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US carriers ask the FCC for $5.6 billion to replace Huawei and ZTE equipment
The price of removing Chinese equipment from American wireless networks is likely to cost more than the government anticipated.
FCC estimates it'll cost carriers $1.8 billion to replace Huawei, ZTE hardware
Restrictions on the companies' equipment have put small providers in a tough spot.
YouTube TV is adding 14 ViacomCBS channels to its lineup
Thanks to an expanded, multi-year distribution agreement between Google and ViacomCBS, YouTube TV will add another 14 channels.
Comcast sues Maine over a law requiring a-la-carte cable offerings
Cord cutting may seem like the new norm, but plenty of people still pay for cable TV. That doesn't mean they're happy with it though. This summer, in response to complaints that customers had to purchase an entire cable package just to watch one or two channels, Maine passed a law requiring cable companies to offer channels a-la-carte. Now, Comcast and a handful of cable operators, including Fox, CBS and Disney, are suing Maine and 17 municipalities to prevent the law from going into effect.
A ransomware attack is holding Baltimore's networks hostage
A ransomware attack brought Baltimore city government's computers to a halt yesterday. The hackers are reportedly holding the city's files hostage, demanding up to 13 Bitcoins (about $76,280) to free the city's systems. As of this afternoon, the city has quarantined the ransomware, the Baltimore Sun reports. But, in a press conference, the city said it is not sure when all of the systems will be functioning again.
T-Mobile and Comcast will label authentic calls to fight spam
In an attempt to fight robocalls, T-Mobile and Comcast are teaming up to bring their customers call verification. The carriers will use the STIR/SHAKEN protocol to label authentic numbers, so users will know they're not receiving a spam call. The catch is that, for now, only calls between the two networks will be eligible for the "Caller Verified" label.
AT&T and Comcast test 'verified' phone calls to fight spam
Robocalls have gotten so bad that competitors AT&T and Comcast are teaming up to tackle the problem together. Their plan is to "authenticate and verify" calls. In other words, they'll let you know when an incoming call is really from the number listed on the caller ID and not a computer-generated call showing a fake number. This won't stop the unsolicited calls, but you might be more willing to answer a verified number.
Sprint and LG hope to launch the first 5G smartphone next year
Now that 5G has a complete standard for companies to use in rolling out new devices, Sprint and LG have announced their intentions to bring the "first 5G smartphone" to the US in the first half of 2019.
Mesh WiFi gear from different companies could soon work together
Until now, ensuring full WiFi coverage of your home with a mesh network has typically meant buying multiple routers or access points from one company. But with a new mesh standard coming into play, you'll have more choice in how to build out your network because nodes from different companies will theoretically be compatible with each other. With its EasyMesh program, the WiFi Alliance wants to make sure mesh routers from various manufacturers can speak to each other -- just as it used its WiFi certification to ensure wireless access standards.
Switching mobile operators could soon begin with a text
Ofcom has introduced new rules that should make it easier to switch mobile networks in the UK. At the moment, cancelling a contract and setting up a new one is complicated and time consuming, especially if you want to keep your old number. You have to ring both providers, settle any outstanding debts and then try to wrangle a single switchover date — otherwise you're double-paying for a while, or going without a phone for a few days. To fix the problem, Ofcom is introducing an "auto-switch" system that forces providers to sort out the finer details on their own.
DOJ code-breaking project found unencrypted on the internet
Encryption is the key to our digital privacy. It keeps eavesdroppers from reading your private conversations and checking out which sites you're visiting. It's important enough that iOS and Android will encrypt your entire device just in case it falls into the wrong hands.
What the Spring 2017 Budget means for UK tech
The UK's chancellor Philip Hammond has provided more details today on the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), a project unveiled at last November's Autumn Statement to support science and technology. The headline announcement is the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), which falls under the NPIF and will be used to support electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and robotics. An "initial investment" of £270 million will be spent in 2017/18 to support what is being called "disruptive technologies." These include "the development, design and manufacture of batteries that will power the next generation of electric vehicles."
A new iOS 10 feature warns against open WiFi networks
We all know it's generally a bad idea to access unsecured networks via WiFi, but it's not every day your phone warns against it. According to Florida-based Apple beta tester Jeb Stuart, iOS 10 will do exactly that.
Pentagon shuts down Joint Chiefs' email network
The Department of Defense reportedly shut down an unclassified email system on Tuesday after detecting "suspicious activity" over the weekend, according to CNN. The network served General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as a number of civilian contractors. The Pentagon refused to release many details about the attack, even what the "suspicious activity" was; instead downplaying the hack as a run-of-the-mill cyber attack that caused minimal damage.
The best mobile SIM-only plans in the UK
Everyone wants the perfect phone contract. Whatever your budget, you'll always want the maximum number of texts, minutes and data in your monthly allowance. There are other factors to consider, such as the quality of the network and international roaming, but those are the basics. Sifting through endless deals will drive anyone insane, so we've done the hard work for you and compiled a guide to the best SIM-only deals in the UK.
Report: Apple and Samsung in talks to adopt e-SIM technology
The Financial Times reports that Samsung and Apple are both in talks with the GSMA, the mobile telecom telecom industry association, to begin employing electronic SIM cards in their mobile devices. Electronic SIMs (or e-SIMs) differ from their physical predecessors in that they don't lock users into a specific carrier network and would allow them to switch any device between an network instantly. So, remember how when the iPhone debuted, it was only available on AT&T? That won't happen with e-SIMs -- any phone, tablet or network-enabled gadget will work with any carrier that supports the technology. Apple itself actually tried its own take on e-SIMS with the last generation of iPads, though only T-Mobile and AT&T supported that feature.
Carphone Warehouse staff will help you choose the best network for your area
Now that Phones4u is no more, Carphone Warehouse is one of the few independent retailers selling mobile phone contracts in the UK. With mounting competition from dedicated carrier stores, the company hopes to stand apart by offering its customers better impartial advice. To that end it's teamed up with RootMetrics, a firm that specialises in monitoring mobile network performance. Using its CoverageMap app, which combines professional and crowdsourced network tests, Carphone Warehouse staff will now tell shoppers which carriers offer the best coverage in their local area. Whether you're interested in call quality or download speeds, this information could save you from picking a weak network. You can always download the app for yourself or check RootMetrics' map online, but a timely reminder just before you sign up for a new contract can't hurt.
Intel, IBM and Qualcomm come out swinging against Net Neutrality
Far as we can tell, the only people against net neutrality are the ones who want to keep holding Netflix to ransom. That said, those companies who actually build the network equipment and lay the cables for America's broadband network are now taking sides with AT&T and Verizon. In an open letter to both congress and the FCC, a group of 60 companies that include Qualcomm and Cisco, argue that proper regulation of the internet will risk the end of national investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
Light-bending silicon strips are the key to super-fast computers
No, that's not a barcode you're looking at -- instead, it's the likely future of computing. Stanford University researchers have developed an optical link that uses silicon strips to bend light at right angles, which future processors will likely need to transmit data at super-fast speeds. The key, as you might have gathered, is the series of gaps. When light hits the device, the combination of those gaps and silicon sends different wavelengths left and right. You're not limited to specific light bands or directions, either; you can use an algorithm to design the link you need within a matter of minutes.
PewDiePie talks management, considers starting network
If you made more than $4 million a year handling all production elements of your own content, wouldn't you consider venturing outside an established network? YouTuber Felix "PewDiePie" Kjellberg has entertained the idea after communication issues with two prominent networks, as detailed in an interview with Icon Magazine. Kjellberg hired a lawyer to help free himself from a lifelong contract with Machinima, where he says management ignored his rise to stardom. He then signed with Maker Studios, a network that Disney purchased earlier this year for $950 million, as reported by The New York Times. Kjellberg cited a problematic lack of communication during his time with Machinima, but aside from answering requests for help, he added that working with Maker hasn't really changed things. With his current contract expiring in December, Kjellberg seems poised to start his own network: "I'm in touch with a couple of people who I think would be so right for this," he explained, adding that he's eager to start such a project and would like to help other YouTubers in the process. Despite Kjellberg feeling that "all the networks have been arranged in such an incredibly poor way," he did not outright confirm his departure from Maker once his contract expires. Whatever direction Kjellberg decides to move in, we imagine his bros will follow. [Image: Pewdiepie]
