Nokia Siemens Networks published a blog post Friday called “Wake-up call: Industry collaboration needed to make Beyond 4G networks carry 1000 times more traffic by 2020.” Such a headline is designed to strike fear into the hearts of mobile operators (and NSN customers) everywhere as the demand for mobile broadband outstrips the carriers’ ability to supply it. Even AT&T is prepping for a traffic explosion, not just at the edge of the network, where its wireless base stations sit, but at the core of the network as the world transitions to an all-IP future complete with video.

From an interview with Krish Prabhu, of AT&T Labs, in Fierce Wireless:

Over the next five years, our traffic volumes tell us that when we launch LTE each one of our 11 regional cores will have a throughput of two to three terabits, and the national core will have a throughput at least 10 times that. … We are very involved in the solution to that problem. We’ve identified a layered approach to get us there even as we support the launch of our LTE network and get LTE to 90 to 95 percent of our end-users. That to me is the biggest challenge.

However, instead of fear mongering, both stories actually try to discuss some of the technical challenges the industry needs to meet to support the demand for data. The NSN report discussed the need for more spectrum, but also the need to figure out ways to cram more bits into a single megahertz of spectrum, so every airwave can work a little harder. We’ve covered some of the ways this can happen, from carrier aggregation technology to better use available spectrum to more base stations to help with capacity. NSN goes further and discusses the need for cognitive radios and self optimizing networks, a concept that major vendors are pushing as networks become more complicated.

Over at AT&T, Prabhu told Fierce Wireless that when the network was carrying mostly voice traffic, managing the network itself was simpler. However, with the switch to data, and soon to all-IP networks in the form of LTE, the way traffic is handled changes. Data traffic becomes harder to anticipate, predict and can overflow the network or the handset. He said that AT&T Labs is working with developers to understand how apps behave on the network (products such as those from Mu Dynamics can help with this) as well as researching things such as algorithmic flow control on the network and better signaling and control of how data flows through the networks. Companies such as ByteMobile, Starrent (acquired by Cisco), Camiant (acquired by Tekelec) and others are providing some of these products. I expect we’ll hear more about this from Cole Brodman, the CMO of T-Mobile USA or Stephen Bye, the CTO of Sprint, when they hot the stage at out Mobilize 2011 conference on Sept. 26 and 27.

However, both of these articles ignore a critical element to help meet mobile broadband demand — Wi-Fi. AT&T is already using Wi-Fi as a means to offload traffic from its cellular network, and Metro PCS (spcs) may be offloading some 20 percent of its traffic via the technology. But there is still a lot that needs to happen to help integrate Wi-Fi into the cellular experience in a way that’s seamless and encourages the customer to use it and trust it. It’s not surprising that NSN wouldn’t want to focus on the topic, since it’s not an area where it is selling gear, but I hope that AT&T is keeping its commitment to better Wi-Fi even as it expands capacity and the capability on its core network.

Here’s the brief NSN presentation from SlideShare:

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• In Q4, Data Was Mobile’s Hot Spot
• 4G: State of the Union
• Mobile Q1: All Eyes on Tablets, T-Mobile and AT&T

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends

We give Intel a lot of flack here at GigaOM for not being mobile enough or low power enough for scale out computing, but the chipmaker is doing all right in the server category. Jason Waxman, the general manager of Intel’s high density compute business says the growth rate of servers is on a roll– growing about 7 percent and that growth rate will double in the next five years.

In the video below I spoke with Waxman, about the ever-growing need for servers and how we can sustain that kind of demand for compute. He didn’t spend much time on power efficiency but he did predict a coming era of facial recognition and video search driven by more compute power. We also discussed the server architecture debate that has led to the creation of startups such as SeaMicro, Calxeda and Tilera, which are rethinking the ways servers and chips for servers are built.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Infrastructure Q1: IaaS Comes Down to Earth; Big Data Takes Flight
• Infrastructure Overview, Q2 2010
• A 2011 Infrastructure Forecast

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends

We’ve long believed in the mystical power of quantum dots, so it makes perfect sense to us that one day they’ll be used to fully harness the Sun God’s rays and thereby save the planet. The nano-particles turn light into electricity, and could potentially be manufactured cheaply and abundantly enough to coat surfaces in current-generating paint. The main obstacle to this has so far been efficiency: the clever little dots just don’t work very hard. However, scientists at the University of Toronto now claim to have discovered a fix. Instead of using a single layer of particles, which can only harvest one meager wavelength from the full gamut of solar light, they added a second coat on top and configured it to be sensitive to an additional part of the spectrum. By adding third and fourth layers, the researchers hope to achieve a commercially viable efficiency of 10-percent within the next five years. We humbly call on Ra to be pleased with their efforts.

Quantum dots could coat the world in nano-sized solar panels originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Technology Review  |  Nature Photonics  | Email this | Comments
Engadget

Maybe FLO TV didn’t die in vain, after all: In its new global entertainment and media outlook report, PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that mobile TV subscription revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent over the next five years in the U.S. That means mobile subscriptions will bring in 0 million of revenue by 2015, compared with 6 million in 2010.

This would be a small but notable recovery for a sector that has had trouble catching on with consumers and that actually saw revenue declining two straight years in a row after peaking at 2 million in 2008. PwC forecasts that those losses will level off this year, with revenue staying at 6 million and growth returning to the sector in 2012.

Granted, we are still talking about a market that is pretty small overall, only catering to 5 million paying subscribers by 2015 (up from 2.7 million in 2010). However, there could be a bigger story behind these numbers: Past mobile TV efforts, like Qualcomm’s now-defunct FLO TV service, were based on subscription-only offerings. PwC predicts that mobile TV will mostly be free, with only a smaller subset of viewers subscribing to extended premium offerings. From the report:

We expect mobile television to be offered principally as a free service for standard television programming. We also expect that specialized content, such as live broadcasts of sporting events or the availability of movies from premium television channels, will become an appealing application that would command a subscription fee, although we do not expect such models to generate significant interest for at least the next few years.

In other words: Mobile TV may not be a subscription gold mine for the next few years, but the fact that subscription revenue is projected to double in four years could be the sign of a much wider adoption of free and ad-supported mobile TV offerings. PwC predicts that this uptake will be driven by wireless network upgrades and a mobile DTV standard, which could kick in by 2012 or 2013.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Bluetooth to Feel Blue as Personal Area Network Battles Loom
• A Media Tablet Forecast, 2011 – 2015
• 5 Connected Consumer Companies That Ruled 2010

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends

Everybody can observe that electric cars are here to stay. Hybrids or all electric cars have been introduced or are on the drawing boards of most of the major automobile manufactures. To stay ahead of the curve, automobile manufactures are putting their designs on the showroom floor.

Most of you are going to be driving electric cars within this decade. You might be doubtful, but there are many reasons this trend will continue to grow.

You already know that gas prices have jumped lately. Gas prices continue to climb as uncertainty builds within the Middle East. The $7 a gallon price barrier may be broken in the next year or two. Elevated gasoline prices will cripple the average consumer and drastically restrict their driving habits.

The price of petroleum is more than likely going to rise further for several reasons. Perhaps the foremost reason is going to be the expanding middle class in developing nations. High population countries like India and China are already demanding more crude oil while their middle class grows. As competition for oil builds up, oil companies will have to bid higher to satisfy the demands of consumers.

The growing complexity of gasoline powered vehicles causes car repairs and upkeep to be ever more expensive. To control all of the fuel and anti-pollution equipment manufacturers have had to resort to computers. But, even the most fuel efficient cars use only about a fifth of the gasoline to propel the car. The remainder of the energy goes out the exhaust. That’s a major waste of energy from gasoline.

Good economic news, however, is absolutely not far away. Manufacturers are now providing both hybrid gas and electric as well as all electric cars. Worldwide, manufactures are developing new, electric vehicles. China, Europe and in many cases US automakers are responding.

The costs of US electric cars make many of them suitable for the luxury market. Foreign makers, however, are often targeting the average consumer. And, that pattern will continue since the European Commission has set a goal for zero-emission zones including a few major cities by the year 2050.

Economics makes this move appear remote within the United States. A major shift to electric vehicles would reduce state and federal gasoline excise tax revenues. Excise taxes on gasoline inside the United States average close to 48 cents per gallon and 53 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. How fast would government be to give up that source of revenue?

Even with the lagging eagerness of government, the need for all electric cars has been high for a very long time. If you have seen the 2006 documentary “Who Killed The Electric Car?” you understand that US manufacturer General Motors produced an alarmingly successful electric car in the mid 1990s, the EV1, and drivers wanted to keep their cars. Since the EV1s were leased, GM reclaimed them and destroyed nearly all of them.

Even so, many people today are converting their gas guzzling cars to all electric cars. As gas prices further increase, this demand can only grow.

Specialty auto shops that perform the conversions are popping up all across the country. And, suppliers are catering to the do-it-yourself crowd by providing all of the parts required as a conversion kit.

You would do well to get one of the step-by-step conversion guides that will help you understand what’s involved in converting your car to electric. Most guides also supply helpful tips on purchasing the required components at very affordable prices.

Simply remember to smile and wave at all of the cars waiting in line for gasoline when you pass the gas stations in your all electric car.

BMW MG is the parent company of BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce. Bavarian Motor Works sells cars under the BMW moniker throughout the world. BMW automobiles are popular in the United Sates and there are a large number of dealers that make up the BMW Los Angeles family.

The corporate office is in Germany, but BMW produces cars in plants throughout the entire world. One such manufacturing plant is in the United States. This manufacturing plant is in Greenville, South Carolina. The South Carolina plant produces over 150,000 cars a year for BMW. BMW expects this number to nearly double in the next five years.

BMW has plans to increase production in South Carolina to over 250,000 cars a year within the next five years. A large portion of these cars remain in the United States and are sold by BMW dealers throughout the country. Along with the X5 and X6, BMW plans to have the X3 manufactured in United States.

BMW’s X3 is scheduled for production in 2010 and is a next-generation automobile. BMW answered the request for an SUV crossover with the X3. In fact, the X3 is the second Sports Activity Vehicle manufactured by BMW. Along with the X3, there are three other cars in the X series. Among these is the newly restyled X1. The X5 and X6 are also made in the United States and round up the X series of BMW’s. The X series of cars are some of the most popular that BMW produces.

The X series is just one of many lines of cars made by BMW. One of the more popular series of cars manufactured by BMW is the M series. This series is dedicated to the proud racing history that BMW has been part of. In the 1970′s BMW was a serious competitor in motor sports and the M series is designed to pay tribute to these racing years. The M3, M5 and M6 are all part of this tribute to racing heritage.

Convertibles are very popular with younger drivers and BMW provides an automobile that answers this desire for convertibles. The Z4 is a 2 door convertible sports car and is the second generation of this auto. The Z4 comes with some changes in 2010, including added safety features and some body restyling.

A new trend in automobiles involves the use of alternatives power methods such as electricity. BMW has answered this request for more eco-friendly automobiles by introducing the Hybrid 7. BMW is claiming the title of the fastest hybrid sedan in the world with the Hybrid 7.

The Hybrid and the M and X series automobiles are a small part of the cars that are manufactured and sold for BMW in the Los Angeles area. BMW car dealerships Los Angeles consists of a group of independent car dealers that provide drivers in Los Angeles with many of the cars produced by BMW. Many of the cars sold by Los Angeles BMW Car Dealerships are made in Greenville, South Carolina.