Telecom Daily
Welcome to Faulkner's Telecom Daily. We publish Monday through Friday, updating top stories as events warrant.Wednesday, June 20...
Google Adds Messaging from Web in Latest Android Messages Update
Google officially launched its long-awaited
Android Messages revamp, which brings the mobile operating system's messaging
platform to the Web for the first time. Interested users can enable "Messages
for web" in their updated Android Messages mobile app to access their
conversations via the newly created Web-based portal. The portal can be loaded
via any desktop browser, and contains all of the same ongoing conversation
threads and contacts that the user's mobile app does. Messages sent via either
platform will also be synced across the service to all other instances of that
user's Android Messages account. While the addition of a Web app is the marquee
feature of the update, it also brought several other new features, including a
new .gif search bar; a revamped Smart Reply function; and the ability to preview
Web links sent in conversations. The update is available now.
US Senate Votes Overwhelmingly in Favor of Upholding ZTE Ban
The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly (85-10) to reinstate the federal ban on
exporting US-made goods to Chinese smartphone maker
ZTE. The vote was held on an amendment to the
National Defense Authorization Act, which would specifically prevent the Trump
administration's attempt to reinstate business with the Asian company. The
President had attempted to strike a deal with ZTE and Chinese President Xi
Jinping that would have allowed ZTE to resume purchasing vital components from
US companies like Qualcomm, in exchange for a $1 billion settlement. However,
the US intelligence community has been painting ZTE and its ties to Chinese
intelligence as a national security threat for several years. This fact resulted
in numerous complaints from federal lawmakers, and questions about why Trump
would want to aid such a foreign entity. Despite the seemingly valid concerns of
the US Senate, Engadget reports that the
White House has already vowed to squash the aforementioned bill before it
becomes a law and jeopardizes Trump's bailout deal. However, there is some
chance of a successful continuation of the ban, as the President is scheduled to
meet with a group of concerned Republican lawmakers to discuss the matter in the
coming days.
Sprint Joins with NXM Labs to Offer New In-Car Connectivity Solution
Sprint announced the formation of a new
partnership with NXM Labs to jointly launch a "5G-Ready Connected Car Platform."
According to the duo, the offering will combine "high-speed, on-demand passenger
Wi-Fi with advanced vehicle health monitoring and safety." The pair claims the
technology behind this platform will be operated by the first "blockchain
powered Internet-of-Things (IoT) security system that guards against hackers."
Sprint will be providing access to its 4G LTE network and forthcoming 5G network
(projected to launch in late 2019) in order to power the cellular connectivity
needed for NXM's in-car router. The companies plan to offer broadband
connectivity via the platform on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. An initial
launch of the joint connectivity solution is expected to take place this fall at
auto dealers across the country.
... Michael Gariffo, Faulkner Information Services
New Security Management Product Is Now Available on the Web
Faulkner's newest information service, Security Management Practices, is now available to subscribers over the Web! For information about subscribing, just send an email message to sales@faulkner.com or call 800-843-0460 (856-662-2070).
Site content copyright 2018, Faulkner Information Services, a division of Information Today. All rights reserved.