Verizon Voice Link plan for Fire Island approved by NY commission

By Samantha Bookman – State officials found themselves in a tough spot on the issue. As Memorial Day weekend looms, signaling the start of the summer season at Fire Island–a popular vacation spot–the PSC needed to get communications up quickly. At the same time, Verizon stated that the cost of replacing poles and lines on the island was too high to get a return on its investment, due to the low number of year-round residents. more> http://tinyurl.com/o2jx4xf

Related>

• Wireless Home Phones: A Plan Strikes a Chord, Patrick McGeehan, NYTimes.com

Verizon beats estimates and raises Vodafone pressure

By Sinead Carew – Verizon Communications Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on the performance of its wireless business, which reined in costs without slowing growth.

Verizon also ramped up the pressure on Vodafone Group Plc, which owns 45 percent of the Verizon Wireless unit.

“It just feels like they’re tightening the circle around their customers,” Evercore analyst Jonathan Schildkraut said, referring to Verizon’s ability to retain customers and add more devices through its data share plans. more> http://tinyurl.com/cw4t6gc

Related>

• Verizon rakes in wireless service fees in first quarter; shares hit 12-year high, Associated Press/Washington Post
• Verizon’s new phone upgrade policy draws scrutiny, Roger Cheng, CNET News
• iPhone Activations Rise 25% at Verizon, Account for 55% of New Smartphones, Eric Slivka, Mac Rumors
• Wireless Fees Drive Verizon’s Earnings Beat, CNBC

Updates on the web

We All Want Google Fiber

We All Want Google Fiber manufacturing.net/blogs/2013/04/…

— George Mattathil (@georgemattathil) April 12, 2013

The article, anchored on “bubble logic”, is misleading.. ti.me/112Q3Rg

— George Mattathil (@georgemattathil) April 13, 2013

The article, anchored on “bubble logic”, is misleading.. cnn.com/2013/04/11/tec…

— George Mattathil (@georgemattathil) April 13, 2013

Google Fiber is better termed a “want”, rather than a “need.”forbes.com/sites/timworst…

— George Mattathil (@georgemattathil) April 13, 2013

Updates on the web

All-IP would be a bad choice

All-IP would be a bad choice blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2…

— George Mattathil (@georgemattathil) April 14, 2013

Google Offers Sneak Peek at Your Available Spectrum

By Cabe Atwell – Billions of smartphones, computers, radio devices, satellites, etc. around the world tap into this invisible resource, electromagnetic spectrum, to connect disparate sections of the globe through the transmission of data.

Like any other resource, there are untapped regions that are not being utilized to their full extent. Google.org, the Internet mogul’s charitable arm, is publicizing a Spectrum Database that monitors unused spectrum frequencies (a.k.a. white space) across the US. The database is undergoing a 45-day public trial with the FCC to test its validity. If all goes well, Google’s spectrum database will be certified, ultimately allowing industry stakeholders and the public to utilize unoccupied frequency ranges through dynamic spectrum sharing. more> http://tinyurl.com/cfpqns6