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Ray Ozzie’s cellular IoT startup Blues Wireless raises $22M from Bill Gates and others

GeekWire

Blues Wireless , an IoT startup founded by former Microsoft exec Ray Ozzie , has raised $22 million from investors including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Blues came out of stealth mode in February 2019 , announcing its Notecard device that runs on AT&T’s wireless network. LinkedIn Photo).

Wireless 141
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Why many rural communities are still in the ‘digital dark’ — and how Washington state is trying to help

GeekWire

of Commerce Photo) Applying for a job, scheduling a doctor appointment or even ordering a beer now often requires internet access, yet many Americans — somewhere between 14 and 120 million, depending on whom you ask — still cannot connect to the web at home, or live in areas where service just isn’t up to the task. Washington State Dept.

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T-Mobile’s free mobile service for first responders is now available

The Verge

The program, officially called “Connecting Heroes,” provides free access to the company’s network over the next decade for members of state and local public and nonprofit law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies. T-Mobile’s offer of free mobile service for first responders for 10 years is now available, CEO Mike Sievert announced today.

Mobile 121
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Federal money to SpaceX may hurt public broadband efforts in Washington state

GeekWire

SpaceX’s Starlink antenna connects with a network of satellites to provide high-speed internet access. He’s under direction from Washington’s Legislature to bring the entire state up to superfast internet speeds by 2028. Melissa Santos is a reporter for Crosscut , where this story first appeared. SpaceX Starlink Photo).

Internet 141
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Space Perspective reboots vision of flying passengers to stratosphere on a balloon

GeekWire

In addition to the bar and the loo, Space Perspective plans to provide a solid wireless internet connection to ensure that passengers will be able to share their experiences on social media in real time. “It’s the ultimate Facebook status update,” MacCallum said.

Travel 144
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Virginia Announces Research Commercialization Awards

CTOvision

Axon Ghost Sentinel (Harrisonburg), Internet-of-Things Security , Mr. Michael Markulec, $50,000, Cybersecurity. The George Washington University (Ashburn), A Wireless Wearable Electrocardiogram (ECG) Sensor on a Finger Ring , Dr. Zhenyu Li, $100,000, Life Sciences. CyberRock Inc. About the Center for Innovative Technology, www.cit.org.

Research 150
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Elon Musk’s Starlink is only the beginning

Vox

Satellite internet is going mainstream. Space internet has the reputation for slow service. With its questionable signal strength and hardly Netflix-friendly bandwidth, the internet that’s beamed down from low-Earth orbit is the kind of thing you only turn to as a last resort or if you’re stuck on a long-haul flight.