WCP Posts

January 2012 - Volume 4, Issue 1

Celia A Message from Celia Desmond, IEEE WCET® Program Director and Steering Committee Chair

Happy New Year to you all. At ComSoc, things are off to a running start. As our program grows, we have updated the WCET website in two specific areas - 1.) Candidates and 2.) Recertification. We just added a list of 10 things to do if you are wondering if you are ready to get certified. It's a list of 10 to-do's because it also provides suggestions that can help you prepare for the exam.

The recertification update is in place. Those who earned the credential in 2008 will need to recertify by the end of 2013 if they want to keep it current. Recertification is required every five years. You can learn more about recertifying by reading below.

Applications are now being accepted for the first testing window in 2012. ComSoc Training is offering courses in February and March to help you in your exam preparations and Daniel Wong, one of the contributors to the WEBOK and ComSoc Training instructor has written a new book that can be of interest for anyone working in and interested in wireless.

Keep reading to learn about the latest industry news and upcoming events around the world.

Industry News

Wireless Hiring on the Rise
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile had nearly 1,500 combined job openings in January -- many for engineers focusing on LTE. This news comes on the heels of a Bureau of Labor Statistics report which says that U.S. unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in three years. [RCR Wireless]

IEEE Standards Association Targets Mobile Video
A new initiative from the IEEE Standards Association aims to develop interrelated standards for mobile video. The first three standards projects address real-time mobile video communications, streaming video and 3D displays. [Marketwatch]

Wi-Fi Alliance Predicts Growth
The market for automotive Wi-Fi will more than double in size over the next four years, according to predictions from the Wi-Fi Alliance. Other predictions include 39% growth in health, fitness and medical applications and 25% growth in smart meters and automation by 2016. [PC Magazine]

Upcoming Meetings and Events from Around the World

International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)
Conference: 20-24 February 2012
Exhibits: 22-23 February 2012
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

Communications technology has changed dramatically in recent years – and the real fun may not have even started. From maintaining legacy systems to implementing digital and broadband technologies, IWCE 2012 is at the forefront of this metamorphosis. IWCE, taking place February 20-24, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is the place to be to get answers to your questions, network with peers, and see the most cutting-edge products in communications technology. In the exhibit hall, see 330 companies demonstrating the hardware, networks, applications, interoperability and integration that drive your communications systems. In the IWCE conference program, attend over 80 workshops, training classes and short courses for the wireless communications community. In addition, attend the Opening Keynote Address presented by Martin Cooper, the communications industry veteran who conceived the first mobile phone, and the Joint Keynote Address on LMR/LTE Vision for the Future, as well as a Networking Reception, General Sessions, Lunch and Learn and other special presentations during the event. Visit www.iwceexpo.com for more information on this key industry gathering.

2012 OFC Collocated National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC)
4-8 March 2012
Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA - USA

2012 World Telecommunications Congress (WTC 2012)
5-6 March 2012
Phoenix Seagaia Resort, Miyazaki - JAPAN

IEEE INFOCOM 2012 - IEEE Conference on Computer Communications Workshops
25-30 March 2012
Hilton Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida - USA

Ready to Get Certified in Wireless? Review the Top 10 Things to Do
You've heard all the buzz about professionals earning this new credtial in wireless, you've visited the website to learn more about it, but you're still not sure what do to figure out if earning the IEEE WCP is right for you. To help you better understand there's a short list of 10 things you can do to help yourself assess if this is the right time in your career to take the exam. If it is, there are suggestions on things you can do to aid you in your preparations. Review the list.

February ComSoc Training - Register Early and Save!
Wireless Communications Engineering - Current Practice
Virtual One-Day Course
Friday, 10 February 2012
9:00am - 4:30pm EST
$300 Non-member; $250 Member
Save $25.00 when you register by 24 January 2012. Earn 0.6 IEEE Continuing Education Units for participating. Take this course to gain a deeper understanding of an RF propagation environment and the corresponding considerations in radio engineering and link design; the key features of LTE-Advanced; packet switching vs. circuit switching; the evolution to All-IP networks; and wireless security threats to name just a few. Learn more about this course.

Practical Wireless Communications Engineering
at IWCE in Las Vegas, Nevada - USA
Instructor: Lee Vishloff (in-person taught course)
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
8:30am - 4:30pm PST
IWCE (International Wireless Communications Expo) Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV - USA ; Room S224 - South Hall -
$699.00 online up through 6 January 2012. $799 as of 7 January and onsite up until the morning of 21 February.
Use code H38 when you register and receive the following special inclusions and pricing: - Lunch on Tuesday, 21 February 2012 - Admission to the IWCE Exhibit Hall on Wednesday and Thursday - Two Keynote Addresses on Wednesday - Networking Reception on Wednesday evening - General Sessions on Thursday and Friday morning - 25% off any additional IWCE conference package.
Take this course to gain a deeper understanding of current technology and practice from a variety of perspectives: engineering, architecture, operations, standards, and management. All layers in the network are discussed, as well as potential changes due to technology evolution. While primarily focused on RF engineering, wireless access technologies, network and service architecture, and network management and security, infrastructure, operational standards, regulations, policies, agreements, and relevant fundamental engineering concepts are also addressed. This course is recommended for a broad audience, especially those with a background in engineering or technology, or an appreciation of wireless communications engineering and practice.

Session #: 1TR

Separate registration is required; this course is not included in the Premium Pass for IWCE attendees.
Learn more.

November 2011 - Volume 3, Issue 8

Celia A Message from Celia Desmond, IEEE WCET® Program Director and Steering Committee Chair

I am pleased to let you know that as we move forward into 2012 it is clear that ComSoc's wireless certification and complementary training program are continuing to thrive. Your feedback over the year on both has been helpful and appreciated. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. It is this continued dialogue that helps us shape our products and services to better meet your needs; and when we hit a homerun to borrow the expression from American baseball; exceed them (which is always our goal).

For those of you interested in learning more about the WCET certification exam there is a new Candidate Handbook for 2012 that is now available. Request a copy today if you haven't already. For those interested in ComSoc Training events we have a lot in store for you in the coming year. New courses will be offered. To kick off January - we are offering another one day LTE course on 10 January and an updated 5-day Virtual Intensive Course on wireless renamed the 5-day Wireless Communications Engineering Intermediate Fundamentals Review & Current Practices course on 16-20 January. Registration will open soon and there is an early bird discount for those who secure their seats early. These have been very poplular courses and they do fill up. Seats are limited. The new courses will most likely be offered closer to the middle of the year but we will make you aware when they are being offered.

Finally, for those of you waiting for the new issue of the WEBOK, it is coming but we are slightly delayed as we are working to make it the best it can be. We will announce a firm release date here so stay tuned.

All the best to you as we enter a festive time of year. May you all have a wonderful holiday season - one filled with good health, much love, peace, and happiness. Happy reading!

Industry News

AT&T Creating New Division for Wireless Home Security, Health Care & Energy

"Hundreds" of new jobs will be created when AT&T Mobility launches a new division for wireless home security, health care and energy use services. The Digital Life Services division will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has already started posting for engineers and other applicants. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Cox Communications Shutters Wireless Division

Just two months after it launched 3G services, Cox Communications has announced it will close the doors of its Cox Wireless unit. The company, which offers mobile virtual network operator service, will continue to operate through March 2012. [TeleGeography]

Verizon Foundation Grant Supports STEM Education

A $75,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center will support STEM education to help train the next generation of engineers. [PR]

Union Says AT&T, T-Mobile Merger Would Create 100,000 Jobs

The Communications Workers of America has come out in favor of the planned merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, saying it would create 100,000 new jobs. Competitor Sprint Nextel disagrees, saying the merger would actually cost jobs. The merger is still pending the resolution of lawsuits from the Department of Justice, Sprint and C Spire. [CNET]

FiberTower Cuts Workforce 40% as Board Members Resign

Wireless backhaul services provider FiberTower Corporation sent out a press release announcing it has reduced its workforce by 40% as it faces ongoing liquidity problems. [PR] The same day, it announced that it has missed a $1.3 million interest payment and accepted resignations from three of its board members, including Chairman John Kelly. [Fierce Broadband Wireless]

TrainSignal Releases Cisco CCNA Wireless Training Course

A new 15-lesson course from TrainSignal offers networking professionals the chance to learn wireless networking skills. The Cisco CCNA Wireless Training Course contains more than eight hours of video instruction and covers Cisco unified wireless architecture, WLAN design, wireless security and maintenance. [PR]

Wireless Companies Recognized for Military Recruiting

G.I. Jobs magazine has named T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Qualcomm and U.S. Cellular among the top 100 most military-friendly employers for their hiring of veterans and members of the military reserve. T-Mobile ranked tenth on the list. Verizon, which was listed at number 41, said it currently employs nearly 12,000 veterans, including more than 550 who were hired in the past year. [G.I. Jobs] [Verizon PR]

Sprint Seeks M2M Engineers

"We need engineers who understand wireless and can bring the technical ecosystem together," Sprint's Russell Mosburg recently told EE Times. The company currently employs 30 machine-to-machine (M2M) engineers, but it is hoping to increase that number as the M2M market expands. [EE Times]

Intel: "Connected Cars" Are the Third-Fastest Growing Technology

Wireless services for automobiles are the third-fastest growing area of technology devices, according to Intel. Meanwhile, Glenn Lurie, president of AT&T's Emerging Devices division, says he expects that all new cars sold 3 or 4 years from now will have embedded wireless services. [CE Outlook]

iPhone Overtakes BlackBerry for Business Users

The iPhone now claims 45% of the business user market, up from 31% last year, according to Mobile Workforce Report. BlackBerry has slipped slightly, from 35% to 32%. Android has a 21% market share. [CNET]

Wateen Telecom to Build Nationwide WiMAX in Pakistan

Four-year-old Wateen Telecom is preparing to build a nationwide WiMAX network in Pakistan. The country currently has very low broadband penetration. The vast majority of Pakistan's population (60%) is under the age of 30, so Wateen will focus on infotainment services for this younger demographic. [Mobility Techzone]

China Telecom Plans Offices in Los Angeles and Chicago

China Telecom will open a data center in Los Angeles and a "full service" office in Chicago as it opens up additional services for its Asian customers when they visit the United States. The company says it may even consider deploying its own U.S. network infrastructure. [RCR Wireless]

Wireless Information Networks Pioneer Honored

Amir Salman Avestimehr of Cornell University was recognized by President Barack Obama as one of 94 winners of this year's Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Avestimehr was honored for "pushing the frontiers of information theory through its extension to complex wireless information networks." [White House PR]

Upcoming Meetings and Events from Around the World

IEEE Globecomm 2011
5-9 December
Houston , Texas

IEEE GLOBECOM 2011 expands agenda of New Industry Forum & Expo with New Industry Technical Presentations on Cyber Security, 4G Wireless, Aerospace Power Technology, Smart Grid Renewable Energies & Radio Prototyping. ComSoc will be exhibiting at Globecomm. Stop by and say Hi. Give us your business card and we'll give you a free online practice exam.

2012 9th Annual Conference on Wireless On-demand Network Systems and Services (WONS)
9-11 January 2012
Hotel Pavillon
Courmayeur, ITALY

2012 IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference (CCNC)
14-17 January 2012
Planet Hollywood - Las Vegas, NV - USA

International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)
Conference: 20-24 February 2012
Exhibits: 22-23 February 2012
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV - USA

WCET Group on LinkedIn Grows to Over 700 Members
If you're not already a member of the WCET group on LinkedIn you are missing out on a great resource. This professional group has been growing nicely throughout the year. Membership is comprised of people who have passed the WCET certification exam, some who are interested in learning more about it, individuals who lecture for ComSoc Training courses and those who have taken courses and are looking for a place to network and collaborate. Visit us online to request membership to this unique group.

Save the Date: 6 December 2011 - IEEE WCET Alumni Annual Meeting

Next December 6, 2011 from 13:30 pm – 15:00 EST the IEEE WCET Alumni will have their annual meeting. This meeting is for WCET Certificate holders only. Those planning to take the WCET test and become certified in 2012 (exam application completed, and submitted/approved/paid) can participate as guests.WCPs can attend in person or via conference call. For those local to the Houston, TX - USA area, the meeting will be co-located with IEEE Globecomm. The meeting room number is 344 B / Level 3. The conference call bridge number will be email separately. Stay tuned on WCET's group on LinkedIn for more details and reminders.

Fall 2011 WCET Exam Results - Coming Soon
Candidates who sat for the IEEE WCET certification exam last month can expect to have their score reports by the end of November. Learn more about obtaining exam results, retaking the exam or duplicate / replacement certificates. Contact Marilyn Catis at m [dot] catis [at] comsoc [dot] org if you have any problems getting your score report or if you have any feedback about the exam / testing center to share with us.