Mobile Blackspots Map for the UK


We are huge fans of the fact that Vodafone will start advertising femtocells.  It's impressive to see Vodafone stepping up and taking the industry lead educating consumers about the new products to consumers in the UK using the brand Sure Signal.  Vodafone's Sure Signal guarantees you a great 3G signal at home, no matter where you live, and promotes the fact it might be an emergency risk if you are living in a coverage hole.  This is something the U.S. carriers have tried their hardest to ignore.  See their promotions and website above and watch the stories of people from around the UK who have been rescued from their mobile signal problems.  I am quite proud of a carrier finally admitting that they have coverage holes and giving consumers the ability to do something about it.  Kudos to Vodafone UK!

It will remain to be seen if the U.S. carriers still want to "blow smoke" up our asses with their ridiculous commercials touting their great coverage.  AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint & T-Mobile have been dragging their feet for years "testing" femtocells in the U.S. and not educating their customers that they actually exist.  It also amazes me that Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon in the US yet it seems so against Verizon's arrogant culture to admit they actually have coverage problems with their network.  Do you think Verizon's marketing executives who came up with their moronic coverage map promotion commercials are going to be able to keep their jobs or are they going to have to do an "About-Face" (look in opposite direction) if they start selling femtocells in the U.S.?  Hmmm . . . we shall see.

As a result of Vodafone's leadership, Deadzones.co.uk has launched a new "Consumer Generated Mobile Blackspots Map" asking where mobile customers don't have problem areas indoors and outdoors.   Even if Sure Signal can solve the problem indoors at your home or office there are still many bad patch locations around the UK.  We ask for users to contribute pins in our map for 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, and Vodafone. Please also see this UK Blackspots Facebook discussion board we started under Vodafone's profile. 

Underutilized Spectrum

Where Is Spectrum Underutilized and Who Owns The Local License?  

Underutilized wireless spectrum refers to portions of the radio frequency spectrum that are allocated for specific uses but are not fully utilized or efficiently utilized. The radio frequency spectrum is a limited and valuable resource that is used for various wireless communications, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, broadcasting, satellite communications, and more.

There are a few reasons why certain portions of the spectrum may be underutilized:

Regulatory Constraints: Some portions of the spectrum are allocated for specific uses or licensed to specific entities. If those entities are not fully utilizing the spectrum, it can result in underutilization. Regulatory barriers or restrictions can sometimes prevent efficient allocation and utilization of the spectrum.

Fragmentation: The spectrum is divided into different frequency bands, and different technologies and services may operate in different bands. Fragmentation can occur when certain bands have limited adoption or deployment, leading to the underutilization of those specific frequencies.

Technological Advancements: The deployment of newer technologies and more efficient communication protocols can sometimes render older spectrum allocations less efficient or underutilized. For example, advancements in compression algorithms and spectrum-sharing techniques can make better use of available spectrum.

Regional or Geographic Variations: Spectrum usage and demand can vary across different regions or geographies. Some areas may have a higher demand for wireless services, leading to more efficient utilization of the spectrum, while others may have lower demand, resulting in underutilization.

Efforts are being made to address underutilized spectrum and improve spectrum efficiency. These include spectrum auctions, spectrum sharing policies, dynamic spectrum allocation, and the development of new technologies that can make better use of the available spectrum. These initiatives aim to maximize the use of the spectrum resource, improve wireless connectivity, and support the growing demand for wireless services.

7 Simple Steps To Install Software For Your Online Gambling Business



Online gambling has consistently outshined the competition in terms of revenue and performance. The strength of that business model is based on the pure facts that people enjoy playing games with stakes, and they don’t have much time to go to a casino. With those precedents, online casinos pretty much become the most logical option for most people. For the entrepreneurial-minded individual, it must be ahead rush watching all that money being made without them eating a piece. There is definitely a need, and the digital platforms cut out the biggest expense of all: people. None of these works, however, without good online gambling software. Here are 7 simple steps to take in order to install the best decision you’ll ever make in your life:

1. Choose The Right Software

Before you do any of the fancy work, you have to choose the software that’s right for you. Lucky for you, there’s a whole lot of reliable software for just this purpose. When you’re shopping around, take into consideration the packages and the top 10 games they offer. Those are going to be your bread and butter. Unique and niche games may be fun but stick to the top 10 for now. The most important thing to check for is whether they’re a full-service provider or not. Full-service providers have game options, licensing, and backup software for the details.

2. Choose The Right Games

From the top 10 gaming list, make absolutely sure they have the essentials. That’s poker, blackjack, at least five varieties of slots, baccarat, and a sportsbook. The sportsbook is a bit trickier. It has to be updated consistently to attract customers coming in. The best in the business when it comes to game selection is https://yukbola.net and their massive library. They’re the premier model for what good game selection looks like.

3. Payment

Whatever the software may be, there has to be a payment option. The payment methods have to be secure and verified in order for there to be any shred of accountability. That’s what customers look for. If they don't’ see a Visa, MasterCard and/or PayPal logo, they’ll be more likely to steer clear. Get those additions in order and have them run seamlessly with your gaming platform. When you get these verifiable institutions, there’s an immediate trust that’s built from the get-go. That trust translates to more and more customers flooding because it addresses a primary fear of many online gamblers: money safety.

4. Web Presence

Your software should have the ability to hold a transferable website design. Have a website made that has an appealing design and utilizes principles that apply to all walks of people. There are basic tenets of user experience that get an individual from the login page to the poker table in record time. Once you have that made, have it applied to your software and watch the magic happen.

5. Security

Security is among the highest priorities for any online gambling business. Payment plans may be what the customer sees, but on the back end, you know there’s a whole set of potential break-ins and hacks just waiting to happen. When you’re in the latter stages of your software installation, make sure that you strike the balance between cautious and flexible in your preferred settings. There may be default security, yes. But taking the time to really comb through and figure out for yourself what makes your system “safe” is worth more than just peace of mind. It’s potentially worth your whole investment.

6. Mobile

Mobile is king when it comes to games. People may sit down in front of a computer and start clicking away at the end of a tiresome workday, but having mobile access is where you get people on their way to work, on their way back, on the weekends, etc. It’s covering all your bases. Make sure that your software is up to date on mobile by keeping an eye out for updates as they come.

7. Get A Gaming License

Before you launch anything, you’ll need a gaming license. It’s all pretend up until you put in the unique ID number that allows you to legally host this website in the country of origin. Check-in with the local governing bodies and see how you can maintain operations and whether or not you need any additional licensing for online and mobile gaming. Once you’ve got that into your system, you’re ready to launch.


Keeping and maintaining an online gambling business is, like anything worthwhile, hard work. You’ve got to keep at it and keep updating. Remember that online gambling is servicing a need. With all the money being made—upwards of 10 billion USD, it only makes sense to get into the business.

FCC Could Ban Cell Signal Boosters = Bad Idea

People Don’t Seek Solutions Unless There Are Problems!

Comments on the RCR Wireless Article FCC to address cellphone boosters, jammers and is the FCC losing its' authority and credibility based on this court ruling?

The Federal Communications Commission is considering implementing a law that would make cellphone boosters illegal unless they are deployed by a wireless operator (DCZ:  Wireless operates hate signal boosters b/c they are not under their control)  or with the consent of a wireless operator, a move that could impact thousands of end-users already owning such devices.  (DCZ:  What problem are they trying to solve that the network operators have not dealt with for years?)

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking before the FCC addresses an ongoing controversy within the wireless industry and could impact devices like MagicJack (DCZ: this product is not a booster its VoIP.  However, they have a product called FemtoJack under development) and other femtocell solutions, as well as local and state governments that want to be able to use cellphone jammers to prevent prisoners from unauthorized use of cellphones. (DCZ:  Or schools who want their kids paying attention to the teacher)  Depending on whose argument you believe, the eventual ruling could even have an impact on net neutrality rules.  (DCZ:  I don't see how this applies to Net Neutrality)  One proponent of signal boosters and jammers said that making boosters illegal won’t address the products already in the market, nor will it stop the sale of signal boosters.  (DCZ:  There are a handful of big companies and thousands of people employed by them with hundreds of thousands of devices already on the market.)

Wireless industry trade association CTIA in 2007 filed a petition for a declaratory ruling at the FCC, asking that it outlaw the sale and use of any device that can enhance or impair cellphone calls. (DCZ:  Might have worked under the previous corrupt Bush Administration)  The petition was a surprise to some third-party retailers, who called RCR Wireless News at the time and thought the story had to be wrong. Therein lies the crux of the problem: a cellphone booster can enhance coverage for a customer, but also has the potential to interfere with someone else’s signal (DCZ:  How often and how can they prove this?). Yet, cellphone boosters have been marketed to carriers and end-users alike as a way to improve the cellular signal in areas where coverage is less than satisfactory – and the reality remains that cellphone coverage in some locations is spotty.  (DCZ:  Carriers need to get their act together with Femtocells first before they decide to outlaw something like this. Signal boosters provide a lot of value in the car.)

The FCC’s definition of signal boosters is fairly broad as it includes amplifiers, repeaters, boosters, Distributed Antenna Systems, and in-building radiation systems that enhance CMRS signals or Part 90 signals. CTIA is asking that the commission rule that companies must have an FCC license to operate a signal booster or have the consent from an FCC licensee (i.e., operator), and that the sale and marketing of devices to unauthorized parties (i.e., end-users or commercial building owners) is illegal.

CTIA also says that wireless microphones, jammers, and new products like the MagicJack femtocell device also are threats to the network.  (DCZ:  What happened to let entrepreneurs create technology to help the industry progress?)

“Unlike wireless handsets, which are under the control of the wireless licensee’s base station, signal boosters cannot be controlled by wireless licensees. However, it is clear that the commission’s rules require carriers to control and govern the use of signal boosters and amplifiers. In fact, this control contemplated in the commission’s rules exists for very good reasons. Signal boosters, because they are not controlled by the base station, do not operate at the lowest possible power. Rather, these devices are intended to operate at much higher power, which raises the noise floor, harming spectrum efficiency and causing interference that leads to degraded or dropped calls unless the devices are properly installed and overseen by the carrier,” CTIA said in comments on the NPRM.

“To address the harm caused by unauthorized signal booster operation, the commission must affirm its existing requirements, which prohibit the sale or marketing of signal boosters to unauthorized users. Currently, many manufacturers and retailers market and sell these products to end-users with the knowledge that these devices do not and cannot comply with the commission’s licensing and interference control obligations. Under FCC rules, the use of signal boosters is only permitted by licensees or parties authorized by licensees. However, illicit sale and operation of these devices will continue to proliferate – and will be impossible to effectively enforce – if the commission does not take prompt action to affirm these requirements.”

Not everyone agrees. Howard Melamed, CEO of CellAntenna, said a blanket “make them illegal” mandate doesn’t solve the problem. It will just force end-users in need of a solution to buy products overseas. “People don’t go out seeking a solution unless there is a problem.”

Howard said some of his clients are hospitals that have needed coverage but not been able to get satisfactory coverage from the carrier. Instead of a blanket mandate, the FCC should force signal-booster manufacturers to tighten the design specifications. He’s also advocated that a registry be created where people can register their signal booster with the FCC so in the event the signal booster is affecting the network, the carrier can know who or what is causing the problem. Melamed also joked in an interview with RCR Wireless News that he is a “persona non grata” within the wireless carrier community.

Wilson Electronics in its filing with the FCC argued that mobile amplifiers should not be subject to the same rules as larger, traditional fixed power boosters. Wilson also said the mobile boosters, designed for personal use in a car, for example, are an example of net neutrality initiatives at the FCC that are designed to allow any device to attach to the network.

CTIA disagrees with that assessment, as well as comments filed by The DAS Forum that recommend a code of conduct is followed, rather than more regulation.

Both CTIA and Howard agree that poor-quality boosters can cause problems. But Howard argues that not allowing U.S. companies to sell boosters that meet FCC certification standards will only lead people and businesses to buy poorer quality boosters overseas. Signal boosters are sold throughout the rest of the world, he said; the controversy only is occurring in North America.  (DCZ:  Pointing the finger in the wrong direction)

Jammer issues

But cellphone boosters are only half of the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking. The commission is also reviewing the sale of cellphone jammers, which block signals. Jammers can only be sold to federal authorities under the way the law reads today. Melamed argues that state and local authorities need to be able to use jammers, especially in a society where cellphones are used to remotely detonate bombs and are the No. 1 device illegally snuck into prisons. However, the FCC may not be the final authority on the use of cellphone jammers at the local and state levels. The Senate in October passed the Safe Prison Act, which allows the director of the federal bureau of prisons or the CEO of a state to seek FCC approval to deploy cellphone jammers in their jurisdictions to block wireless coverage in correctional facilities.

RV Cell Phone Signal Booster

An RV (aka Recreational Vehicle) on the move can have significant cell phone coverage problems depending on the location it's traveling in. A good way to minimize dropped calls and increase reception to cellular phones/broadband data cards is to install a Cellular Repeater Kit on the roof. A Cellular Repeater Kit will allow you to make calls when very little cell phone signal exists or one or two bars. This booster will also reduce dropped calls and increase internet speeds. We have heard of lots of success stories with Wilson Electronics Repeater kits customized for use in Motorhomes & RVs. Wilson Electronics is well regarded in the industry because of its high quality.

Cell Phone Boosters or Repeaters are very simple to set up and they do not require expert installation. A Repeater kit consists of 3 major components; an external antenna, an amplifier or booster, and an internal antenna that gives cellular coverage inside the RV.  Kits can range from $300 Single Phone Booster for a single-phone style amp to $600 Multiple Phone Booster for a more powerful amp that can support multiple cell phones and/or broadband data cards.

  A few of these kits are listed below for a Single Cell phone and Multiple Cell Phones or Data Card:

My Carl Icahn Moment for AT&T & Verizon

10 Year Stock Charts for AT&T & Verizon showing -50% Returns

Have you ever had a Carl Icahn moment while following a mismanaged company and say "I Can Do Better"?  Carl Icahn is infamous for hostile shareholder takeovers of companies he believes where management is not creating shareholder value and I think an opportunity is slowing emerging right before our eyes.  My "aha moment" came this fall when I first saw the Verizon ads touting how wonderful their cell 3G phone coverage map is compared to AT&T.  AT&T stupidly responded by suing them for false advertising and lost.  If I had a billion dollar checkbook some shareholder support we could do some serious industry damage and salvage what could be two dieing giant super powers.  

It makes me nauseated to see billions of dollars wasted marketing "coverage maps lies" to consumers that no one actually believes.  Both companies are guilty of ridiculous advertising campaigns like "There's a Map for That" and the old school management style is losing credibility quickly with the demands of educated customers.  This is the same old school management that has insulated itself for years with huge layers of bureaucracy in order to keep their high paying jobs.  Have you ever asked yourself why the United States lags way behind the entire world when it comes to wireless innovation while their parent companies have lost a combined $250 billion dollars in shareholder value the last 10 years?

AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) both have huge dividend yields of 6.5% per year have lost -50% of their market cap value in the last 10 years.  It appears these cozy senior management teams are highly skilled experts at insulating themselves and keeping their high salary jobs.  Insiders own less than 5% of the stock and every list director makes a salary of more than $1M.  Just to make my point AT&T's Ralph de la Vega makes $1.5M per year stock options and Verizon's Lowell McAdam makes $1.7M + 10m of exercised stock options. Ivan Seidenberg made off with $17.5 million in 2009. Sounds pretty cozy to me when you can just pay off your Board of Directors and shareholders with huge dividends instead of investing adequately in your customers and infrastructure.  Ivan What happened to CEO's like John Chambers who makes $1 salary and is compensated entirely on creating shareholder value.  My perception as an early-stage investor for the last 10 years and as an industry outcast is that there is a lot of "cool-aid" becoming drunk by every employee in the telecom industry and its about to change.   How?  Its simple:  Google is developing disruptive technology and advertising business models that AT&T and Verizon can't compete with.

The United States is laughed at around the world for our lack of innovation and I blame this on the stagnation of innovation caused by the two largest bureaucratic giants AT&T (based in Atlanta) and Verizon (based in Dallas).  These two cities are not exactly technology hubs throughout the world and each company has 80,000+ employees each.  It makes me sick to see that the two largest companies who own 66% of the entire US market or 160M+ wireless customers have done virtually nothing to innovate.  Even with AT&T's brilliant move of getting an iPhone exclusive contract
and their stock is still flat and can't manage to go up.

Here is what I would do if I had the backing of a private equity group and the "balls" of Carl Icahn.  I would fire the CEO's of each company and the teams responsible for marketing.   I would then invest heavily in femtocell and location based advertising technology (mini cell phone towers for the home or office).   At $100 per unit cost I would give femtocells to half of my customers who had coverage problems and that is about half 40M.  It will cost your roughly $4B and the payback would likely be within one year if advertising was sold in conjunction with it.  At the same time I would buy an advertising company that had location-based adverting to help subsidize the cost of the devices. 

I am a stock market technician and do not like what I see on these long term monthly charts as each stock nears the bottom again.  Perhaps their needs to be management shake up in both companies as companies like Google Voice, Clearwire, Comcast, MetroPCS, Tracfone and Skype start nipping at their heals with disruptive innovation.  I am calling it right here and now that if the stock falls below the 2002 / 2003 lows of $26 on VZ and $19 on T that there will be a shareholder revolt and soon after a management shakeup.  Out of full disclosure, I am not short or long the stock.

Verizon Femtocell Sells For $249


After all of the "Can You Hear Me Now Commercials" and "AT&T Coverage Map Bashing"  Verizon Wireless still has incredible amounts of Dead Zones to fill in. You would never know from their misleading commercials but less than 50% of US homes have seamless wireless coverage and could use a femtocell to improve home coverage.  However, in order to improve Verizon's coverage in your home you the customer must pay for your own personal mini cell phone tower at a cost of $249.  Keep in mind Verizon's femtocell is only 2G as well and not 3G currently.   

Sprint was one of the first carriers to launch femtocells with Sprint Airave (awful close to the trademark name Airwave) in 2008, but Verizon was not far behind in bringing femtocells to the masses with a Verzion Wireless Network Extender in January of 2009.  AT&T 3G Microcell is also in trials in North Carolina, Georgia and San Diego and is expected to launch nationwide sometime in the Spring of 2010.  T-Mobile is also in trials with Ubiquisys and Huawei and is expected to launch something this year as well.  The black box will send out a CDMA signal covering up to 5,000 square feet of the home or office with support for up to three simultaneous calls. Like Sprint's solution, the Wireless Network Extender uses GPS to verify that you're not creating little tiny Verizon networks outside the U.S. and plugs into the internet source of your choice via Ethernet. It'll be available in Verizon stores and online for $249.99. Pretty expensive if you ask me and not clear if an additional monthly subscription or long term contract goes with it.  We have only read reviews online that are quite negative about the price but would like to hear from consumers who actually use the product in our comments section below. 





Be aware of the pros and cons with cell reviews allowing you to compare before deciding on a mobile phone purchase.

Femtocells + Google Location Based Advertising

Google femtocells could reach more than 50% of the U.S. population.

Femtocells are emerging as the primary technology that will link the indoor and outdoor cellular networks. These devices improve the quality of service of 3G, 2G and 2.5 networks indoors. Mobile users can enjoy voice and data services from home without having to stand near the window or outdoors. Femtocells are particularly attractive to mobile carriers in the US and even Google we think. Femtocells are emerging as the standard technology that lets wireless phone use in homes and offices become a viable alternative to landline telephones. The ability to leverage the Internet for back-haul makes femtocells an economic force in the marketplace; it brings the industry changes in the way voice is delivered.  US carriers have struggled for years claiming the cost of the femtocells being too high around $100 and keep playing the "waiting game" in order to drive costs lower and see "who jumps first". Some have considered renting out femtocells to users for a long contract period for $2-14 per month, rather than allowing them to buy it outright for $100+.

One perceived barrier to rollout is the need to reduce the cost per unit of the hardware or subsidize it.  We think its simply an excuse because they don't want to open up a "can of worms" admitting to their coverage deficiencies in the US.  Initially it may be that operators provide femtocells to customers as part of a service plan but Google may plans to give it away for free and monetize it through location based advertising.  The US carriers are truly still dumb pipes and are clueless about location based adverting.  This would significantly threaten their paid femtocell business model and it would force AT&T and Verizon into advertising acquisitions in order to catch up.

Ubiquisys, the Google-funded company is providing femtocells to O2 (UK carrier), along with many other trials around the world. It has technology that listens in to the existing GSM and 3G network signals to establish if the licensee is allowed to transmit here. This provides the advantage of allowing network operators to lock the femtocell to one physical location or more, for a small fee.  Google could use femtocell technology to quickly roll out wireless services in the U.S. By deploying a femtocell-like system, in a matter of a year they might be able to reach more than 50% of the U.S. population. Google can deploy femtocells at malls, on city streets (by mounting femtocells on street lamps), and along major highways. Then it might strike roaming agreements with other carriers to offer users wireless service outside the home while it builds out its wireless towers similar to Cox and Comcast. If Google set up the wireless telephone business, they could offer communications free, basing the revenue model on location based advertising. If calls go out to the Internet through the femtocell, they could be handled in the same way that Google Talk works not, and there would be no need for a wireless services provider.

AT&T Coverage Map Helmet Video


We need to hire this guy ASAP!   This is one of the funniest videos we have ever seen making fun of the marketing departments for both AT&T and Verizon.  This is a brilliant way to exacerbate the feud going on between Verizon and AT&T in regards to mapping coverage.  This brilliant person had the creativity to make his own coverage map helmet that shows AT&T's coverage nationwide and went into stores trying to find a phone that could get him coverage in rural areas.

He enters an AT&T store to get some assistance and then goes into a Verizon store where he is greeted to a bunch of humorous talk from employees who drink the "coo-laid".  Kudos to him as he definitely managed to stir up some attention as he even walked around to a local movie theater where people complimented him and honked in support. He was so cool almost like Will Farrel and did a wonderful job in keeping his composure when questioned about the idea.  In the end, he was unable to find the provider or phone that he was looking for.

Here is the commercial that he is clowning.  

Vodafone Will Start Advertising Femtocells

Vodafone and others soon start advertising these devices
We really thought there would be a lot more femtocells on the market here in the US by 2010 considering all of the dead zones in the US and black spots or bad patches in the UK.. There are some femtocells on the market today, but for the most part, carriers are still in "trials" and have not educated the consumer about the product.  We are pleased to see the Vodafone UK has started marketing femtocells and educating consumers and maybe even acknowledging a UK blackspots map for UK

It’s pretty common for mobile phone customers in Europe to get better deals than we get here in the U.S. Such is the case with a new femtocell from Vodafone called the Sure Signal pictured above. The device does what you expect a femtocell to do by routing wireless calls over your broadband connection for better signal strength.  The big difference is that Vodafone made the femtocell an attractive device by offering it to customers for a one-time fee. Vodafone users who spend £25 monthly or more on their rate plan can get the device for £120. Those who spend more can get the Sure Signal for as low as £50. No ongoing monthly fees are required and it supports up to four users at once.

Femtocells are expected to rise substantially over the coming years as a growing number of operators start deploying the devices to increase capacity and coverage in their networks, industry organization Femto Forum said Tuesday. At a briefing at the ongoing World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, the non-profit organization's chairman Simon Saunders said increased mobile spectrum and new efficient network standards like Long Term Evolution will not in themselves be enough to meet the explosion in mobile data generated by smartphones and laptops. Femtocells, essentially minimal base stations about the size of a small shoebox that cover an area of some 10,000 square feet, will increasingly be deployed in homes, offices and busy city environments to help offload the networks, Saunders said.

According to projections from analysis firm Informa, some 49 million femtocells will be deployed by 2014, he added. A few big operators including Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) and AT&T Inc (T) have recently started deploying femtocells, according to Sanjeev Verma, founder of U.S.-based femtocell maker Airvana Inc. (AIRV). There are a few hundred thousand femtocells in use worldwide, he said in an interview Tuesday but added that the number should rise sharply as Vodafone and others soon start advertising the devices.

Operators are interested in femtocells because they improve coverage in indoor environments and boost network capacity, said Verma. He said they also allow some applications for home environments, like synchronizing electronic devices over the network. A typical femtocell costs around $100-$200, Verma said, but added that operators will probably offer them to consumers at a subsidized price, much like they currently do with mobile phones.

In a separate keynote speech Tuesday, Guo Ping, Chief Science Officer at Chinese network equipment vendor Huawei Technologies Co, said limited bandwidth is an important challenge for the telecom industry. Telecom firms can meet capacity demands by rolling out faster technology standards like Long Term Evolution, gaining access to more spectrum, and building solutions for increased coverage in hot spots, he said.

Mt. Baldy is a T-Mobile Dead Zone

I have been skiing up at Mt. Baldy for almost 10 years and think it is one of the hidden secrets of Los Angeles.  Unfortunately, the most annoying thing about the ski resort is that it has zero T-Mobile cell phone coverage as you leave Claremont, CA and drive up the mountain.   There hasn't been any coverage on the mountain for many years and is a prime candidate for a distributed antenna system that multiple carriers could piggyback on.

Today was a beautiful 55 degree Spring skiing day in the mountains with my 3 year old son who tore it up.  However, we were skiing with another father and daughter and became separated.  There were probably a few thousand people on the mountain during the day and many of whom had T-Mobile.  The friends we were with had AT&T Wireless and left numerous voicemails and text messages that were unreceived by us until we were back in the Claremont area.  

Unfortunately, this can be a big safety hazard if one assumes that a place with as much traffic as Mt. Baldy has does not have cell coverage.  I can't image if someone would get in-trouble on the mountain and their only hope was dialing their cell phone for help and it didn't work.  Apparently, AT&T and Verizon do work on the mountain and it would be nice to see T-Mobile strike up a roaming agreement with either.  Get it together T-Mobile its about time.  There are millions of people that live near the foothills of this mountain and many millions of them are your customers.

Please retweet this and/or share this with your friends and hope with enough people speaking about it we get it fixed. 

Google Fiber Network Improves Cell Coverage

Google has slowly been crossing paths with the carriers, by its recent spectrum purchases and fiber lines.  Carriers have traditionally looked at Skype and Google Voice with a sense of alarm, this latest announcement is likely to light an even bigger sense of fear.  Carriers have traditionally sold voice minutes and data. At worst, most telcos believed they might be relegated to the role of a dumb-pipe. That is now set to change as Google looks to subsidize these services giving it away for free.  Free will come with a price of your identity, location and some personal information.  Google is quietly becoming an advertising powerhouse and location-based advertising is squarely in their sights.  

Google Voice will likely be the monetization vehicle to make this happen.  One important thing that is not being covered by the media is that consumers talk on their mobile phones 50% of the time indoors.  Also, the majority of phones being sold these days are smartphones that have Wi-Fi VoIP capabilities. This means that you don't really need to be connected to the outside cellular network if you are only using data and you have an IP-based Voice application like Skype or Google Voice.  

Pandora Radio Inverse Cell Coverage Maps


Do you still listen to satellite because you hate the audio commercials and love the content?  One of my favorite applications on the PC, Android, BlackBerry and iPhone has to be Pandora Radio. Considering that 3g cell coverage is less than par in most big cites, it doesn’t help that AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon & Sprint will have more users competing for data access on its' networks. As a result, the Pandora cell phone reception is going to suffer for a while and will often times be non-existent.  I think Pandora eventually needs to start caching the content to prevent dropouts in the music when you enter poor cell phone coverage areas.  If that isn't possible will Pandora need to provide its users with an "inverse cell coverage map" directly on the phone to show where cell service might not work?  

Pandora is a new scientific way of listening to music. It bridges the gap between radio and itunes-- free to paid and back to free. Pandora sprouted up from the Music Genome Project, which matches songs and artists with up to 400 different characteristics. Just say the name of a song or artist and it plays continuous music related to your choice, just sit back and enjoy. The new music revolution just turned cash flow positive and has over 40M users. I am amazed with the user growth of the company and hope that it could be a new platform for Howard Stern when he possibly leaves Sirius / XM at the end of 2010.  The Pandora iPhone app is very popular. There's a reason Sirius and XM almost went bankrupt and were forced to merge (other than their large debt loads).

One concern is that the company relies 100% on advertising for success and desperately needs 3G and 4G cellular reception distribution success.  If the company truely is an IPO candidate according to Big Trends in 2010 it will need to become more transparent and helpful to its users and advertisers about where their ads and music might NOT be heard or seen. WiFi seems to be the best answer currently when using Pandora on your phone as WiMax, 3G & 4G are still fragile at best most cities.

Sleek Car Cell Phone Signal Booster Review

Published by Dan Cohen from GearDiary.com

WeBoost cell phone boosterEvery now and then you come across a product that promises to do things exceptionally well for a lower price than you would otherwise expect and… it actually exceeds your expectations. That’s the case with the Sleek cell phone booster for Wilson Electronics.

We had a chance to meet with representatives from the company when we were in Las Vegas for CES and, thanks to them, I’ve been using a review unit of the Sleek for the past week or so. The unit is small, surprisingly inexpensive and it works phenomenally well. I live in a part of New Jersey where the cell reception can drop off to nothing at a moment’s notice. It is beyond frustrating to be in the midst of a call and constantly worry that you’re about to be disconnected. Since I started using the Sleek I haven’t had any of these issues. In addition, I have found the unit to be the best window mounted car cradle I have ever used with my iPhone. It holds the phone securely, doesn’t require you to “click” the phone into place, and it can be used with the iPhone of whether the phone is in a case or not. Moreover, it is great when I am using my iPhone as a GPS.
Yes, I’m raving about this product… but only because it is that good. Let’s take a look…
From Wilson Electronics–
The Wilson plug-and-play Sleek™ helps users reduce dropped calls, increase data rates in weak signal areas and originate calls from those dreaded “dead spots”. The Sleek™ and its external vehicular antenna increases any phone’s output power to the cell site while improving its ability to hear signals it normally cannot, keeping the user more reliably connected. Designed for simple set up, the Sleek™ can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.
Built into the Sleek™ cradle is a Wilson tried and tested bi-directional signal amplifier and battery charging port. The cradle is ideal for hands free operation in conjunction with a user’s headset or Bluetooth device.
Features:
    • Reduces dropped calls, extends signal range, and increases data rates
    • Built in amplifier boosts signals to and from cell site
    • Up to 20 TIMES more output power to cell site when in a vehicle
    • Receives weak signals the phone alone may not
    • Built-in port for battery charging
    • Extends battery life – Amplifier enables phone to work at reduced power
    • Simplifies hands free operation
    • Installs in minutes – no special tools required
    • Package includes everything needed — plug-and-play
    • Attractive, compact design
    • Adjustable arms to fit most any phone
My thoughts –
The Sleek’s amplifying electronics are right in the cradle itself. That keeps the unit small and makes setup as simple as finding the right spot in your car for the cradle, figuring out how you want to attach the base, and then running the antenna from the cradle to the roof or hood of the car. The kit comes with everything that you need in order to make this happen.
The cradle –

On the bottom of a cradle there are two connection points. The first allows you to screw in the antenna. The second is a mini USB port for powering the device. The unit ships with both a car adapter and a wall adapter. Because the unit is so small and comes with both power sources it can easily be moved from the car to a home office if need be. On the side of the cradle is a second mini USB port. This is used to charge select devices if you have the appropriate additional accessory connectors. Using an extra cable that I had lying around I was able to set it up so that the Sleek now charges my iPhone when it’s in the cradle as well.
The system for holding the phone in the cradle is rather unusual and is probably the best solution that I have yet encountered. (Best understood in the above video.)
There are two “arms” that come out from either side of the cradle at an angle and create a space in front of the cradle where the iPhone can slip in. Because of the angle, however, the opening at the front is smaller and therefore holds the iPhone, once in position, in place. Each arm is to attach to the cradle in one of three positions thus providing a number of different options from a size perspective. If you’re using a small feature phone using the brackets into the first slot on either side of the cradle and create the smallest “compartment”. If you’re using a large phone you should remove the brackets to the frontmost slot on either side and create a large ‘compartment”. For the iPhone I position the brackets in the middle slot on both sides and it works perfectly. In fact, it’s exactly the right size for me to use my iPhone either in the case were not in a case without having to move the brackets again.
Running the antenna outside of the car was a bit more challenging. this isn’t intended to be a permanent solution that is built into the car so having the antenna professionally run to the outside doesn’t make a lot of sense. In addition, the first attempt to position the antenna at the back of the car didn’t work because the court was a little bit too short for my needs. In the end I ran the court through the hinge on the driver side and positioned the small antenna right next to the hood of the car. It’s unobtrusive and quite secure in its home now.
Once the cradle was attached to the windshield and the anttenna was run outside the installation process was done. Really it’s that simple.
I then plugged the Sleek into the cigarette lighter, dropped my iPhone into the cradle, and saw my cell reception improved dramatically. In places where I would have one bar I now have four or five bars. in places where I had four bars I now consistently have a full five. Best of all, why don’t have any scientific data to prove this, it certainly seems as if my iPhone is getting far better battery life thanks to the strong signal it’s receiving.
I have the cradle set up so that I can charge my phone if need be but I really haven’t found myself needing to.
What really amazes me about this device is not just that it works so incredibly well but that it comes in at an MSRP of just $130. To my mind, the increase in cell reception, the superb iPhone cradle it offers and the apparent better battery life make this a technology bargain. It is so good, in fact, been thinking about buying one to using my home study. (As bad as the drops are when I’m driving the cell reception when I’m home is even worse.)
The Sleek cell phone signal booster is an MSRP of $130 and is available from a wide variety of authorized Wilson product dealers.
What I like –
It works beautifully and boosts signals significantly, installation is easy, it comes with both a windshield mount and adhesive mount so you have a wide range of choices, the cradle itself comes in more than a bit handy even when you aren’t using the signal booster as a signal booster
What needs improvement –
I would love to see the products ship with a wide range of adapters for charging everything from a Motorola Droid to an Apple iPhone, the entire court was too short to make it all the way to the back of my Subaru Outback’s roof (although ultimately a forced me to find a far better location for the antenna)
For more information visit Wilson’s site.

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