Carrier IQ Sued in Delaware Federal Court

Apple, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Carrier IQ Sued in Delaware Federal Court in Cell Phone Tracking Software Scandal.

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 2, 2011- The law firms of Sianni & Straite LLP of Wilmington, DE, Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow & McElroy LLP of Edison, NJ, and Keefe Bartels L.L.C. of Red Bank, NJ, have today filed a class action complaint in Federal Court in Wilmington, Delaware related to the unprecedented breach of the digital privacy rights of 150 million cell phone users. The complaint asserts that three cell phone providers (T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T) and four manufacturers of cell phones (HTC, Motorola, Apple and Samsung) violated the Federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Electronic Communications Act, and the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

The carriers and manufacturers were caught last month willfully violating customers' privacy rights in direct violation of federal law. A technology blogger in Connecticut discovered that software designed and sold by California-based Carrier IQ, Inc. was secretly tracking personal and sensitive information of the cell phone users without the consent or knowledge of the users. On Nov. 30, 2011, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary said in a letter to Carrier IQ that "these actions may violate federal privacy laws." It added, "this is potentially a very serious matter."

David Straite, one of the attorneys leading the action, noted "this latest revelation of corporate America's brazen disregard for the digital privacy rights of its customers is yet another example of the escalating erosion of liberty in this country. We are hopeful that the courts will allow ordinary customers the opportunity to remedy this outrageous breach." Steve Grygiel, co-counsel for the proposed class, agreed: "anyone who cares at all about their personal privacy, or the broader constitutional right to privacy, ought to care and care a great deal about this case." Barry Eichen added, "today's comment from Larry Lenhart, CEO of Carrier IQ, that his software is somehow good for consumers starkly demonstrates what is at stake."

A copy of the Class Action Complaint in Pacilli v. Carrier IQ, Inc. can be viewed on the Firms' websites at www.siannistraite.com, www.keefebartels.com, and www.njadvocates.com.

Plaintiffs are represented by Sianni & Straite LLP, a Delaware-based litigation firm with a branch office in New York, Keefe Bartels LLC, a New Jersey-based plaintiffs' rights trial law firm, and Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow & McElroy LLP, a leading plaintiffs firm with three offices in New Jersey.

Consumer Reports Cell Service Ratings by City


Does this Consumer Reports survey of 66,000 people have any credibility for a cell phone service shopper? This survey represents a narrow demographic of respondents. Even Consumer Reports states their “Findings might not reflect the general U.S. population.” Also, it is indeed a survey and does not contain any empirical testing of the type that has made Consumer Reports the respected entity it is today.

But the main reason these results are not meaningful, or fair for that matter, is the lack of information regarding smartphone users vs. old school phone users, broken down by the wireless provider being rated. Why is this important? Smartphones demand a much higher quality of service and bandwidth to operate. Even Consumer Reports implies that users who use their wireless devices primarily for talking and texting (non smartphone customers) are easier to please than those who have smartphones, who require more demanding tasks such as web surfing and watching videos.

Consumer Reports does not provide any data as to which providers in the survey were rated by smartphone subscribers vs. non smartphone subscribers. Thus, their results are comparing apples-to-oranges. For example, is it meaningful or fair to compare Provider A who, for example, was rated by customers who primarily use smartphones vs. Provider B, who was rated by customers who primarily use non smartphones? I think not.

Based on my years of running this web site, I can conclude that some wireless providers have a larger percentage of smartphone subscribers than others. These smartphone subscribers are, by nature, sophisticated, demanding and particular. Other providers have a larger percentage of non smartphone subscribers who are typically lower paying, less sophisticated customers who are happy with status quo and using older phones. These customers, of course, would be happier with their service.

My take? Consumer Reports should divulge the percentage of smartphone and non smartphones subs rating each wireless provider. This key information would allow readers to make fair and meaningful comparisons.

Deadcellzones.com surveys an audience of similar size of 60,000 but does so on a monthly basis. Thus we survey an audience that is 10 times larger than consumer reports. DCZ also provide searchable maps with very specific geographic information about coverage problems. Ask yourself which is more useful as a consumer shopping for service in your area?

Carrier IQ Claims to Ignore Personal Info


Connecticut-based systems administrator Carrier IQ has found itself in hot water of late. Gizmodo recently broke the story that revealed how the company tracked information on most Smartphones without users’ knowledge or ability to opt-out. This revelation came to light via the YouTube video posted by Android developer Trevor Eckhart which demonstrated that Carrier IQ circumvents web encryption to pick up on passwords, Google queries, and other web activities.

Predictably, wireless customers have been outraged, and carriers themselves have sought to distance themselves from the company. Furthermore, Senator Al Franken sent Carrier IQ CEO Larry Lenhart a stern letter warning of possible legal action and demanding an explanation by December 14.

CIQ has recently come to its own defense, however. They are insisting that their intentions are altruistic rather than malevolent. The company released a statement assuring the wireless community that they do not store SMS messages, e-mail, photos, audio, or video recordings. "We measure and summarize the performance of the device to assist Operators in delivering better service," they explained. Additionally, CIQ has claimed that the monitoring operations they undertake are totally on the behest of the carriers.

Andrew Coward, CIQ’s VP of Marketing told The Wall Street Journal’s All Things D that, while the software listens for specific, keystrokes to send diagnostic information to the carriers, they are not privy to the actual message.  They claim to ignore your personal information but still have access to it.

“If there’s a dropped call, the carriers want to know about it,” Coward clarified. “So we record where you were when the call dropped, and the location of the tower being used. … Similarly, if you send an SMS to me and it doesn’t go through, the carriers want to know that, too. And they want to know why — if it’s a problem with your handset or the network.”

Coward also maintained that CIQ does not share the data with any 3rd party operators, and thus consumers have nothing to fear.

Senate Investigation of Carrier IQ Spyware

U.S. Senator Al Franken

U.S. Senator Al Franken just sent Carrier IQ a nasty letter. Today Franken fired off a letter to Carrier IQ CEO Larry Lenhart raising questions about the company's practices and demanding answers by December 14.  Earlier this week a story was launched by Gizmodo that Carrier IQ is Secretly Recording your Mobile Phone Actions.

It appears the Carrier IQ software captures a broad swath of extremely sensitive information from users that would appear to have nothing to do with diagnostics—including who they are calling, the contents of the texts they are receiving, the contents of their searches, and the websites they visit. These actions may violate federal privacy laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This is potentially a very serious matter.  Read the letter below.  Click to enlarge.


Carrier IQ is Secretly Recording Your Phone


If you have a newer Android phone, everything you do is being recorded by hidden software lurking inside. It even circumvents web encryption and grabs everything—including your passwords and Google queries. Worse: it's the handset manufacturers and the carriers who—in the name of "making your user experience better"—install this software without any way for you to opt-out. This YouTube video, recorded by 25-year-old Android developer Trevor Eckhart, shows how it works. This is bad. Really bad.  See details of this article first posted by Gizmodo.

 

The spying software is developed by a company called Carrier IQ. On their site, the company says they are "the only embedded analytics company to support millions of devices simultaneously, we give Wireless Carriers and Handset Manufacturer's unprecedented insight into their customers' mobile experience."

Is this the best way to track user experience, dropped calls, and coverage problems?  I think there is a better way and Deadcellzones.com has demonstrated that consumers are capable of reporting problems directly to a web site if given the resources to do it.  Carrier IQ is a well funded VC backed company that tracks billions of anonymously reported coverage problems and dropped calls by passing along this data directly to the carrier.  They receive millions of dollars per year from carriers to track this.  However, does the carrier even do anything with the data despite the reported issues?  Is this the classic "deer in headlights" problems with billions of reception problems reported?  Isn't there a better way to prioritize the problems people are experiencing? How about trying crowdsourcing coverage problems from actual customers.  Deadcellzones.com is certainly a model to start thinking about.

Related Stories:
U.S. Senate Investigation of Carrier IQ
Carrier IQ: Mobile Service Intelligence ?'s 

Verizon Phones Suddenly Not Working


My wife's Droid phone keyboard suddenly stopped working and I am beginning to think there are other people who are having the same problem.  Typing on the keyboard is impossible and it stops after a few letters.  The arrow key does not work to go back as well.   She ran into a few friends also on Verizon and the store and it appears that they are having the same issue.  However, this time it was on a Blackberry phone.

Is Verizon making changes in their customer's settings remotely without telling customers? Is this a big conspiracy to get Verizon customer to upgrade their phone during the Holiday shopping period?  I am beginning to wonder if Verizon is tampering with their customer's phones in order to make them go into a store and upgrade.   Please share your experiences below if your phone settings are suddenly getting changed and causing technical issues.

After doing some research on Twitter it appears other customers are having similar issues.  See this Twitter search for "Verizon Phone Not Working".  

4 Tips To Lower Maintenance Costs As A New Homeowner

Average monthly maintenance costs for U.S. homes.
Average monthly maintenance costs for U.S. homes

The annual costs of owning and maintaining a home can be a big part of your monthly expense budget and overall housing costs. 

When you've bought your dream house, admiring the new property's beauty and amenities is often a short experience, as you start thinking about how much the home cost and the money you need to spend on maintenance. 

As a new homeowner, you can't forget about all the expenses that go into your property's upkeep and repair. Knowing exactly how much you have to spend on what can become a tricky business. Lucky for you, we've got you covered with a list of tips that you might find useful for budgeting your home maintenance. 

1. Moving in

Lowering your expenditures should start after you've signed the contract on your new home. One of the things you need to spend money on is relocation. That's the reason why you need to find a moving company that not only does the move to perfection, but also offers its services at a great price.

Nowadays, it's not an impossible task to find the right movers. The services of experienced Manhattan movers don't cost a small fortune, and they are tailored to your needs. With the right tools and proper workforce, they'll make the move seem like a breeze. 

2. The 1-4% range

As a general rule, you should expect to pay between 1% and 4% of your new house or apartment's value for maintenance on an annual basis. So, how much will you need to spend? If your home costs $350,000, you can expect to pay a minimum of $3,500 and a maximum of $14,000. 

Of course, that's a wide range, but you should be prepared for an amount between them. Apart from this, you have to consider the age of your home and where it is situated. It's just logical that an older home needs more maintenance and also a bigger budget on your part. And you can't forget about its location. When you live in an area with extreme weather, both during summer and winter, the maintenance costs can rise. 

3. Square footage counts

It's no surprise that the bigger your home is, the more you need to spend on maintenance. When it comes to making your budget for such things, it's a great idea to allocate at least $1 per square foot of your home for upkeep annually. If your house's or apartment's square footage is 3,000, then you'll probably spend around $3,000 on maintenance every year. 

One of the negative aspects of this system is that it doesn't consider your home's location or age. So, if you plan on using the square footage system, you might find that you'd spent a bit more than expected. 

4. Major repairs are not included in the maintenance budget

A big mistake new homeowners make is that they think significant repairs are a part of home maintenance. However, your budget should focus on those monthly or yearly repairs or upkeeping tasks that focus on general wear and tear problems. For example, your maintenance budget should focus on your lawn and grass, patio, or deck, making sure your vents and gutters are clean, replacing leaky faucets, and buying new filters on your air conditioning and heating unit.s 

All of these are considered smaller repairs that you can pay from your maintenance budget. Focusing on significant repairs, such as replacing your water heater, costly appliances, air conditioning system, or your roof, you are going to spend a lot more than what you've allocated for the upkeep of your home. To tackle such major financial issues, it's a great idea to have a healthy savings account. 

WiFi Only iPads & Apple Margins

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) disappoints Wall Street in their latest earning call beating guidance but not matching street expectations.  After looking at Mary Meeker's latest Awesome Web 2.0 presentation about the "State of the Web", this slide struck me the most as I listened to the Apple earnings call.

Apple's stock has risen over the last few years due to their close business relationships with the carriers and booming iPhone sales.  Have iPhone sales topped out due to insanely booming iPad sales?   iPads carry lower margins for both Apple and the carriers and have a incredibly better user experience than an iPhone.  Once you start using a tablet or an iPad you might only use your smartphone for tethering and essential messaging functions.  No longer are the thousands of iPhone applications relevant as the iPad has become the focus of my WiFi content data usage experience.   And yes its FREE!

Apple investors have also been expecting the iPhone 5 which technically is 2 years behind the curve on 4G standards. LTE and 4G phones have been on the market for a long time and Apple has not even announced the iPhone 5 yet as it just launched the iPhone 4S.  Surely Apple's inability to keep up with the pace of 4G data speeds on phones will catch up with them.

Carriers pay Apple handsomely for the right to sell the iPhone because the payback for the customer's data subscription is only in a few months.  Consumers are paying $50 to $100 for monthly data plan subscriptions and are NOT doing the same with iPads.  WiFi only iPad users are growing much quicker than the 3G iPad.  This translates into lower margins for Apple with a one time only sale price of $500 that will likely be lowered soon.  The current iPad selling at $500 will likely be forced to drop in price due to competition.

Amazon announced the Kindle Fire Android tablet at $200 and plan to make most of their money on data / content subscriptions.  Other Android tablet manufacturer including Google have grander visions of making money off of location based advertising which Apple is behind on as well.

This is the first earnings call since the passing of Steve Jobs where Tim Cook was alone at the helm.  Is he setting himself up for a great Holiday quarter? Apple could be sandbagging their next quarter before they release the iPhone 5 or have they run out of momentum?



Why is iOS 5 iPhone Update Draining Battery?

The iOS 5 iPhone upgrade seems to be having a fair share of about poor battery life after the upgrade is performed.  This is not surprising considering most people have lots of application that run in the background and the iPhone is constantly looking for your location and notifications.  This is less of a problem on the iPad that has a 10+ hour battery life.  The iPhone requires lots of processing power and bandwidth to operate and will ultimately result in few apps being used on the iPhone.  This is one of the reasons why we think that the on deck iPhone application industry will start to consolidate and gravitate further to HTML5.

Here are some suggestions to fix the iOS 5 battery draining issue we recommend the following:
  1. Turn off Bluetooth
  2. Deactivate unused applications using location service
  3. Turn Ping off
  4. Deactivate unwanted apps and notifications
  5. Reset your WiFi network settings
  6. Deactivate  Timezone location services to off
  7. Deactivate diagnostic and usage reports. 
Related Stories:
iOS 5 Fixes iPad WiFi Signal Dropping

iOS 5 Fixes iPad WiFi Signal Dropping

iOS 5 on my iPad has finally fixed the annoying iPad WiFi signal dropping issue.  iPad customers have been dealing with the WiFi dropping issue for many months by changing settings on the iPad and the router and none solved the problem up until now.   Some customers would find themselves hitting the Renew Lease button under settings multiple times per day without changing the location or leaving the network.

The good news is I upgraded my iPad to iOS 5 recently which was free but comes with a price.  The upgrade itself will take about an hour and may delete some of your downloaded applications if you are not careful.  We recommend that you sync the iPad apps with a Mac or PC first before doing the operating system upgrade.  The upgrade comes with a lot of new bells and whistles but the most notable feature is the new Safari tabbed browser which is nice instead of flipping between open pages.

I am still a believer in the iPad WiFi or iPad 2 WiFi only versions because I mostly use the iPad at home or in the office.  The costs simply do not make sense at this time when carriers have tiered data plans and caps.   Compare data plan pricing here.  When I need to use the iPad out and about I simply tether the iPad to my T-Mobile phone

Here’s How You Can Become a Home Designer

home design

If you are someone who loves homes, then pursuing a home designing career is a great idea. This is especially true in a country like Australia, where people are concerned about comfort and luxury. As a home designer, you will be consulting with a variety of clients (homeowners) on creative interior designing briefs and using design principles to turn ideas into reality. Besides, you will have to concoct designs and styles that suit architectural plans. From color schemes to furniture and fixtures to other installations, every element of the client’s homes will be your responsibility to create.

But just like any other profession, the profession of a home designer involves a few risks. Take, for example, your client suffers an injury or a financial loss during the course of providing your service. It can be due to a breach of professional duty, a mistake, or an omission on your part. Such an instance can lead your client to seek appropriate compensation by initiating a lawsuit against you. Believe it or not, legal battles in Australia calls for hefty expenses in the form of legal fees. Moreover, you may suffer reputational damage as a professional.

Your only resort to protect yourself against such events is a designer’s professional indemnity insurance policy. Such an insurance policy will cover your legal expenses and compensation costs, which you would have to pay out of your own pocket otherwise. To know more about the designer’s professional indemnity insurance, you can visit BizCover.

If you wish to start a career as a home designer but are feeling clueless about it, then fret not. Below are a few tips that can make the process easier for you.

1.     Get the necessary training

To become a home designer in Australia, you will be required to first acquire a VET degree. There are many institutions across major Australian cities where you can pursue an interior designing course. The prerequisites, subjects, and duration of these courses differ from institution to institution. You may have to contact the institution personally to know more about it.

Generally, the scope of entry into this profession improves greatly if you already have a degree in spatial design, applied design or interior architecture. A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, including English and Mathematics, is a mandatory requirement. Also, some institutions require you to have a portfolio of work to show during a personal interview.

2.     Know your skills

Home designing is a skilled profession. Your clients will expect you to deliver superior-quality work, which becomes possible only when you possess some core hard and soft skills. Here’s a quick overview of the various skills that you will be required to have to pursue a home designing career:

  • Creative thinking: People like to see something unique in their homes. This uniqueness will show in your work only when you are able to think beyond conventional norms. As a home designer, you should be able to put together different materials, colors, and artwork to create a best-in-class home.
  • Technical skills: Besides out-of-the-box thinking, you should also be able to think about the different technical aspects involved in designing homes. You need to have some degree of calculative abilities to be able to determine the number of materials required and the costs involved in executing various home designing projects. You will also have to be well-versed with some computer software like PhotoShop and AutoCAD to come up with drawings and design layouts.
  • Communication skills: Your primary job as a home designer will be to communicate your design ideas to a variety of people, such as property owners, vendors, and fellow designers. So, your communication skills will play an important role in providing clarity of ideas to your clients. You should have a good command of your language skills (both oral and written) to achieve professional success.
  • Organizational skills: You need to be highly efficient and organized as a home designing professional. Your clients will expect you to be active and deliver everything within stipulated timeframes. You will have to work with various tradespeople and vendors in tandem so that the project is executed properly.

3.     Know your earning prospects

Last but not least, you should be aware of how much earning potential you will have as a professional home designer. On average, a home designer in Australia makes $1,146 per week or $59,952 per year. You may not be able to charge a huge sum during your initial phase as a home designer. As you gain experience and build a portfolio over time, you will surely have good negotiating power.

Also, you will have to know how much time you will have to put into your job. Ideally, the number of hours worked by home designers is the same as all jobs in Australia, 44 hours per week. As you organize yourself into a professional home designing company, you should be able to delegate most of your work to your employees, thereby reducing your work stress considerably.

The above are some useful tips to follow if you wish to become a home designer in Australia. Know that it’s an extremely lucrative career option, especially if you are creative and communicative. It stores a huge money-making potential and will give you ample opportunities to meet and work with new people. 

References

[1] Seek.com, Interior Designer, Avl at:  https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/interior-designer

[2] Career FAQs, How to become an interior designer in Australia: careers in design, Avl at: https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/careers/how-to-become-an-interior-designer-in-australia-careers-in-design

[3] Good Universities Guide, How to become an Interior Designer, Avl at: https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/careers-guide/interior-designer

[4] Open Colleges,  How To Become an Interior Decorator: Career Salaries, Job Stats & Education, Avl at: https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/careers/why-how-become-interior-decorator

How to Get the Most Out of Your Employees in Florida

Your Floridian employees the backbone of your business. If you want to strengthen your company’s core, it’s absolutely essential that you get the most out of these staff members on a daily basis. Once you optimize the day-to-day performance levels of your workers, the level of service that you provide to your consumers will be sure to improve. This will then stand you in better stead as you attempt to improve your company’s brand image, which in turn will no doubt have a positive impact on your long-term profit turnover.

If you want to get the most out of your Florida-based employees, be sure to put the advice laid out below into practice.

Pay Florida’s minimum wage

If you fail to pay your employees adequately, don’t be surprised when they produce a poor standard of work. Your staff members don’t work for you out of the goodness of their hearts. They give their all to your cause day in, day out because they want to be paid. Quite simply, your employees deserve to be compensated fairly for the time and effort they devote to you, which is why you must ensure that you pay them Florida’s minimum wage amount.

For a comprehensive breakdown of how much you should be paying your Florida-based workforce, be sure to check out this helpful Microsoft article on the matter.

Take out workers’ compensation insurance

Taking out workers’ compensation insurance isn’t just a recommendation in Florida; it’s a necessity. If you want to do right by your employees and, in turn, stay on the right side of Floridian law, it’s imperative that you cover your company with this type of premium.

When taking out workers’ comp for local businesses, be sure to explore your options at Next Insurance. With this team of insurance specialists by your side, your journey to a tailored coverage solution will be made simple and stress-free. You will be guided through the insurance process in minutes, and you’ll even be able to take out the premium online. This will save you a lot of time and effort, both of which can then be devoted to putting the rest of the advice laid out in this article into practice.

Provide your employees with benefits

There are millions of Floridian employees that rely heavily on the benefits provided to them by their employers. If you want to do right by your staff members and, in turn, improve their morale levels in the workplace, it’s imperative that you go above and beyond to reward their hard work, dedication, and loyalty.

One of the biggest benefits that you can provide your employees is paid time off. There are a number of holidays that all public employees are expected to have off in Florida, some of which include:

1. New Year’s Day

2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

3. Memorial Day

4. Independence Day

5. Labor Day

6. Veterans Day

7. Thanksgiving Day (and the day after)

8. Christmas Day

Free 3G Amazon Kindle Fire Android Tablet?

Amazon Kindle Fire with Android OS is Coming for $199 


Amazon announced today a WiFi only 7 inch Android tablet that it will sell for $199.  However, will Amazon's next version of the Fire have free 3G wireless?  Amazon allows customers who have the black and white Kindle to access AT&T 3G for free.   The next Amazon Fire could have free AT&T 3G for $299 similar to the black and white Kindle for $79.  The current WiFi only Fire tablet has a 7 inch screen and weights only 14.6 ounces.  The Amazon does not include 3G and you can pre-order it for $199.  Shipping date is November 15, 2011.

This is a tremendous breakthrough for the industry where the device itself becomes a commodity and the services behind the device become the real value.  Subscriptions to content like Pandora, Netflix or Amazon movie become more important and thus will allow Amazon to subsidize the price of the device.

It remains to be seen if newspapers can get into the game of require subscriptions to view their content.  My speculations is they won't have much success getting people to pay for news and simply will have apps build in this Android platform that are filled with ads.

If you compare this device to the iPad 2 its $300 cheaper and does not have the following features.  Camera and GPS which are unnecessary for most tablet users.  Tablet users are primarily inside the home and office and only need WiFi.   Also, if you are a savvy user and have figured out how to tether WiFi devices to your 4G smartphone than the WiFi only version will also be sufficient.  

2G, 3G, 4G: WTF is 4th Generation Anyway?

Techies throw terminology around all the time, and often we have to pretend that we understand what they're referring to. In this post, we'll try to explain and elucidate some of the tricky lingo used frequently in today's circles. Specifically, we'll look at the G's, 2G, 3G, and 4G - what they are, and what they mean for us.

The Gs refer to stages in the development of cellular technology. G stands for "generation." 2G, therefore, means "second generation" cellular systems. Service providers have just begun to roll out fourth generation networks, the most advanced technology developed to date. We'll get to fourth generation in a bit, but let's back up to the beginning, with 1G.

The systems retroactively dubbed 1G were the world's first mobile telephone networks. The first 1G network surfaced in Tokyo, in 1979. Over the next ten years, mobile networks were slowly built in countries all over the world. 1G systems communicated with analog signals, using continuous radio waves to transmit information. The analog system was dumped for digital communication with the advent of 2G in the early 90s.

The second generation of cell phone technology improved system capacity, allowed mobile data service with text messaging, and lowered the radiation emitted from phones. Much of this was affected by the move to digital communication, swapping continuous analog signals with the short burst, message-style transmissions of digital technology. 2G is still used in many parts of the world today.

It would be another ten years before the debut of 3G onto the world stage. 2G systems were strengthened and altered, ushering in mobile internet, video calling, mobile TV, and videoconferencing. Officially, 3G is not a specific technology, but a standard—an outline of specifications for cellular networks. Several different systems have been built that all comply with 3G requirements, such as EDGE, CDMA2000, and UMTS. Different service providers, like AT&T and Verizon Wireless, build and use their own designs for their respective networks. It's the differences in this sort of network structure that define whether or not your phone uses a SIM card.

Recently, the wireless communications world has been abuzz about 4G, the latest development of digital communication. The fourth generation standard aims to increase the speeds and thus the capabilities of 3G-enabled tasks, like mobile internet. Before 4G, downloading or streaming movies, songs, or any significant amounts of data to a mobile device was an abysmally slow process, if at all possible. 4G minimizes the difference in user experience between using a top-speed computer and your smartphone. In fact, it's 4G technology that justifies smartphones' existence.

"So that was all very nice," you might say, "but how does that affect me?" Well, the sort of technology your phone or mobile device uses will affect what accessories, upgrades, and supplemental systems you can attach and sync with it. For instance, signal boosters, which enhance weak cellular signals, read very specific transmissions. To amplify the weak signal for your 4G phone, you'll need a 4G booster capable of decoding and transmitting 4G signals. It's all quite simple, really. You now have the power to take on those tech nuts and show them who's boss.

Related Articles:
What does 1G 2G 2.5G 3G 3.5G 4G 5G mean
4G Phones Weakest Link

How to Find The Best Indoor Signal Booster

So you're tired of poor reception, dropped calls, and drained batteries. You know it's time to find a solution and someone recommended checking out signal boosters. But how do you navigate the sea of uninformative model numbers, strange names, and new technologies to find the solution that fits your setup at the most reasonable price? Here's a guide that will outline the factors to remember when going booster shopping. You'll be a cellular amplifier expert in no time.

There's one puzzle you should try to solve first before you start your booster search: Namely, why is my reception so poor? Coverage goes hazy for a variety of reasons. You might live adventurously close to the edge of the network, a good distance from the most far-flung cell towers. On the other hand, you might live in a city skyscraper behind thick concrete walls impenetrable to the strongest of cell signals. Or it's possible you live comfortably in suburbia well within cellular range but your house happens to rest at the bottom of an imposing hill, blocking most of the good reception from reaching your residence. Determining the primary obstacle to your cellular experience is key in reaching success with a signal booster.

The second puzzle to solve (and this is a lot easier than the first) involves determining how strong your natural, unamplified signal is, both indoors and out. Just open up your phone and check the bars of reception. Signal boosters vary in the degree to which they amplify a signal. Some simply modify a mediocre signal while others totally soup up a dead zone into a powerhouse. So why not go for the biggest and the strongest? Price, of course; those powerful amplifiers come with a hefty price tag for their fancy technology. You want to find the booster that suits your needs exactly to be financially sound and energy-efficient.

So, you’ve determined why your cell signal is poor and just how strong your unamplified signal is indoors and out, as described above. Now, you'll want to know exactly how much square footage you plan on blanketing with amplified signal before hitting the stores. The signal booster kit contains multiple pieces of equipment that serve different functions. The broadcasting antenna distributes the boosted signal throughout the desired space and these antennas come in a wide spectrum of strengths, each able to cover a different-sized space. Of course, the larger space, the more powerful and more expensive the antenna. It's important to keep in mind that some websites and product descriptions advertise maximum broadcast ranges that refer to tests set in open territory. However, when those antennas are placed indoors where it must battle through walls, staircases, and other obstacles, the antenna's range reduces significantly. Be sure to get help with an expert from the store to find the true indoor range of these amplifiers.

With this easy checklist, you'll be way ahead of the game when in the market for a signal booster. Try to look for boosters with the strength you need and antennas to cover the space you want. Remember, asking for help never hurts. There are cell booster experts available to answer specific questions and assist with large-scale installations.

Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life


Top 5 Smartphones with Long Battery Life
With over 25% of US cell phone users now using smartphones, cell phone companies have released new smartphones with features like bigger screens and more apps while leaving one of the most important features as an afterthought… battery life.

Because battery life is one of the more overlooked features in smartphones today, we have compiled a list of the top 5 smartphones that have long batter lives. In order to determine the top 5 phones, we researched phones with the highest overall expert rankings from sources like CNET, PC magazine, Wired, and PC world and that also had at least ten hours of talk time battery life.

1. HTC myTouch 4G: The top smartphone on our list was the HTC myTouch 4G because of its overall excellence with an expert rating at 4.37 out of 5, as well as its 10 hour talk time and 432 hour standby battery life.

2. Apple iPhone 3GS: Apple’s iPhone 3GS exceptional talk time of 12 hours can be attributed to its smaller screen that is measured at 3.5 inches, and even though this is the highest on our list, the standby life of the 3GS is a moderate 300 hours. With these features taken into account, the 3GS received an average expert rating of 4.25 out of 5.

3. Samsung Droid Charge: The Samsung Droid Charge was the only Verizon phone to make our top list for performance and battery life. Expert rankings came in at 4.23 out of 5 for the Charge, while its talk
time was measured at 11 hours, but its standby battery life was the lowest on the list at 280 hours.

4. Google Nexus One: The Google Nexus One is the most widely available phone on our top list, as it is available on Vodafone and Singtel in places like Singapore, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The average expert score on the Nexus One was 4.1 out of 5, with a talk time of 10 hours and a
moderate standby time of 290 hours.

5. Samsung Captivate: The Samsung Captivate from AT&T comes in at number five on our list receiving an average expert rating of 3.78 out of 5. The talk time on the Captivate is 10 hours with an amazing maximum standby time of 710 hours, which almost twice as much as any other phone on our list.

When put in a side-by-side comparison, these smartphones all prove to have great battery life as well as several differences in price and features that will allow shoppers to find the best smartphone that won’t die when their needed most.

Why iPad is Losing WiFi Connection

Turn Off iPad Notifications to Fix Wi-Fi Problem 

Compare Wireless Data Pricing Plans

All of the U.S. carriers AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint have announced new wireless data capacity usage plans for their customers. There pricing plans are very fluid and will likely change a lot in the next few months to year. Why are carriers capping data plans? Because there is no money in fixed-pricing and the carriers can make more by charging the heavy data users (like our kids). This is very similar to capping text messaging where your average cost per text goes up to .25 to .35 cents after you go over your text messaging plan allotment.

I think this is the new industry scam that must be regulated. It is impossible to think that consumers can trust their wireless carrier to objectively measure their data usage.  Currently there are not applications or features on phones to help you manage your usage thresholds.  Remember the cases of customers who received the outrageous bills while using their phone and roaming overseas.  More transparency is needed for consumers to understand how much data they are using before they can be charged.  Data caps are hurting the mobile apps business before it even gets off the ground.

We think that free free WiFi around the World will disruptive cellular data fraudulent pricing practices.  Offloading 3G and 4G data to WiFi is the first sign that carrier networks will ultimately fall on their face 

Enterprise SEO: How Much Should It Cost?

enterprise seo
Compared to traditional SEO services—that is, SEO that caters to small businesses and mid-size companies—enterprise SEO is more complex. Large organizations need to maintain a much more intensive online presence and it takes a great deal of time, money, and effort to maintain peak positions in the search results.
So, if enterprise SEO takes more effort, shouldn't it cost more money? Here are some of the ins and outs of search engine optimization for enterprise businesses and just how much you can expect to spend.
Enterprise vs. Traditional
If you want to break it down into simple parts, SEO services for enterprise companies imply operating on a larger scale than small business engine optimization. Global brands may be trying to reach millions of potential customers and could possibly have dozens of social media pages. Compared to a small business, an enterprise will also face some unique challenges:
  • Maintaining scalability: Enterprise websites require solutions that can expand alongside enterprise SEO needs. On-page SEO and page optimization become much more intensive. Instead of an SEO consultant, enterprise websites often rely on an entire SEO team.
  • More moving parts: With smaller companies, it's easier for a business owner to see what's going on and when. A small business may be monitoring a handful of keywords. An enterprise SEO company is like targeting hundreds or even thousands.
  • Holistic strategies: Where a smaller company may be able to focus strictly on keywords, an enterprise SEO strategy needs to factor in much more. An enterprise SEO audit will take search engine result pages, keywords, organic traffic, social media, and on-page optimization.
  • Intensive reporting: Small business owners can often distill their organic search traffic down to a condensed, easy-to-read report. An enterprise SEO solution will likely have to compile numerous reports, white papers, and performance markers.
These are just a few of the major challenges that face enterprises. When you start to factor in other facets of digital marketing such as social media marketing, case studies, and email marketing, and you can imagine just how immense a task enterprise SEO truly is.
So, how does an SEO firm set a price point based on all of these factors? And how do you choose an enterprise SEO firm for your business?

Enterprise SEO Service Provider Costs

Choosing an enterprise SEO platform shouldn't simply boil comparing expenses and aiming for the cheapest SEO team. That's perhaps the best way to ensure you "get what you pay for." Instead, look closely at costs versus services rendered to find an enterprise SEO solution that balances the two effectively. Frequently, an enterprise SEO firm can cost between $11,500 and $25,000 though there are always SEO services outside of these values.
It's a great idea to ask yourself a few questions when reviewing SEO agency costs:
  • Is the SEO strategy comprehensive enough to justify the overall price?
  • Is the SEO strategy tailored to your specific market?
  • Does the SEO company include other add-ons outside of search engine marketing?
  • Does the SEO company have an extensive history of working with enterprise websites?
  • How much of the enterprise SEO strategy relies on social media marketing?
  • Is the cost in alignment with the location?
  • Can you buy SEO backlinks?
On top of this, you need to ensure your chosen SEO company follows best practices when providing enterprise SEO services.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the cost of your enterprise SEO strategy should reflect the amount of effort that's going into it as well as the results. Enterprise SEO encompasses much more than simply reaching potential customers and tweaking on-page SEO. It's complex, sensitive, and massive in scale. If you find an enterprise SEO partner that can comfortably handle this, you're in business.

5 Uses of Hunting GPS That Will Surprise You


This is an era of technology with smartphones, and a lot of new devices coming every now and then. GPS is one of the most useful and amazing things for mankind. We all use GPS in our phones, car system, and even in smartwatches. We all use it to move ahead in the right direction. A GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. It is used to determine your location on the globe with the help of satellites. The GPS is made up of three parts: the satellites, ground stations, and receivers. It has definitely made our lives easier and prevents us from getting lost in an unknown place.

Our vehicles and smartphones do have GPS and stay with us all the time. But what if your battery dies or you lose your mobile phone? Suppose you go for a trek or hunting adventure. Now you are in the middle of nowhere and your phone dies, and you have no idea which direction to go next. What will you do to survive? Hence you should not solely depend on your smartphone devices. But Do not worry, here comes the handheld hunting GPS to the rescue. Smartphones indeed have brilliant technology and use, but it may not be reliable for your camps, treks, or hunting adventures. We will tell you five awesome uses of hunting GPS.

You should always read handheld GPS reviews before buying any Hunting GPS

●       The first main and most obvious function which it performs is tracking down your trail. It will show the direction towards the right path. It will tell you how far you are from home, public transportation road, or where your hunting ground is. It tells you everything about your location, including latitude and longitude. Most of the hunting GPS has a built-in compass, but if yours do not have it, then you must have a separate compass with you. As you would not want to go to the west when you have to go to the north, so do check your compass beforehand.

●       When you go hunting often, you may miss the perfect shot, or the death of the animal may not be on spot death. Hence, the animal may run away until it succumbs to its injuries. Therefore you might need to chase it further. Chasing by the trail of its blood may not be easy. Hence you can use your hunting GPS for finding your way to another hunting ground. It will help you navigate through different parts or hunting grounds and even come back to the original spot.

●       A big use of hunting GPS is for scouting. When you are in the middle of nowhere or when you enter into an unfamiliar land, you can use hunting GPS to guide you in the right direction. You can also mark any location on the maps. You can mark your original location or base camp and move back safely using hunting GPS. Apart from marking a location, you can also name that particular point. For example, you can name it “base camp” or “Hunting spot one,” etc.

●       In the land of trees, it is hard to point out the exact and desired location. You can use trees to mark as flags to indicate some spot or location. Even if it's dark now, you can easily figure out your way in the correct direction. You may be done with your hunting adventure. But these marks will stay in the records of your hunting GPS. So if you visit the same place next time you can use these marks. They can also be erased anytime if you no longer need them.

●       Some GPS hunters also have a feature of giving alerts. They give you alerts about your hunting tools and if your hunting vehicle needs servicing. It will give you alerts for getting your vehicle fixed or get it serviced.

●       The hunting grounds or mountains or wherever you are planning your adventure may lack the cell towers. You are more likely not to receive proper signals or maybe no single at all. Again your GPS will rescue you. You can use GPS for sending information to your loved ones. It can be used to send information to authorities or signal for help in case you get stuck or injured. This will help you with extraction and get you a safe home.

GPS is a precious tool for hunters and anyone going on an adventure. Even though you want to have a rough and tough adventure, not using a GPS would be a foolish act. It helps you a lot all the time and in times of emergency. While buying a GPS, make sure it uses an authentic data source, has a long battery life, topographic maps, good display, and screen. Having an option for emergency features is also good. You just need to send them a signal, and rescue teams will track you down if you need it. Always make sure to carry extra batteries. Hunting into the wild is a risky adventure; hence carrying a GPS will be useful and safe.  

Cell Phone Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Irene


How to prepare for the next hurricane disaster?  Does your family have an emergency communications plan for when you cannot reach your friends and family with cell phones because the network is jammed?  Cell phone operators cannot prevent the worst from happening and consumers and small business owners should be prepared before and after the storm hits. Here are 10 tips that should help you be prepared for the worst during a disaster.
  1. Have a two phones ready possibly from two different carriers. One corded or landline phone and one mobile phone. The landline phone is critical because it is not dependent on electricity in the case of a long power outage.
  2. Make sure all of your local emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses are in your mobile phone. Police department, coast guard, fire station and hospital, as well as your family members.
  3. Keep your cell phone batteries charged at all times and keep an extra on hand. Have a plan to charge your battery in case of a long power outage using your car charger or generator.
  4. Keep your wireless phone dry in a dry pack or waterproof housing. If you phone gets wet or is exposed to excessive humidity you might not be able to use it.
  5. You can track the storm and access weather information on your wireless device but don't use too much phone battery power or data on the phone to jam the network. Try not to upload or download a lot of video during the storm.   Thousands of homes will lose power during the storm and if you have a wireless device that provides access to the Internet, you can watch weather reports through mobile TV.  
  6. Download one of the many weather apps if you have smartphone to track your local weather Accuweather, Weather Undergound and Weather.com are some of the best apps to see the radar.
  7. Have a camera and video phone on hand to take and send photos and video clips of damaged property or people in need of emergency help. It is also helpful to document the damage for your your insurance company.
  8. Use location-based mapping technology from Google and other services to help with evacuation routes or avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines. Download and use location based friend applications to track a family members and friends on wireless device in case you get separated.
  9. During an emergency cell phone networks are typically jammed by multiple people trying to use their phones at the same time. The increased calling volume or data traffic on the network can create network congestion, leading to a "fast busy" signal on your mobile phone or a slow dial tone on your landline phone. If this happens, hang up, be patient and wait several seconds and then try the call again. This allows your original call data to clear the network before you try again. Keep non-emergency calls and usage of video uploading and downloading to a minimum. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will be attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and business associates.
  10. Use text messaging as much as you can during an emergency as messages may go through more quickly than voice calls. Text messages require fewer network resources and will get priority before voice calls.
Cell phone carriers do recognized the risk of their cell phone towers going down during an emergency and typically send out emergency teams and boost capacity in the area with additional towers.  This usually includes the installation of back-up generators at cell sites and switching facilities. They also try and locate critical communication equipment in less vulnerable areas and try to upgrade copper wiring with fiber optic cable. Also, elevation of switches on the network above expected flood levels and extra protection of physical facilities against flooding is also important.

Phil Falcone of LightSquared is my Hero


Phil Falcone of Harbinger Capital Partners has invested billions of dollars into building a satellite wireless 4G network that will disrupt the the large and corrupt incumbents AT&T and Verizon who want to crush him. These incumbents are making false claims and a gross misrepresentation of facts in the marketplace. Verizon and AT&T are not competing fairly once again by using their unfair lobbying strength in Washington to create obstacles for innovation. The incumbents are using their power to stamp out a new entrant into the marketplace. Is it ironic that the chief lobbyist for AT&T and Verizon in Washington is also the head of the GPS Council? Smells like corruption and a PR spin to me.

The ridiculous drama surrounding LightSquared's attempts to launch its terrestrial/satellite network continues to unfold in the court of public opinion, and more importantly in the halls of the FCC. The corrupt FCC is in the midst of trying to decide if LightSquared should be allowed to commercially launch its satellite cell phone service. There is some minor evidence that the spectrum to be used will cause interference with commercial GPS systems that do not have proper filters. LightSquared has said that the interference issue is being caused by GPS devices not equipped with the proper filters, and in addition has filed a new spectrum plan that would see the company initially use a different chunk of its spectrum in order to reduce interference issues in the near term.

See this video on Light Squared from RCR Wireless

Are Verizon Customers Dropping More Calls?

Here is a letter from a 10 year Verizon customer in Virginia, who wrote to customer care.  This issue has been escalated to the President level in the organization to resolve the problem.  This an example of what is happening for millions of Verizon customers who previously had good coverage and are now suffering from more dropped calls.  It just so happens that this customer is very persistent about getting the problem resolved but not everyone has the time or the skills to do this.  Nor does Verizon have the resources to pursue every customer service problem in this manner.  It is worth reading and just another reason that the current theoretical wireless coverage maps should be outlawed?  Its false marketing and degradation once good coverage areas is becoming a big problem now that Verizon is moving to 4G / LTE.  Wireless networks are breathing more than ever to optimize network capacity and thus why you might see 5 bars and then none standing in the same location.  Read the full letter below about a Verizon trouble ticket resolution and please share any other examples in the comments or send us an email. 

1st Customer Letter to Verizon
Dear Verizon,

Is it possible to request a physical visit to the area in question (below), with measurements taken and reports made?  My family and I drive this area a total of 12 times or more per day.  We have been doing that for over ten years.  WE HAVE NEVER HAD ONE DROPPED CALL IN THIS AREA FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.  Why did we begin to drop most calls, suddenly, two months ago?  I am specifically speaking of my driveway, 123 XYX Drive.  Could an area suddenly, as if by magic, become "marginal", after working well for all those years?

My suspicion is that Verizon, by upgrading to the higher "G" coverages and has made equipment changes in this area.  This new equipment places voice communication second to all the other services which the new smartphones sold.  I believe that is what has caused my problem with 
123 XYX Drive, etc.

I'd like to have a definitive answer, from Verizon, not some nonsense about secondary coverage areas, explaining why I still get a five-bar signal AND drop calls all the time?  That doesn't sound like a coverage problem.  It sounds like a Verizon equipment problem to me.

As far as being in a marginal coverage area, I've seen Verizon make those claims before.  Any problems Verizon doesn't want to address are suddenly in a marginal coverage area.

Please see below, coverage maps copied from the Verizon published coverage map,
The map below is location 123 XYX Drive.  As stated above, coverage just perfect for ten years.  Suddenly, two months ago, the signal stays the same, calls are dropped constantly.  Is it magic?
Below is another paste from the same Verizon coverage map showing the four-mile area east of my driveway on Rt. 221 where past wonderful coverage has degraded to many dropped calls with no loss in signal.  
The last pasted map below is an area that Verizon knows is bad and has elected not to fix it.  We get dropped calls in that area on a daily basis. The specific area is on 221 between Mays Farm Road and the upside-down question mark looking little road, just east of the 221 shields.  To quote Verizon's answer on past complaints about the area, "This is an area of known problems."  That's it, no fixed date, no nothing.
Please re-submit my complaint to the proper parties and include these Verizon coverage maps.  I really would appreciate some sort of meaningful answer regarding the sudden degradation in service.

1st Verizon Response Letter
Mr. Customer,

Your trouble ticket for service problems in your home area is now resolved. The ticket states: “located in a marginal coverage area due to distance from cell sites; there are plans for a new site in your area but not estimated time of when that will be up and running. There were currently no issues found w/ the surrounding cell sites.”

Feel free to email me back with any other questions or concerns and we can move forward or see what the next step may be.

Thanks,
Nate – Verizon Wireless Tech Support
woodana@NE.VerizonWireless.com

2nd Verizon Response Letter
Mr. Customer,

From previously speaking to members of our Network Repair Bureau, I have been told that coverage can change. The majority of the time the coverage is increasing but I’ve been told that may not always be the case. I’m going to forward your email over to one of our NRB representatives and try to re-escalate this issue. I’ll email you back once I receive additional info about this problem. I also wanted to make sure that you were still marking the affected calls by dialing ### - SEND.

Thanks,
Nate – Verizon Wireless Tech Support

Customer Response to Verizon Wireless 
Nate – Verizon Wireless Tech Support,

Unfortunately, I've been doing ***** Send, or something close to that. Does it matter as long as I do something strange after a dropped call or do you want exactly ###SEND? Sorry for the error.

The coverage matter is a convenient out for Verizon. Their disclaimer really removes any value from the coverage maps they issue. (These Coverage Locator maps depict predicted and approximate wireless coverage. The coverage areas shown do not guarantee service availability and may include locations with limited or no coverage. Even within a coverage area, there are many factors, including customer’s equipment, terrain, proximity to buildings, foliage, and weather that may impact service. Some of the Coverage Areas include networks run by other carriers, the coverage depicted is based on their information and public sources, and we cannot ensure its accuracy.) This really makes any coverage argument totally invalid and a waste of time; except, of course, for Verizon to put forth as an unreal sales tool.

However, I might think that the cessation of service is a valid argument, and, as "supplier", Verizon would be held liable to continue the past level of service, unless they announce a change. In this instance, no change was announced to me.

I guess, unless they do something for me, my only recourse is to leave Verizon and go over to US Cellular who, according to "hearsay" has this area buttoned down tight. As you see from my record, I don't often change carriers, so I'm loath to do that.

Do let me know about the ##### or the *****.

Thanks, Nate,
Customer
Commentary & End Result

Lots of developments. After calling both Wireless and Landline executive offices at Verizon, a work order for both of my problems was issued and has gone away. A Verizon engineer surveyed my area of dropped calls and found that the PN on a tower about 18 miles away, was taking my calls and disconnecting them. They finally agreed on a new PN and the dropped calls problem is solved!

The more annoying problem is still in the works. That's the one where all calls, originated from a Verizon cell phone, within my area, showed "out of area" on my landline caller ID. If I called my Verizon landline from the same room, as my local Verizon cell phone, the landline caller ID showed "Out of area". This is annoying because "Out of area" calls are usually from salespeople and we never answered them. Now, seeing it might be one of us calling, we get to speak to an inordinate amount of salespeople!

Emily's note from Sprint is very pleasing. Not only does she seem to really care, but she is also reaching out across the Country. Not too many people around like that anymore. Sprint has always had minimal coverage in our area. I do not know what she's referring to when she says "granular detail", I've not heard that term used before. I'll give her a call, but, don't hold out much hope - unless they've increased their coverage.

Customer

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