agencies said. The WEA message will carry the header “Presidential Alert” and read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The EAS simulation will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communication Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones in the nation. Some cell phones will receive the message. Others will not. No action is required.” The FCC looks forward to more dialogue and lesson sharing with stakeholders after the test, Public Safety Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes blogged Tuesday. The agency plans to engage with FEMA and wireless providers, and welcomes public feedback, she said. D.C. text alert subscribers received a notice about the WEA and EAS tests Tuesday. The test was previously postponed due to response efforts to Hurricane Florence.
Space Foundation adds Richard Cooper, ex-SAS Institute, as vice president-strategic communications and outreach ... Comcast Spotlight names Brendan Condon, AdMore, chief revenue officer ... BeckTV appoints Matt Weiss, ex-CEI, senior engineer-vice president, Eastern region.
Ligado’s proposed terrestrial operations could cause harmful interference, said users of data from satellites for positioning, weather information and communications, in meetings last week with aides to FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, recounted a filing posted Friday in docket 12-340. Consumer benefits of services provided by “the GPS, SATCOM, aviation and real-time environmental satellite data communities are too important to jeopardize,” said Iridium, the National Emergency Number Association, Airlines for America and others. Benefits of Ligado’s “constantly evolving proposals” are “speculative,” they said. Deny the license modification application unless the company can show it addressed the interference problem, the filing said.