800 MHz Interleaved Channels Could be Available Soon: Highly sought after channels that will become available to public-safety entities as part of the 800 MHz rebanding process could be released by the FCC soon.

Verizon to Expand LTE-based Broadband Service Nationwide: Verizon Wireless is set to expand its recently unveiled HomeFusion Broadband offering nationwide beginning tomorrow. The service relies on the carrier’s LTE network and was initially announced earlier this year.

Backhaul Issues May Slam Small-cell Plans: Backhaul issues are threatening to curtain small-cell deployment, according to a study from research firm iGR. Wireless operators are increasingly turning to small-cell architectures to improve capacity and coverage on their networks and reduce networks costs.

Intel Puts Its Money Where the LTE is: Computer chip kingpin Intel is investing heavily in LTE, buying patents and initiating a collaborative effort on TD-LTE with Huawei.

Could Apple become the world’s biggest handset maker? It’s no secret that Apple is doing well in the smartphone market. The iPhone vendor became the world’s largest smartphone maker in the fourth quarter of last year due to the massive success of its iPhone 4S launch. However, in the first quarter, Apple lost that position to Samsung mainly due to Samsung’s continued strength with its Galaxy line of Android phones.

Here’s the latest in wireless industry news, ending in the week of April 27th, 2012:

FCC approves AT&T’s AWS spectrum transfer to T-Mobile: AT&T giving some of their spectrum to T-Mobile, could be an improvement for T-Mobile users.

Study: AT&T and T-Mobile are among top networks in speed tests: The HSPA+ network of T-Mobile USA and the LTE Network of AT&T were the nation’s fastest “3G and “4G” networks, respectively, among tier 1 USA carriers.

Rumor: Sprint’s Boost and Virgin units to offer WiMax: Sprint sub brands Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA may finally join the 4G marketing arena as they gain hand-me-down access to the WiMax service Sprint is shifting from, in order to launch their LTE network.

Vodafone launches into global services market with Cable & Wireless purchase: Vodafone says it will pay £1.04 billion (€1.27 billion) in cash to acquire Cable & Wireless Worldwide (C&WW) in a move that will add a UK and worldwide fibre network to its portfolio.

Bill Aims to Put 1755-1780 MHz Band on Auction Block: Rep. Cliff Stearns and Rep Doris Matsui, today unveiled what they’re calling the “Efficient Use of Government Spectrum Act,” which would require the FCC to pair the 1755-1780 and 2155-2180 MHz spectrum blocks, which are already set for auction, for reallocation and auction for commercial wireless use.

Here at RepeaterStore we’ve just launched a new Live Chat feature on our website, allowing visitors to chat with us and have their questions answered in real time.  Users can send inquiries directly to our operators and have their questions answered instantly, all the while browsing the information they need directly on our website.  Our operators can also see exactly what page you’re viewing, to better understand and help you find what you’re looking for.

We’ve also got a number of trained representatives to help suit your needs, ranging from amplifier/repeater application suggestions to large building quotes. With this system, we’ll be able to help you faster than ever before.

Talking to us is extremely easy! To do so, simply click on the blue ‘Chat with us!’ box located at the bottom right of the website and type in your message. Voluntarily, you can enter your name and an e-mail to help us better serve you. If an operator is unavailable at any time, your messages will be sent to us via e-mail and we’ll be able to email back to you with an answer – so there’s no missed questions!

Recently our good friends over at OpenSignalMaps launched a new version of their website at the MWC2012 (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain showcasing a new feature called NetworkRank. Simply put, NetworkRank is a tool that enables consumers to see which network is providing the best service in their area, giving them the opportunity to make smarter decisions when purchasing a new mobile contract.

NetworkRank brings transparency to the opaque world of network coverage, where consumers historically have only been able to make decisions based on limited amounts of data.  Consumers can now use the NetworkRank product on OpenSignalMaps.com to browse to their area and see a rank of which networks are performing the best in their area. It’s based on a sophisticated algorithm that leverages OpenSignalMaps’ large crowd-sourced data set of network performance information.  The algorithm compares network service across several key indicators such as signal coverage, data speeds, responsiveness and reliability. Consumers can also use the website to see if 4G service is available yet in their area.

For those readers who don’t know who the guys at OpenSignalMaps are, they’re the largest independent evaluator of mobile network performance, with data from over 200 countries.  The data is based on user submitted contributions from over one and a half million downloads of the OpenSignalMaps Android application. The Android application is a dashboard for your signal that helps you find better cell signal nearby, run speed tests, and find open wi-fi hotspots. An application for Apple’s iOS is also in development. OpenSignalMaps, founded in 2010 by four University of Oxford Physics graduates, helps consumers compare cellular networks by building independent coverage maps based on data crowd-sourced from mobile phones. The company has offices in San Francisco, as well as London.

If the information above has sparked an interest and you’d like to check out where the strongest signal strength in your area is, or see where the nearest cell phone tower for your carrier lies, head over to OpenSignalMaps.com!

Today, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that recognizes the need for consumer signal boosters to fill in the gaps in carriers wireless coverage. The NPRM suggests new rules and standards for signal boosters to ensure they can boost cellular signal for consumers without any adverse effects. The FCC notes that the signal coverage is not complete in rural and other underserved areas and that “signal boosters are part of the solution”.

Well-designed, properly operating, and properly installed signal boosters have the potential to improve consumers’ wireless network coverage without harming commercial, private, and public safety wireless network performance

This is part of the ongoing initiative to promote and improve voice and broadband services in the United States with the FCC also noting that signal boosters can aid public safety first responders, residents, businesses and students get the adequate cellular coverage that they require to function. The key motivations and points in the NPRM are quoted as follows:

“Police departments and emergency medical personell rely on signal boosters to extend land mobile coverage in areas of limited service and to improve communications during disasters and other emergencies.”

“Malfunctioning, improperly installed, or technically deficient signal boosters, may cause harmful interference”

“Our goal in this proceeding is to facilitate the development and deployment of well-designed signal boosters that do not interfere with wireless networks.”

So how exactly would the new regulations work? Well, the FCC is proposing a license-by-rule framework, whereby operation of signal boosters would be permitted by the agencies authority and thus “obviate the need for burdensome individual licensing requirements”. This would involve the establishing of a new Signal Booster Radio Service under Part 95 of the Commission’s Rules. The FCC is also considering an alternative approach whereby signal boosters would be licensed under existing laws for subscriber equipment, much like cellular handsets are today.

In short, the FCC is formalizing what most of us have known all along: cellular coverage is not good enough. In the modern age we are ever more reliant on our phones for important calls and increasingly data services. The FCC recognizes that the task of providing this service cannot fall on the carriers alone and is moving to make cellular signal boosters part of the solution.

The full document can be read here: FCC Signal Booster NPRM