Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Senator calls for antitrust scrutiny of telecom mergers.  A U.S. senator influential on telecommunications issues said Tuesday he's "troubled" about recent announcements of multibillion-dollar telecommunications mergers, saying he will press the U.S. Congress and federal agencies to thoroughly examine the deals' potential impact on customers. 8:00:29 PM

Motorola's iRadio Will Put Internet Radio Streams Into Your Cell Phone. Motorola's iRadio will mobilize hundreds of commercial-free Internet radio channels and incorporate a user's personal music collection to provide a listening experience for home, in the car, or on the go. 7:11:31 PM

Ben Franklin's Electrical Experiments. I never was before engaged in any study that so totally engrossed my attention and my time Ben Frankin's extensive experiments with electricity went well beyond his famous kite flying; he also proved that lightning was electrical (and invented the lightning rod), and was the first one to use the words "positive" and "negative" to describe electrical charges. It would no doubt please the ingenious Mr. Franklin to know that all of his writings on electricity are now available online (Note: link goes to 912k PDF file.) Franklin's excitement over his discoveries is palpable--and high school students can duplicate them on their own, thanks to Ben Franklin As My Lab Partner. 7:10:30 PM

FCC: $2.2 billion Spectrum Bonanza. Finally unloads Nextwave spectrum. The FCC today completed the auction of 242 wireless licenses for a whopping $2.2 billion. Verizon Wireless and a partner collectively won 63 licenses after bidding nearly $697.4 million. 7:08:17 PM

In Flight Cell Phone Ban May Be Lifted. FCC continues official inquiry into possibility. The FCC today officially began considering (see pdf press release) lifting the in-flight cell phone ban. Specifically, they're considering allowing the use of wireless devices "so long as the device operates at its lowest power setting under control.. 7:07:49 PM

Bell TV. T-Minus five years and counting. Microsoft sits at the heart of a five year transformation that should turn your local bell into a TV provider (provided they aren't Qwest). It's one of the most significant shifts in telecom history. 8:06:05 AM

Future of Radio Is Downloadable. A new station in Berlin is attempting to redefine music broadcasting for the interconnected internet age. The key will be MP3s and cell phones, not the old-fashioned radio. 8:05:35 AM

FCC investigates VoIP squashers. Old skool networks blocking VoIP calls 8:04:18 AM

Flat Screens at Rock-Bottom Prices. Many new companies are attempting to capture market share from well established consumer electronics manufacturers by using the same tactic: low prices. 8:00:19 AM

Thanks to Cellphones, TV Screens Get Smaller. Three original television series, including a spinoff of "24," are making their debut on Verizon's new high-speed cellular phone network. 7:59:54 AM

XM Satellite Radio Launches 24-Hour Major League Baseball Channel. Today XM Satellite Radio will launch the nation’s first 24-hour radio channel devoted exclusively to Major League Baseball. The "MLB Home Plate" channel will feature news, listener call-in shows, interviews, and rebroadcasts of classic games. Details and lineups. 7:59:17 AM

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