1996

Pocket Communications Inc. named three new executives to its corporate management team. John A. Hoffman is the new chief operating officer. He has been given responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the company’s operations in each of its markets including …

WASHINGTON-Following a long, drawn-out process that began in 1993, the Federal Communications Commission voted on circular to adopt a memorandum opinion and order on the refarming issue; the order was designed to clear up any questions raised via petitions for …

WASHINGTON-Santa did not bring the much-wanted end of the D-, E- and F-block personal communications services auction by the start of the holidays, but he did slow things down a bit during the last few rounds leading to the two-week …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.- Unitech Industries Inc. and its subsidiary Solidex emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after its reorganization plan was confirmed by court order on Dec. 13. Unitech and Solidex filed for bankruptcy in January. The company said its secured and …

HOUSTON-WorldCom Inc. announced it is expanding a beta test of its wireless messaging service for Notes and cc: Mail to include access from Ram Mobile Data USA L.P.’s wireless network. “Our service model has long been devoted to enabling businesses …

AirTouch Communications Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Intidaya Sistelindomitra to offer wireless services in Indonesia using the Globalstar satellite-based communications system. The companies will pursue a license and establish operations to sell Globalstar service in Indonesia. AirTouch …

NEW YORK-Envision this scenario-for the price of a local phone call, mobile workers use personal digital assistants run by off-the-shelf software to routinely access their own computers wirelessly via the Internet, turning their PDAs into virtual offices. The potential domestic …

In the spirit of the holiday season, Palmer Wireless helped the United States Marine Corps surpass its goal of collecting 10,000 toys for needy children this holiday season. More than 14,000 toys were collected for the military’s charity effort. Palmer …

Pocket Communications Inc. has completed $646 million in financing agreements with three equipment vendors to build network clusters that will make Pocket the nation’s sixth largest personal communications services operator in terms of population. Washington, D.C.-based Pocket received its 43 …

JANUARY 7-8 Telecommunications Business Environment Conference, by the International Telecommunications Group. Denver. (303) 779-4141. 9-12 Consumer Electronics Show ’97, Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas. (703) 907-7674. 19-22 19th Annual Pacific Telecommunications Conference, by the Pacific Telecommunications Council. Sheraton …

“And so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just begun.” This old John Lennon song looped through my head as I reviewed stories RCR printed during the past 12 months. During …

NEW YORK-CommNet Cellular Inc., a Colorado-based rural cellular provider, has terminated plans announced early this year for a nationwide paging alliance with MobileMedia Corp., but it is close to reaching an agreement with a substitute, said Dan Dwyer, chief financial …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.- The lawsuit filed by the Village of Schaumburg, Ill., against UniSite Inc. was dismissed in federal court after UniSite agreed to follow local zoning procedures, said city attorney Jack Siegel. UniSite agreed to apply for a “special use” …

Editor’s Note: No other debate has ignited the wireless telecommunications industry like the one that rages between TDMA and CDMA technology. For several years, the greatest argument against CDMA technology was that it was not commercially available. That changed in …

Wireless industry, watch out! Geniuses are at work in Washington. This is the baby-the Overseas Private Investment Corp., a federal agency that operates at no net cost to U.S. taxpayers. (Brace yourselves for the bath water below.) Throughout its operating …

SANTIAGO, Chile-Entel, Chile’s monopoly long-distance provider, is the informal winner of two personal communications services licenses, but the company will forgo one of those licenses, reported Isabel Valenzuela, commercial counselor for the U.S. Embassy in Santiago. “Two licenses … are …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s International Cellular Infrastructure Group said it won a contract to supply a Code Division Multiple Access wireless local loop network to Yemen’s Public Telecommunications Corp. The system will be deployed in three phases, with the first …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Wireless Data Group is phasing out its Marco and Envoy personal digital assistants by the end of the year, said Cheryl Beck-Ruff, public relations manager. However, the Wireless Data Group will continue producing its Personal Messenger wireless …

As part of a holiday promotion, Powertel Inc. is offering unlimited local calling within its entire coverage area for $50 per month for all of next year. Customers who sign up before Jan. 18 will become “Prestige Partners” and will …

MobileMedia Corp. announced Motorola Inc. discontinued product shipments to the carrier until it secures the credit to “assure payment of $34 million past due accounts payable.” The Ridgefield Park, N.J.-based company also said it skipped a $5.6 million interest payment …

A Seattle company has created model legislation that wireless carriers can use to convince state legislators to create a dedicated wireless E-911 fund administered at the state level. “We have met with numerous carriers and there is a feeling that …

DECEMBER 9-10 Wireless in the Local Loop, by IBC USA Conferences Inc. The Grand Hyatt, San Francisco. (508) 481-6400. 9-10 Universal Service, by IBC USA Conferences Inc. Hyatt Regency, Bethesda, Md. (508) 481-6400. 10 Wireless Messaging Integration, by Motorola Inc.’s …

NEW YORK-CIBC Wood Gundy Securities Corp. “is on the threshold of making announcements” about deals to help some vendors finance the purchase of their wireless equipment by cash-poor, start-up American personal communications services providers, said Robert W. Stuart, managing director …

AML Communications Inc. has introduced what is says is the highest power multicarrier amplifier available to the cellular industry. The amplifier operates at 140 watts, compared to the 100 watts other manufacturers may offer, the company said. AML designs and …

At 29, Kashif Hassan is the president of Wyrex Communications Inc., a small Toronto-based wireless consulting company with a clientele including some of the biggest players in the U.S. personal communications services market. As the framework for PCS developed, Hassan-an …