Wireless Watch 603

Key Issues:

• Robotic spiders, smart sportswear and 5G: the many faces of the new Intel 2
• Phytium’s massive server chip highlights combined ARM/China threat 8
• Is Intel lining up an iPhone deal at last? 10
• If Android 6.0 can’t unify the platform, Google must embrace the offshoots 12

Comment:

• GSMA seizes IoT initiative back from the licence-exempt world 16
• Latest LTE-U row highlights the deepening split in US telecoms 19
• Layoffs at Lab126, after Fire Phone flop, show Amazon’s shift to smart home 22
• Radical restructure looms for pressurized Chinese operators 24
• Intel and Sony expand in drones, Amazon wants a ‘drone zone’ 26

4G Watch:

• Swisscom in dual-mode, triband LTE breakthrough; Nokia wins small cell contract with Ooredoo 27

IoT Watch:

• Gimbal’s beacons move outdoors, and go mobile 28
• Mobile Apps and Content:
• Facebook throws its hat into the AI ring with M digital assistant; MobiTV works with Vidora on content personalization 29

Spectrum Watch:

• Qualcomm sells UK spectrum, cashes in on carrier interest in SDL 31

IPR Watch:

• Samsung aims for Supreme Court hearing on Apple case; Microsoft hurls new mis-siles at InterDigital 33

Operator Watch:

• MTN plans vast RAN capex to narrow gap with Vodacom