CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - Innovation

Smart Grids: Another Example of Wireless Technology Benefits

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0500

When Congress tasked the FCC with developing a National Broadband Plan that includes “a plan for the use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing . . . energy independence and efficiency,” we were pleased that the Commission identified “smart grids” – the integration of information and communication applications with the electric power grid – as a promising way to achieve these objectives.

Then, late last month, President Obama announced $3.4 billion of stimulus grants that will be allocated to 100 smart grid projects tasked with modernizing America’s energy efficiency and increasing reliability on renewable resources (e.g. wind and solar power).

Clearly, smart grid technology has captured the nation’s attention for its numerous benefits and promising potential.

In our comments to the FCC last month, we highlighted wireless communications as a critical component of smart grid deployments. Commercial wireless networks can satisfy, and are currently satisfying, the communications requirements of smart grid applications.

The benefits of smart grid technology can be profound, and wireless is an important part of the equation. A joint report by Accenture and Vodafone found that wireless technology can be used to:

Reduce carbon emissions in European Union (EU) member countries by 113 metric tons per year in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Cut energy cost by £43 billion (approximately $70 billion), with more than 80% of these savings attributable to machine-to-machine communications.

But when thinking about deploying wireless communications for smart grids, we ask policymakers to consider these two points:

If net neutrality rules were applied to wireless, it is an open question regarding how a non-discrimination regulation would impact devices like smart meters or supervisory control and data acquisition (“SCADA”) system equipment. Further, if a provider or vendor devises an innovative smart grid communications technology or transmission algorithm to limit the impact of network congestion, would such a technology be permissible under new rules? If so, must the details be fully disclosed? It also is entirely plausible that certain communications in a smart grid solution will require prioritization. An overreaching network management policy may jeopardize the innovation for smart grid development and deployment.
With the increasing demand for more spectrum, it would be inefficient to dedicate spectrum for smart grid-specific networks when commercial networks can and are already satisfying smart grid systems.

FACT: The U.S. is the Leader for Innovation and Investment, Means Consumers Win - Continued

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0500

In my blog post yesterday, I mentioned the misleading OECD Mobile Communications Outlook report that claimed U.S. consumers pay some of the highest prices for mobile services in the world. While we clearly explained what the problems were with the study, we were pleased to see others engage and refute its findings.

Another telecommunications expert who debunked the study is the Phoenix Center’s Chief Economist, Dr. George Ford. Dr. Ford commented on the OECD’s mobile price metrics in a recent policy perspective report.

Here are some of Dr. Ford’s recommendations to improve the OECD’s analysis:

At a minimum, the OECD should expand the number of pricing baskets to reflect usage levels across countries. The high-usage basket should be at least 2,000 total voice minutes per month.
To the extent possible, the OECD should incorporate the full distribution of usage (or usages) in Member Countries rather than looking at a few customer types.
The OECD should include a sufficient number of carriers to adequately represent the best prices available in a given country for all usage levels, instead of its current practice of limiting only to a few arbitrarily selected carriers in each Member Country.
The OECD should explicitly recognize the complexities of comparing mobile prices across countries, including economic, cultural, and regulatory differences that affect demand and prices. As Dr. Ford explains, for “the data to be used wisely and effectively, the report should clearly disclose the limitations of reported statistics to enable accurate interpretation.”
Finally, Dr. Ford recommends that the OECD should primarily document the variety of pricing plans offered in each country, “rather than create price indexes of dubious merit.” In so doing, the OECD can “serve as a useful and policy-relevant provider of data, rather than a purveyor of ‘filtered’ data of questionable credibility.”

CTIA agrees with Dr. Ford’s conclusion that Americans do not pay higher prices for wireless service.

As avid readers of this blog know, we’ve written numerous posts using information from well-respected third party influentials and organizations on how the U.S. wireless industry is the world’s leader in overall satisfaction, value, competition and innovation. We’re pleased everyone from Former Vice President Al Gore to Consumer Reports magazine has recognized the industry’s numerous benefits. To learn more about what others are saying about us, check out this independent assessment.

FACT: The U.S. is the Leader for Innovation and Investment, Means Consumers Win

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0500

In yesterday’s blog post, I summarized our FCC reply comment filing on the wireless industry’s continued innovation and investment.

Despite overwhelming evidence from independent organizations that clearly prove the U.S. wireless industry is a worldwide leader in innovation, investment and meeting consumer demands, there are still some naysayers out there. So for those critics, today’s post is for you.

You may recall the flawed OECD Communications Outlook report released in August by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that claimed U.S. wireless consumers have the highest mobile phone costs. We issued a statement that outlined why the OECD figures are wrong.

But don’t just take our word for it. Check out this Forbes.com article by former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman, who simply states: “Don’t believe it.”

Mr. Glassman continues saying that the OECD report is "deeply flawed" and "its startling conclusion essentially worthless."

He concludes his piece with, “Despite the findings of the flawed OECD study, what European consumers need is more rigorous, American-style competition in telecommunications.”

We couldn’t agree more, Mr. Glassman.

CTIA's FCC Reply Filing Summary on Wireless Industry's Innovation and Investment

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:43:00 -0500

Last Thursday (11/5), CTIA filed reply comments to the FCC on the wireless industry’s innovation and investment.

As we have seen in the last 18 months, the U.S. wireless ecosystem has experienced tremendous change. The industry has embraced the evolution of networks to 3G and now 4G technologies, the explosion of innovative devices, the emergence of application stores, and new machine-to-machine communications.

Specifically, we’ve seen:

3G technology has been deployed to more than 92% of the U.S. population;
At least 33 companies manufacture wireless devices for the U.S. market, and consumers can choose from nearly 630 wireless devices.
More than 85% of all devices on carriers’ networks are Web-capable and 20% of new devices are equipped with Wi-Fi capability. According to Nielsen, the percentage of consumers actively using mobile Internet capabilities in the U.S. is higher than any other country.
Well over 100,000 mobile-specific applications have come to the market from six different stores;
Reported minutes of use (“MOUs”) amounted to 1.16 trillion for the six months ending in June 2009, which is the highest minutes-of-use per month and the lowest price-per-minute of service of the 26 OECD countries tracked by Merrill Lynch.
Reported SMS messages for the six-month period totaled more than 740 billion, nearly doubling the 385 billion reported for the same period in 2008;
For the twelve months ending June 2009, providers reported making capital investments totaling $19.5 billion;
Providers added over 25,000 new cell sites, up 11.5% over the prior year.

CTIA’s most recent data confirms that, despite these challenging economic times, wireless carriers continue to invest and innovate in their networks while consumers adopt and demand the latest wireless services, devices, and applications. This aggressive consumer adoption only serves to fuel the continued virtuous cycle of the wireless ecosystem.

CTIA's FCC Filing Summary on Competition in the Wireless Industry

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:04:00 -0500

In a Hillcon Valley blog post on Monday, Ruth Milkman, FCC's Wireless Bureau chief said, "There is tremendous agreement that wireless is vibrant and contributes to the economy. It’s a phenomenal set of services and applications."

We couldn't agree more. While we may be a bit biased, I think all of us have been impressed by some wireless app, device, technology, etc. As I mentioned in yesterday's post on our filing to the FCC on innovation and investment, this is an industry that is responsive to consumers and fiercely competes with one another for each customer.

In CTIA's wireless competition filing to the FCC , we highlight numerous examples of how the wireless ecosystem (made up of carriers, infrastructure suppliers, device manufacturers, operating system providers, and applications developers) remains competitive at every level.

This means that consumers and businesses are benefiting from the lowest prices, highest minutes of use, most innovative services and devices, most robust mobile broadband networks, and least concentrated wireless market among our global competitors.

But this fiercely competitive state of the mobile industry was no accident: it emerged from long-standing, market-driven policies, embraced on a bipartisan basis, favoring flexibility over command-and-control and competition over economic regulation.

Finally, we also highlighted additional steps (starting on page 77) that the Commission can take to facilitate on-going competition and ensure that consumers will continue to reap tremendous benefits from the mobile wireless sector.

After all, as John Donovan, AT&T’s CTO said in his keynote at CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment Show last week, “It’s a customer’s world; we’re just a part of it.”

MedApps: Best Practices from a mHealth Leader

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:50:00 -0500

With policymakers focusing on healthcare, wireless devices and services are an important part of the solution for improving medical care while reducing costs. Kent Dicks, CEO of MedApps, a remote health monitoring solution, discusses the potential for mHealth. Take a listen.

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Intelligent Transportation

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:48:00 -0500

Wireless technology can provide both traffic management systems & drivers with real-time data to better identify highway congestion & to ultimately save time, money & reduce emissions. Nokia's Quinn Jacobson talks about his company's efforts to help drivers & traffic specialists better handle our crowded highways. Take a listen.

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mHealth Case Studies

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:42:00 -0500

mHealth is a main theme here at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® and we wanted to highlight some of the interesting and innovative ways wireless is playing an increasingly important role in the pursuit of wellness through the constant connectivity mobile technologies provide. Aaron Goldmuntz, CarioNet, Inc.’s Dir. of Business Development, shares innovative real-world uses of mHealth products & services.

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CTIA Talks with Media on the New FCC

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:32:00 -0500

Over the last few weeks, I've been talking with reporters and bloggers about the new FCC and its focus on the wireless industry. As you've probably read, we are looking forward to educating the FCC (and policymakers) on the facts about the industry. We have a great story and we look forward to the opportunity to share this information with them.

Since the agenda for the August 27th meeting has been released, many of those interviews have touched on the three NOIs (notice of inquiry). Specifically, there are two that are focused on the wireless industry – one on innovation and investment and the other on competition. The third is focused on truth-in-billing across numerous industries, including wireless.

Here are a few of the stories that have been published based on these interviews:

8/24 - ComputerWorld -- Wireless industry defends itself against mounting criticism
8/21 - CNET -- FCC takes a closer look at wireless industry
8/21 - Forbes -- Telecom facing more active FCC
8/17 - GigaOM -- For better mobile broadband, the U.S. needs more spectrum

mHealth Making Headlines

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:25:00 -0500

I don’t think you can turn on a TV or read the news without seeing something on healthcare reform.

But regardless of your opinion on the issue, I think we can all agree that reducing medical costs and errors, removing geographical and economic disparities, and reinforcing consumer-focused & personalized healthcare is a must.

This is why CTIA, along with a growing number of medical and health policy experts, are talking about mobile wireless technologies and applications that are reshaping the healthcare landscape. Mobile wireless services are in the hands of more than 270 million subscribers – and mHealth solutions are improving healthcare services for millions regardless of location, race, age, gender, or disability.

A recent article on Fortune.com by TMNG Global’s Richard Nespola paints an interesting picture of how mHealth solutions are cutting costs and changing the way we provide medical care in America.

CTIA’s “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum 2009” was mentioned in the story as a recent example of the wireless industry bringing together officials from the White House, Congress, and CDC, along with policy and medical experts to discuss the important role mHealth solutions play in healthcare reform.

To see video highlights of the event, please click here. And, to learn more about mHealth Solutions, click here.

Highlights from CTIA's "mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum"

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:12:00 -0500

Avid blog readers already know that we held the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” on Wednesday with some of the leading medical and policy experts on how wireless technology can play a major role in improving healthcare. While we’re compiling some video clips for you to see and hear these speakers, we thought we’d share some photo highlights of the event.

Steve Largent, President & CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association®, welcomes medical and policy experts to the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9th) gives a keynote address discussing the importance in deploying cost-effective wireless technology solutions which will reduce healthcare costs and expand affordable healthcare options for millions of people.

Dr. Eric J. Topol demonstrates Corventis’ “smart bandaid” which provides real-time electrocardiogram monitoring.

The first panel of speakers is focusing on “Innovating Through Healthcare Reform: The Mobile Solution.” Several speakers are medical innovators who are applying existing, commonly used mobile applications to address a variety of chronic care and other health conditions.

Sprint representatives are on-site to showcase live demonstrations of innovative mobility solutions for the healthcare industry.

In the second panel, policy experts are discussing how to keep pace with technology innovation.

mHealth Solutions Play Important Role in Healthcare Reform

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:13:00 -0500

This morning CTIA hosted the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., where officials from the White House, Congress, and CDC, along with policy and medical experts talked about how wireless is a major part of the solution when it comes to addressing America’s chronic care crisis.

Some of the speakers from this morning’s impressive line-up included U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9, Member of 21st Century Health Care Caucus), Chief Medical Officer of the West Wireless Health Institute and Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health Dr. Eric Topol and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Dr. Dan Fletcher.

The key point that was reiterated throughout the morning was that the mobile wireless services you use everyday can also be used to improve your personal health. Since mobile wireless services are a part of daily life for more than 270 million Americans (and 4.1 billion individuals worldwide), there is an incredible opportunity to improve the healthcare industry across the board regardless of geographic location, race, age, gender or disability. Considering healthcare spending in America is at $2.2 trillion each year, an all-time high, today’s speakers agreed that mHealth solutions play an important role in healthcare reform.

Another key point was that the mHealth discussion isn’t just "pie-in-the-sky" but actually used in real-life right now. In fact, several of our speakers have applied existing, commonly used mobile applications to address a variety of chronic care and other health conditions.

Dan Fletcher, PhD; White House Office of Science and Technology Policy – oversaw the development of the CellScope, a cameraphone-microscope. The device takes focused pictures at up to 50x magnification, enough to see red blood cells and the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. Modified versions of the scope can also diagnose tuberculosis, skin conditions, dangerous insect bites and abnormal mole growth
Jonathan Javitt, M.D., MPH; CEO, Telcare – helped develop the Telcheck™, a glucose meter which transmits daily glucose readings to a patient’s caregiver (e.g. physician, nurse/case manager or pharmacist) and relays daily coaching to the patient. It may also be used to link a child with diabetes to a parent or an elderly parent with diabetes to an adult child. In addition, Telcare will launch the Telflo™ wireless peak flow meter for asthma which combines monitoring technology with wireless communications. Physicians and parents will be alerted when a child falls below respiratory flow safe levels or when a child stops testing in the prescribed manner.
Justin Sims; CEO, Voxiva – Voxiva’s mHealth applications include appointment reminders, sent via SMS (text), email or phone. Reminders can be two-way so patients can either confirm or cancel their appointments. They also offer “daily diaries,” a personal record to keep track of treatments which can be accessed through the phone, text messages or through a web interface to review or to share with others.
Richard J. Katz, M.D.; Director, Division of Cardiology and Director, Cheney Cardiovascular Institute, The George Washington University Hospital – principle investigator for a trial using the “Pill Phone” to improve medication adherence of hypertensive medications in a Medicaid population. He is also principle investigator for “DC Health Connect,” a cell phone program to manage diabetes and hypertension in Washington, DC health clinics.
Jay Bernhardt, M.D.; Director, Center for National Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – currently using emerging mobile technologies to increase the dissemination and potential impact of CDC’s science by reaching wider and more diverse audiences, and tailoring specific health messages to meet unique challenges, such as the response to H1N1 and natural disasters such as hurricanes. The CDC is using mobile technology to facilitate interactive communication and community - thereby empowering people to make healthier and safer decisions.

Other benefits of wireless health discussed at today’s Forum include:

Out of the $2.2 trillion we spend on healthcare, $1.4 trillion is spent on treating chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If patients suffering from chronic conditions agreed to have their doctor monitor them remotely via mobile wireless applications, (i.e. monitor patients’ health and track and guide self-care beyond the doctors’ offices), we would save $21.1 billion per year by reducing emergency care, hospitalization and nursing home costs.
Remote monitoring allows the millions of Americans living in rural areas to visit the best doctors’ offices in the country, eliminating healthcare disparities based on geographic location and economic disparities.
Healthcare becomes more personal and individualized which means reduction in medical errors, improvements in preventive healthcare and improvements in the medical community’s ability to resolve epidemics
With the H1N1 (aka swine flu) now being declared a level 6 (meaning a global epidemic is underway), wireless can help to identify and monitor breakouts in areas that may otherwise be undercounted/underreported. This is certainly beneficial for rural areas in the U.S. and also internationally.

You're Invited to Attend "mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum"

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:00:00 -0500

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, we are at a crossroads on healthcare. In the U.S., we spend $2.4 trillion each year yet we have 46 million uninsured people. This is why President Obama and Congress have been working together to find the right solution.

CTIA, along with medical and health policy experts, believe that part of the solution is something that more than 270 million Americans use daily – their mobile wireless services.

On Wednesday, June 24th from 8:30-11:30 a.m. (EDT) at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., CTIA is hosting a Technology and Policy Forum on mHealth Solutions for America’s Chronic Care Crisis.

Making healthcare more personal and individualized is expected to reduce medical errors, improve preventive healthcare and significantly improve the medical community’s ability to resolve epidemics. Mobile wireless solutions are a part of the consumer-focused healthcare movement and the wave of the future.

We’ve gathered together an impressive line-up of medical and policy experts for the event including, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA-9) and Jim Cooper (D-TN-5), Chief Medical Officer of the West Wireless Health Institute and Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health Dr. Eric Topol, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Dr. Dan Fletcher, and Vice President of Global Health for the UN Foundation Dr. Dan Carucci.

Below is a brief snapshot of the schedule:

Keynote remarks will be given by:

U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th District)
Eric J. Topol, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, West Wireless Health Institute; Chief Academic Officer, Scripps Health

Panel I: Innovating Through Healthcare Reform: The Mobile Solution
Panel II: Policy Solutions – Keeping Pace with Technology Innovation

For information on how to RSVP or to view a copy of the full agenda and list of speakers, please click here. We hope you will be able to join us! Otherwise, make sure to visit our blog after the event when we’ll provide a recap and some videos.

To get an idea of what’s to come at next week’s mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum, watch this one-on-one interview with Dr. Topol. I had a chance to sit-down with Dr. Topol to talk about mHealth earlier this spring when he was a keynote speaker at the International CTIA WIRELESS 2009® tradeshow in Las Vegas.

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In addition, here are some clips of Dr. Topol’s informative keynote address.

Finally, here’s a video segment that highlights the public and private sectors joining together to use wireless for a promotional campaign on HIV/AIDS testing for young people.

CTIA-The Wireless Association® Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Fri, 22 May 2009 08:53:00 -0500

May 23rd marks the “Silver Anniversary” for CTIA-The Wireless Association®. From the “car” phone to the smartphone, there’s no doubt that the wireless industry has seen a remarkable transformation in the last 25 years.

With fewer than 20 member companies, CTIA was originally called the “Cellular Communications Industry Association” and was officially incorporated on May 23, 1984.

The wireless landscape in the U.S. was very different 25 years ago. Here’s a brief snapshot of what wireless looked like in May 1984:

Less than 50,000 wireless subscribers in America.
Wireless service was only available in six U.S. cities.
Consumers paid more than $2,000 for a cellular device.
First portable cell phone models, or “brick” phones, weighed nearly two pounds and had only around 30 minutes of talk time.

Fast forward to today and CTIA-The Wireless Association® has more than 300 member companies. These companies represent 87% of the total U.S. population – or 270 million + wireless subscribers – making it one of the fastest growing and competitive industries in history. In addition, consumers in today’s marketplace can:

Purchase a handset for less than $100.
Choose from more than 630 wireless devices.
Pay an average of only $50 per month for service.

From 1984 to the 3G broadband world of 2009, wireless has evolved from simple voice communications to a new era of data transmission and democratization of communications that has transformed the way we work, play and live.

The wireless industry continues to meet the increasing consumer demand for advanced wireless services, as indicated by record-breaking subscribers and an impressive array of usage and wireless statistics.

Cheers to the last 25 years of impressive growth and innovation in the world of wireless! We are looking forward to many more.

Mobile Health at the CDC

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, the Director of the National Center for Health Marketing at the CDC, sat down with us for our March WOW's Insider Interview to talk about novel case studies of wireless technology enhancing public health initiatives around the world. Dr. Bernhardt also shares his perspective on the enormous value wireless technology can provide by providing access to information and creating a personal channel of communication between health care providers and patients. Come check out what else Dr. Berhnardt has to say as well as what else we have to offer in our March installment of CTIA’s Wonder of Wireless webcast.

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