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© epSos.de

Verizon is the latest major carrier to end unlimited data plans for its wireless internet service. The company plans to introduce a tiered pricing model in place of the unlimited data plans, which would offer 2GB of data for $30 a month, 5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80.

The decision is a coping strategy to deal with the flood of bandwidth-hogging devices which are now flooding the carrier networks. Some critics view the plans as a major threat to mobile online innovation due to the limits they impose on usage. T-Mobile is trying to remain competitive with the other carriers by promising that customers who exceed their month data limits will not receive overage charges. However, they will instead receive significantly slower internet service until their next billing cycle.

© Phil Roeder

The infamous hidden file on iPhones that tracks users every move is not the only way that smartphone users are being tracked by their devices. Wireless carriers also have detailed records of their customers' movements based on the mobile towers their phones connect to, but privacy advocates are most concerned about the vast amounts of data collected by the fast-growing and largely unregulated apps that use location based marketing.

There are lots of companies now with no controls around them that are using sensitive location data. They aren't required to tell you how long they're keeping the data, what they're using it for or who they're sharing it with. Some worry that the data could be used for many things other than the intended purpose. Insurance companies could use it to deny coverage or charge higher rates to those who frequent crime-ridden areas, for example.

© mrbill

One of the leading companies in wireless and wired communications, Atheros, has been working on an innovative home gadget network that will see the advent of texting washing machines and remote oven repair. With this network, your washing machine could send you a text when it's time to move your clothes to the dryer.

You will also be able to upload your workout statistics from your home treadmill to a computer, and have a company perform remote diagnostics on a broken refrigerator or oven. Your mobile phone would also function as the controller for your home's thermostat, microwave and other appliances. Atheros' Internet of Things product portfolio includes the wired and wireless networking technologies to do all of this and much more. For example, one of the company's latest releases is designed to allow vendors to create "smart" energy products that can be controlled via a home network.