The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.

Carriers

--Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services assigned its ‘B” rating to MetroPCS Wireless Inc.’s proposed $300 million senior notes due 2014. The firm also affirmed its B corporate credit rating and all other ratings on parent company MetroPCS Communications Inc. "The ratings on MetroPCS Communications Inc. reflect what we view as a challenging business model, which targets lower income customers; a highly competitive environment; and high leverage," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Catherine Cosentino.

Handset and infrastructure vendors

--Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services downgraded Nortel Networks to D from B- after the company filed for bankruptcy protection. R.W. Baird dropped coverage on the company following the news. Barclay’s Capital withdrew its estimates on the company.

--Credit Suisse First Boston dropped its price target on Motorola Inc. to $4.50 from $5 after the company preannounced quarterly earnings. The firm also lowered its EPS estimates on the company to $0 from 9 cents for 2009 and to 23 cents from 41 cents for 2010.

--JP Morgan downgraded Palm to neutral from overweight, saying the company faces risks including lower consumer spending and execution challenges. The firm also raised its price target on Palm to $7.50 from $7.

--Credit Suisse First Boston lowered its estimates on Nokia by 14% on lower handset industry sell-in growth forecasts for 2009.

--Barclay’s Capital lowered its 2010 EPS estimate on Texas Instruments to 15 cents rather than 20 cents on weaker demand.

Other

--Barclays Capital downgraded Ceragon Networks to equal weight from overweight.

--Barclays Capital downgraded Starent Networks to equal weight from overweight.

--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its corporate credit rating on Freescale Semiconductor Inc. to B- from B+ and removed the rating from CreditWatch, where it was placed on Oct. 3, 2008, with negative implications. "The rating actions reflect our view of Freescale's near- to intermediate-term operating prospects and related credit measures, which we believe will be adversely affected by the current economic environment," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Lucy Patricola.

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