How to Measure Cell Phone Radiation at Home

How to Measure Cell Phone Radiation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Measuring the radiation emitted by your cell phone might sound like a job for scientists—but with the right approach, you can do a credible check yourself. This guide walks you through how to measure (or at least approximate) your phone’s radiation exposure, what the constraints are, and how to interpret your results.

What You Need to Know Before You Begin

Before you jump into measurements, get familiar with these essential background points: Radiation from phones is non-ionizing, meaning it's not like X-rays or gamma rays. Phones emit electromagnetic fields (EMF), especially when transmitting data. The intensity of radiation decreases rapidly with distance. The closer your body is to the phone’s antenna, the higher exposure. Phones emit more radiation when signal quality is poor or when they struggle to maintain connection (e.g. indoors, in basements, or in cars). The phone model and its antenna design also matter, often gauged via a metric known as SAR (Specific Absorption Rate). Governments set maximum allowable SAR levels in many countries. With that context, measuring phone radiation is not perfectly precise without lab equipment—but you can approximate relative levels and trends.

Step 1: Decide What You Want to Measure

First, clarify your measurement goals. Do you want to compare different phones or different usage scenarios (e.g. outdoors vs indoors)? Are you looking for absolute values or just relative differences (higher vs lower)? Do you have access to professional tools—or are you limited to consumer-grade instruments? Your level of precision will depend on your tools, but the procedure is fairly similar.

Step 2: Gather Your Tools and Materials

Here’s what you'll need: 1) EMF / RF Meter. A handheld meter capable of reading radio frequencies (e.g. tens of MHz up to a few GHz). These are sometimes called RF power meters or spectrum analyzers. 2) Shielding / Blocks. Materials or objects to block or reduce external contributions (e.g. metal enclosures, Faraday cages, or simply isolating the phone in a box). 3) Mounting Fixtures / Tripod. A way to hold your phone steadily and maintain fixed distances from the meter sensor. 4) Cables, Connectors, Antennas (Optional). If your meter supports external probes or antennas, you may need appropriate connectors. 5) Notebook / Spreadsheet. To log measurements, conditions (location, distance, orientation), time, signal strength, etc. 6) Baseline Reference (Optional). For calibration or reference, if you have a known RF emitter or a calibration source. Tip: Make sure that your meter is capable of measuring in the frequency bands your phone uses (e.g. in your country, typical bands are ~700 MHz to 2.7 GHz depending on 3G/4G/5G).

Step 3: Establish Your Measurement Setup

To get consistent, reproducible results, you’ll need a controlled setup. Choose a stable environment. Avoid reflections, signal interference, or moving objects. Open rooms or outdoor spaces far from other sources are ideal. Fix distances and orientation. For example: place the phone flat on a nonconducting stand, 10 cm from the meter sensor. Keep this distance consistent across all tests. Minimize external RF. Turn off or shield other wireless devices, WiFi routers, Bluetooth gear, etc. This reduces background noise. You can also take a baseline reading with the phone off (or in airplane mode) to subtract ambient RF. Select phone modes. Decide whether you'll test in call mode, data mode, standby, etc. For example, a phone during a call may emit differently than when streaming or when idle. Record phone signal strength. Many phones display signal bars or can show dBm values. Note the signal strength, as weak signal can lead to higher emissions.

Step 4: Perform the Measurement

Now you run the tests. Be systematic and repeatable. Baseline (Zero) Reading: With the phone turned off (or in airplane mode), measure and record the RF meter reading. This captures ambient RF. Standby / Idle Reading: Turn the phone on but don’t use it (no calls, no data). Measure again. This shows the “background” emission. Active Mode Readings: Engage the phone in the mode you want to test (call, streaming, data upload, etc.). While the activity is ongoing, take one or more measurements. For a call, put through a continuous call. For data, start a download or upload. For video streaming, run a continuous stream. Vary conditions to get comparative insights: outdoors vs indoors, near a cell tower vs farther away, in a car, basement, or elevator, holding the phone normally vs with spacer (e.g. speakerphone or on a stand). Take multiple readings. Do each test multiple times (e.g. 3–5) to average out fluctuations. Note: The meter may show different scales (power density in µW/cm², or field strength in V/m). Make sure you know how to convert or interpret these readings.

Step 5: Calculate Net Emission (Optional)

If your meter and setup allow, you can compute the net emission by subtracting ambient (baseline) levels. Net Emission = (Measured Active Mode) – (Baseline Ambient). This helps isolate what portion of the reading is attributable to your phone. If your meter supports spectral analysis, you might also sum up relevant frequency bands corresponding to your phone’s bands.

Step 6: Interpret the Results & Compare to Benchmarks

Once you have values, what do they mean? Relative comparison is easiest: Use your data to see which scenarios or phones produce more or less emission. Check your country’s radiation limits: Many nations set limits (for example, SAR limits for phones). But note SAR is usually measured under very controlled lab conditions—not directly comparable to what your handheld meter shows. Watch trends: If a phone’s emission spikes in weak signal areas, that’s normal. The test is mostly useful in comparing relative risk or behavior. Keep in mind: your results are approximate. A handheld meter in a real environment is not equivalent to a controlled lab measurement, but it gives you practical insight.

Step 7: Troubleshooting & Common Errors

Here are pitfalls to watch for and how to avoid them. Readings vary wildly: Movement, reflections, signal fluctuations. Fix positions, take multiple samples. Background RF interfering: Many wireless devices nearby. Turn off or isolate other emitters. Meter not sensitive in the phone’s band: Meter doesn’t cover relevant frequencies. Use a meter designed for RF in your phone’s band. Phone is adjusting power: Phone adjusts power output dynamically. Maintain constant usage during reading; disregard initial fluctuations. Inconsistency between runs: Distance/orientation changed slightly. Use fixtures, jigs, or tape to fix positions.

Step 8: Document Everything & Draw Conclusions

Be thorough in your documentation. Record date, time, and environmental conditions. Note phone model and firmware. Record signal strength (bars or dBm). Write down distance, orientation, mounting. Note the mode of use (call, data, standby). Record meter type, calibration, scale used. Save raw readings, ambient subtractions, and average values. Then, interpret. Which scenario gave highest emission? How much did weak vs strong signal affect it? How does your phone compare across different environments? Based on what you see, how might you reduce exposure (e.g. use headphones, avoid phone in low signal zones, speaker mode, etc.)?

Bonus: Tips to Minimize Exposure (Beyond Measurement)

While measuring is useful, the ultimate aim is safety and awareness. Here are tips gleaned from the original article and broader best practices. Use hands-free, speakerphone, or a wired headset. This increases the distance between your head and the antenna. Prefer good signal areas. Emission is lower when signal is strong; avoid low coverage zones if possible. Minimize call/data duration. Use texting, email, or WiFi when possible to reduce active time. Don’t keep the phone against your body. Avoid pocket or belt placement directly over the phone’s transmitting antenna. Use shielding or cases carefully. Some cases claim EMF blocking, but many either do little or can increase emission by making the phone boost power. Use only ones proven not to interfere. Monitor apps or measures. Some apps or devices advertise real-time radiation notifications (though their reliability varies). The original article references Tawkon, which tracks and alerts based on dynamic radiation levels.

Wrapping Up

By following these steps—defining your goal, setting up a controlled test, measuring systematically, subtracting ambient levels, and carefully interpreting the data—you’ll have a practical, how-to guide for assessing cell phone radiation in real usage conditions. Your results won’t be as precise as lab SAR values, but they’ll give you insight into when and how your phone emits the most energy, and how you can reduce your exposure in daily life.

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10 Reasons Why the FCC is a Joke

10 Reasons Why the FCC is Still a Joke in 2025

For decades, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been touted as the independent government agency responsible for protecting consumers, ensuring fair competition, and regulating the telecommunications industry. In practice, however, the FCC has often functioned more like a partner to the very companies it’s supposed to regulate.

Back in 2011, critics pointed out structural flaws in how the FCC operates, and sadly, most of those problems remain unchanged today. In fact, many of them have gotten worse. With the rapid rollout of 5G, talk of 6G, massive spectrum auctions, and billions spent on rural broadband expansion, the FCC is still prioritizing carriers over consumers. Below are ten reasons why the FCC is still failing to live up to its mission in 2025.

1. Funded by the Carriers It Regulates

One of the most glaring conflicts of interest is that the FCC is not funded primarily by taxpayers. Instead, nearly 99% of its budget comes from regulatory fees paid by the very telecom and broadband companies it oversees — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast, Cox, and others. In 2011, the FCC had roughly 1,900 employees and a budget of $500 million. Today, that number has grown, but the funding structure remains the same.

If an agency’s funding comes almost entirely from the companies it regulates, how independent can it really be? The FCC’s financial dependency on carriers creates a culture where “tough regulation” is avoided, because biting the hand that feeds you is not sustainable.

2. Ignoring Actual vs. Theoretical Coverage

One of the FCC’s longest-running failures is its refusal to address the gap between actual service consumers receive and the theoretical coverage maps carriers advertise. This problem was at the heart of the opposition to the AT&T and T-Mobile merger.

Carriers argue that competition is strong and rural coverage is adequate, but consumer data tells a different story. Thousands of people report dead zones every year, especially in rural and underserved areas. Yet the FCC continues to accept carrier-submitted coverage maps at face value instead of auditing them against real-world performance. As a result, false claims go unpunished, and consumers are left stranded with limited or no options.

3. Rural Coverage Is Still a Broken Promise

Back in 2010, critics noted that rural wireless customers had fewer choices. Fast forward to 2025, and little has changed despite billions spent through federal programs like the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

The FCC has approved subsidies and allowed carriers to pocket government funding without holding them accountable for delivering on promises. Many communities in Iowa, Kansas, Appalachia, and tribal regions still lack reliable coverage. While coverage maps suggest they’re “covered,” reality on the ground shows otherwise.

4. Spectrum Auctions: Big Revenue, Little Oversight

Every few years, the FCC celebrates massive spectrum auctions. Billions are raised as carriers fight for the frequencies needed to power new technologies like 5G and the upcoming 6G networks.

But here’s the problem: these auctions prioritize government revenue and carrier growth over consumer benefit. While the Treasury sees short-term gains, consumers rarely see lower bills or meaningful improvements in service. The FCC focuses on the auction headlines instead of ensuring accountability for how spectrum is deployed.

5. Net Neutrality: A Never-Ending Tug of War

The FCC has spent more than a decade flip-flopping on net neutrality. Depending on political leadership, rules are either reinstated or repealed, leaving consumers in a regulatory tug-of-war.

The result? Carriers continue to throttle speeds, prioritize traffic, or create tiered internet plans with little consequence. While the FCC occasionally makes noise about consumer protections, its enforcement remains weak. Consumers remain at the mercy of carriers who can manipulate internet access with minimal oversight.

6. Dead Zone Reporting: Designed to Fail

DeadCellZones.com has collected consumer-reported coverage gaps for over a decade. Instead of embracing this data, the FCC tried to build its own dead zone reporting tool years later. The problem? It was poorly designed, hard to use, and ultimately failed to deliver meaningful insights.

Insiders have admitted it was “designed to fail” because the FCC didn’t actually want to reveal the extent of coverage gaps. Acknowledging the truth would mean holding carriers accountable for false advertising, something the FCC seems unwilling to do.

7. Lobbyists Run the Show

The revolving door between FCC leadership and the telecom industry is well-documented. Former FCC staff regularly take high-paying jobs at carriers, and industry lobbyists have outsized influence on policy decisions.

Billions of dollars flow into Washington each year to influence spectrum rules, merger approvals, and regulatory enforcement. The result is predictable: policies that benefit the largest players, while consumers get lip service.

8. Lack of True Competition

Carriers argue that wireless competition is healthy, but consumers in many regions know better. In urban areas, people may have two or three viable options, but in rural America, many still have only one option — or none.

This lack of competition was a major argument during the AT&T/T-Mobile merger debate. Critics warned that consolidation would harm consumers. More than a decade later, those fears have been realized. Prices remain high, and innovation is often stifled.

9. Privacy & Consumer Protections Are Weak

Carriers have repeatedly been caught selling user location data to third parties without proper consent. While the FCC has issued fines here and there, systemic change is rare. Instead of using its authority to demand better protections, the agency issues one-off penalties that barely dent carrier profits.

For consumers, this means little assurance that their personal data is secure. The FCC prioritizes revenue generation and industry relationships over safeguarding privacy.

10. Lip Service Over Action

At its core, the FCC has perfected the art of saying the right things without doing them. From broadband expansion to consumer rights, the agency makes promises it rarely fulfills. As early as 2010, critics warned that wireless consumers were getting screwed. That reality is even clearer in 2025.

Instead of real enforcement, consumers get flashy press releases, staged hearings, and promises of future oversight. But when it comes time to hold carriers accountable, the FCC backs down.

Conclusion: David vs. Goliath

When DeadCellZones.com began more than a decade ago, it was a way to highlight the disconnect between carrier marketing and consumer reality. The FCC could have partnered with independent data collectors to gain honest insights, but instead it chose to protect industry relationships.

This is why the FCC remains a “joke” to so many. It pretends to regulate while being financially and politically entangled with the companies it oversees. Consumers remain the losers in this corrupt game.

In 2025, the fight continues. Watchdog groups, independent reporters, and ordinary users submitting dead zone data remain the only real check on telecom power. Until the FCC embraces true independence and prioritizes consumers, it will remain a puppet agency.

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Coverage Map Audits Are Needed

Coverage map audits are indeed necessary to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability in the cell phone industry. 

Why Won't Wireless Carriers Admit Coverage Problems?

Does Admission of Guilt = Class Action Lawsuits?

There can be several reasons why wireless carriers may be hesitant to openly admit problems with their network coverage or services:

Verizon Has 5X More Lies Than AT&T

Verizon Dead Zones Map Showing Where They Lie

Why Does AT&T Wireless Hate Me?

Randall Stephenson AT&T CEO & Tim McKone AT&T Lobbyist

Deadcellzones.com has been trying to speak with AT&T (NYSE: T) executives for the last 10 years without any success in working with a giant telecom company.  We have sent many emails and made numerous phone calls to executives asking to share out crowdsourced coverage information with AT&T executives in order to help them build out their network where customers need it most.  We have also spoken to a handful of AT&T marketing, network operations, public relations middle management, executives but continually get blown off like our coverage maps are not important and don't exist.  Randall Stephenson my contact information is right here if you or any of your executives want to do the right thing and take our information for free.

Do they ignore us because they have been given a green light from the FCC to lie to consumers about their theoretical coverage maps?  Does AT&T ignore us because we don't have a telecom management pedigree or have raised millions of dollars in venture capital?  What validation do we need to get acknowledged by your employees?  Is this because AT&T would rather see our consumer-generated "dead zone" coverage maps disappear, rather than admit they are under-investing in their infrastructure where they hold spectrum licenses?  It makes good business sense to me to buy a spectrum license in areas that you have no intention of building out cell towers and coverage because if it won't be profitable.  However, is this ethical and shouldn't the FCC be auditing these gaps to give back this spectrum to regional carriers who might actually use it and provide coverage?

Deadcellzones.com has received hundreds of thousands of cell phone coverage complaints over the last decade and we publish them on our AT&T map.  We continue to receive hundreds every day from frustrated customers who want coverage help and ways to improve their over-promised AT&T signal strength. Why do we do this asked one prominent member of the FCC?  Because AT&T does not publish the information themselves because they fear if their competitors get this information they will exploit their weak coverage areas.  Sounds like a win for consumers if cell phone reception was more transparent?    

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Photo From @jbtaylor

How to Save Money on Phone Bills

One of the biggest expense items for companies who have large mobile workforces are the monthly cell phone bills.  Companies typically do their best to get all employees under one carrier in order to theoretically save money and get a deal.  However, how do you know that you are getting a deal?

1)  Are you buying new phones for each employee to be on the same plan?
2)  Are you auditing the monthly call activity over your employees?
3)  Are they getting the best service possible in your area?
4)  If all of your employees are on one carrier are you locked into a "good" price?
5)  Should you be encouraging your employees to use free WiFi more often instead of the expensive 4G or WiMax plans?
6)  What if you could give each of your employees a choice of which carrier and the handset or smart phone they wanted to use?
7)  Are you employees spending too much time managing their phone services and reporting expenses?
8)  Are you wasting valuable productivity time provisioning phones to your new employees and getting phones back from employees no longer with the company?
9)  Are you using VoIP for international calls?
10) Lastly, are you auditing and keeping track of the coverage service quality that your employees are getting and using this as leverage when you renew your contract?

Here are some companies that might help you make cheaper international calls with VoIP and audit your cell phone call activity through the carrier. Auditing your call activity is very important these days as dropped calls and coverage quality is actually getting worse as data speeds increase.  Most of these hosted solutions working with cell phones using unified communications tools and are sold directly to small businesses and directly to consumers.

Google Voice - Gives small businesses a second business number and makes voicemail more efficient.  It will also save money on international calls.
Skype - Great for video conferencing and making international calls and for businesses of any size.

Second Voice -  Large enterprises can audit and manage employee phones by adding a second number to an existing employee cell phone. 

Toktumi - Hosted PBX that gives employees a second number and has apps for your smartphone  

Truphone - Cheap VoIP calls from your mobile phone over WiFi
Ring Central - Get 800 numbers and virtual PBX with VoIP for calls
Vonage - VoIP phone service target to home users
Fonality - Viritual PBX in a box for small to medium sized enterprises
Virtual PBX - Hosted PBX for small business
Vbuzzer - VoIP software for PC

Where is T-Mobile Expanding 5g Coverage?

What does 5g coverage expansion really mean for customers and why should they care?  Does it fill T-Mobile's coverage gaps or just provide faster speeds?  Are they fixing areas where they previously claimed to have 4G coverage on their maps?  Are they putting up new cell phone towers or just enhancing the new ones?

Carriers are sending out hyped press releases claiming to expand their network coverage and network speeds on a daily basis. Who is auditing their claims and where do they insist on making claims that are completely false and misleading?  

Here is a great example of a press release that is complete marketing fluff.  This press release is trying to convey their 5G to confuse customers yet don't explain how many towers have it and where it's available.   T-Mobile 5g+ Network Now Delivers Broadest Reach of 5G Speeds in U.S.. Now 5g+ network service is available in nearly 50 major metropolitan areas across the country, with the newest additions including Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; and Wichita, Kan. In addition, T-Mobile has expanded coverage in cities in previously announced metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. 4G speeds are now available for customers in Alexandria, McLean and Reston, Va.; Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach, and Ontario, CA; Annapolis, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md.; and Asheville and Hickory, N.C.

I have a suggestion for you T-Mobile.  Why don't you provide more transparency about where you are expanding 5g coverage on a daily basis on a beautiful coverage map like we do on Deadcellzones.com our T-Mobile coverage map (below)?  Is it because you want to make it virtually impossible for media and consumer advocacy groups like us to audit your coverage claims and 5g expansion progress?  Your press hype is ridiculous and your lack of clarity of where you are expanding coverage is too confusing for any T-Mobile customer to understand the value of your daily press releases.

Here is a suggestion.  Get specific down to the street level on a map so we can easily see where we can expect faster speeds and improved capacity.  Your T-Mobile coverage maps are completely worthless to the average consumer now that dropped calls and data congestion happen more than ever on a daily basis.  Provide a map of where you are expanding coverage that would allow customers, employees, service providers, consumer groups and cell phone tower operators to understand where you have invested your resources to improve capacity and connectivity.   T-Mobile's senior management team needs to wake up and stop be paranoid about your competition because your lack of clarity and transparency is appalling.

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Where is Verizon Expanding Network Coverage?

What does this really mean for customers?  Is Verizon filling coverage gaps in areas where they previously have claimed to have coverage on their maps?  Is Verizon Wireless expanding network capacity to provide better data for its' customers?  Are they putting up new cell phone towers, adding wifi or allowing customers to finally use femtocells?

Carriers are sending out noisy press releases claiming to expand their network coverage in areas throughout the US.  Here is a great example of a press release that is just a waste of time, resources, money and effort.  Verizon Wireless Expands Network Coverage in New Jersey With New Ramtown Cell Site.  This press release is trying to convey a message to their customers explaining that they are adding one new cell phone tower in the state of New Jersey.  Do they really need to do a National press release explaining this to their 92 million customers?   This is a complete waste of time resources, money and just hype that is press release noise.  Here is a suggestion of how to better use your resources and make your media department convey a message that is useful to more people.

I have a suggestion for you Verizon Wireless.  Why don't you provide more transparency about where you are expanding coverage on a daily basis on a beautiful coverage map like we do on our Verizon coverage map (below)?  Is it because you want to make it virtually impossible for media and consumer advocacy groups like Deadcellzones.com to audit your coverage claims and expansion progress?  Your press hype is ridiculous and your lack of clarity of where you are expanding coverage is too confusing for any Verizon customer to understand the value of your daily regional press releases.

Here is a suggestion.  Provide a map of where you are expanding coverage would allow customers, employees, service providers, consumer groups and cell phone tower operators to understand where you have invested your resources to improve capacity and connectivity.   Your Verizon coverage maps are completely worthless to the average consumer now that dropped calls and data congestion are more common than it was ten years ago in 2000.  Your senior management team needs to wake up and stop be paranoid about your competition because your lack of clarity and transparency is appalling.

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Call Failed or Dropped Calls?

It is virtually impossible to complete a call these days without a minimum of at least one dropped call.  Why does this seem to happen at the beginning of the call several times and they seem to work fine?  Failed calls and dropped calls are far more annoying than dead zones themselves.  There is much evidence to point out that as data speeds increase exponentially and the number of users increases on the networks that most cell phone users will experience more coverage and reception problems. Industry studies suggest that as the density of mobile phone users increases for wireless access to cell phone towers the likelihood of dropped calls and data congestion gets much worse.

Most 3G mobile phone users can identify several locations where their smartphone consistently drops calls. Our solution is to provide more transparency about where capacity is needed for data offloading from the network via Wifi to relieve carrier networks. Click on the map links above to report dropped call locations.  Here are some steps to follow after you have submitted your complaint on our map:

The most common cause of dropped calls is not exactly what you may think.  Most people think your proximity to the cell phone tower or location is most important.  However, the amount of people on the same cell tower or network around you is actually the most important these days as competition for signals intensifies.  Obviously, your cell phone will have the strongest signal outdoors and when fewer people are using the phone around you.  Densely populated areas near offices and apartment buildings usually experience the most dropped calls.  Also, rush hour in your car is another common location for dropped calls.

Did you also know that 3G networks actually breath?  This means signal strengths are constantly being adjusted by the carrier according to the other users around you.  If your signal strength has always been good in an area, but suddenly goes bad, try removing the battery from your phone.   Leave the battery out for at least 10 seconds. Replace it and check your signal strength again.   

All of this evidence might encourage you to ask yourself if it still makes sense to stick with your larger mobile operators AT&T and Verizon?  Or might you be better off going with a smaller regional carrier carrier who has less customers around you competing for access to the network?

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Carrier IQ: Mobile Service Intelligence ?'s

Why are wireless carriers unwilling to look at open data source solutions (ie. deadcellzones.com) to solve problems and would rather spend 1000X more on a solution that might not return any more value than free solutions. Is it a control issue?

When I speak with telecom industry insiders about the value that Carrier IQ providers to their customers (who?) it isn't clear.  The only things I have heard from people who know the company is that they have "issues" and their data is "too expensive".  I have tried to reach out to the company several times unsuccessfully to see about building a mutually beneficial relationship.  One of my biggest "pet peeves" being a telecom industry outsider is the incestuous nature of protected carrier business relationships.  As I see it the carriers are unwilling to look at open data source solutions to solving the problem and would rather spend 1000X more on a solution that might not return any more value than we do.  In my view, the RF engineers are trying to protect their jobs at all costs and continue to create complicated stories that the marketing / business people can't comprehend.

From what I hear about their fancy mobile handset intelligence solution is that it provides quantifiable data that their customers can act on but are they really solving the problem better than we are?  What is wrong with having actual customers log complaints where the network stinks for free.  Carrier IQ probably thousands of handsets on the market that are generating data on their behalf that the consumer doesn't even know about. Its impossible to fill in all of the billions of places that have coverage gaps so shouldn't a smart carrier purchase data where their customers WANT it most.  As you can see I am a reluctant supporter of applications that sit on the handset and eat up bandwidth, battery life and network bandwidth.

Bridgescale Partners recently led a a $12M series D round of financing for CarrierIQ a provider of mobile service intelligence solutions that use the mobile phone to give detailed metrics on service quality and usage. Mohr Davidow Ventures, Accel Partners, Charles River Ventures, Nauta Capital, and Intel Capital also participated in the round.  If anyone can share customers or revenue history please post on the comments section below.  However, here is a summary of their funding history which seems very elaborate considering the simple problem they are solving.

Total Funding - $42M

Series A, 8/06 $10M

Mohr Davidow Ventures

Accel Partners

Benchmark Capital

Series C, 1/09 $20M

Intel Capital

Presidio Ventures

Sumitomo Corporation

Series D, 6/10 $12M

Bridgescale Partners

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