Verizon takes Apple’s side against “backdoor” into phones

Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile carrier in UnitedStates, takes Apple’s side against “backdoor” into phones for law enforcement. Verizon CEO ‘Lowell McAdam’ issued a statement in support of Apple’s stance against a technological backdoor into its devices for law enforcement- statement that is significant considering the nation’s largest wireless carrier had so far remained silent in Apple's ongoing battle against an FBI request for access into an iPhone linked to December's San Bernardino shootings. 

"Verizon is committed to protecting customer privacy and one of the tools for protecting that privacy is encryption," McAdam said. He further added, "We support the availability of strong encryption with no back doors. The case with Apple presents unique issues that should be addressed by Congress, not on an ad hoc basis."

This statement by Verizon coincided with an interview on the topic that Apple CEO Tim Cook granted to ABC World News a few days back. "If a court can ask us to write this piece of software, think about what else they could ask us to write," Cook said during the interview, according to a Verge transcript. "Maybe it's an operating system for surveillance. Maybe it's the ability for law enforcement to turn on the camera. I mean, I don't know where this stops. But I do know this is not what should be happening in this country. This is not what should be happening in America. If there should be a law that compels us to do it, it should be passed out in the open, and the people of America should get a voice in that. The right place for that debate to occur is in Congress."

Meantime, an article published in the New York Times citing unnamed sources reported that Apple engineers are working on “new security measures” that would make it impossible for the external agencies to unlock an iPhone.

Verizon joins Facebook, Twitter and other major Tech companies in voicing support for Apple’s position. However, other major carriers have remained silent on the topic.

FCC’s 600 MHz Incentive Auction to Start End of March, but Surprisingly Google Won’t Bid

Internet giant and Android creator Google clearly stated that it will not bid for 600 MHz spectrum licenses in the FCC's upcoming incentive auction of TV broadcasters' spectrum. Google will join Charter communications, Sprint and others sitting out the event. 

"Like all those interested in improved connectivity and equitable access, we'll be following the upcoming spectrum auction closely. That said, we have not filed to participate," a Google representative said. 

Also, Google did not participate in the FCC's landmark AWS-3 auction that ended a year ago. However, Google was a part of the FCC's 700 MHz spectrum auction in 2008 - but Google did not purchase any spectrum.

Regardless of its plans to sit out the auction, Google continues to play a major role in the U.S. mobile industry. It is the company behind the Android operating system, the world's most widely deployed smartphone OS. Moreover, it launched an MVNO service called Project Fi last year that allows users to access public Wi-Fi networks alongside the cellular services of both T-Mobile US and Sprint.

Besides the nation’s two major wireless carriers, other companies that indicate participation in the auction include- T-Mobile, Dish Network, Comcast and more. 

Sprint, another big name striving to turn around its business and implement a small cell network deployment, has also confirmed last year that it will not bid in the auction. Earlier this month, Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said “the company's pending acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, and uncertainty about the eventual outcome of the deal would likely preclude its involvement in the auction.”

According to J.P. Morgan- “The FCC's upcoming incentive auction of TV broadcasters' 600 MHz licenses is likely to fetch only $25 billion to $35 billion in total winning bids, or roughly $1 to $2 per MHz/POP.” This is far below the $2.68 MHz/POP generated by the landmark AWS-3 auction that ended a year ago with almost $45 billion in total bids. It's also less than half of some analysts' estimates for the upcoming 600 MHz auction.

T-Mobile Has Announced Revamped Prepaid Plan without Price Bump

T-Mobile amends prepaid plan without a price hike. The plan offers customers with more data at the same price of $40, $50 or $60 per month. The telecom company earlier offered 1GB data for its users at the price of $40 prepaid plan. Fortunately, T-Mobile has recently tripled the data limit plus for the same price, customers can also avail 3GB of data. Likewise, those paying 3GB data can now get 5GB of data.
 

In addition, customers on the $60 prepaid plan can now benefit from 10GB data allowance when compared with 5GB data limit that was offered previously. All the above-mentioned plans feature unlimited calling and texting. Moreover, subscribers can also get T-Mobile’s Music Unlimited benefit that confirms that music streaming via participating services won’t count against the user’s data cap. To bring a smile on customer’s face, T-Mobile’s Binge On has also become a part of the package that allows customers to enjoy video streaming at the standard definition for free.

T-Mobile undoubtedly offers one of the best-prepaid plans in the U.S and cheap cellphone service providers. In contrary Sprint subscribers have to pay $35 for 1GB data and $55 for 6GB mobile data. Similarly, AT&T prepaid customers have to pay $45 for 2GB data while Verizon delivers only1GB for $45 per month. 

The company was ranked highest in 2015 for its cellphone services. "In 2015 we AGAIN saw 8.3 million customers come to T-Mobile, and 2.1 million in Q4 - marking 11 consecutive quarters of over 1 million net adds and 3 quarters in a row with more than 2 million total net for the Un-carrier," says John Legere, the CEO and president of T-Mobile. "That means we added 23,000 customers per day, EVERY DAY for the last two years, so trust me when I say we have NO plans to stop disrupting the status quo in wireless!"

The above-mentioned figures also include the addition of 1.3 million prepaid customers in the year 2015 and around 469000 prepaid customers addition in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The current prepaid plan looks attractive enough to entice a million customers in the coming future. It will be interesting to watch those other telecom companies revamp their prepaid plans offer more data limit to please customers or not.