Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Philadelphia wants to buy Earthlink's former hardware, keep municipal WiFi dream alive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/philadelphia-wants-to-buy-earthlinks-former-hardware-keep-muni/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/philadelphia-wants-to-buy-earthlinks-former-hardware-keep-muni/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/philadelphia-wants-to-buy-earthlinks-former-hardware-keep-muni/#commentsIt never came to pass. Philadelphia's city-wide WiFi plan was announced in 2006 and then, after struggling on for two years, died when Earthlink decided it wanted nothing to do with muni wireless. A private company called NAC bought the hardware last year and now the city wants to buy it from them for $2 million. The Mayor's Office pledges to "provide free internet in targeted public spaces," which is somewhat less aggressive than the previous city-wide reach, but ditching the $20/month that Earthlink was asking seems like a fair trade. The only question now is exactly which spaces will be targeted, and if South Street Philly Bagels doesn't make the list that's a damn shame.

Philadelphia wants to buy Earthlink's former hardware, keep municipal WiFi dream alive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkmuni wifimunicipal wifiMunicipalWifiMuniWifinacphiladelphiaphillywifiThu, 17 Dec 2009 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom no longer casting glances in Sprint's direction]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/16/sk-telecom-no-longer-casting-glances-in-sprints-direction/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/16/sk-telecom-no-longer-casting-glances-in-sprints-direction/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/16/sk-telecom-no-longer-casting-glances-in-sprints-direction/#comments
We've been hearing about a possible SK Telecom-Sprint tie-up since July of 2007, but if either firm ever hoped to actually tie the proverbial knot -- well, let's just say that ship has sailed. Given the weakening economy and the general tendency to resist taking risks right about now, the Korean giant has dropped its plans to partner with Sprint in any form or fashion. In related news, Sprint is looking to hop on the quickly expanding layoff bandwagon, but given its humongous Q3 loss, we suppose that's not totally illogical. We're told that the carrier is offering "voluntary buyout packages" to an unspecified number of employees, which is far more awesome than the "thanks, now get the hell out of here" line that's being handed down by so many other firms. Crazy times, we tell you.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

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SK Telecom no longer casting glances in Sprint's direction originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessearthlinkfiredfiringfiringsindustrylayofflayoffsmergemergermobilesk telecomSkTelecomsprintstudiesSun, 16 Nov 2008 09:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile USA posts 8% subscriber growth, $4.1 million net profit in Q3]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/15/virgin-mobile-usa-posts-8-subscriber-growth-4-1-million-net-p/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/15/virgin-mobile-usa-posts-8-subscriber-growth-4-1-million-net-p/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/15/virgin-mobile-usa-posts-8-subscriber-growth-4-1-million-net-p/#commentsHey, who says everyone loses during tough times? After Virgin Mobile USA crawled through a miserable Q2, things are looking up for the recent acquirer of Helio. The outfit reported 821,491 gross additions to its subscriber list, which marks a respectable 8% year-over-year increase. Furthermore, the company somehow managed to amass a Q3 net profit of $4.1 million, which contrasts starkly with the $7.4 million loss that it posted a year ago. The only down news of the day was that its average revenue per user in the third quarter fell 2% from a year earlier to $20.19, but given that its Q4 forecast shows it notching a revenue increase from 6% to 9%, we suppose it's all good in the neighborhood.

[Via RCRWireless]

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Virgin Mobile USA posts 8% subscriber growth, $4.1 million net profit in Q3 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsearthlinkheliomobilemvnosquarterly earningsQuarterlyEarningsSK TelecomSkTelecomVirgin MobileVirgin Mobile USAVirginMobileVirginMobileUsaSat, 15 Nov 2008 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile formally seals the deal on Helio acquisition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/#comments
We know, the little possibility that the whole deal could fall apart has been keeping you wide awake for months, but at long last, you can push aside your anxiety and hit the sack. Virgin Mobile USA announced today that it had "completed its acquisition of Helio," and all of the terms put forth on June 27th were used in the final close. Aside from garnering all the necessary regulatory approvals, Helio shareholders SK Telecom and EarthLink have received 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA Class A common stock, with a value of around $38 million. It's also noted that both SK Telecom and Virgin Group will each invest a cool $25 million in Virgin Mobile USA for preferred shares. And then, there was one.

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Virgin Mobile formally seals the deal on Helio acquisition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessdealearthlinkHelioindustrymobilemvnosSK telecomSkTelecomvirgin mobilevirgin mobile usaVirginMobileVirginMobileUsaFri, 22 Aug 2008 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile formally seals the deal on Helio acquisition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/22/virgin-mobile-formally-seals-the-deal-on-helio-acquisition/#comments
We know, the little possibility that the whole deal could fall apart has been keeping you wide awake for months, but at long last, you can push aside your anxiety and hit the sack. Virgin Mobile USA announced today that it had "completed its acquisition of Helio," and all of the terms put forth on June 27th were used in the final close. Aside from garnering all the necessary regulatory approvals, Helio shareholders SK Telecom and EarthLink have received 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA Class A common stock, with a value of around $38 million. It's also noted that both SK Telecom and Virgin Group will each invest a cool $25 million in Virgin Mobile USA for preferred shares. And then, there was one.

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Virgin Mobile formally seals the deal on Helio acquisition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessdealearthlinkHelioindustrySK telecomSkTelecomvirgin mobilevirgin mobile usaVirginMobileVirginMobileUsaFri, 22 Aug 2008 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Philadelphia citywide WiFi officially shut down]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/13/philadelphia-citywide-wifi-officially-shut-down/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/13/philadelphia-citywide-wifi-officially-shut-down/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/13/philadelphia-citywide-wifi-officially-shut-down/#comments
We knew it was coming, but Philadelphia's citywide WiFi is now officially being turned off, and Earthlink is planning on pulling down all of its access points. Like basically every other municipal WiFi project, it seems like the cost of keeping the system going outweighed the benefits, and Earthlink couldn't find a buyer willing to take things over. Current Earthlink customers will get 30 more days of service, until June 12, and then it's lights bytes out. Here's hoping Philly coffee shops are ready for an influx of urban warriors.

[Via Philebrity, thanks Andy R.]

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Philadelphia citywide WiFi officially shut down originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 May 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkmunicipal wifiMunicipalWifiphiladelphiawifiTue, 13 May 2008 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio continues to bleed money, now $560 million in the red]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/#comments
We'll be honest with you -- it's a bit disheartening to watch the (seemingly) inevitable happen to Helio. After all, it's managed to soldier on despite hordes of other MVNOs hanging it up here in the US of A. Nevertheless, data gleaned from EarthLink's most recent annual report shed some light on its deteriorating situation. Reportedly, Helio's net loss "widened by 41.3-percent to $326.6 million in 2007 compared to $191.8 million in 2006," yet revenues managed to grow 267-percent to $171 million from $46.6 million the year prior and subscriber growth rose 28-percent over last quarter to 180,000. Add those figures to the $42 or so million it lost in 2005, and we're up to a grand total just south of 560 million American dollars. Tough times, indeed.

[Via Silicon Alley Insider]

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Helio continues to bleed money, now $560 million in the red originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EarthLinkfinancialsheliolossesmobilemvnomvnosFri, 29 Feb 2008 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[A trip down Helio's memory lane]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/#comments
Back before there was Helio, there was Earthlink, South Korea's SKT, and a dream. Heliocity managed to score some shots of just what that dream looked like in the early days, a similar -- yet decidedly different -- vision than what the MVNO ended up bringing to market. Not only are the prerelease versions of Helio's first two models to market (the Kickflip and Hero) "SK Earthlink" branded, but check out that super trippy Kickflip proto, complete with aerial antenna and secondary LCD for self-portraits. The Ocean obviously came along further down the road, and while we like the all-black finish Helio decided on, we think the two-tone action here would've made for an interesting second choice. Read on for all the visuals.

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A trip down Helio's memory lane originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdmaearthlinkev doevdohelioherokickflipmobilemvnomvnosoceanotherspantechprototypeprototypessk earthlinkSkEarthlinksktTue, 26 Feb 2008 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink puts municipal WiFi business up for sale]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-puts-municipal-wifi-business-up-for-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-puts-municipal-wifi-business-up-for-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-puts-municipal-wifi-business-up-for-sale/#commentsIt looks like Earthlink was talking about plenty more than just Helio and revenue figures during its recent earnings call, with CNET News.com now reporting that the company also dropped word that it's selling off its much-hyped and significantly-scaled-back municipal WiFi business. Of course, that news hardly comes as a bombshell given the company's recent rumblings on the matter, to say nothing of its drawn out, ill-fated attempts to spread its WiFi signals throughout San Francisco. Earthlink apparently hasn't found any takers just yet, however, and there's no word about how much their asking for it, but we wouldn't let that stop you from putting in an offer -- just be ready to put up with plenty of competition.

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Earthlink puts municipal WiFi business up for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkmunicipal wifiMunicipalWifimunifiFri, 08 Feb 2008 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink CEO says cutting off Helio was a "difficult decision"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/#commentsIt's hardly been a secret that Helio was causing some problems for Earthlink, but the company's CEO has just now weighed in himself on the matter, offering some comments on the situation and Helio's now former CEO Sky Dayton in one of those always exciting earnings calls. As mocoNews reports, Earthlink's Rolla Huff says the company "made hard decisions around getting our cost structure down," including the "very difficult decision...to not continue making incremental investments in Helio." Huff apparently laid none on the blame on Helio's Sky Dayton, however, saying simply that "Sky has a history of creating and building strong brands and he's done a great job at that with Helio," and that they "very much appreciate his willingness to be involved in getting Helio to this point in its life cycle." Of course, that was hardly the entire purpose of the call, and those concerned with the nitty gritty of earnings details can get their fix by hitting up the read link below.

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Earthlink CEO says cutting off Helio was a "difficult decision" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkheliomobilerolla huffRollaHuffsky daytonSkyDaytonFri, 08 Feb 2008 13:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink CEO says cutting off Helio was a "difficult decision"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/earthlink-ceo-says-cutting-off-helio-was-a-difficult-decision/#commentsIt's hardly been a secret that Helio was causing some problems for Earthlink, but the company's CEO has just now weighed in himself on the matter, offering some comments on the situation and Helio's now former CEO Sky Dayton in one of those always exciting earnings calls. As mocoNews reports, Earthlink's Rolla Huff says the company "made hard decisions around getting our cost structure down," including the "very difficult decision...to not continue making incremental investments in Helio." Huff apparently laid none of the blame on Helio's Sky Dayton, however, saying simply that "Sky has a history of creating and building strong brands and he's done a great job at that with Helio," and that they "very much appreciate his willingness to be involved in getting Helio to this point in its life cycle." Of course, that was hardly the entire purpose of the call, and those concerned with the nitty gritty of earnings details can get their fix by hitting up the read link below.

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Earthlink CEO says cutting off Helio was a "difficult decision" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkheliorolla huffRollaHuffsky daytonSkyDaytonFri, 08 Feb 2008 13:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio's Sky Dayton steps down as CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/#comments
Sky Dayton, founder and chairman of the phantasmagorical Helio, has announced that he's stepping down as CEO to become chairman of the board of the last-man-standing MVNO. Helio's new CEO will be Wonhee Sull, formerly the company's president and COO, and obviously a direct conduit to co-owner SK Telecom. "Helio has reached a point in its development where I feel the timing is right for this change... As we have for the past three years, the two of us will continue to define Helio's direction and future," said Dayton. Whether Sky's really ready to move on or not we'll never know, but it's certainly possible that the recent influx of cash (and increased ownership) from its Korean parents and dwindling marketshare of US MVNOs led SK to step in and get things on track.

Update: Lots of fun inaccuracies going on up in here, our bad. We ironed out the kinks, see above for the latest, correct edits to Helio's executive musical chairs.

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Helio's Sky Dayton steps down as CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceocooearthlinkheliomvnopresidentsk telecomSkTelecomsky daytonSkyDaytonMon, 28 Jan 2008 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink considers "strategically" withdrawing MuniFi investments]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/18/earthlink-considers-strategically-withdrawing-munifi-investmen/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/18/earthlink-considers-strategically-withdrawing-munifi-investmen/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/18/earthlink-considers-strategically-withdrawing-munifi-investmen/#commentsIn a statement so laden with PR speak that it'd bring even the most heartless PR flack to the brink of wretching, Earthlink's CEO has announced that the company is to withdraw investment in Municipal WiFi schemes unless the "model" of these networks becomes more closely aligned with Earthlink's undefined "strategy." Translation? Earthlink ain't making a big enough return on its investments in MuniFi projects, and the shareholders are getting antsy. This could leave various cities high and dry without WiFi, although Earthlink apparently won't be able to simply walk away from the contracts that they've already signed. This could be a major setback for blanket WiFi coverage in cities across the US, although we doubt it'll be long before someone else picks up the baton (either that, or the cities will probably drop it.)

[Via Slashdot]

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Earthlink considers "strategically" withdrawing MuniFi investments originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EarthlinkMunicipal WiFiMunicipalWifiMuniFiPRBSStrategyWiFiSun, 18 Nov 2007 06:02:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom effectively taking over Helio]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/#comments
We knew Earthlink and SK Telecom were both planning on reinvesting up to $100M each into struggling joint venture Helio back in July, and it looks like all that recent talk about "revised governance" was on point -- the deal will effectively shift management control of Helio away from Earthlink and to SKT for the first time in Helio's history. SKT has already allocated $70M to make the move, and it's also committed an additional $100M to future handset development and marketing. No word on what other changes SKT plans to make, but we'd happy to see Helio score a much-deserved second chance.

[Via MobileTech News]

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SK Telecom effectively taking over Helio originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkheliosk telecomSkTelecomFri, 09 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom effectively taking over Helio]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/#comments
We knew Earthlink and SK Telecom were both planning on reinvesting up to $100M each into struggling joint venture Helio back in July, and it looks like all that recent talk about "revised governance" was on point -- the deal will effectively shift management control of Helio away from Earthlink and to SKT for the first time in Helio's history. SKT has already allocated $70M to make the move, and it's also committed an additional $100M to future handset development and marketing. No word on what other changes SKT plans to make, but we'd happy to see Helio score a much-deserved second chance.

[Via MobileTech News]

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SK Telecom effectively taking over Helio originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkheliomobilemvnossk telecomSkTelecomFri, 09 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/#comments
As if receiving $200 million from SK Telecom and EarthLink back in July wasn't enough, Helio is now set to accept (up to) a $270 million check from SK Telecom. According to EarthLink, SK Telecom will "invest up to $270 million in Helio," and as expected, EarthLink was "very pleased" with the decision -- you know, considering that it won't be forced to cough up any more dough at the moment while still maintaining "substantial ownership interest in Helio's future." Most interesting, however, is the tidbit that mentions the parents' plans, as EarthLink and SK Telecom are reportedly "in discussions to amend their existing agreements to reflect the additional investment by SK Telecom and their future governance of Helio." Gotta pay to play, we suppose.

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SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessearthlinkhelioindustryjoint ventureJointVenturemoneysk telecomSkTelecomFri, 21 Sep 2007 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/#comments
As if receiving $200 million from SK Telecom and EarthLink back in July wasn't enough, Helio is now set to accept (up to) a $270 million check from SK Telecom. According to EarthLink, SK Telecom will "invest up to $270 million in Helio," and as expected, EarthLink was "very pleased" with the decision -- you know, considering that it won't be forced to cough up any more dough at the moment while still maintaining "substantial ownership interest in Helio's future." Most interesting, however, is the tidbit that mentions the parents' plans, as EarthLink and SK Telecom are reportedly "in discussions to amend their existing agreements to reflect the additional investment by SK Telecom and their future governance of Helio." Gotta pay to play, we suppose.

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SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessearthlinkhelioindustryjoint ventureJointVenturemobilemoneymvnossk telecomSkTelecomFri, 21 Sep 2007 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[San Francisco muni WiFi project on its death bed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/san-francisco-muni-wifi-project-on-death-bed/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/san-francisco-muni-wifi-project-on-death-bed/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/san-francisco-muni-wifi-project-on-death-bed/#commentsNot that anyone who lives in the fair city of San Francisco was really all that confident that the muni WiFi project would ever make it off the ground -- even despite Major Gavin Newsom's best intentions -- but now it looks like bad's gone to worse. As you may have read, yesterday EarthLink laid off nearly a thousand employees, and word came today that addition to that news, it's latest corporate restructuring would have it completely backing out of investments in its San Fran WiFi project contract, as well as the WiFi contracts in other cities. Again, not the most earth quaking news, given the word we received from the city that they were more or less pulling the plug anyway.

Watch the whole thing crumble, in slow-mo reverse chronological order:
Read (April 6th, 2006) - San Francisco selects Google/Earthlink for citywide WiFi
Read (January 6th) - It's official: San Francisco to get free WiFi blanket courtesy of Google / EarthLink
Read (August 6th) - San Francisco pulls the plug on Google / Earthlink's citywide WiFi... for now
This post, today.

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San Francisco muni WiFi project on its death bed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkmuni wifiMuniWifisan francisoSanFrancisowifiThu, 30 Aug 2007 19:37:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC chimes in on 'white space' device from Google, Microsoft and others: it doesn't work]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/#commentsIt's hard not to love the promise of the White Space Coalition, which includes players like Google, Microsoft, Dell, Earthlink, HP, Intel and Philips. Those crazy kids want to bring us wireless internet over the "white space" bandwidth in between TV broadcast channels, and we say let 'em. One little problem though, FCC says the concept doesn't work. The prototype that the Coalition submitted for review was designed to sense existing TV signals and transmit around them, but the FCC found it inconsistent in this aim, and won't be giving its stamp approval to a device that interferes with existing broadcasts. The FCC does say that it's open to looking at the next generation of the technology, since better performance is certainly possible, and the White Space Coalition wasn't too downhearted: the group is "encouraged that FCC engineers did not find fault with our operating parameters and remain confident that unlicensed television spectrum can be used without interference." Between this fledgling technology and that upcoming 700MHz auction, things are really looking up for WiFi-jilted mobile internet users across the States.

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FCC chimes in on 'white space' device from Google, Microsoft and others: it doesn't work originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dellearthlinkgooglehpintelmicrosoftmobilephilipswhite spacewhite space coalitionWhiteSpaceWhiteSpaceCoalitionTue, 07 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC chimes in on 'white space' device from Google, Microsoft and others: it doesn't work]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/fcc-chimes-in-on-white-space-device-from-google-microsoft-and/#commentsIt's hard not to love the promise of the White Space Coalition, which includes players like Google, Microsoft, Dell, Earthlink, HP, Intel and Philips. Those crazy kids want to bring us wireless internet over the "white space" bandwidth in between TV broadcast channels, and we say let 'em. One little problem though, FCC says the concept doesn't work. The prototype that the Coalition submitted for review was designed to sense existing TV signals and transmit around them, but the FCC found it inconsistent in this aim, and won't be giving its stamp approval to a device that interferes with existing broadcasts. The FCC does say that it's open to looking at the next generation of the technology, since better performance is certainly possible, and the White Space Coalition wasn't too downhearted: the group is "encouraged that FCC engineers did not find fault with our operating parameters and remain confident that unlicensed television spectrum can be used without interference." Between this fledgling technology and that upcoming 700MHz auction, things are really looking up for WiFi-jilted mobile internet users across the States.

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FCC chimes in on 'white space' device from Google, Microsoft and others: it doesn't work originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dellearthlinkfccgooglehpintelmicrosoftphilipswhite spacewhite space coalitionWhiteSpaceWhiteSpaceCoalitionTue, 07 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[San Francisco pulls the plug on Google / Earthlink's citywide WiFi... for now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/san-francisco-pulls-the-plug-on-google-earthlinks-citywide-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/san-francisco-pulls-the-plug-on-google-earthlinks-citywide-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/san-francisco-pulls-the-plug-on-google-earthlinks-citywide-wi/#comments
It looks like the people of San Francisco are going to have to wait a little bit longer before they can spam their friends with memes while sitting in the middle of Golden Gate Park. The WiFi blanket deal which would see Google and Earthlink teaming up to deliver a citywide network to the Bay-area has ground to a halt after a round of somewhat "unfriendly" statements from Earthlink concerning the plans. David Noyola, speaking on behalf of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (which has been overseeing the project) said that the network's rollout has stalled "in the shadow of comments," made last week by Rolla Huff, the internet provider's CEO, who expressed reservations over municipal wireless deals. Breaking points in particular seem to be the city's request for changes in data speed and privacy controls, and its desire to downsize Earthlink's contract on the network from 16 years to eight (significantly reducing the company's time to earn a profit). The internet provider now claims that they are doing a "detailed review," of their business model regarding the project, which the company says will not provide "an acceptable return." Obviously a lose-lose situation for the laptop-toting citizens of the City by the Bay.

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San Francisco pulls the plug on Google / Earthlink's citywide WiFi... for now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SK Telecom, EarthLink dump $200 million on Helio originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscashearthlinkfundinghelioindustryjoint ventureJointVenturejvmobilemvnossk telecomSkTelecomWed, 04 Jul 2007 19:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio drags Earthlink earnings down, gets more cash from SKT]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/helio-drags-earthlink-earnings-down-gets-more-cash-from-skt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/helio-drags-earthlink-earnings-down-gets-more-cash-from-skt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/helio-drags-earthlink-earnings-down-gets-more-cash-from-skt/#commentsAlright, we've got good news and bad news. Which do you want first? The bad, you say? Well, it seems Helio's losses in the first quarter amounted to a $29.3 million equity loss for parent Earthlink in the same timespan, which ultimately accounts for over 97 percent of Earthlink's Q1 losses -- though in the earnings report, the company still seems pretty optimistic and committed to its MVNO lovechild with Korea's SK Telecom. Speaking of SK Telecom, the good news: Helio's other corporate parent said this week that it would be injecting additional capital to help out with marketing efforts (though would maintain the same equity balance in Helio with Earthlink that it does now). Like Earthlink, SK Telecom sounds optimistic about Helio's future, saying that despite falling short of initial expectations, ARPU (average revenue per user) and subscriber count are both looking up for 2008 and 2009. Something tells us the upcoming Ocean is going to help with those efforts significantly.

Read - Earnings release [Via mocoNews]
Read - SK Telecom's plans

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Helio drags Earthlink earnings down, gets more cash from SKT originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsearthlinkheliomobilemvnosprofitprofitssk telecomSkTelecomThu, 26 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[EarthLink pushes TiVo Series2 DVRs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/#commentsEarthLink DSL subscribers will have a new option coming their way this spring, when the company partners up with TiVo to distribute TiVo Series2 DVRs and the TiVo service -- with a rebate on the cost of the DVR -- to new existing EarthLink customers. TiVo's been looking to branch out to new partners after its agreement with DirecTV ended, and its Comcast TiVo service won't launch until later this year. So far the services don't work together, but representatives indicated to CNET that a combination TiVo/DSL modem is a possibility, but there are "no specific plans at this time". We understand interoperable products might be a way off, but how about throwing in a newer Series3 TiVo and some additional HD features?

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EarthLink pushes TiVo Series2 DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsldvrearthlinkseries2tivoThu, 08 Mar 2007 03:32:00 EST<![CDATA[EarthLink pushes TiVo Series2 DVRs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/earthlink-pushes-tivo-series2-dvrs/#commentsEarthLink DSL subscribers will have a new option coming their way this spring, when the company partners up with TiVo to distribute TiVo Series2 DVRs and the TiVo service -- with a rebate on the cost of the DVR -- to new existing EarthLink customers. TiVo's been looking to branch out to new partners after its agreement with DirecTV ended, and its Comcast TiVo service won't launch until later this year. So far the services don't work together, but representatives indicated to CNET that a combination TiVo/DSL modem is a possibility, but there are "no specific plans at this time". We understand interoperable products might be a way off, but how about throwing in a newer Series3 TiVo and some additional HD features?

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EarthLink pushes TiVo Series2 DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsldvrearthlinkhdothersrebateseries2tivoThu, 08 Mar 2007 03:32:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A. mayor wants muni WiFi by 2009]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/15/l-a-mayor-wants-muni-wifi-by-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/15/l-a-mayor-wants-muni-wifi-by-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/15/l-a-mayor-wants-muni-wifi-by-2009/#commentsAntonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, wants municipal WiFi in his fair city, and he seems to have the wherewithal to make it happen. Such a project, covering 498 square miles of the sprawling city, would be a massive undertaking, costing somewhere around $54-$62 million. The city will probably partner with a private provider such as Google or Earthlink to pay for and manage the installation, and should be seeking bids this fall. Villaraigosa is already forming a working group, and plans on hiring an expert to iron out the details. Aware of the certain, ahem, problems encountered in San Francisco and other places, Villaraigosa says the initiative is "not going to be a study to put on the shelf." L.A. also owns its own street light and power poles and electric utility, overcoming an obstacle with Southern California Edison, which has denied WiFi installations a place on its own poles in other California cities. Of course, there are plenty of ways that a project this massive could go wrong, but if L.A. can pull this off it'll have some quite notable bragging rights, that's for sure.

[Thanks, Gary N]

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L.A. mayor wants muni WiFi by 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While this deal has been brewing for some time, it looks like the deed has finally been done, as Vonage has landed a deal with EarthLink to resell wireless internet access wherever it has municipal WiFi networks already in place. EarthLink already has such services setup in places like Anaheim and New Orleans, but we can't help but mention that WiFi in some of these areas can be fetched gratis. Nevertheless, Vonage is hoping that its VoIP / wireless broadband bundle service will help it compete in the ferocious market, and has promised a "next generation Vonage WiFi phone" to go along with the newfangled service. EarthLink doesn't think selling access to its networks will cannibalize its own TrueVoice VoIP service, as it believes that service and support will still sway more customers its way than with Vonage. The deal allows Vonage to purchase internet services "wholesale" from EarthLink for three years, and it seems that Vonage will also be offering whatever hardware and software necessary to get folks up and running with the new addition without much (or any) extra cost. No word on if The 5678's will crank it up a notch to celebrate the agreement. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Via GigaOM]

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Vonage inks deal with EarthLink to resell WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementCESdealearthlinkpartnerpartnershiptruevoicevoipvonagewifiMon, 08 Jan 2007 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[It's official: San Francisco to get free WiFi blanket courtesy of Google / EarthLink]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/06/its-official-san-francisco-to-get-free-wifi-blanket-courtesy-o/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/06/its-official-san-francisco-to-get-free-wifi-blanket-courtesy-o/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/06/its-official-san-francisco-to-get-free-wifi-blanket-courtesy-o/#commentsAh Google, where would we be without you? Instead of answering that, we'll just say that the search giant (and future world dominator?) has landed yet another smile-eliciting deal, and this time it's the San Franciscans getting the spoils. While the deal between the city of San Francisco and Google / EarthLink has been brewing for quite some time, city officials have (finally) "finalized a contract that will enable EarthLink to build a citywide wireless network and allow Google to provide free internet access." With an estimated one million or so folks to benefit from the implementation, things are looking good if you've been itching for everywhere-WiFi and happen to live in SF, and while EarthLink still plans on offering a "fee-based premium service," Google is looking out for the little guy by dishing out the free stuff. Apparently, no hard pricing figures nor rollout dates have been set just yet, but things should start moving along relatively soon if Google has anything to do with it, as a statement released by the company stated its intent to "to see the service go live as soon as possible" -- now that's what we're talking about. [Warning: PDF Link]

[Via CNET]

It's official: San Francisco to get free WiFi blanket courtesy of Google / EarthLink originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Jan 2007 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementcacaliforniacitywidecitywide wifiCitywideWifiearthlinkfree wifiFreeWifigoogleliveproposalsan franciscoSanFranciscosfwifiSat, 06 Jan 2007 17:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink CEO Garry Betty passes away at 49]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/04/earthlink-ceo-garry-betty-passes-away-at-49/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/04/earthlink-ceo-garry-betty-passes-away-at-49/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/04/earthlink-ceo-garry-betty-passes-away-at-49/#commentsCNET is reporting that Earthlink CEO Garry Betty died yesterday at the age of 49 as a result of complications from cancer. Betty was first diagnosed with what was reported only as a "serious form of cancer" in November, after which took a medical leave from the company he had been with since 1996, with executive vice president Mike Lunsford stepping in to fill his role. As CNET mentions, Betty's tenure at Earthlink was marked in particular by the company's push to deliver massive, citywide WiFi networks to various municipalities in the country, many of which were launched this past year. For those wishing to pay their respects, Betty's family is suggesting that a donation be made to the cancer research foundation established in Betty's name -- contact information for it is available at the link below.

[Via CNET]

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Earthlink CEO Garry Betty passes away at 49 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkgarry bettyGarryBettyThu, 04 Jan 2007 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthlink's Anaheim muni WiFi getting VoIP phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/earthlinks-anaheim-muni-wifi-getting-voip-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/earthlinks-anaheim-muni-wifi-getting-voip-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/earthlinks-anaheim-muni-wifi-getting-voip-phones/#commentsearthlinkApparently entirely unafraid of being accused of cannibalizing their own MVNO business -- at least in the fair town of Anaheim, California, anyway -- Earthlink's freshly rolled out WiFi network will take on a new charge providing wireless VoIP service, to offered on WiFi-only voice phones with calling plans between $10 and $25 per month. Of course your calling area is limited only to those portions of the Anaheim WiFi rollout currently complete (Earthlink plans to eventually have 50 square miles rolled out when the dust settles), but Earthlink VP says their test handsets are running handoffs at up to 40 miles per hour -- which you know is remarkably fast if you've ever actually driven in Southern California. Still, with wireless Skype handsets, portable Vonage adapters, and all manner of VoIP software for WiFi-enabled cellphones, it seems like the early adopter crowd Earthlink has its sights on in Anaheim might need a little more incentive to drop a couple hundred on a handset that may or may not only make calls on Earthlink's SoCal WiFi rollout.

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Earthlink's Anaheim muni WiFi getting VoIP phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheimearthlinkmuni wifiMuniWifivoipwifiwirelessThu, 06 Jul 2006 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio: another MVNO in trouble?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/helio-another-mvno-in-trouble/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/helio-another-mvno-in-trouble/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/helio-another-mvno-in-trouble/#commentsIt looks like Amp'd and ESPN Mobile aren't the only MVNOs discovering that their business models may not be getting them where they want to be. An unconfirmed report out of Telecoms Korea is brewing that Helio -- chic Kickflip and all -- has managed to sign up 100 (yes, that's one hundred) subscribers since launching a couple months back. SK Telecom, which teamed up with Earthlink to form Helio, is denying the reports and insisting the true number is in the thousands, but either way they've fallen well short of projections. It looks like we now have an explanation for Helio's shockingly generous gadget trade-in program. SKT also looks to shore up Helio's lineup with as many as five new models by year end, but we have to wonder -- if 100 subs is an accurate count, is there any hope for a turnaround?

UPDATE: We just got an official response from Helio about this: "This morning's report by Telecoms Korea is wholly inaccurate and does not represent Helio's membership figures." They wouldn't tell us any more than that, but they're adamant that the figures reported aren't correct.

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Helio: another MVNO in trouble? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdmaearthlinkev doevdohelioherokickflipmobilemvnomvnossk telecomsktSkTelecomsubssubscribersubscribersThu, 06 Jul 2006 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[EarthLink wins bid for New Orleans WiFi network]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/26/earthlink-wins-bid-for-new-orleans-wifi-network/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/26/earthlink-wins-bid-for-new-orleans-wifi-network/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/26/earthlink-wins-bid-for-new-orleans-wifi-network/#commentsShortly after winning approval to build a 15-square mile WIFi network in Philly, Earthlink has now gotten the go ahead to build one in New Orleans, replacing the city's free but slow city-owned network. As with the Philidelphia network, New Orleans' will extend for 15-square miles and should cost users about $20 a month for 1-megabit-per-second service, although Earthlink says a slower 300 kbs service will be available for free and without advertising while the city rebuilds. No word yet on when deployment of the mesh network will begin, but it will apparently use gear from Tropos Networks with some additional hardware from Motorola's MOTOwi4 line of products.

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EarthLink wins bid for New Orleans WiFi network originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 May 2006 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkmeshnetworknew orleansNewOrleanswifiwirelessFri, 26 May 2006 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Auction 66 could shake up wireless industry, benefit consumers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/16/auction-66-could-shake-up-wireless-industry-benefit-consumers/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/16/auction-66-could-shake-up-wireless-industry-benefit-consumers/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/16/auction-66-could-shake-up-wireless-industry-benefit-consumers/#commentsBusinessWeek writer Olga Kharif paints an interesting portrait of the potential state of the wireless industry following the government's unprecedented sale of spectrum this summer, called Auction 66, which could see a number of new players enter the voice and data market in the not-too-distant future. Following several years of industry consolidation, highlighted by Cingular picking up AT&T and Sprint grabbing Nextel, we could soon see companies that have traditionally delivered content in other fashions -- Time Warner, MySpace-owner News Corp., or Clearwire -- offer services that compete directly with the four major carriers. Several players, including Intel-backed Clearwire, Google-backed Earthlink, and a venture between Time Warner Cable, Sprint-Nextel, Comcast, Cox, and Advance/Newhouse Communications have already expressed interest in bidding for a slice of spectrum, while other bidders, which could include a Bill Gates- and Paul Allen-backed contender, will be revealed sometime next month. Unless the established carriers snatch up all the available spectrum, which is highly unlikely, fresh blood in the industry should bode well for consumers, who will likely benefit from lower prices, more services to choose from, and less restrictions on their bandwidth usage.

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Auction 66 could shake up wireless industry, benefit consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 May 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advance/Newhouse CommunicationsAdvance/newhouseCommunicationsatandtattclearwireComcastCoxearthlinkgoogleintelmobilemyspacenews corp.NewsCorp.sprintSprint-Nextelt mobilet-mobileTime Warner CableTimeWarnerCabletmobileverizon wirelessverizonwirelessTue, 16 May 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City Council unanimously approves Philly WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/12/city-council-unanimously-approves-philly-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/12/city-council-unanimously-approves-philly-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/12/city-council-unanimously-approves-philly-wifi/#commentsFollowing unanimous approval by city council, the only remaining impediment between the City of Brotherly Love and ubiquitous wireless Internet access is a signature from Mayor John Street that, given his stance on the project, seems to be just a formality. Once Street gives the go-ahead, Earthlink will begin deploying its 15-square-mile test network in parts of North and South Philly, after which point the company will have the option of backing out should they be unhappy with the results of the trial. Assuming that all goes well, the city's entire 135-square-miles should be covered by glorious, data-rich signal sometime in the third quarter of 2007, which is when Earthlink and other ISPs will begin offering $20-a-month access with 50% discounts for low-income households. Besides creating a more attractive destination for businesses and tourists, the citywide network may also help convince U.S. Olympic Committee officials to choose Philadelphia as the country's representative to battle it out with other international cities seeking to host the 2016 Games.

[Via The Wireless Report]

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City Council unanimously approves Philly WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 May 2006 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>approvalcity councilcity of brotherly loveCityCouncilCityOfBrotherlyLovecitywide wifiCitywideWifiearthlinkjohn streetJohnStreetolympicsphiladelphiaphillywifiFri, 12 May 2006 09:41:00 EST<![CDATA[San Francisco selects Google/Earthlink for citywide WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/06/san-francisco-selects-google-earthlink-for-citywide-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/06/san-francisco-selects-google-earthlink-for-citywide-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/06/san-francisco-selects-google-earthlink-for-citywide-wifi/#commentsAs we expected, the GooLink WiFi partnership between Google and Earthlink was judged by a San Francisco city panel as the best candidate to blanket SF in a free-ish, citywide WiFi service. The service, which is expected to cost at least $15-mil to build, will consist of an ad-subsidized 300kbps free service or a $20/mth ad-free 1Mbps service. Of course, the two must now enter contract negotiations with the City which Earthlink is taking the lead on before any, er, wiring can begin. MetroFi came in as first runner-up meaning they'll take the crown should any lewd photos from Larry and Sergei's Stanford days be drudged-up.

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San Francisco selects Google/Earthlink for citywide WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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