You are here: Home / Archives for NFL

Wednesday Wi-Fi Whispers: Ruckus Files for IPO, Qualcomm Stadium Gets DAS

October 10, 2012 by

It’s about as far from a whisper as you can get, but in the Wi-Fi world the big news of the week was Wi-Fi vendor Ruckus Wireless filing for a $100 million IPO last Friday. As you’ve read here earlier Ruckus is heavily involved with the growing market for big-space Wi-Fi (like stadiums, racetracks and other event areas) and with healthy revenues ($120 million in 2011) the long-rumored move became a reality with the SEC Filing that makes for such good hard-data reading.

The part we like the best in Ruckus’ S-1 is this bit about how big the market is getting for what Ruckus calls its “carrier class” Wi-Fi products:

According to Infonetics, the market for Wi-Fi networking solutions for carriers is expected to grow from $296 million in 2011 to $2.8 billion in 2016, representing a 57% compound annual growth rate. According to Gartner, the market for Wi-Fi networking solutions for enterprises is expected to grow from $3.4 billion in 2011 to $6.9 billion in 2016, representing a 15% compound annual growth rate. Carrier-class Wi-Fi addresses the needs of both of these markets.

Stadium and sports deployments probably fall somewhere in the middle of those markets, since many such deals are being done as partnerships between enterprises (teams) and carriers. But the good news for vendors like Ruckus is, there’s no getting away from the need for Wi-Fi. And the gear needs to be better than earlier technology to handle the needs of big events.

Qualcomm Stadium Gets AT&T DAS; N.Carolina State, U of Kentucky also get upgrades

We’ve always found it more than a bit ironic that Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, namesake of the chip giant, didn’t have any Wi-Fi to speak of and from what we heard, it had bad cell coverage too. That should change going forward at least a little bit thanks to a new DAS (Distributed Antenna System) deployment AT&T has installed at the home of the Chargers, which will bring AT&T’s new 4G LTE network to football fans in SoCal.

AT&T is also putting some cellular upgrades into college stadiums, including N.C. State’s Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., which is getting some of the cool new multi-beam antennas. The University of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., is also getting an upgrade via an AT&T DAS, so SEC fans should be able to get their mobile game on better while cheering on the Wildcats.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, DAS, NFL, SEC, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , , ,

2Bet2 Focuses on Social Betting on Games

October 9, 2012 by

2Bet2

Socialized betting is undergoing an interesting change, migrating from the office water cooler, if one actually exists, and onto social media sites such as Facebook and Google +, and one of the recent entrants into that field is 2Bet2, bringing out its Facebook offering around the start of the year.

It has many of the features that are currently coming on line in rival sports apps using odds to set the line on bets and winners can get awards that allow them to advance and open up new opportunities. You can bet against friend or the house and do so on events that are played around the globe.

There is real time game and odds updates and along with seeing how your bets are doing you have a chat ability that permits congratulating, taunting, or anything in between, among players. All major sports are covered including both NFL and NCAA Football, both NBA and NCAA basketball, Hockey, Baseball, 25 different European Football leagues, Rugby Union/League, Cricket, Tennis and Golf.

2Bet2 has plenty of competition in the social betting world both with mobile app developers moving over onto social media and developers focusing initially on social media as the platform of choice. Players such as SideBet have added social media access.

There is a growing list of competitors in this space I believe that fantasy sports sites will also look towards online gambling if and when it gets the ok. Look at players including Rotowire, Grabfan, Pickmoto to name just a few. Even casinos are getting into the mix.

As these traditional gaming establishments embrace online platforms, they are creating a seamless blend of classic casino experiences with modern digital convenience. Players can now access a wide range of casino games from the comfort of their homes, engaging in activities that were once reserved for physical locations.

This integration has not only expanded the reach of casinos but also attracted a new demographic of players who prefer the flexibility and accessibility of online gaming. One of the key players in this transition is secretcasinotips.com, offering insights and strategies for both novice and experienced gamblers. By providing valuable content, this platform helps players navigate the evolving online casino environment, ensuring they can make informed decisions and enhance their gaming experiences.

With the convergence of social media, mobile apps, and online gambling, casinos are poised to capitalize on the growing trend, creating a comprehensive and engaging ecosystem for players worldwide. This evolution signifies a new era for the casino industry, where the boundaries between physical and virtual gaming continue to blur.

It seems that there is a good deal of hope in app developers that sometime in the future there will be an easing of on-line betting rules in the US that will allow the gambling of real money. Early players in this space will be well positioned to take advantage of any such change.

As the casino industry continues to evolve with the integration of social media, mobile apps, and online gambling, platforms like SlotsMonster are at the forefront of this transformation. It stands out by offering a vast array of gaming options that cater to a wide range of preferences. From video slots that feature captivating graphics and innovative gameplay to classic slots that evoke the nostalgia of traditional casinos, the platform ensures there’s something for everyone.

In addition to these popular slot games, SlotMonster also provides a diverse selection of scratch cards, table games, and video poker, offering a comprehensive suite of options for players seeking variety and excitement. This broad range of offerings is complemented by their commitment to delivering a seamless and immersive gaming experience. By continually expanding its game library and incorporating cutting-edge technology, SlotMonster not only meets the current demands of online gamblers but also positions itself to thrive in the evolving landscape of the casino industry.

As regulations around online betting potentially become more favorable in the future, SlotsMonster is well-equipped to capitalize on these changes, providing players with an engaging and dynamic platform that bridges the gap between virtual and physical gaming experiences.

It would be important to be established because if and when it is legalized the moneyed Las Vegas casinos and other entities are likely to quickly enter a market that is estimated at multiple billions of dollars.

While an industry group, the American Gaming Association has said that it seems unlikely that there will be any changes to online gambling this year, although there has been a bill put before congress by members of both parties. According to American Gaming, online gambling is legal in 85 countries and an estimated $35 billion is gambled each year.

Filed Under: Apps, Baseball, Betting, English Premier Soccer League, Facebook, Google, Major League Baseball, NBA, NCAA Football, NCAA.com, NFL, RotoWire, Soccer Tagged With: , ,

Why Verizon Makes You Turn on GPS for NFL Mobile: So They Can Market the Data

October 8, 2012 by

In using the excellent (if sometimes buggy) NFL Mobile app this football season, I did notice one new annoying thing: The app requires you to turn on location services before it lets you watch games, a relationship I struggled to understand since there is no geographic blackout or anything else rights-related with the games that are carried by the app.

Turns out, the reason for the link is that Verizon is selling the aggregate data they get from mining their audience’s locations, a topic Verizon discusses in depth with Fierce Wireless. Though the security aspects of having my phone company aggressively marketing my location data doesn’t bother me that much (having to turn on and off the GPS is a bigger pain to me), Karl Bode over at DSL Reports smartly points out that the promises of big carriers like Verizon don’t really mean that much because the companies regularly assist the government when asked for cell phone data.

I get it that Verizon wants to monetize its services more, but worry that heavy handed continued data mining like the NFL Mobile app experience tilts too far in favor of the big paying customer (here the NFL) over the small paying customer, the average fan. Compared on a one-to-one basis, there’s no way to equate the worries of one person who doesn’t like to turn on GPS services (drains the battery!) to the needs or paying desires of a client like the NFL. But in the long run such unbalanced focus will lead to nobody using such apps if they are loaded with hoops you have to jump through simply to let Verizon earn more bucks.

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Apps, NFL, NFL Mobile, Verizon Wireless Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pickmoto Moves NFL app to iPad, Preps for NBA Season

October 2, 2012 by

Pickmoto, a startup app developer seeking to firmly establish itself in the growing market for social betting has expanded its offerings by adding a version for the iPad. Currently the app runs on iPhones, with an Android version “coming soon.”

The latest move is a welcomed one because while the app works well on a smartphone, a tablet simply provides additional viewing space and so makes that app easier to view and simpler to use.

The game follows the same procedure as with a smartphone including picking winners with no spread, playing friends one on one, or random opponents. You can win trophies, climb a leaderboard and play in preseason, regular and post season as well.

The company is moving pretty fast for one that was just established earlier this year and it already has its sights set on expanding to additional sports. With hockey an obvious no-no due to the lockout it has targeted the National Basketball Association and said that it expects that it expects to have a sports betting app out for the NBA by the opening regular season tip-off.

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Apps, iOS, NBA, NFL, Pickmoto, Sports Betting, Tablets Tagged With: , , , , ,

The UFL Started Play Last Week-I Think

October 1, 2012 by

When news of tremendous import breaks often lesser stories are lost in the mix so you may be excused that amid your rejoicing about the return of the regular referees for National Football League games you missed that the United Football League has launched its latest season.

At least I missed it. Then again if you went by the leagues’ web site you would have thought that the season started a week earlier even though a press release on the site on a different topic does have the correct day.

Its Facebook page says that it is having Internet issues and that currently the only way to follow the teams and the league is via twitter. However a quick look around at newspapers based in cities that have teams shows it is having issues with the print media as well.

The league has a broadcast partner, having signed a deal with CBS Sports Network which promises to broadcast two games a week for the course of the leagues eight week season, one each every Wednesday and Friday. It will also broadcast the Championship game on December 1st.

I actually root for the UFL to succeed. I just see huge challenges facing an upstart league that has a tradition of money problems really getting heard above the noise of the NFL and NCAA. It seems now that one or the other plays almost every day from mid-week on, and with the huge following for the two it is hard to play third string.

I imagine that it has talked with the NFL about serving as a minor league of sorts, which seems to make sense on a number of levels. A pool of players ready for games that NFL teams can call on in case of injuries and the reflected glory of being associated with the NFL and possibly even attached to an individual team could be the ticket to longevity.

The minor league approach is what the rival USFL is trying, and it has not appeared to make any headway yet but with a spring schedule it still has time. The UFL might not.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, Facebook, NFL, UFL, USFL Tagged With: , , ,

Gridiron Grunts’ ‘Grunts of the Week’ — New Feature for MSR Readers

October 1, 2012 by

Welcome to a new feature for MSR readers — a video take from the second-year sports app Gridiron Grunts, which we profiled earlier this year. After starting out last season with voice only, the “grunts” — recorded messages directly from pro athletes’ phones — are now branching out into video, and the great folks who run Gridiron Grunts are going to make some available here for MSR viewers all season long. According to the Grunts web page right now all Grunt content is free, while the company finalizes its pricing scheme for premium “channels” of grunts.

The clip above is a neat compilation video of collected grunts from last week, including a very savvy one by the Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch. Watch this space every week for more Grunts, or better yet download the app and get grunting on your phone.

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Apps, NFL Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »