CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®

MHealth Innovations

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:09:00 -0500

The worlds of technology and ingenuity are colliding in mobile health, creating state-of-the-art products for a wide variety of patients. Montage Systems' Samantha McDermott demonstrates at the recent CTIA show in San Diego how the company is tapping into the power of wireless. To learn more watch this segment from our November installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in this month's WOW.

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Insider Interview with Ralph de la Vega, the President & CEO of AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:53:00 -0500

Last month, while out in San Diego attending International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® we were fortunate enough to sit down and talk with our new CTIA Chairman and the President & CEO of AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets, Ralph de la Vega. He was kind enough to share his insight on several different topics such as: on the future of the industry & his company and the proposed net neutrality regulations. To learn more watch this segment from our November installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in this month's WOW.

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International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® - A Look Back

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:47:00 -0500

Now that the CTIA team is back from our show in San Diego, I thought today would be a good day to review some of the news that happened last week. To say it was busy is certainly an understatement!

On Tuesday, October 6th, we saw Verizon and Google conduct a joint webcast where they announced their Android partnership. During CTIA's show, we also learned AT&T was going to open its 3G networks to third-party VoIP services.

On Wednesday, the first day of the International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment show, there were a slew of CTIA-related announcements. At the show, we were fortunate to hear from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski where he said he supported and was committed to providing the industry with more spectrum and approving a tower siting shot clock. We released our semi-annual survey which showed that wireless data usage was increasing at a rapid rate. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, along with CTIA, announced a $1 million donation to One Economy to develop the "Wireless Digital Connectors" program, which will provide opportunities to low-income communities through broadband services.

Thursday, October 8th was when we released our joint survey with Harris Interactive where we reported 87% of Americans were interested in mHealth solutions. For Google Android fans, Samsung unveiled their new device, Moment, which will be carried on the Sprint Nextel network.

Finally, on Friday, also the last day of the show, we saw a spirited competition among six mobile application providers during the first-ever CTIA Fund Fest. Chyngle, a mobile application provider to sporting, shopping and other venues, won the Champion Award. Winning People's Choice was Telcare, which links patients with chronic illnesses to their doctors using mobile technology.

It was a fantastic week in San Diego and if you were with us in person, I hope you had as much fun as we did. If you visited us remotely, I hope we provided you with a bit of the excitement and feel from the show...and that you'll join us at next year's International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment show when we're in San Francisco on October 6-8th.

I encourage you to visit our CTIA show page for videos, podcasts, photos and more information. In the next few weeks, we'll post a wrap-up video so stay tuned!

That's a Wrap!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:08:00 -0500

International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® is coming to a close here in sunny San Diego.

Day Three started with the debut of the CTIA Fund Fest from the keynote stage where six of the most promising new wireless start-ups pitched their business plans before a panel of distinguished judges and text voting audience. Who made the best case for why their idea should be chosen?

Todd Sullivan of Chyngle was selected as the “Grand Champion” by the panel of expert judges, and Jonathan Javitt of TelCare was named the “People’s Choice Winner” with the highest number of texted votes from the audience. Congratulations! It was certainly an entertaining morning.

Throughout the week, I hope you’ve been visiting our show coverage site which has daily video highlights from the keynote stage, CTIA Buzz Zone interviews, camera phone photos, and podcasts of featured educational sessions.

In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be posting the CTIA Post-Show Webcast which features extended keynote video clips. So, stay tuned!

First Annual CTIA Fund Fest Debuts On Keynote Stage

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:58:00 -0500

Today's third and final keynote session from International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009 in San Diego featured the First Annual CTIA "Fund Fest" 2009, an exciting and innovative wireless business application pitch session, in front of a full audience. CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent was joined onstage by an expert panel of 3 judges – Rory Moore, CommNexus San Diego CEO; Andy Seybold, Andrew Seybold, Inc. CEO and Principal Consultant; and Quinn Li, Qualcomm Ventures Managing Director. In addition, the audience voted via shortcode for their favorite innovator.

Each of the five finalists for CTIA Fund Fest 2009 had 5-10 minutes to make their case for why their idea was best. All of the participants gave a rousing performance, in hopes of securing the first annual grand prize, which was a complimentary marketing and exhibiting package from CTIA and MobiTechFest with a combined value of $25,700.

Here is a quick look at the five finalists for Fund Fest 2009:

First up was Chander Chawla, from Mjedi, a mobile web platform featuring the actual in-store shopping experience, combined with the instant friends and family recommendation possibilities of social networking. The company microtargets shoppers using UPC code entry scans to track price status, check for other bargains elsewhere, look at competition via online shopping and ultimately aide the individual on their purchasing decision.
Next to showcase its product was Terry Goertz and Jeff Fedor from ParkVu. Using their WITH ME and WITH MUSIC online platforms, users can transport all their computer files, music, pictures and video to their mobile device in a single click. The goal is to seamlessly import this information into your cellphone or smartphone.
Then we heard from Billing Revolution’s Andy Kleitsch, a company allowing mobile payments and transactions to be performed on your mobile device.
We then heard from Chyngle’s Todd Sullivan who explained his offering of a mobile online combination of texting, GPS, ticketing, social media, web browsing and much more – all to improve an attendee's experience at large-scale venues such as shopping malls, concerts, sports arenas, etc. Sullivan described a potential experience where you attend a big game, locate a ticket, buy it and get in, find your seat, order a pizza to be delivered to your seat, get live video and stat history at the game, and then find a ride home. All without missing a beat.
Last, but not least was Jonathan Javitt from TelCare, a remote sensor monitoring company that connects patients to their caregivers through medical devices utilizing "machine to machine" cellular communications. They’re focused on individuals with diabetes – something that affects 28 million Americans today, and is projected to affect 60 million Americans by 2020.

Largent then came back up onstage to confer with the expert panel of judges and tabulate text-voting results............ and the First Annual Winner of CTIA Fund Fest 2009 is............ drum roll please............Chyngle’s Todd Sullivan!

The People’s Choice Award winner was TelCare. Congratulations to our 2009 Fund Fest winner and runner-up.

We congratulate the five finalists and wish them the best of luck with their innovations!

mHealth: Changing the Way We Live

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:56:00 -0500

mHealth is improving productivity & care for the medical & wellness industries. Jeremy Lowell, DDS & owner of multiple Gold’s Gym franchises, talks about how these new products & services are revolutionizing the way hospitals, doctors & patients interact. Take a listen.

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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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Remote Monitoring via Wireless

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:45:00 -0500

Using wireless to remotely monitor patients helps physicians increase diagnostic efficiency & accuracy. We sat down with Dr. Cameron Powell the President, CMO, & Co-Founder of AirStrip Technologies to discuss wireless remote monitoring & how it’s helping to reshape the healthcare landscape. Take a listen.

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Complete Coverage of Day Three at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:26:00 -0500

Today is the third and final day here in San Diego at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®, and what a week it has been!

This morning’s keynote is one session you definitely don’t want to miss. The most promising new wireless start-ups will see if they have what it takes to succeed during the first ever CTIA Fund Fest. Six finalists will be given the opportunity to pitch their business plans live on the keynote stage. A panel of distinguished judges will select one winner, and CTIA show attendees will vote via text message to acknowledge the people’s choice.

Who will have the next killer idea for wireless? Your guess is as good as mine. But I can’t wait to see the latest and greatest wireless innovations on full display from the keynote stage this morning. Be sure to check our show site later today for video highlights and results of the CTIA Fund Fest.

While it might be our last day in sunny San Diego, we will continue to post photos and updates on show activity, CTIA announcements, and podcasts of featured educational sessions. I hope you have enjoyed your time with us this week – whether it was in-person or on the blog and encourage you to share your thoughts about the show.

Finally, keep visiting the blog throughout the year as we continue to post news, updates, and other useful information on the wireless industry!

Winding Down Day Two at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:00:00 -0500

Day Two here in San Diego is winding down, and what a day it has been! We had another great line-up of speakers this morning, including the dynamic joint session with father/son duo Qualcomm Co-Founder Dr. Irwin Jacobs, and Chairman and CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs. Qualcomm has been a major player in the wireless ecosystem through the years, and it was fascinating to learn more about their company’s focus in mHealth and to hear their thoughts on the future of wireless. We also heard from AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan who spoke about his company’s network evolution strategy.

CTIA’s Steve Largent announced the results of a study on mHealth in America conducted by Harris Interactive. The release can be found here, but highlights include:

Almost 8 in 10 Americans (78%) expressed interest in mHealth solutions and over 1 in 10 (15%) said they were extremely/very interested in learning more about it.
Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) people surveyed said they would upgrade their existing wireless plan to participate and 11% said they would even consider switching wireless providers to receive mobile healthcare services.
40% believe mHealth services would supplement medical care they receive from their doctor now and almost one-quarter (23%) believe mobile health services might replace doctor visits altogether.
Adults surveyed believe that those in rural areas had the most to gain from mobile heath services (51%), closely followed by those with chronic diseases that needed monitoring (48%), retired/Medicare patients (41%) and caregivers (38%).
Physicians said over one quarter of all their patients would benefit from such services and 80% of doctors and 89% of specialists voted to continue investment in mHealth.

Once the keynote remarks were completed, there were a number of educational sessions on topics such as mHealth and smart energy, along with featured partner seminars including Connectivity to the Vehicle and Everywhere Healthcare presented by MobiHealthNews.

Today’s CTIA Buzz Zone and show floor interviews included:

David Ko, Yahoo! Mobile Sr. VP
Chris Baker, SDG&E Sr. VP of Shared Services and CIO
Ian White, Urban Mapping
Martin Pierre-Roy, Myca VP of Healthcare Services
Fraser Edwards, RIM
Brian Lent, Medio Chairman & CTO

A reminder that you can watch these interviews by visiting our show site.

This afternoon, we saw the inaugural CTIA 2009 Hot for the Holidays Awards ceremony. The program was created to identify and celebrate the hottest mobile consumer electronics products and applications for the 2009 holiday season. To see the list of winners, please click here. In addition, Magneat from YOUnison received the highest number of online votes and was named “CTIA’s Hottest Web Pick 2009.” The winner of “CTIA’s Hottest in Show 2009” was the Samsung Reclaim™ with the highest number of onsite text votes.

Keep visiting the CTIA Blog for continued updates and information from the largest wireless data event in the industry. And let us know what you’re seeing and hearing from the show by posting comments!

Day Two Keynote Summary

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 -0500

First up on the CTIA Keynote stage for Day Two of CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment in San Diego was Dr. Irwin Jacobs, Co-Founder of Qualcomm, and his son Dr. Paul Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, for a casual conversation with CTIA’s President and CEO, Steve Largent. There was a great dialogue among the three of them, but here are a few highlights:

Qualcomm new headquarters have displayed more than 2000+ patents on one of the walls.
They spoke about the very early CDMA days at Qualcomm, and how the early 1998 smartphones with Palm already had Internet protocol on them. GPS was the next early technology to follow on those devices. Today, Irwin Jacobs noted that all over the world, even at the lowest parts of the economic pyramid, mobile wireless can be in their hands, improve their lives, and how that’s really an amazing thing.
Paul Jacobs said that today on the phone you have the ability to have more and more applications out there, and how that continual progress has led from 1st Generation analog, to 2nd Generation, to today’s predominant 3rd Generation technology, and all the possibilities that lie ahead with 4th Generation.
Qualcomm sent out about 94 million chips just in the last quarter.
Both Jacobs said that they’re having fun in the wireless industry and they remain inspired because of the infinite possibilities of mobile.
The Jacobs agreed that there is a looming spectrum “crisis.” While the U.S. is incredibly efficient users, we are pushing the limits now on the amount of capacity used and needed.
When Steve asked about net neutrality, Irwin Jacobs said carriers need to have the ability to manage networks and the government should not be intrusive enough to make the issue simply about providers picking one application or service over another service, but rather to allow companies to “shape traffic.” In other words, you look at this person used this much, while that person used that much more, and you help manage traffic based on resources being used to propel that service or application.

The conversation then shifted to some of the cool new wireless service and device applications of the present day, and what’s to come 5-10 years into the future of wireless. Here are some of the highlights:

Your wireless device as a “Digital Sixth Sense” – imagine it was a geographical locator, where you might gain face or voice recognition with personal data about those people in your general surroundings that you may come into contact with. Imagine walking past a restaurant on the sidewalk and that restaurant sends you a virtual coupon to use at that moment.
New green technologies for wireless including multiple synching and connecting “charging platters” that charge and connect and know which device is where when it’s on the platter. Simultaneously for your devices, all at your fingertips at home or while traveling.
They mentioned the importance of mobile devices for education, and how they are most excited about learning both in and out of the classroom, with e-Book readers and videos for teaching.

They ended the question and answer session by saying everyone must be open to change. The world is evolving so quickly, and wireless broadband access is key to bringing some good to the world.

Also on the CTIA keynote stage this morning was John Donovan, CTO for AT&T. Donovan discussed 5 truths for dealing with today's wireless environment where people are using wireless more and it in more places. Donovan said that AT&T is currently the #1 carrier for Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm and of course, the iPhone. His key points of emphasis included:

Truth 1: Growth Happens. There are so many reasons why wireless companies need to respond and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the consumer base. Wireless data usage has grown tremendously – in the last 3 years, AT&T has seen it grown 4932%! But there are many factors are behind that growth such as video, then mobile everywhere era and next we'll see mobile video, machine-to-machine and my life everywhere.
Truth 2: It's a Jungle Out There. There’s a lot going on in the industry with changes constantly occurring. In this industry, only the strong survive but it takes billions to stay strong. AT&T invested $38 billion in the last two years to support wireless development. The company is also deploying their 700 MHz spectrum coverage, and will soon reach 100% of the Top 200 markets and 87% of the U.S. population.
Truth 3: Innovate or Die. AT&T is the #1 U.S. carrier for Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm and iPhone. Wireless penetration rate is nearing 100% so companies have to keep up.
Truth 4: Customers Demand Open. AT&T has more smartphone users than any other carrier. Donovan said that AT&T does not plan their network based on blogs or tweets - although they do read criticisms about their coverage. Instead, they build it based on meeting the needs that consumers demand. To improve the wireless experience, service manufacturers are opening operating systems, open and less fragmented platforms are arriving and widgets are powering the mobile web.
Truth 5: You Have to Invest! As AT&T continues to upgrade coverage to 7.2 HSPA and in laying the foundation for LTE, the benefit for these investments will pay off for years to come. In 2010, AT&T will be testing LTE and will deployed in 2011. Donovan said that LTE will cover 100% of the top 200 markets and 87% of the U.S. population.

Donovan noted that the company’s current footprint lies in 22 states, but by 2010 2nd quarter, AT&T will be in 25 of the 30 biggest U.S. markets.

Donovan also said AT&T is a rich network with a wide variety of device choices. This isn't just about fast speeds but also wide coverage. This isn't just about a device or two but a flood of choices. Donovan closed his remarks by saying, “Look, it’s the customer’s world and we’re just living in it.”

New Study Shows mHealth has Vast Appeal in America

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:44:00 -0500

In conjunction with Harris Interactive®, we conducted online and phone surveys of U.S. adults and an online survey of physicians to gauge their interest in mHealth (or mobile health) service options. The results of the study clearly indicate that Americans are seeing great potential in the future of mHealth.

Here are a few highlights from the study:

Almost 8 in 10 Americans (78%) expressed interest in mHealth solutions and over 1 in 10 (15%) said they were extremely/very interested in learning more about it.
Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) people surveyed said they would upgrade their existing wireless plan to participate and 11% said they would even consider switching wireless providers to receive mobile healthcare services.
40% believe mHealth services would supplement medical care they receive from their doctor now and almost one-quarter (23%) believe mobile health services might replace doctor visits altogether.
Adults surveyed believe that those in rural areas had the most to gain from mobile heath services (51%), closely followed by those with chronic diseases that needed monitoring (48%), retired/Medicare patients (41%) and caregivers (38%).
Physicians said over one quarter of all their patients would benefit from such services and 80% of doctors and 89% of specialists voted to continue investment in mHealth.

You can read more details about the mHealth study in the press release we issued today. To learn more about mHealth solutions, click here. And, to hear what the experts have to say on mHealth, listen to some of the podcasts featured on our show site.

Complete Coverage of Day Two at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®!

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:40:00 -0500

Welcome to Day Two at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®!

We’ve got another great line-up of speakers in store for this morning’s keynote session.

Qualcomm’s co-founder Dr. Irwin Jacobs and Chairman and CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs will deliver a joint keynote address where they highlight just a few real-life examples on how the mobile Internet is bridging both the digital and physical worlds. This unique, father-son keynote will also examine how innovative mobile wireless networks are expanding and enhancing the way we live, work, and play. Then AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan will talk about his company’s network evolution strategy.

Throughout the day, we’ll post video highlights of the keynote addresses on our show site, as well as one-on-one interviews with industry experts on key wireless issues from the CTIA Buzz Zone.

Day Two also features a number of informative educational sessions and seminars. For a complete list of sessions covering topics ranging from mobile health and intelligent transportation, to smart energy and mobile media and content, click here.

Some of today’s featured sessions include:

Keep visiting our blog for new photos, updates on show activity, CTIA announcements, and podcasts of featured educational sessions!

Winding Down Day One at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009®

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:28:00 -0500

Day One of the largest wireless data event in the industry has been exciting. We heard from an impressive line-up of speakers during the morning keynote session. Here’s a quick look at some of the key themes.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski outlined four areas in which he expects his commission to immediately focus in the wireless and telecommunications space:

Removing obstacles to future 4G connections, including unleashing spectrum, improving the tower siting process, and making high speed broadband access robust and ubiquitous.
Establishing fair rules of the road for an open Internet, while recognizing the difference between wired and wireless technologies.
Supporting a vibrant, competitive, transparent mobile marketplace when it comes to wireless service.
Focusing on spectrum re-allocation to make sure high-speed broadband access is affordable and available to everyone.

Incoming CTIA Chairman and AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets President & CEO Ralph de la Vega presented an in-depth look at the state of wireless in the United States, calling it the most competitive wireless marketplace in the world. Here are a few of the facts he highlighted:

U.S. is the #1 least concentrated country for carriers in the world, according to the HHI Index
More than 95% of the U.S. population has 3 or more providers from which to choose
2.4 million American jobs come from wireless
$19 billion in tax and fee dollars are contributed by wireless consumers each year
$860 billion is produced by the wireless industry, and the sector is currently growing at more than 5 times faster than the overall American economy

De la Vega also talked about some concerns that need to be addressed – such as transmission speeds and spectrum capacity.

Yahoo! Mobile SVP David Ko discussed some of the new mobile platform changes and improvements now offered to wireless consumers from Yahoo!. The primary mission of Yahoo! is to improve the consumer’s wireless experience by keeping it simple, with a focus on the consumer’s ability to discover, and stay connected and informed. Ko brought a Yahoo! colleague onstage next for a brief demonstration on recent improvements to their mobile homepage. Lastly, he talked about the huge monetary potential for growth in the field of mobile advertising.

San Diego Gas & Electric CIO and SVP of Shared Services Chris Baker discussed a number of ways in which San Diego is improving and investing in our environmental and energy future, including: wireless technology and remote monitoring sensors for reporting; honing in on consumer demographics and needs; investing in the smartest of Smart Grids; managing customer responses; IT investment; increasing energy efficiency; mapping the region to become more grid-aware; training and retraining employees for new technologies; putting in smart meters; and connecting and reconnecting mobile sensors.

CTIA’s Steve Largent also announced the results of the latest semi-annual wireless industry survey, which once again revealed incredible growth in wireless data. Some of the highlights were:

Wireless data service revenues for the first half of 2009 climbed to more than $19.4 billion—a 31% increase from the first half of 2008.
There are more than 276 million wireless subscribers.
More than 740 billion text messages were reported for the first half of 2009—breaking down to 4.1 billion messages per day— which is nearly double the amount of texts reported for the first half of 2008.
1.1 trillion minutes were used in the first half of 2009—breaking down to 6.4 billion minutes-of-use per day.
More than 246 million data-capable devices are in the hands of consumers today. More than 40 million of these devices are Smartphones or wireless-enabled PDAs and more than 10 million are wireless-enabled laptops, notebooks or aircards.

In addition, AT&T Mobility President & CEO Ralph de la Vega, T-Mobile USA President & CEO Robert Dotson, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, and Verizon Wireless President & CEO Lowell McAdam joined Steve and One Economy Corporation CEO Rey Ramsey to announce a new partnership and launch “Wireless Digital Connectors – A Mobile Broadband Initiative” to help empower and equip low-income Americans with greater opportunity through the use of wireless broadband technology. To read the release, click here.

Beyond the keynote stage, the San Diego Convention Center was bustling with activity. From the show floor packed with exhibitors, to the wide range of partner seminars and informative educational sessions, there were plenty of opportunities for attendees to maximize their mobile business. Some of the day’s highlights included the Mobile Entertainment Forum, the Smart Energy seminar presented by Accenture & Cisco Business Group, and the Mobile Space and Transmedia seminar which focused on critical content platforms for Hollywood producers.

I also had the opportunity to interview several industry experts on location today in the San Diego Convention Center. You can watch these interviews by visiting our show site.

Rey Ramsey, One Economy Corporation CEO
Participants of One Economy Corporation’s Digital Connectors program
Jamie Wells, Microsoft Mobile Global Director of Trade Marketing
Rob Gelick, CBS Mobile Vice President

CTIA also announced our new Board of Directors and an initiative to simplify input/output features on mobile devices.

Stay tuned for continued show coverage and updates on the CTIA Blog. And let us know what you’re seeing and hearing from the show by posting comments!