More than 40,000 AT&T Mobility workers represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA) on Tuesday ratified a new four-year contract with the carrier. The new contract covers employee benefits, including healthcare.
The ratification comes little more than a month after CWA workers rejected the first contract offered by AT&T. The latest contract, which was announced earlier this month, includes reduced premium costs for approximately 20,000 employees hired after 2014; lower rates for employees with dependent children and no covered spouse; lower contribution rates for employees in Puerto Rico to take part in popular HMO plans; and a new “Option 2” plan with lower premium costs.
Smartphone and telecom company Huawei has joined the ZigBee Alliance at the Promoter level and accepted a seat on its Board of Directors. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of companies creating, maintaining and delivering open, global standards for the low-power wireless Internet of Things (IoT).
FreedomPop has received an investment of $50 million from LetterOne, an international investment firm heaquarteredin Luxembourg, to accelerate the carrier’s international expansion.
LetterOne said the move comes as it aims to invest around $2-3 billion in mid-to-late-stage technology growth opportunities with a focus on the next generation of OTT customer propositions. LetterOne also recently announced a $200 million investment in Uber.
FreedomPop, which offers customers a basic mobile package at no charge, has so far extended its operations to include the United States, the United Kingdom and Spain. The company plans to open an additional 8 markets by the end of next year with the continuation of this fast rollout across Asia, Europe and Latin America thereafter.
AirTies Wireless Networks, a provider of in-home wireless systems, unveiled its next-generation, ultra-performance in-home Wi-Fi system aimed to support broadband operators around the globe.
Unlike traditional Wi-Fi, which relies on a single Access Point (AP) from a router/gateway, AirTies’ new system uses multiple APs placed around the home to create an intelligent Mesh network that ensures consistent performance of high quality, whole-home Internet coverage. The centerpiece of the new system is the compact Air 4830, which supports simultaneous streams of 4K/UHD video, and the platform needed for new in-home devices and services (e.g. smart monitoring, home security, virtual reality, IoT, etc.) from operators.
