**As published in RCR Wireless News**

Qualcomm Inc.’s mobile TV service has gone dark and with it a new round of questions have cropped up about the future of mobile TV as a whole. Will there ever be a year that defines mobile TV? What will it take to finally deliver mass adoption?

Americans love their TV, without a doubt, but that has yet to translate to our mobile devices at least in the traditional sense. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of mobile applications that deliver video and TV programming at a good rate, but widespread mobile TV services still face an uphill battle. Still, groups like Mobile Content Venture, the Open Mobile Video Coalition and others are trying to revive broadcaster and TV network interests in the mobile channel.

As these groups proceed, it would be worth their while to reflect on what went wrong with Qualcomm’s big bet on mobile TV. Read more

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

Qualcomm Inc. is in the process of shutting down its mobile broadcast FLO TV service. After hesitantly entering the direct-to-consumer side of the space just a couple years ago, Qualcomm is now cutting its losses on that front and is in the process of shutting down FLO TV.

Wholesale customers, such as those on AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless , will not be immediately affected. The white-label service, which is resold by both carriers, will continue running as is for the foreseeable future. But that is likely to change down the road. Read more

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

LOS ANGELES – After spending the last three days up close and personal with the cable industry at its big annual affair, I’m disappointed to report that mobile was hard to find. The wireless innovations and news I’d hoped to see were simply not there.

I’m not sure lobbying will do the trick, but the entire mobile industry should do everything it can to bring wireless out from the distant horizon it sits in now and into clear view for most business in this space who don’t yet see the light. Read more

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Kicking off a panel dedicated to video on smartphones at Digital Hollywood yesterday, The Nielsen Co.’s VP of mobile media presented some astonishing statistics that frame the intense battle that’s getting underway between Google Inc.’s Android operating system and Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

Citing fresh data that the research firm put together just in time for the event, Jerry Rocha said smartphones running on the Android operating systems are beating or tying with the iPhone in many use categories. Time will tell whether Android users will maintain their high use data services, but if the trend stays on track Apple might be outdone at its own game very soon.

Android users are outperforming iPhone users on location-based services and mobile video while both user groups are in a dead heat for mobile Internet use at an overall rate of 88%, Rocha said. Data services on the Android operating system has taken off in just the past couple quarters and is currently running at a year-over-year growth rate of 352%, he added. Read more

** As published in RCR Wireless News **

LAS VEGAS — There’s no denying the special romance most Americans have with television. But expanding that popular pastime into an equal (or dare they dream, greater) experience on small screens has been as tough and costly as any in the entertainment business.

In an industry where risks rarely pay off — look to NBC’s late-night TV debacle as a perfect example of the power of the status quo in television — technology companies, broadcasters and carriers are trying to open a newer, more daunting platform that could quickly surpass the reach of in-the-home TV by at least 3-to-1.

As you can imagine, none are taking the same path to get there, but things are starting to gel throughout the ecosystem even while every player admits profits won’t be coming anytime soon. Read more

** As published in RCR Wireless News **

LAS VEGAS–As if there wasn’t enough evidence already of mobile’s growing power in the consumer electronics space, Qualcomm Inc. Chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs gave his first-ever keynote at CES this morning.

When it comes to wireless communications, one would be hard-pressed to find a company that’s become as entrenched and integral to the growth and innovations the industry has achieved as Qualcomm. Indeed, the San Diego-based company’s rise has been lock-in-step with the exponential rise in global mobility.

And yet, Jacobs began his speech today: “Qualcomm’s not exactly a household name.”

Jacobs believes every electronics device will eventually be like a cellphone, in varying form factors of course, but the key ingredient being that always-connected data capability. Read more