[the_sleuth]

Amazon testing its own wireless network. BB10 OS would be perfect for Amazon, no?

Amazon Is Said to Have Tested a Wireless Network
By Olga Kharif and Danielle Kucera - Aug 23, 2013

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) has tested a new wireless network that would allow customers to connect its devices to the Internet, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The wireless network, which was tested in Cupertino, California, used spectrum controlled by satellite communications company Globalstar Inc. (GSAT), said the people who asked not to be identified because the test was private.

The trial underlines how Amazon, the world�s largest e-commerce company, is moving beyond being a Web destination and hardware maker and digging deeper into the underlying technology for how people connect to the Internet. That would let Amazon create a more comprehensive user experience, encompassing how consumers get online, what device they use to connect to the Web and what they do on the Internet.

Leslie Letts, a spokeswoman for Amazon, didn�t respond to a request for comment. Katherine LeBlanc, a spokeswoman for Globalstar, declined to comment. Globalstar shares rose 9.6 percent to 66 cents at 2:02 p.m. in New York. The company trades over the counter, which means buying and selling isn�t done through an exchange.

Amazon isn�t the only Internet company that has tested technology allowing it to be a Web gateway. Google Inc. (GOOG) has secured its own communications capabilities by bidding for wireless spectrum and building high-speed, fiber-based broadband networks in 17 cities, including Austin, Texas and Kansas City, Kansas. It also operates a Wi-Fi network in Mountain View, California, and recently agreed to provide wireless connectivity at Starbucks Corp. (SBUX)�s coffee shops.
Always Trying

Amazon continually tries various technologies, and it�s unclear if the wireless network testing is still taking place, said the people. The trial was in the vicinity of Amazon�s Lab126 research facilities in Cupertino, the people said. Lab126 designs and engineers Kindle devices.

�Given that Amazon�s becoming a big player in video, they could look into investing into forms of connectivity,� independent wireless analyst Chetan Sharma said in an interview.

Amazon has moved deeper into wireless services for several years, as it competes with tablet makers like Apple Inc. (AAPL) and with Google, which runs a rival application store. Amazon�s Kindle tablets and e-book readers have built-in wireless connectivity, and the company sells apps for mobile devices. Amazon had also worked on its own smartphone, Bloomberg reported last year.
Wireless Access

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos is aiming to make Amazon a one-stop shop for consumers online, a strategy that spurred a 27 percent increase in sales to $61.1 billion last year. It�s an approach investors have bought into, shown in Amazon�s stock price, which has more than doubled in the past three years. The company�s Kindle devices have always been able to connect to the Internet. Some e-readers have a wireless delivery system called Amazon Whispernet, which uses the same nationwide data network as mobile phones, or can access via Wi-Fi.

Globalstar is seeking regulatory approval to convert about 80 percent of its spectrum to terrestrial use. The Milpitas, California-based company applied to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to convert its satellite spectrum to provide Wi-Fi-like services in November 2012.

Globalstar met with FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn in June, and a decision on whether the company can convert the spectrum could come within months. A company technical adviser conducted tests that showed the spectrum may be able to accommodate more traffic and offer faster speeds than traditional public Wi-Fi networks.
Spectrum Leasing

�We are now well positioned in the ongoing process with the FCC as we seek terrestrial authority for our spectrum,� Globalstar CEO James Monroe said during the company�s last earnings call.

Neil Grace, a spokesman for the FCC, declined to comment.

If granted FCC approval, Globalstar is considering leasing its spectrum, sharing service revenues with partners, and other business models, one of the people said. With wireless spectrum scarce, Globalstar�s converted spectrum could be of interest to carriers and cable companies, seeking to offload ballooning mobile traffic, as well as to technology companies.

The FCC issued the permit to trial wireless equipment using Globalstar�s spectrum to the satellite service provider�s technical adviser, Jarvinian Wireless Innovation Fund. In a letter to the FCC dated July 1, Jarvinian managing director John Dooley said his company is helping �a major technology company assess the significant performance benefits� of Globalstar�s spectrum.

To contact the reporters on this story: Olga Kharif in Portland at [email protected]; Danielle Kucera in San Francisco at [email protected]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Pui-Wing Tam at [email protected]

[howarmat]

I saw this and its interesting. Amazon might become an even bigger company in mobile real soon. They seem to be floating money on many projects lately

[Foreverup]

I saw this and its interesting. Amazon might become an even bigger company in mobile real soon. They seem to be floating money on many projects lately

We could only hope maybe they would be able to change service in the USA which is desperately needed.

Posted via CB10

[hootyhoo]

They're already deep into Android including their own extensive Android app store. I don't see how it would benefit them to switch to an OS that doesn't seem to be catching on. For them to ditch the Kindle for the Playbook would be like starting over.

While some kind of deal would be great for BB, not so much for Amazon.

[anon(5624621)]

They're already deep into Android including their own extensive Android app store. I don't see how it would benefit them to switch to an OS that doesn't seem to be catching on. For them to ditch the Kindle for the Playbook would be like starting over.

While some kind of deal would be great for BB, not so much for Amazon.

Maybe not in the consumer space, but I could see amazon packaging cloud services with BES as a corporate offering

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[anon(3310921)]

Yea. . . BB would love to have Amazon as a partner. . . Amazon would of course need a bit of convincing. . . unfortunately it seems like BlackBerry has nothing Amazon want. . .

[hootyhoo]

Maybe not in the consumer space, but I could see amazon packaging cloud services with BES as a corporate offering

Posted via CB10

Amazon makes its money in the consumer space.

[Playbookjoe]

I posted way back that BlackBerry should buy global star. It was actually not that expensive.
I was more thinking worldwide bbm access though.

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[app_Developer]

I think a cloud MDM solution on AWS would be fantastic. Imagine being able to manage corporate devices through a web interface and/or self-provisioning of BYOD and just pay a low monthly cost per provisioned device. No upfront investment and infinite scale.

Maybe they could buy BES as the start of that? I don't see how BB10 fits in that picture, but I can sort of see how BES and the Blackberry brand could fit there.

[grover5]

They're already deep into Android including their own extensive Android app store. I don't see how it would benefit them to switch to an OS that doesn't seem to be catching on. For them to ditch the Kindle for the Playbook would be like starting over.

While some kind of deal would be great for BB, not so much for Amazon.

I could see them wanting their own OS. Amazon is a giant. They could make it work. Their own all encompassing online store with music, videos and every product under the sun and their own smartphone OS to have complete control over and to build out as they see fit. They have a huge customer base. I'm not saying it will happen but I didn't see anything in your post to suggest it shouldn't.

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[danprown]

Wouldn't that be cool. BBM through sat. anywhere on earth.

I posted way back that BlackBerry should buy global star. It was actually not that expensive.
I was more thinking worldwide bbm access though.

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[anon(5624621)]

Amazon makes its money in the consumer space.

??
I'm pretty sure they're going to continue pushing aws.amazon.com

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[anon(5624621)]

I think a cloud MDM solution on AWS would be fantastic. Imagine being able to manage corporate devices through a web interface and/or self-provisioning of BYOD and just pay a low monthly cost per provisioned device. No upfront investment and infinite scale.

Maybe they could buy BES as the start of that? I don't see how BB10 fits in that picture, but I can sort of see how BES and the Blackberry brand could fit there.

Hey, that's what I said!

Posted via CB10

[danprown]

Speaking of "floating," there is the Google X Loon Project of balloons stationed 12-miles high providing internet. 3 billions will buy you a lot of balloons. Just saying.

I saw this and its interesting. Amazon might become an even bigger company in mobile real soon. They seem to be floating money on many projects lately

[notfanboy]

Why would Amazon gamble on an OS that so far is failing in the marketplace? Why would they introduce a weak and untested link in the chain that could damage their proven ecosystem?

[hootyhoo]

I could see them wanting their own OS. Amazon is a giant. They could make it work. Their own all encompassing online store with music, videos and every product under the sun and their own smartphone OS to have complete control over and to build out as they see fit. They have a huge customer base. I'm not saying it will happen but I didn't see anything in your post to suggest it shouldn't.

Posted via CB10

They might be able to make it work, but the odds would be long. Look at the head start that BB had in the mobile space and even for them, BB10 has driven them to the point of needing to sell the company or take on a powerful partner. Amazon can ride the momentum of Android and not worry about getting developers on board or the I sane overhead of supporting an independent OS. Yes they have their Android skin to deal with, but that is much easier than building and maintaining a proprietary OS.

It comes down to money. How do they get the most bang for their buck? IMO, it's obvious, but then I'm not the head chief of Amazon.

[Italianemperor]

Amazon buying BBRY makes more sense than you would think at first glance. AWS is making a big push for govt business, having the NOC and control of the smartphone that is used at the most secure level of govt would be a significant advantage for them. Amazon would also be able to use their size (BBRY is too small to keep up with the juggernaut that are apple and google) to build a consumer model of BB10 to consume the massive amount of media they have available.