Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

A fascinating report by the United Kingdom’s version of the Federal Communications Commission paints a vivid picture of a technology-driven world right out of a Vernor Vinge novel: Bluetooth implants in your body warning doctors of impending heart attacks; wireless sensors in cars slamming on the brakes before collisions; reminders from doctors to take medications based on wireless vital sign readings.

The Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, is the UK’s independent regulator of competition in its television, radio, telecom and wireless communications industries. Its new report, “Tomorrow’s Wireless World,” features technology innovations being tested in some British cities and it already has some privacy advocates shouting about a digital Big Brother. But the tone of the report is generally positive about the role technology could play in saving lives, trimming health care costs and making travel safer and greener. 

MORE »

I have often passed a parcel of property that I’d love to buy knowing that sometime or another it would be a great investment. Immediate timing is not always right for an acquisition but down the road it could be perfect. This is just the position that Dish Network has found itself in. Was it by chance or was it a calculated bet? 

Recently, blocks of wireless airwaves came up for auction since the analog TV will soon go all digital. In a surprising turn of events Dish Network partnered with Frontier Wireless won a block of one-way communication licenses. 

MORE »

We have been on the edge of our seats waiting for the winners announcement and the FCC has finally released the details. With little surprise the top two US carriers Verizon and AT&T have taken top honors.

Verizon had scooped the top position, but AT&T also has some pretty decent winnings. Verizon, who was actually partnered up with Vodafone has taken the biggest nationwide block of the spectrum, also known as the “C” block with a $4.74 billion bid, which overtook Google’s bid of $4.71 billion by just a little bit. In addition to the nationwide block of the spectrum, Verizon has also taken 25 regional licenses. AT&T, who is currently the number 1 carrier in the US managed to win 227 “B” block regional licenses across the US. Overall about $6.64 billion was spent by AT&T and a total of about $9.63 billion from Verizon.

This means that between Verizon and AT&T they have won a combined total of just about $16 billion of licenses, which means that the two biggest US carriers now have plenty of room to get even bigger.

Read [Reuters]