Latest news with #AT&T
Business Wire
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Wire
OXIO Surpasses 2 Million Activated Lines in North America, Signaling Growth in Telecom-as-a-Service (TaaS)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OXIO, a leading Telecom-as-a-Service (TaaS) platform, today announced it has surpassed 2 million activated lines on its wholesale network across North America, marking a key milestone in the company's expansion. This achievement underscores OXIO's momentum and the growing demand for TaaS as businesses and brands across diverse sectors, including retail, fintech, media and entertainment, machine-to-machine (M2M), and celebrity, look to build, launch, and scale custom connectivity offerings. 'Surpassing 2 million activated lines across North America is another major achievement for OXIO as we continue to expand our global footprint,' said OXIO founder and CEO, Nicolas Girard. 'This growth showcases the rising number of brands leveraging connectivity as a strategic business lever that enables new revenue, deeper loyalty, and stronger retention. We're democratizing telecom infrastructure, making it more open, accessible, and flexible than ever before, and these numbers are proof of that transformation in motion.' The announcement follows several developments that support OXIO's growing presence in the telecom industry: OXIO connects telecom core with AT&T: In December, OXIO connected its wholesale network with AT&T to further expand its TaaS offering across the U.S. and facilitate faster go-to-market, embeddable connectivity, and competitive pricing for MVNOs. AWS Collaboration: In February, OXIO began running its cloud-native platform on Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling the business to scale its network globally and rapidly serve customers in new markets. FCC Approval: OXIO's multi-carrier TaaS solution receives FCC approval, reinforcing the value of OXIO's cross-border TaaS offering and its ability to revolutionize how telecom is accessed, deployed and monetized. VoLTE GSMA Certification: OXIO passes GSMA VoLTE interoperability tests in Mexico and the U.S., confirming seamless VoLTE on its wholesale network. MATRIXX Software Partnership: OXIO partners with MATRIXX and deploys their digital monetization solution to further enhance its TaaS platform and rapidly support borderless MVNOs and embedded connectivity use cases on a global scale. Mavenir Partnership: OXIO partners with Mavenir to leverage the company's packet core, which enables 4G and 5G user connectivity with an open, cloud-native, container-based solution, accompanied by Mavenir's IMS and messaging platforms, driving revenue growth from valuable A2P and B2C segments. Delivering Embedded Connectivity Through a Software-First Approach OXIO's cloud-based, programmable TaaS solution is helping to transform connectivity from a basic utility into a strategic asset, unlocking high-value use cases traditional telecom hasn't supported. Businesses and brands are no longer satisfied with off-the-shelf MVNO solutions and now seek customizable, data-rich platforms that can fuel growth, enhance customer engagement, and open new revenue streams. OXIO is leading that shift with a global Telecom-as-a-Service model purpose-built for the modern enterprise. 'The telecom industry is shifting away from the traditional MVNO-in-a-box model toward more embedded, personalized connectivity,' Girard added. 'OXIO's Telecom-as-a-Service platform gives brands full control and flexibility to own the entire experience. We're reimagining telecom to be a global engine for business innovation and an enabler of new business models, unlocking richer customer intelligence and driving smarter, data-informed decisions.' For more information, visit About OXIO OXIO is building the global network of the future as the first Telecom-as-a-Service (TaaS) platform. Our technology-first approach to telecom unlocks innovation and possibility while delivering actionable insights for customer-obsessed companies competing in a data-driven world. OXIO is headquartered in New York and has offices in Mexico City and Montreal. For more information, visit To learn more about current openings, visit
Phone Arena
an hour ago
- Phone Arena
AT&T is about to pull the plug on a service that would leave vulnerable users disconnected
Are landlines outded? Not yet. Yes, it's time to go. Not yet. 0% Yes, it's time to go. 0% AT&T AT&T Receive the latest AT&T news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy AT&T AT&T – Frank Arce from CWA (Communications Workers of America), 2025 AT&T Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer Many of us often dream about being disconnected from the all-seeing, all-knowing, omnipresent Network, but the truth is, for some, being connected and having a phone is crucial – and could even be a new California bill that could let AT&T end its duty to provide landlines, shifting users from copper lines to modern networks, a move critics warn could threaten public safety during you may've heard,currently serves as California's Carrier of Last Resort (COLR), meaning it is legally required to provide basic landline phone service to anyone who requests it, even in remote or unprofitable areas. This obligation ensures that residents without reliable wireless or fiber coverage still have access to essential communication, especially during that the policy is outdated due to the widespread use of mobile and internet-based services, noting that fewer than 5% of Californians still rely on copper landlines. However, removing this requirement could leave vulnerable populations (like seniors and rural communities) without a connection during disasters. While the Public Utilities Commission rejected a similar proposal last year, the debate has now moved to the state top of that, Cali's KABC-TV (Channel 7) reports thatcustomers' phone service has been suffering due to copper a recent Senate Communications Committee hearing,reiterated its position that the requirement is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of today's telecommunications market. The company emphasized that copper-based landline networks, once the backbone of voice communication, are now used by less than 5% of Californians and are increasingly costly to maintain compared to fiber and wireless Tina McKinnor introduced a bill to support this transition, arguing that most residents already rely on wireless or fiber-based services for their communication argue that eliminating this obligation could leave some without essential connectivity, particularly in regions with limited broadband coverage and among seniors who rely on landlines for critical services, such as medical alert systems that may not work over cellular representatives claim the move prioritizes shareholder profits over public safety, citing cases where residents have gone weeks or months without service after copper lines were of the bill maintain that safeguards are included, requiringto verify that alternative options (such as wireless or fiber services) are available and affordable before any landline service is discontinued. The bill advanced out of the Senate Communications Committee on a 9-2 vote and now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further I'm aware that things evolve and we can't expect them to stay around intact forever – but there should really be an up-and-running Plan B before we terminate Plan A. Also, do spend time with your elder relatives and talk to them about newer technologies – sure, they probably don't need the iPhone 17 Pro Max , or some Snapdragon 8 Elite Android flagship , but, hey – how about a simple satellite phone instead?
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
US Army soldier pleads guilty to hacking telcos and extortion
Former U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius pleaded guilty to hacking telecommunication companies and attempting to extort them by threatening to release stolen files, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. According to the DOJ, Wagenius, who went online with the nickname 'kiberphant0m,' conspired to defraud 10 victim companies by stealing their login credentials, using brute force attacks and other techniques, and then used Telegram group chats to transfer the stolen credentials and discusses hacks. Wagenius and his conspirators also attempted to extort their victims in private and in public, including on hacking forums such as the notorious BreachForums. They sold some of the stolen data and also used the stolen credentials to commit other frauds, including SIM swapping victims. Earlier this year, Wagenius had already pleaded guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon, a breach that led to him stealing a massive amount of call records. Wagenius' sentencing is scheduled for October 6, and he faces 20 years in prison, according to the press release. The hacker has been linked to a series of hacks that originated from the breach of could computing services giant Snowflake.
TechCrunch
15 hours ago
- TechCrunch
US Army soldier pleads guilty to hacking telcos and extortion
Former U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius pleaded guilty to hacking telecommunication companies and attempting to extort them by threatening to release stolen files, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. According to the DOJ, Wagenius, who went online with the nickname 'kiberphant0m,' conspired to defraud 10 victim companies by stealing their login credentials, using brute force attacks and other techniques, and then used Telegram group chats to transfer the stolen credentials and discusses hacks. Wagenius and his conspirators also attempted to extort their victims in private and in public, including on hacking forums such as the notorious BreachForums. They sold some of the stolen data and also used the stolen credentials to commit other frauds, including SIM swapping victims. Earlier this year, Wagenius had already pleaded guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon, a breach that led to him stealing a massive amount of call records. Wagenius' sentencing is scheduled for October 6, and he faces 20 years in prison, according to the press release. The hacker has been linked to a series of hacks that originated from the breach of could computing services giant Snowflake.
Forbes
17 hours ago
- Forbes
How Good Is Cellular Satellite Service Now? I Went Camping To Find Out
A photo of Monument Peak (7,762ft / 2,366m) behind Trinity Lake, shot on a Fuji X100VI I'm a city slicker and have lived in cities or suburbs most of my life. So, when the wireless carriers began launching their satellite services, it became a bit of a problem for me to try them out since most of these services kick in only when there's no cell coverage. This problem is compounded for me because all three of the big national carriers have pretty good coverage around my hometown of San Diego, so I can't just drive to a nearby dead zone and catch satellite coverage that easily. In fact, I would have to drive at least an hour away to lose coverage enough to activate a satellite connection, which is not a priority for me as a father of a toddler who also has a pregnant wife. But a recent camping trip with my family and friends up to Northern California gave me a golden opportunity to test out the different satellite services for myself. The Devices, Setup And Experience As an analyst covering mobile technology, I typically travel with at least one device per carrier, so this trip was no different. The only real limitation for me was that my AT&T device was a Poco F7 Ultra, which doesn't have any kind of satellite support. My T-Mobile phone was a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and my Verizon device was an iPhone 16 Pro. I also brought along a Google Pixel 9a that I've been testing on Google Fi, but that was only for use with standard cell coverage, because Google dropped all satellite connectivity, even satellite messaging, in the shift from the Pixel 9 to the Pixel 9a. Before I made the trip, I pre-checked coverage at the campsite and saw that T-Mobile and AT&T had basically zero 4G or 5G coverage, while Verizon had a smidgin of LTE. The sources I checked turned out to be accurate, because they absolutely matched the experience I had once I got there. First up, Verizon. I struggled with the LTE service on Verizon, which was not good enough to enable sending a message, but still good enough to keep satellite service from activating. I needed to send an important message from that device but couldn't get it to transmit until I was out on the lake in an area with better cell coverage, well away from the campsite. Satellite messaging seemed to connect, but it wouldn't let me send any messages, probably because I didn't have a clear enough view of the sky. This experience made me realize that there should absolutely be a quality threshold for device OEMs and carriers when it comes to a cellular connection. If there's too little cell reception, that can actually be worse than having no signal if it prevents you from accessing available satellite services. Perhaps when devices detect satellite coverage, they could enforce a higher standard for cellular connections to keep users from getting stuck in that trap. By contrast, T-Mobile's satellite service was seamlessly activated on my Galaxy S25 Ultra while I was driving in and out of coverage, which made me realize that the number-one use case for satellite connectivity is roadside assistance. Each time, I got an easy-to-understand text message telling me that the phone had switched to a satellite connection while I was driving. I also imagine that it probably saves a lot of battery drain to have the satellite connected, rather than forcing the phone to constantly search for a cell signal where there is none. If you're concerned about the radiation associated with cell phones, my guess is that a setup like T-Mobile's likely reduces that, too. I didn't have time to test that hypothesis, but it would be interesting to study. While I had a good experience with T-Mobile on the road, the service didn't seem to work for me on the first day at the campsite. Somehow, though, it turned back on the next day when I saw a bunch of messages from friends and family that otherwise I wouldn't have seen until four days later when I got back into normal cell service. Unfortunately, I didn't end up using T-Mobile's satellite service that much because my phone went to the bottom of the lake in an unfortunate jet-skiing accident. But what impressed me the most about T-Mobile's satellite service is that it didn't require a clear view of the sky at all. I was even able to get a signal indoors, and it worked pretty seamlessly there. T-Mobile has ended the beta of its satellite cellular service and is set to launch full commercial availability on July 23 for all customers — including non-T-Mobile customers who want to pay specifically for access to the T-Mobile SpaceX network. The company also says that it will enable its messaging service for free for anyone using it for E911 starting in October, which I believe is a great step forward for the industry. The company is also adding MMS, picture and short audio clip capabilities to its satellite messaging functions via SpaceX Starlink. While my AT&T device didn't have compatibility for AT&T's satellite messaging service, I was still able to see how it worked because one of my friends on the trip had an AT&T iPhone with satellite capability. I'm pleased to say it worked even in areas where trees were partially obstructing the view of the sky. In fact, my friend was able to receive an important text from his landlord — one that made him change his schedule — that he wouldn't have known about until he got back into a standard cellular service area. It seemed like the AT&T service (likely GlobalStar through Apple) still required at least some visibility of the sky, but not so much that he needed to align his phone with the satellites moving overhead. This seemed like a good user experience, and he and I talked at length about satellite messaging being useful in this scenario. Hopefully AT&T's partnership with AST SpaceMobile reaches commercial availability soon, since that seems like a very promising alternative to Starlink and won't be limited to services from specific manufacturers like Apple or Google. What's Next For Satellite Cellular Service We are still very much in the early stages of satellite direct-to-device cellular connectivity. In that context, it's not surprising that services are still rudimentary, althought it's clear that T-Mobile has already built a solid experience and is enhancing that solution by adding MMS, pictures and short audio clips. I believe that the other carriers will follow suit, and that down the road we'll likely get real-time voice and video as well. I predict that satellite messaging availability will become standard for all users, but that voice, video and data will remain premium services. Meanwhile, I would implore OEMs and carriers to reconsider what's an acceptable level of service for cell networks in remote areas, and when to hand over service from cellular to satellite more reliably. Beyond that, more mobile devices need built-in satellite support, because the current install base is mostly limited to the latest flagship phones. I support government mandates for satellite messaging, at a minimum for E911/Roadside Assistance, but it appears that T-Mobile might just do it for the greater good without a government mandate. With Apple's help, AT&T has delivered as well, though I really want to see its partnership with AST SpaceMobile go beyond trials and tests and reach commercial availability soon.
