In a new report entitled “4G + Data Caps = Magic Beans,” the firm said that “consumers will find their experiences with the faster services severely hampered by the rationing techniques the carriers impose on customers who use lots data — such as watching video.”  The warning comes as operators like Verizon, Sprint and AT&T are feverishly marketing their 4G networks to help sway new subscribers.  With low data caps, however, consumers might not get what they thought they were signing up for.

“These data caps actively discourage the types of activities that 4G enables, Public Knowledge said in its report.  ”Activities that are made possible by 4G, such as watching movies or uploading video to the internet, are made impossible by the data caps. As a result most users will avoid taking advantage of these new services out of fear of incurring large overage fees. That makes capped 4G little more than a bait and switch, like being sold a handful of magic beans.”

While the report notes that 4G can be a useful technology, as it provides faster and better service, the report concluded:  “The imposition of data caps on 4G networks marks an unfortunate milestone in the history of network innovation.  For the perhaps first time, the introduction of a generationally faster technology will not have a widespread impact on online behavior. As long as there are low data caps, most users will be better off staying with a (cheaper and slower) 3G connection than paying a premium for 4G.”

The full report is available here and there’s even a video the firm put together on the subject entitled “4G Wireless is a Waste of Money,” which is available here.

The venerable British news organization is actively developing a smartphone app that, according to published reports, will enable BBC reporters in the field to upload video, photos and audio clips directly into the BBC system from an Apple iPhone or iPad.

The new app, due to be in use within a month or so, is also intended to allow reporters to broadcast live from an iPhone using only 3G signal.

Journalism.co.uk recently caught up with Martin Turner, head of operations for newsgathering at BBC. Turner told the British news site that the app’s development represents the future of field newsreporting and is very much “a logical extension of what the BBC can do already.”

“Reporters have been using smartphones for a while now but it was never good quality. You might do it when there was a really important story,” Turner revealed. “Now it is beginning to be a realistic possibility to use iPhones and other devices for live reporting, and in the end if you’ve got someone on the scene then you want to be able to use them. That capability is a really important one.”

Although the app is for internal use and not for the general public to access and play amateur reporter at home, the number of breaking news stories caught by amateurs on the smartphones around the globe must have provided some inspiration for the mobile efforts being made by the BBC.

The development will mean BBC reporters could potentially broadcast live from anywhere with 3G signal and will no longer have to rely on WiFi or carry cumbersome satellite or codex equipment.

Turner, however, made it clear that the BBC isn’t going to be permanently “wedded” to iPhones and iPads in the field, and that other smartphones and tablets may ultimately be put to use.

“We are not wedded to the iPhone by any means,” Turner confesses. “It is just one option. We are using it at the moment because it offers us the best combination of features, but it is not the only solution.”

Given the rapidly escalating age of the Korean population and the similar escalation in associated medial costs, Qualcomm and company are hopeful that the new joint effort will be consequential in host of positive ways.

The partners signed a “Memorandum of Understanding,” Qualcomm says, for a project that will benefit patients suffering from chronic disease.

The project – dubbed “Self Quality Care” – will utilize 3G-enabled applications and services and will provide participating patients and health workers with educational health information and reminders to help manage the chronic disease and live healthier lives.

According to the announced plans from Qualcomm, KT will develop the u-Health Platform, which will store, manage and transmit data through the 3G HHG, as well as provide web service solutions and smartphone applications that will enable patients and health workers to better manage diabetes.

Ubcare, a Korean software developer and distributor of glucose meters, will provide glucose meters and strips. In addition, Ubcare will join KT to create software that will communicate with hospital medical record databases, as well as the u-Health Platform’s database, through KT’s broadband Internet and mobile broadband services.

“This collaboration presents a new chronic diseases management model which will help patients manage their chronic diseases by themselves, as well as help the government and companies work with each other,” said Dr. Lee Jong-Koo, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The Self Quality Care project benefits both the patient and the public health system and we are grateful for the generous involvement of all the participants.”

“In this project, KT plans to link devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs and IPTV devices with medical treatment systems in order to develop a service that will improve the management of chronic diseases and encourage a healthier lifestyle,” said Lee Suk-chae, chief executive officer of Korea Telecom. “The project also aims to maximize the effects of treatment and KT will continue to provide the u-Health service to those areas of medical management that need to be improved.”

At least that’s the pitch that Sprint and BodyMedia are trying to make in a clear effort to capitalize on the fitness frenzies that usually accompany the start of a new year via millions of resolutions made in regard to weigh loss and greater physical fitness.

Kicking off 2011 with the announced partnership, Sprint says BodyMedia will expand its product portfolio deep into mobile territory as consumers continue to seek out the latest in “mobile health solutions.”

BodyMedia, Inc., a maker of wearable body monitoring and weight management systems and a founding Sprint ID partner, currently offers several devices that track an individual’s calorie burn, activity levels and sleep to help consumers tailor their habits to lead healthier lives. Thanks to the new partnership, however, Sprint’s 3G network and location-based services will power a new line of embedded wireless BodyMedia FIT Armbands and future wearable body monitors, set to launch this year.

The first generation connected Armband will still be worn around the upper left arm to collect health and fitness data, but now it will use the M2M platform to wirelessly send that information to the users’ smartphones where mobile application can provide near real-time feedback and analysis.

The new offerings born of the Sprint and BodyMedia coupling will be on display beginning this Thursday, January 6th 2010 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

On Monday, Apple announced that China will receive the Wi-Fi iPad before the end of the week. The tablet will be available through Apple’s retail outlets and other select authorized dealers.

The 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models will all be released. The 16GB model, however, will be the cheapest at roughly $590. The 32GB and 64GB models will run $708 and $826, respectively.

It should be noted that the Chinese Wi-Fi iPad is practically identical to the iPads released elsewhere around the world.

Nonetheless, doubts remain as to whether the 3G model will ever see the light of day China, as Chinese government officials remain concerned about the device’s 3G use in the nation.

Earlier this year, Apple promised to introduce the iPad into a plethora of new countries before year’s end. So far, Apple has kept its word. And this Friday, the Cupertino tech giant will get its first opportunity to push its hugely popular tablet computer in the world’s largest mobile community.

iPad will roll out to many more countries later this year and Apple will announce availability and local pricing for these additional countries at a later date.

The iOS App Store software update, released on Thursday, makes good on the pledge from Netflix last April to provide iPhone and iPod touch users with the ability stream movies directly from their handset.

Netflix subscribers with unlimited memberships can now view unlimited content on their iDevices directly from their Instant Watch queue.

From PC World:

Browsing through and searching for titles is as easy as it sounds, though you can expect to do a lot of scrolling on the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen. Once you find a title you like, you can add it to your Instant Queue or start playing it immediately.

Version 1.1 requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.

Best of all, just like the Netflix app for the iPad, the streaming service works over 3G on the iPhone. It should be noted, however, that the software update utilizes “adaptive technology” which, in turn, enables “instant switching between Wi-Fi and 3G connections.”

When it comes to video consumption over 3G, Android takes the cake hands down. iPhone users, in fact, only tap 3G for 56% of their mobile video consumption.

Overall, the report notes, 3G accounts for 53% of mobile video traffic. The remaining 47% is attributed to WiFi.

With regarded to concentrated use, however, Rhythm NewMedia indicates that mobile video viewing habits are evenly distributed throughout a 24-hour period. This represents a stark contrast to the viewing patterns of mobile TV fans, who tend to concentrate their use of mobile TV in the evening.

Interestingly enough, despite criticisms of the “short attention span” of many mobile phone users, of all the viewers who access full-length chunks of video and episodic content, an impressive 26.5 percent of viewers watch the content in its entirely from their mobile device.

Viewing time for full episodes increased 20% quarter over quarter. After starting to view a full length episode (typically 45 minutes), 26.5% watched the entire episode and 41% watched at least half of the episode.

Completion rates for interactive pre-roll video ads remains high at 88%, Rhythm NewMedia also discovered, which is better than both online video and television.

The technology consulting firm Chetan Sharma reported today that for the second quarter in a row, Verizon Wireless has beaten NTT DoCoMo–albeit by the width of an amoeba’s membrane, the firm said–in terms of mobile data revenue. While it did not specify figures for the Japanese carrier, the consultancy said Verizon’s average revenue per user (ARPU) was $17.37 in Q2 2010, more than any other U.S. cellular company. Considering Verizon now boasts 92.1 million total subscribers, that’s accounts for a chunk of the $13.2 billion in overall U.S. mobile data revenue for the quarter–a market that grew 22 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

“While it [the United States] lags Japan and Korea in 3G penetration by a distance, due to higher penetration of smartphones and datacards, the consumption is much higher than its Asian counterparts,” Chetan Sharma said in a press release. In other words, individual 3G users use the technology more often than individuals in advanced Asian countries. Sounds like marketers may be able to more finely-target their campaigns deployed on mobile Internet technology to this demographic of users.

The rest of the world is very interested in what is happening in the American mobile industry, as it could foretell what will happen in other countries, the firm said: “Most of the cutting edge research in areas of data management and experimentation with policy, regulations, strategy, and business models is taking place in the networks of the U.S. operators and keenly watched by players across the global ecosystem.”

This week, the online retail giant announced that a new, smaller, lighter, and faster Kindle – with 50% better contrast to boot – will soon arrive at an advertised price of $189. But as Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder & CEO, noted, “If you don’t need the convenience of 3G wireless, we have an incredible new price point–$139 for Kindle Wi-Fi.”

“At this price point,” he added, “many people are going to buy multiple units for the home and family.”

In a move that clearly aims to take some of the momentum out of Apple’s iPad as the newest eReader phenomenon, Amazon is pushing the all-new Kindle by emphasizing its updated bells and whistles, which include an electronic-ink screen, a 21% smaller body, a 15% lighter weight, 20% faster page turns, one month of battery life, double the storage to 3,500 books, and built-in Wi-Fi.

Looking to capture a bigger market share by maintaining the device’s popularity through no monthly bills or annual contracts, Amazon realizes that it’s a more of a mobile world now than ever. And by beginning the process of “next-gen” Kindles, Amazon will likely not only extend the product life and popularity of the Kindle but also hype future product updates that closely follows the business models of other mobile technology titans like Apple, with its annual iPhone upgrades.

Ironically, the conclusion of the unlimited plan will set in June 7th, the very occasion that Apple chief Steve Jobs is expected to unveil the new 4th generation iPhone at the company’s WWDC.

On Wednesday morning, however, AT&T began a mad dash to squelch erroneous reports that the end of the unlimited data plan would effect current subscribers. It will not – at least not for now. New AT&T customers – and new customers only – now have to select between plans capped at 200MB or 2GB.

Due to the enormous data-demands of 3G customers and iPhone users, in particular, AT&T made the choice ahead of another likely Apple product introduction that could only serve to add further stress to the carrier’s already burdened network. The 4th generation iPhone, after all, is expected to introduce a video conferencing functionality – a feature that could push AT&T’s data capacity over the limit without some form of capped data plan in place.

Details of AT&T’s new data plans:

• DataPlus: 200MB cap @ $15 per month. If you exceed the limit, you will receive an additional 200MB of data for $15. According to AT&T, however, 65% of smartphone customers use less than 200MB monthly.
• DataPro: 2GB cap @ $25 per month. 1GB of additional data is available for $10.
• Tethering: Available through the DataPro plan (requires iPhone OS 4) for an additional $20 monthly.