The wireless carriers say that in the next few years they may not have enough of it to meet the exploding demands for mobile data. The result, they ominously warn, may be slower or spotty connections on smartphones and tablets. They imply in carefully couched language that, given the laws of supply and demand, the price of cellphone service will soar.</p><p>

It will affect “the services they’re paying for because of the capacity issues,” said Ed McFadden, Verizon’s vice president for policy communications. “It potentially hinders our ability to meet consumer need.”</p><p>

But is there really a crisis? Some scientists and engineers say the companies are playing a game that is more about protecting their businesses from competitors.

To which one scientist retorts that their complaints are more like suggesting you'll run out of a colour: the finite spectrum idea dates to the 1920s, but there are much more effective ways of using spectrum.

"For the first time in history, the semi-annual survey conducted by CTIA-The Wireless Association® shows the number of wireless subscriber connections (322.9 million) has surpassed the population (315.5 million) in the United States and its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands), which means the wireless penetration rate in the U.S. is 102.4 percent."

The future - no, the present - is mobile.

"Nokia Corp. and Siemens AG have shifted their focus to restructuring their joint venture in telecommunications-networking equipment, after failing to reach a deal with bidders for a controlling stake in the unprofitable business, people familiar with the matter said.In the latest blow to beleaguered cellphone maker Nokia, which controls the venture, the company and Siemens now are exploring a "self-help" deal for the business, which is known as Nokia Siemens Networks. Under such a deal, each company might put more cash into the venture, the world's No. 2 maker of wireless-networking gear, the people said."<br />
<br />
Nokia wants to sell NSN because it's not profitable enough. Joint ventures are inherently unstable, unfortunately.