Senator Al Franken, chairman of the Senate subcommittee on privacy, technology and law, sent a letter to Carrier IQ on Thursday asking the company to address a number of concerns that have arisen after security expert Trevor Eckhart revealed the software might allow wireless carriers to spy on customers. “I am very concerned by recent reports that your company’s software — preinstalled on smartphones used by millions of Americans — is logging and may be transmitting extraordinarily sensitive information from consumers’ phones,” Senator Franken wrote in his letter. Read on for more.

Franken noted that Carrier IQ has been accused of be keeping track of when users turn their phones on and off, what numbers users dial, message contents and more. He said he understands that carriers need to collect data to run diagnostics but that “it appears Carrier IQ’s software captures a broad swath of extremely sensitive information from users that would appear to have nothing to do with diagnostics.”

Sprint admitted to The Verge on Thursday that it, and other carriers, “use the data to understand device performance so it can figure out when issues are occurring,” and that it doesn’t sell the data and can not look at messages, personal photos or other private information. These sentiments mirror earlier comments the carrier gave to BGR several months ago. Sprint’s full statement follows below.

Carrier IQ provides information that allows Sprint, and other carriers that use it, to analyze our network performance and identify where we should be improving service. We also use the data to understand device performance so we can figure out when issues are occurring. We collect enough information to understand the customer experience with devices on our network and how to address any connection problems, but we do not and cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool. The information collected is not sold and we don’t provide a direct feed of this data to anyone outside of Sprint.

Sprint is well known for our serious commitment to respecting and protecting the privacy and security of each customer’s personally identifiable information and other customer data. A key element of this involves communicating with our customers about our information privacy practices. The Sprint privacy policy makes it clear we collect information that includes how a device is functioning and how it is being used. Carrier IQ is an integral part of the Sprint service. Sprint uses Carrier IQ to help maintain our network performance.

Senator Franken asked that Carrier IQ answer 11 questions related to its practices by December 14th.

Via Gizmodo

Read Al Franken - PDF Read The Verge

AT&T recently requested that a federal judge push Sprint to reveal what its plans for competition will be pending the outcome of AT&T’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA. Sprint has been a staunch opponent of the deal and it is clear that AT&T has at least some worry Sprint may try to team up with T-Mobile should the purchase be denied. “Sprint is a strong and vibrant competitor as evidenced by events in the past six months — a fact that is critical to AT&T’s defense of DOJ’s claim that the challenged merger will dampen competition in the mobile wireless industry,” AT&T attorney Steven Benz, who is an employee of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel PLLC, said. In addition to AT&T’s request, U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle recently allowed Sprint and C Spire Wireless to move forward with lawsuits that were filed in opposition of AT&T’s planned merger. AT&T recently asked Huvelle to toss the lawsuit and argued that “Sprint cannot wrap itself in the cloak of wireless service consumers’ interest because Sprint is not a consumer but instead a competitor in the sale of wireless services.” Huvelle disagrees. “Where private plaintiffs have successfully pleaded antitrust injury, the fact that they are defendants’ competitors is no bar” to filing a suit, Huvelle explained. “We believe the limited, minor claims Sprint and C Spire Wireless have left are entirely without merit,” AT&T senior executive vice president and general counsel Wayne Watts told Reuters.

Read Reuters Read Bloomberg

Sprint and Clearwire are negotiating a network-sharing contract that will last beyond 2012, Bloomberg recently reported, noting a 29% surge in Clearwire’s stock price earlier Wednesday. CEO Dan Hesse explained on a conference call that Sprint could take advantage of Clearwire’s network in an effort to balance traffic on its planned 4G LTE network. While Sprint is “making very good progress on the technical front with Clearwire,” a deal is not yet final or definite. Sprint announced earlier this month that it plans to accelerate its 4G LTE roll-out and will launch its first markets by the middle of next year. The project is expected to be fully completed in 2013. Sprint’s move to LTE had originally suggested that its WiMAX relationship with Clearwire was coming to an end, but it appears that is no longer the case. Like Sprint, Clearwire has also said it will deploy a 4G LTE network if it can find the money. Most recently the carrier was courting AT&T and Verizon in an effort to bring in enough cash for the roll-out, which it expects to cost $600 million.

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U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle recently shot down Sprint’s request to access a number of documents related to AT&T’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA. “You don’t stand in the shoes of the consumer or the Department of Justice,” Huvelle said. Sprint originally sued to block the merger in September, shortly after the U.S. Justice Department filed a similar case in August. AT&T recently asked a judge to toss the suit entirely and, like Huvelle, said Sprint was not in a position to argue from the consumer’s standpoint. “Sprint cannot wrap itself in the cloak of wireless service consumers’ interest because Sprint is not a consumer but instead a competitor in the sale of wireless services,” AT&T said in the September court filing. Read on for more.

At least one expert believes Sprint would be more effective in blocking the deal if it had access to AT&T’s internal documents. “There are ways in which Sprint can be exceptionally helpful to the government agencies and I’m sure that they will continue to provide advice but with more access to documents they’re likely to provide better advice,” American Antitrust Institute president Bert Foer told Reuters.

Sprint has been vocal in its opposition of the planned merger and has argued it will “stifle” competition in the U.S. wireless market. Sprint attorney Steven Sunshine explained the importance of blocking the deal: “If this transaction goes forward, the plaintiffs will be impaired in their ability to compete,” he said.

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Sprint on Tuesday confirmed that it has released an over-the-air security update for several HTC smartphones. In a statement posted to Sprint’s community forum by company spokesman Mark Elliot, Sprint said HTC smartphones including the HTC EVO 4G, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Shift 4G, HTC EVO Design 4G, HTC EVO View 4G and HTC Wildfire S will all begin receiving the update this evening. “Sprint worked closely with HTC after reports emerged of a potential issue that could allow malicious third-party apps to compromise data on Android devices made by HTC,” the statement said, noting that users of the aforementioned smartphone models should install the update promptly. Sprint’s full statement along with instructions on how to update HTC devices follows below.

HTC devices, including HTC EVO™ 4G, HTC EVO™ 3D, HTC EVO Shift™ 4G, HTC EVO Design 4G™, HTC EVO View 4G™ and HTC Wildfire S™, will receive over-the-air updates starting today. Customers can download the update manually right away by following the instructions below.

Sprint worked closely with HTC after reports emerged of a potential issue that could allow malicious third-party apps to compromise data on Android™ devices made by HTC.

Protecting customer privacy is a top priority at Sprint. Beginning today, HTC EVO™ 4G, HTC EVO™ 3D, HTC EVO Shift™ 4G, HTC EVO Design 4G™, HTC EVO View 4G™ and HTC Wildfire S™ customers will receive the over-the-air software update to address this situation. We urge all users to install the update promptly.

Update notifications will be sent to users in waves. The notification will let users know the update is available and provide the easy, over-the-air download instructions:

1. Users will receive a notification the software update is available for download.
2. Once users have downloaded the update, they will be prompted to install the update. Users will be notified that their devices will be disabled during the installation process. The phones will be ready to use once the process is complete.

Beginning today, customers can manually download the update by going to Settings >System updates > HTC software update > Check Now.

Via BriefMobile

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Owners of the EVO 3D can now download a security update for their device, which will begin pushing to all users on October 27. Sprint says that software version 2.08.651.3 will inlude security improvements, though it fails to detail just what these improvements are. Regardless, you can pull now, though Sprint reminds you that like all updates, it will roll out in stages. If you can’t find it today, try try again, or sit back and relax until you receive it automatically later this week. Hit the source link for installation instructions.

Source: Sprint Community

Recently, a bit of fuss has been made about Sprint (3G) IP addresses resolving to or connecting to the Department of Defense.  That’s good fuss, but it’s easy to understand why there’s no real need to worry, even if we can’t or don’t know the whole story.  And let’s face it — it’s the U.S. Government, so we probably won’t know the whole story here.  Here’s quick look at a few things can put your mind at ease.

First things first — the government probably can tell what you’re doing on the Internet any time it wants to.  As long as this “power” isn’t abused (and abuse can be defined an infinte number of ways, right?), most of us won’t complain.  If the government can’t tap right in to your traffic, it can just get it from your carrier (all carriers, not just Sprint), or from your ISP if you’re using the computer in your house.

It’s a huge debate, but the powers-that-be have decided that it’s in the best interests of national (and your own) security.  Even Google had to give up information about the Wikileaks documents recently, because that’s the law.  Google expressed its displeasure at the law, but it had to release the info.  Same goes for Verizon, or AT&T, or Comcast.  Debate it to your hearts content in the comments, but that’s the way it is.  Things in other countries are different, but in the U.S. we’re bound by the law of the land, and so is any company that provides you access to the Internet.

Now to get specific with Sprint, and explain why some folks have 3G IP addresses that resolve to the DoD.  Guess who provides voice, data, and other services to a large portion of the Defense Department?  You guessed it — Sprint.  Direct from their website:

Sprint Government Systems Division (GSD) has been working with Defense agencies for years to provide solutions that can meet their critical communications requirements. Along with integrated voice, data, and video solutions, Sprint is a leader in cutting-edge technologies…

Sprint is the full service provider to Navy/Marine Corps organizations in CONUS and overseas.

Sprint has been contracting with the DoD for years.  And lest we forget — the DoD helped Al Gore invent the Internet, and a huge portion of traffic goes through relays and is routed through government machines — including the DoD’s.  There is no need to get alarmed if you see traffic being sent to, or coming from, the DoD.  Even if they are spying on you, they don’t care that you’re downloading the latest Black Eyed Peas track without paying for it.  Old timers will remember going through all this fuss back six or seven years ago when P2P downloading became popular, and government computers started showing as peers.  Unless you’re plotting something you shouldn’t be, you can stop worrying.

Let me wrap up by saying that, yes, you should ask around if you see U.S. Government networks (or any government) apparently connected to your smartphone.  It’s our responsibility as good citizens to police our government and express displeasure at any actions we don’t like.  This article is meant as information, and not to belittle or mock anyone.

That said:

This has been a crazy, crazy, crazy week so far, but it’s not over yet. Sprint is holding a “Strategy Update” meeting Friday morning in New York City and BGR will be reporting live to bring you all the news as it unfolds. Will we hear more about Sprint’s deal with Apple and the iPhone? Perhaps. Will we hear more about Sprint’s plan to find a way out of its current 4G jam? Almost certainly. No one knows exactly what’s in store from Sprint tomorrow, but we have a pretty good feeling we’re in for a jaw-dropper or two.

Bookmark this link, which will go live tomorrow morning, and make sure to head there for our live coverage of the Sprint Strategy Update meeting. Coverage will begin just before 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

Sprint subscribers who have been waiting since 2007 for their carrier of choice to finally land the iPhone breathed a collective sigh of relief on Tuesday when Apple confirmed that the nation’s No. 3 carrier would soon offer both the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. Sprint also confirmed on Thursday that it will indeed be offering unlimited data plans to iPhone users, and that pre-sales of the iPhone 4 would begin immediately while iPhone 4S pre-orders start on Friday. BGR sought clarification on the pre-order process following an anonymous tip we received, and Sprint has confirmed that iPhone pre-sales will be accommodated entirely online. Sprint’s retail stores will not have the ability to take iPhone pre-orders, and the carrier also confirmed to BGR that Sprint stores will not offer “Device Wait Lists,” meaning customers cannot add their names to a list in order to be guaranteed a device on launch day. Sprint will begin selling the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on Friday, October 14th.