Telecoms news from USA

CEA Standards Group Will Explore Ways to Reduce Distracted Driving

The USA's Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says that it is forming the Driver Device Interface Working Group to develop industry standards and/or best practices for designing consumer electronics products ...more.

AT&T Deploys Solar Powered Phone Chargers in New York City Parks

USA based AT&T has deployed a number of free phone chargers around New York City, all powered by solar energy as part of a pilot trial of the facility. ...more.

Sprint Sues to Block Dish Bid for Clearwire

USA based Sprint has decided to take legal action after the board of its Clearwire subsidiary recommended a rival offer to buy out the minority shareholders from Dish Network. ...more.

USA's Sprint Adds 22 More Cities to LTE Coverage

USA based Sprint Nextel has launched its LTE network in a further 22 cities across the country. ...more.

T-Mobile USA Starts Migrating MetroPCS Customers onto its Infrastructure

Just six weeks after completing its merger with MetroPCS, T-Mobile USA has started the migration of MetroPCS customers onto its HSPA+ and LTE network is ahead of planned schedule. ...more.

New Jersey Trains to be Fitted with Wi-Fi Coverage

The public transport authority in the US city of New Jersey has signed a Wi-Fi coverage agreement with Cablevision for services in stations and onboard trains. ...more.

USA Reaffirms Plans to Release More Radio Spectrum for Mobile Broadband

The USA's President has announced several new initiatives to bolster the availability of wireless spectrum for mobile broadband services. ...more.

USA Based Tag Mobile Launches PrePay Tariff

USA based MVNO, Tag Mobile has launched a new prepaid tariff across its nationwide network. ...more.

USA Groups Campaign for Phones to have a "Kill Switch" to Deter Thefts

A campaign has been set up in the USA to encourage the mobile phone industry to adopt technologies that would deter theft by drying up the secondary market on which stolen devices are sold. ...more.

DISH and nTelos launch fixed wireless LTE pilot

USA based Dish Network and nTelos have deployed a trial fixed wireless LTE service in rural Virginia using wireless spectrum in the 2.5 GHz range. ...more.

USA Based First Data Upgrades its Mobile Payment Service

First Data has introduced the next phase of Pogo>, which first launched in 2012 as a mobile payment solution for the small business and emerging merchant community in the USA. ...more.

Apple Planning Major Revamp of Advertising Campaigns

Apple is planning a major revamp of its advertising as the company seeks to highlight the quality and reliability of its products. ...more.

Clearwire Recommends Shareholders Vote Against Sprint Takeover Bid

Clearwire, the USA based WiMAX to LTE network that is currently subject to a takeover bid from Sprint Nextel has voted in favour of a rival takeover bid from Dish Network, even though it would leave Sprint as the majority owner anyway. ...more.

Road Safety Study Finds Even Hands-Free Phone Calls Can be Dangerous

Hands-free technologies might make it easier for motorists to text, talk on the phone, or even use Facebook while they drive, but new findings show dangerous mental distractions exist even when drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. ...more.

HSPA and LTE now 49 Percent of all Mobile Connections in USA and Canada

The USA and Canada added 58 million HSPA and LTE mobile broadband connections annually at the first quarter, which translates to mobile broadband now comprising 49 percent of all mobile connections in the region, ...more.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Challenging NSA Phone Spying Program

The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union have jointly filed a constitutional challenge to a surveillance program under which the National Security Agency (NSA) vacuums up information about every phone call placed within, from, or to the United States. ...more.

Gowex is taking its free Wi-Fi to the streets of San Francisco

After building thousands Wi-Fi Zones in New York Gowex says that it has now deployed 450 Wi-Fi Zones in the city of San Francisco. ...more.

AT&T Slows Down Customer Handset Upgrades

USA based AT&T has changed its handset upgrade policy and is scrapping the option for a customer on a 2-year contract to seek an upgrade at the 20th month. ...more.

AT&T Offers Push-to-Talk on Apple iPhones

USA based AT&T has announced the launch of Push-to-Talk capabilities for users of Apple's iPhone. ...more.

Sprint to Sell Sub-$100 Android Smartphone

USA based Sprint Nextel is to start sales of a sub-$100 Android smartphone from later this week. ...more.