Industry news

Here are some of the latest developments in the AI industry as of

August 17, 2025:

1. AT&T Settles Wireless Patent Lawsuit

AT&T recently reached a settlement with Headwater Research in a wireless patent dispute right before the trial was set to begin in a Texas federal court. Headwater had accused AT&T of infringing on patents related to network congestion reduction. This follows Headwater’s earlier legal victories against Samsung and Verizon.

Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/att-t-mobile-settle-us-wireless-patent-cases-before-trial-2025-08-12/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2. MVNO Craze Hits Celebrities

The MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) trend continues growing: inspired by Mint Mobile’s success, celebs and brands are launching their own telecom ventures. Trump rolled out “Trump Mobile,” while podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes debuted “SmartLess Mobile.” Klarna is also entering the fray. While startups benefit from niche positioning, experts caution they're tough to scale due to high operational costs and low customer loyalty.

Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/new-celebrity-side-hustle-cellphone-plans-smartless-trump-ryan-reynolds-2025-8?utm_source=chatgpt.com

3. FCC’s New Direction Under Carr

With Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman, the agency has shifted focus away from strict consumer protections like robocalls and pricing transparency. Instead, it now prioritizes deregulation, media scrutiny, and DEI reform in telecom mergers. Consequently, state attorneys general are stepping in to fill the enforcement gap on consumer safeguards.

Reuters https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/navigating-parallel-agendas-carr-fcc-state-attorneys-general-2025-08-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

4. AOL Ends Dial-Up Era

AOL is discontinuing its iconic dial‑up internet service on September 30, 2025, signaling the end of a technological era. Though dial‑up usage has become rare—around 163,000 U.S. households still relied on it as of 2023—it remains a nostalgic mainstay from the early internet days.

New York Post https://nypost.com/2025/08/11/business/aol-will-shut-down-its-dial-up-service-a-relic-of-the-early-internet/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

5. AT&T’s Strategic Market Positioning

AT&T is standing out in a crowded telecom landscape, leveraging strong customer retention and smart financial positioning—like its NYSE-Texas dual listing—to appeal to long-term investors.

AInvest https://www.ainvest.com/news/strategic-momentum-leveraging-customer-loyalty-market-expansion-drive-undervalued-2508/?utm_source=chatgpt.com