On 12 September, Fortinet, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks and Symantec announced a new industry partnership: the Cyber Threat Alliance. The collaborative effort is an interesting one, as it seeks to provide a platform for the sharing of information that is the traditional chaff from where their bread and butter idiomatically derives. The stated goals of the Alliance, as outlined by an accompanying white paper, is to share intelligence on vulnerabilities, exploits, new malware samples, and botnet command and control infrastructure. Undeniably the escalation of complex and sophisticated cyberattacks successfully leveraging the deployment of zero-days and botnets, has rendered legacy signature-based antivirus engines almost obsolete in terms of defending against modern threats (although that is not to say antivirus is completely dead, as n00bcomers still need to cut their teeth on something on their way up the ladder).

As expected, the new Apple Watch does not have built in GPS or location capabilities, relying on the iPhone. No doubt there will be a lot about the demise of the fitness wearable market, but that seems a little reactionary-who didn’t see an Apple watch coming? These companies will have been gearing up for this and while there may be attrition there will be success stories also. So does this mean the GPS fitness watches are off the hook? No. Apple’s wearable is going to fit in very well with the emerging nearable (iBeacon) ecosystem that is going to change the connected home, health, retail and payment sectors. These are the killer apps that the tech writers are looking for following the announcement. Here, a converged device is the winner of the masses, but of course this will take time.

At ABI Research, we have been saying for a long time that Apple will eventually include NFC in its smartphones, even when it was working on the use of Bluetooth Smart.  Apple even included NFC in its smartwatch.  With Bluetooth Smart's ability to detect distance, you could have it activate only in close proximity like NFC.  To the end user, the functionality was the same, but NFC adds a layer of security required banks and mobile operators.

Two could be the key number tonight. Two iPhones, two iPads, two iWatches, the partnerships could come in two by two and U2 are expected to perform. Although the heavy emphasis in the invite on the dates 09/09/2014 suggests nine could be prominent two.

 The small cell network operator is moving fast on its plan to run a global carrier-neutral small cell network starting with Norway as the first location in Europe. Earlier this year, the operator has revealed the availability of its solution based on integration with Cisco’s products. Last month, Cloudberry acquired a 2.6 GHz spectrum license from Norwegian broadband service provider Nextnet, completing the last piece in its plan.

After years of speculation, Apple has finally unveiled its entry into the wearables market. While the Apple Watch does not bring a great deal of new functionality to the market that hasn’t already been available from rivals, it does bring Apple into the wearables market. Given the power and reach of the company and the strength of its brand this cannot be underestimated. Apple has a long history of making existing technologies appeal to a far wider audience and going on to make its offering synonymous with the wider market. Given health and fitness tracking capabilities in the new device, what will be the impact on the existing market?

It’s funny, there is so much hype around wearables, yet few I speak to are fully convinced about converged devices- there is a real emperor’s new clothes feel about this market that is leaving many reluctant to truly back it unless the emperor (in this case Apple) says it’s okay-to paraphrase a semi-famous neighbour, “the rich buy dearest cause they need to be sure”. In an unusual reversal of trends, todays converged wearables are largely coming ahead of dedicated devices targeting the real opportunity here -  health, quantified self and ambient intelligence. In a lot of cases, these markets will initially be best served by sensor heavy devices that can be worn or placed in the environment, but do not necessarily require a detailed user interface like a wearable watch.

Politics make for strange bedfellows, but the pursuit of a common goal often makes an unthinkable alliance come to pass.  AT&T and Verizon Wireless jointly deployed a Distributed Antenna System at the University of Oregon Autzen stadium.   A joint venture like this makes sense for probably three reasons.