FCC wireless ruling may kill smartphone deals, create app partnerships

Wireless carriers play cards close to the vest on FCC inquiry 
 
Carriers are being cautious when asked about the FCC's inquiry, although they will be involved in the official comment and reply phase. "Obviously for a very long time, Verizon Wireless has been saying the wireless sector of the technology industry is hugely competitive," said spokeswoman Debi Lewis. Representatives from Sprint did not respond to requests for comment.
 
A representative from AT&T declined to comment on the FCC inquiry, instead referring to a statement issued by CTIA, the global nonprofit association that represents wireless telecom carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers, which took a non-combative tone.
 
"We are excited to tell the industry's story," CTIA president and CEO Steve Largent said in the statement. "The wireless ecosystem – from carriers, to handset manufacturers, to network providers, to operating system providers, to application developers – is evolving before our eyes and this is not the same market that it was even three years ago." 
 
See related article: FCC regulation or not, wireless business model will change
 
This article originally appeared on SearchTelecom.com