Jennifer Van Buskirk, the president of Aio Wireless, hopes the carrier’s network quality and device portfolio will lure additional customers who are fed up with high prices but are afraid that quality of experience—and smartphone selection—are lacking in the no-contract market. “We invite customers across the country to switch to Aio and experience our first-class service with no annual contracts,” she said in a press release. “We want to make it easy for consumers almost anywhere in the US to get great value in their wireless service, with the network coverage and experience they deserve, and devices they can be proud to own.”

T-Mobile recently filed suit against AT&T and Aio Wireless for using colors that, it says, resemble its signature magenta. In its official complaint the company argues that “AT&T Inc set up Aio to compete directly with T-Mobile,” and that the selection of magenta by Aio “is likely to dilute” its own “color trademark, and to create initial interest confusion.”

T-Mobile is very serious about its allegations, but an injunction prior to Aio’s nationwide launch seems unlikely. While lawyers will inevitably battle it out in the courts, fiery T-Mobile CEO John Legere took to Twitter on August 28 to publicly mock AT&T.

Telefónica scores major smart-grid deal

Smart meters and the smart grid represent smart business opportunities for CSPs seeking to move into new markets. Last month Telefónica outmaneuvered its competitors to score a landmark deal in the UK, netting a contract for smart-grid communications worth at least $2.3 billion. The company also inked a deal with Evernote and will push a free premium version of the popular app to its customers in Latin America and Europe.

Orange and Visa partner on mobile money

Orange continued its innovative push into mobile money by announcing a groundbreaking deal with Visa on August 6. Emerging markets such as Botswana will be the first targets for the companies’ new mobile financial services, but the combination of a global service provider and a powerhouse like Visa is sure to create waves that will reach all shores in due time.