Telecoms news from USA

US Regulator Scraps 120 Outdated Regulations

The USA's telecoms regulator, the FCC has agreed to lift over 120 regulatory requirements on phone companies that are unnecessary or outdated in today's telecommunications marketplace. ...more.

Deutsche Telekom Has Option to Sell T-Mobile USA Stake

Germany's Deutsche Telekom has confirmed that it could sell its stake in T-Mobile USA sooner than the 18 month lock-in that it agreed during the merger with MetroPCS. ...more.

Verizon: Rules for Railways Don't Track With the Policy Needs of 21st Century Telecoms

The new head of public policy at the USA based Verizon Communications has called on politicians to revamp the telecoms regulations and reform the rules, some of which back to the late 1800s, and were written for the railways, not phone services. ...more.

Dish Network Raises $2.5 Billion for Sprint Nextel Takeover Bid

USA based Dish Network is seeking to raise US$2.5 billion in debt funding to contribute towards its US$25.1 billion offer to buy a majority stake in Sprint Nextel. ...more.

USA and Canada to Harmonize Radio Spectrum Along Border Regions

The US and Canadian telecom regulators have agreed on ten interim spectrum sharing arrangements covering operations along their common borders. ...more.

T-Mobile USA Raises Upfront Payment for Apple iPhone by 50%

T-Mobile USA has hiked the retail price that it is selling Apple's iPhone by 50% to US$150 upfront. ...more.

USA's LTE Infrastructure CapEx and OpEx to Reach $95 Billion Over the Next 5 Years

iGR forecasts that in 2015 and the following years, LTE OpEx spending will be greater than LTE CapEx spending. ...more.

US Engineers Lobby Opposes Increased Immigration for Technical Employees

An organisation that represents American technical engineers, the IEEE-USA is urging politicians to reject amendments to a planned immigration bill that would increase H-1B temporary visa numbers. ...more.

US Phone Companies Ordered to Explain Anti-Theft Measures

The New York Attorney General has contacted a number of mobile phone manufacturers asking what they are doing to curb the rise in phone thefts -- known locally as "Apple Picking". ...more.

US Networks Join Forces to Fund Distracted Driving Campaign

A number of US mobile networks are to run a joint advertising campaign warning of the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone. ...more.

Vodafone to Receive Surprise $3.2 Billion Dividend from Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless has agreed to make a surprise dividend payment to its two parent shareholders, in a move that may quell speculation about Verizon's intentions towards a buy out its minority partner. ...more.

Amazon Offering $5 Of Free Mobile Apps for Kindle Users in the USA

Amazon has expanded its own in-house micropayments system, Amazon Coins to permit the purchase of apps for Kindle ebooks. ...more.

ESPN Mulls Subsidising Mobile Video Download Costs

US sports broadcaster. ESPN is mulling an option to subsidise the cost of mobile data traffic when a smartphone user streams video content from its websites. ...more.

Google Kills Off Physical NFC Card for Google Wallet

Google is reported to have scrapped, or at least delayed significantly, plans to launch a NFC enabled credit card that would have been tied into its own mobile payments platform, Google Wallet. ...more.

Softbank Pressures Banks Not to Support Rival Bid for Sprint Nextel

Japan's Softbank has put pressure on banks not to agree to fund a rival takeover bid for Sprint Nextel. ...more.

Hacked T-Mobile USA iPhone's Boosts LTE Download Speeds

When T-Mobile USA started officially selling the Apple iPhone, one of the things it also did was send out a software update to all the unlocked ex-AT&T handsets being used on its network to enable LTE services. ...more.

US Cafe Chain to Support Wireless Charging of Consumer Electronics

USA based cafe chain, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has announced it will start testing wireless charging with Power Matters Alliance (PMA) at a number of its Los Angeles stores. ...more.

Nokia Shows Off Exclusive Smartphone for Verizon Wireless

Ahead of the company's main product announcement later this week, Nokia has confirmed long expected plans to release a new handset for the Verizon Wireless network in the USA. ...more.

US Politician Says Softbank Cannot be Trusted with Sprint Nextel

A US politician has weighed into the Sprint Nextel takeover battle warning that the company should remain in American hands. ...more.

Sprint Bid to Buy Clearwire Receives Independent Support

Sprint Nextel's attempt to buy out the minority shareholders in its Clearwire subsidiary received a boost after the independent shareholder advisory group, ISS recommended the offer. ...more.