1996

ATLANTA-Motorola Inc.’s Platform Software Division and Unwired Planet Inc. signed an agreement to provide an optimized solution for delivering Internet-based content to wireless communications devices such as cellular smart phones and alphanumeric pagers. The agreement calls for Unwired Planet’s UP.Link …

ATLANTA-UPS Worldwide Logistics will manage Sprint PCS’s handset and accessory supply chain, according to a contract UPS values at $45 million. UPS will supervise the movement of handsets from original equipment manufacturer to delivery to Sprint PCS distributors and customers, …

The Federal Communications Commission is looking to once again become a regulatory agency instead of a money maker. (New employees must be shocked. What do you mean we’re not a bank?!) The FCC was never meant to be a bank. …

DENVER-ProNet Inc. merged with Calpage and bought the assets of Strategic Products Corp. to provide a foundation for its West Coast operations. The transaction represents more than 45,000 paging units and regional 900 MHz paging spectrum in California, Nevada, Arizona …

Qualcomm Inc. has made a double-barrel response to claims by L.M. Ericsson that Qualcomm’s Code Division Multiple Access products infringe on Ericsson technology patents. Both Qualcomm and Ericsson hold CDMA U.S. patents. Qualcomm has designed and is building commercial CDMA …

DANVILLE, Calif.-The U.S. Department of Commerce approved a patent for Telemac’s Debit Technology, which offers cellular providers a pay-as-you-go solution for credit restricted and budget-conscious customers. “We are very pleased to be recognized as the inventor of the first cellular …

Financial catastrophe has MobileMedia Corp. in the news almost daily with talk of corruption, stockholder lawsuits and bankruptcy. But the company now faces heightened pressure from competitor Paging Network Inc., which aims to expose MobileMedia’s violations of Federal Communications Commission …

NEW YORK-If unaccompanied by rigorous precautions, the new add-on features personal communications services carriers are rushing to provide could pierce the elaborate security veil built into Global System for Mobile communications technology. Over-the-air activation, prepaid calling and multifunctional handsets all …

Billy Tauzin (R-La.), incoming House telecommunications subcommittee chairman, left no uncertainty last week about his agenda for next year. Reed Hundt. In doing so, Tauzin is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Jack Fields (R-Texas). Well, not exactly. Fields …

WASHINGTON-Business executives rate long-distance carriers as being more innovative in their customized telecom solutions than are local exchange carriers, an opinion wireless carriers should heed when considering a venture into the local loop, according to an updated survey. “The Third …

TAMPA, Fla.-GTE Tele-communications Services Inc. has agreed to supply its CloneDetector system to PrimeCo Personal Communications. The agreement also calls for GTE Telecommunications Services to manage the maintenance and operation of the system’s software and hardware platforms. The system identifies …

The end of the Cold War six years ago signaled the end of defense as a driver of technology creation. Engineers have since sought ways to apply defense designs to commercial services. “There’s a lot of novelty going on around …

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.-Motorola Inc.’s Messaging Systems Products Group made its Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol available free to wireless application developers on the World Wide Web. The arrangement was made in cooperation with the Personal Communications Industry Association. The protocol allows wireless …

As European countries progressively open and grow their wireless markets, the contest for licenses is hot. But in Germany, only one group entered a bid for a second personal communications network license by deadline, which leaves questions as to the …

SAN FRANCISCO- AirTouch Cellular said it will resell Cellular One service under the AirTouch brand name in the San Francisco Bay area by March. The company already sells service in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, Calif. “Offering AirTouch Cellular …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Telecommunications said it will supply Global System for Mobile communications infrastructure equipment to Societe Francaise du Radiotelephone. According to the agreement, Nokia will deliver base stations, base station controllers, operation systems and network implementation, optimization and maintenance related …

NEW YORK-Like the fabled elephant described by a group of blind men positioned near various points of its anatomy, equipment vendors at the recent “PCS-1900 in North America” conference gave widely different definitions of so-called “smart phones.” The closest thing …

LOS ANGELES-Ever since PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P. launched service in 11 markets last month, many Code Division Multiple Access proponents believe the technology has passed its first test-widespread deployment. Now the challenge, most say, will be for carriers to maintain …

Sabre Communications Corp. introduced a new line of monopoles designed to support antenna loadings for cellular, personal communications services, enhanced specialized mobile radio and microwave applications. The monopoles extend 200 feet and are constructed of tapered sections for easy assembly …

SAN FRANCISCO-AirTouch Cellular’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Lee Cox, announced he will retire effective April 4. Cox also serves as vice chairman for domestic operations for AirTouch Communications Inc. Cox, 56, will retire after a 33-year career in wireline …

WASHINGTON-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is due to release a report next year on the safety of cellular phones in vehicles. A preliminary draft of the one inch-thick report is under review, according to a source who’s seen the …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission voted Friday to allow broadband personal communications services auction winners to sell off parts of licenses and proposed to give all commercial wireless carriers the same flexibility, moves aimed at helping operators better react to market …

WASHINGTON-The Personal Communications Industry Association petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to grant an extension of the now-expired 120-day special temporary authority given to current Part 90 licensees to continue operation of their facilities until the commission grants their pending applications. …

WASHINGTON-The cellular and paging industries experienced similar declines in revenue per subscriber and operating expenses this year. But despite jitters on Wall Street, the operating performance of most wireless companies remains strong, said Economic Management Consultant International Inc. in its …

SOUTHPORT, Conn.-EDR Wireless Group changed its name to EDR Telecom in an effort to reflect the company’s expanding scope of business. The company’s clients include wireless carriers as well as wireline, cable, satellite and Internet companies. The company’s telecommunications industry …