Google Voice vs. AT&T – The battle of the sex lines

Once upon a time, there were two competing services that would help people talk to each other. One of them was a corporate titan, large and powerful, able to buy just about anything that stood in its way. This company had a history of poor customer service, and because they were one of the biggest in the land, there was no reason for them to change their practices. As they saw it, customers were unlimited resources that you could squeeze money from whenever you needed to. This company was named AT&T

One day, another company crossed into the land of telecommunications and saw an opportunity to provide the citizens of the land with a free service that would work as well, or better, than the existing service that they were getting. This service was free, but only available to certain members in this land because this company felt it was important to thoroughly test new offerings before providing them to the general public. This practice of offering free service had made this company well known and loved across the many regions of the internet. This company was named Google, and the service was called Google Voice.

AT&T had been aware of Google, but didn’t feel threatened until AT&T felt that Google didn’t have to play by the same rules as AT&T. One of the things that AT&T was upset about had to do with the rules dictated in the Communications act of 1934. To paraphrase the act, there are some areas in the community, serviced by rural local carriers that have the ability to exorbitant termination rates to the long distance carriers (like AT&T), and then use deception and trickery to get customers to call their numbers. Offers of free adult chat and teleconferencing were presented to the rest of the nation and these rural carriers were able to charge a fee to the phone companies to connect to their lines. The rural carriers would then split the extra income back to these “traffic pumpers.” AT&T had been forced to provide service to these rural carriers, but since these costs could be transferred straight through to their existing customers, AT&T wasn’t that upset with the situation.

A few weeks ago, AT&T became aware that the Google Voice service was able to block access to the numbers in the rural carrier community, and decided to bring this to the governing body in this land – the FCC. After much lobbying persuasion, ATT&T convinced the FCC to investigate the invite only, open phone system that Google Voice provided. The FCC issued a letterto Google, asking them to explain why they feel that they are above the Communications Act of 1934.

Over the next few days we are going to investigate this story so that you can better understand this situation. We here at thetelecomblog.com will provide you with the information about the two companies, Google Voice and AT&T, to ensure that you have the facts to form your own opinion.

Is this Goliath v. Goliath, or is this more like comparing apples to oranges.

Stay tuned!

Written by: Jason Finnerty. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Apple patching up iPhone jailbreak

Cupertino is apparently getting into the security business, locking down an exploit that has enabled ambitious users to unlock the previous versions of the iPhone.

Since shortly after the introduction of the first iPhone, development teams have been able to exploit a flaw in the phones OS, enabling them to create a modified OS with the ability to install whichever apps the user wants – legal or not. This process also enabled users outside of the US to use the phones in their home country (yup – I was one of them!)

The fine folks at mobilecrunch have a great description of the process:

“If you want the full technical rundown of the exploit, you can find it here. In its simplest form: as with all computers, the iPhone requires something called a “Bootrom” to startup. During the startup process, one stretch of code in the Bootrom fails to ensure that the content being loaded is within a certain size limit. By throwing more instructions at that chunk of code than it’s intended to handle, exploiters are able to make the iPhone do damn near whatever they want; in this case, the jailbreaking process.”

Does this mean that the next version/release of the iPhone won’t be able to be jailbroken? Possibly, but like all other computer systems – if the people that want it bad enough put their minds together, they’ll be able to crack the new code in no time at all.

Good luck to the dev team!

Written by: Jason Finnerty. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

The iPhone’s future is now friendly

The $1 BIllion shared network that Telus and Bell have installed will reportedly allow them to carry the Apple iPhone on their respective networks.

The eagerly anticipated High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network was scheduled to be completed for February 2010, but the early launch will allow the two cell giants to prepare for the time of the year that sees the most new wireless sales. Neither company would comment about any upcoming deals with Apple, but the promise of ending Roger’s monopoly on the smartphone must be top of mind for all three companies. The Globe and Mail is even predicting that Telus and Bell will start selling the phones next month.

Bell and Telus will be looking to acquire new and existing iPhone fanatics, while Rogers should be planning ways to provide better pricing/service to the smartphone audience.

More provider options should result in a more competitive environment for those of us that have sold our souls for an iPhone!

Written by: Jason Finnerty. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

NHL Victory is Canada’s Gain. Maybe RIM’s Balsillie will get back in the game !

RIM has been the dominant player in the game of global dominance in the smartphone world, but the industry analysts are starting to call the game before it’s over.

If not RIM, who will be the winner? Apple iPhone, Google Android, Palm Pre, Microsoft, Nokia ?

RIM currently enjoys 50% of the developing smartphone market, but apparently that isn’t a big enough lead for the “struggling” Canadian company. Some analysts are predicting that RIM will lose up to 10% of the market over the next four quarters. And they are basing this on the recent stock release from RIM.

Unlucky is probably the best way to describe RIMs situation.

RIM predicted that they would garner over 3.7 million customers this past quarter. They managed to find them, but apparently when you give a range, and then you hit the low end of your target, you are chastised for meeting your goal – but just barely. The challange for RIM isn’t with current market predictions, but, the challenges that lie ahead.

The competitive landscape is more fierce then it’s ever been for RIM. A few years ago RIM owned the smartphone market, now Apple and Google are gaining ground quickly. It seems that in the mean time the wind isn’t at RIM’s back. And with the captain, CEO Jim Balsillie more focused on getting an NHL franchise then running RIM, the shareholders need to start asking questions.

The headline in today’s Toronto Star is “NHL Victory is Canada’s Loss“. NO IT ISN’T. Let’s correct the headline.

NHL VICTORY IS CANADA’S GAIN.

Why ?

Click here to continue reading

Written by: Jason Finnerty and Jeff Wiener. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

TheTelecomBlog.com is looking for feedback

I started this blog about 3 months ago, initially with the intention of keeping Digitcom’s customers up to date with product notices, updates, features, and releases. I wrote a few posts on the Avaya IP Office and Cisco’s UCME (Unified Communications Manager Express) products, and quickly graduated to more Telecom related news, initially centered around Nortel, and then gradually Telecom and VoIP in general. Although I still cover, and have an active interest in the Nortel saga, my general interest in that particular subject matter has waned a bit as the company winds down operations.

I have a passion for Telecom 2.0, and have written extensively about the next generation of where the market is headed. I enjoy reading and writing about the Canadian cellular market, and generally give Bell, Telus, and Rogers a hard time. I’m a champion of the underdog, and want to see the new carriers take a bite out of the incumbents market share (I am writing this post while waiting on hold for a Rogers technical support rep – our home internet connection is down and I have been on hold for almost 20 minutes).

I have never lacked content – the Telecom market is filled with amazing news. Google Android, RIM, Apple’s iPhone, Cisco, NEC, Mitel, ShoreTel, Avaya, and yes, of course, Nortel ! Many people ask how I find the time to write Telecom blog posts on a daily basis. It’s a hobby, not a job. Jason Finnerty also writes two blog posts per week. I should add that if I were keeping this blog as a profit venture I would be out of a job, and certainly wouldn’t feed the family. The only means of profit comes from those small little Google ads that you see at the right hand corner of the screen, and the last I checked I think there’s enough in the account to purchase a birthday cake for my daughter’s upcoming birthday party (she wants a white, rectangular, with purple swirls around the side b-day cake).

I have met and had conversations with some very dynamic and interesting people as a result of them finding me through this blog. I have been apprised on numerous occasions of some very confidential non disclosure “say nothing to nobody” kind of news, and have heard from some “industry insiders” with regards to stuff I definitely shouldn’t be told. That has certainly been a positive unexpected end result. I have bumped into, and have been approached by quite a few people that have introduced themselves and expressed how much they like reading these posts. That’s certainly encouraging as I sometimes wonder whether I’m writing into a vacuum !

Why am I writing this ?

Well, I know I’m not writing into a vacuum based on the positive trajectory of the Google Analytics for this blog – the stats are growing. BUT, I’m looking for some feedback. Probably not posted as comments (although you can if you wish), but, instead feedback through a personal email (which you can send to jw@digitcom.ca). I’m now in the process of doing a minor re-design of the web site itself, and am working on the scope of content moving forward.

Am I headed in the right direction ?

What would you like to read more of ?

What would you like me to cover – more news ? more technical, cellular ?? I’m looking for some feedback people – so, please drop me a personal email with your thoughts.

More: As an aside, I am still on hold waiting for a Rogers technical support rep. Their service stinks – it’s been 40 minutes and holding.

Looking forward to your feedback.

Written by: Jeff Wiener. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Micello – the mind of a building in the palm of your hand !

The folks at Mashable.com just released a story on another iPhone app – and they keep getting bigger and better.

Anyone that has had to do that awkward fast walk to find an information kiosk in a mall, only to find out that you were nearly at the washrooms before you gave up to search for an info booth, will be happy to learn that this app from Micello will be available soon. Mapping the inside of buildings might be considered an invasion of privacy to some, but to the rest of us this is the next logical step in the mapping/GPS world. Universities, airports, and malls can all benefit from this utility.

Quoting from Micello’s web site:
Micello provides a unique indoor location-based service for mobile devices. Millions of people today use Google Maps to get to their destination. Micello goes one step further by extending a map inside locations, such as convention centers, shopping malls, college campuses, airports, and theme parks. Micello brings any location alive on a mobile phone by providing a navigatable map and a rich set of interactive services in the context of time and place. Micello creates communities for these places, providing you highly relevant information on your mobile device.

This app is cool !

Written by: Jeff Wiener. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Rogers has a need for speed – releases HSPA+

Just days after AT&T announced their blazing speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, Rogers Canada announced the release of the new HSPA+ network, available in 5 cities in Canada – with speeds up to 21Mbps.

That’s the good news.

The bad news – there aren’t any handsets currently available that can take full advantage of these new speeds, and only one laptop adapter that can keep up with this impressive promise; the “Rocket Stick” available through Rogers. Make sure your laptop has USB 2.0 – because these new speeds are almost 2x as fast as what USB 1.0 can handle, but chances are, if you’re the type that needs to have these speeds – you’re pretty used to upgrading your laptop…

ITnerd asks what’s in the future for the folks that are stuck with paltry 3G devices.

Now it’s time for the other carriers to catch up. The pressure is on !

Written by: Jason Finnerty. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

AT&Tractive – AT&T rolling out HSPA 7.2

AT&T is looking fast and furious – rolling out HSPA 7.2 in six cities by the end of the year.

Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami AT&T customers will be able to take advantage of up to 7.2 Mbps (theoretically) – providing they have the handset for it. AT&T is hoping to have 6 new handsets and 2 new laptop cards to help customers capitalize on the new speeds. The iPhone 3Gs is supposedly capable of achieving these new speeds.

President and CEO of Operations, John Stankey, says that the expansion “will enable our customers to continue to ride the leading edge of emerging devices and thousands of mobile applications.” Shifting from 1.9GHz to 850MHz has allowed the company to speed things up for over 90% of their network, and this upgrade is paving the way to the LTE speeds of the future >10Mbps

Bigger, faster, stronger, longer – AT&T is putting their money where their mouth is.

Written by: Jason Finnerty. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Finally – Skype comes to iPhone in Canada. Thanks Rogers

As an avid iPhone user I have been quite vocal about Rogers’ blocking the Skype app for iPhone’s in Canada. Well, according to a recent posting on TMCnet.com it appears that the Skype client is now available for iPhone users in Canada. Finally.

Written by: Jeff Wiener. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Google Android – You’re hired !

It seems that we are all becoming slaves to our cell phones, which got me thinking about what kind of boss each particular operating system might be, be it Symbian, iPhone, Windows Mobile, or Google’s Android. Are you indentured to your phone, or do you work together to get things done?

Symbian is an old school, powerful workhorse. It does what it says it’s going to do, but not much more. The tricks that it knows, it knows well – but getting this OS to do new tricks can be a bit onerous.

iPhone is the new kid on the block, all sparkle and charm. Everyone is loving the iPhone…well, almost everyone. Apparently Microsoft doesn’t think too highly of it. The iPhone is the kind of boss that loves to hear your ideas, as long as they fit into a preplanned concept that fits the structure determined by this boss. Anything outside the norms will be disregarded and/or ignored. Most people love to work with this kind of boss – see groupthink.

Ahh, Windows Mobile. It would be too easy to go into detail as to what is wrong with the mobile OS from MS… but as a boss, Windows Mobile isn’t thaaaaat bad – it does some things well ( I especially like the reference that it is the best at integrating with other MS products – wow, who would have thought?) People say that the Windows Mobile OS is good because they think that the Windows desktop OS is good (yes – there are already enough blogs on this topic, I don’t need to touch this J ). It’s a fine example of nepotism – people like this boss because they liked the grandfather of this boss.

Now, here comes Google Android. This is a new type of boss, forward thinking and open to options. The Android is willing and able to work in many different environments and is not going to hose you at every chance it gets. In contrast to the iPhone business model, the Android boss is willing to work with you to develop new and exciting apps, all using an open source model. Experts working with experts = awesomeness. These guys say it best (albeit a while ago). As slaves consumers, we want the ability to do what we want, in the environment we want. Google is able to deliver this to us, and we will remain their humble servant for as long as they take care of us.