December 1998

DENVER-Evolving Systems Inc. released a new version of its local number portability software, which will enable telecommunications carriers to streamline LNP processing, cope with telephone number exhaustion and provide enhanced area code split functionality, said the company. Version 1.3 of …

DENVER-Formus Communications Inc. said it was granted a field trial license by the Hungarian Telecommunications Authority to provide data services to a test group of businesses in Budapest. Formus will supply the service using a fixed-wireless technology that transmits voice, …

The wireless implications of America Online Inc.’s acquisition of Netscape Communications Corp. and its related strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems Inc. continue to reverberate as more attention has been given to the possible role paging carrier Metrocall Inc. may play …

WASHINGTON-The current Federal Communications Commission plan for public-safety digital-only operations in the 700 MHz band (746-806 MHz) will lead to unused spectrum for as long as seven years, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International warned last week. The …

NEW YORK-The failure Nov. 30 of a PanAmSat satellite used by Pasific Satelit Nusantara in Indonesia is the latest problem “in an unprecedented year for us,” said Chuck H. Noski, president of Hughes Electronics Corp. Hughes, based in Germantown, Md., …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group said Sprint Spectrum L.P. launched its personal communications services network in several key markets as part of the expansion of its nationwide network. Seven of these new markets are using Motorola CIG’s Code …

HAPPAUGE, N.Y.-Microwave Power Devices Inc., a manufacturer and seller of ultra linear power amplifiers and related subsystems, announced it has signed a letter of intent to purchase New Jersey-based Amplidyne Inc., which also manufactures and sells amplifier equipment. Under the …

MELVILLE, N.Y.-Northeast Digital Networks Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Personal Communications Networks, announced it has received an equipment supply and vendor-financing offer from Nortel Networks. The offer is subject to, among other things, the company securing an irrevocable commitment …

PREFERRED NETWORKS Preferred Networks Inc. announced its founder, president and director, Michael Saner, will retire Dec. 31. Saner previously held upper-management positions at several paging companies, such as Paging Services Inc., a paging repair, maintenance, installation and sales company he …

DENVER-U S West expanded its Advanced PCS wireless service territory west from Denver to include the major ski resorts and mountain communities that reside along Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor. The service expansion encompasses Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silverthorne, Frisco and Avon, …

NEW YORK-The recent privatization of Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala S.A., doing business as Telgua, was the largest such transaction in Central America to date and offers encouragement for similar plans contemplated in nearby Nicaragua and Honduras. “Obviously, Telgua would be interested …

ROSWELL, Ga.-Satellink Communications Inc. announced it signed a definitive merger agreement with Cape Fear Paging Co. of Fayetteville, N.C. The companies expect the merger to be complete by mid-December. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. The merger will …

Supra Products Inc. won a contract from AT&T Wireless Services Inc. to provide its TRACcess electronic access control system at AT&T Wireless cell sites in its central region, said the companies. The contract follows a previous contract with AT&T Wireless …

KANSAS CITY-Sprint Corp. announced it completed the recapitalization of its common stock into two separate classes and the restructuring of Sprint Spectrum L.P., branded Sprint PCS. With the recapitalization, each share of Sprint’s publicly traded common stock has been reclassified …

PARK RIDGE, N.J.-Sony Electronics Inc. is contacting users of an estimated 60,000 Sony dual-band wireless phones in the United States because some may have power settings in excess of the maximum level authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. The affected …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The Personal Communications Industry Association announced the formation of the PCIA Mobile Computing Advisory Group with Microsoft Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc., Oracle and Philips Consumer Communications. The PCIA MCAG’s main goal will be to promote wireless mobile computing. The …

Palm Computing Inc., an affiliate of 3Com Corp., introduced the Palm VII personal digital assistant at the Palm Computing Platform Worldwide Developer Conference in Santa Clara, Calif., featuring out-of-the-box wireless connectivity to the Internet, World Wide Web and instant two-way …

CellNet Data Systems Inc. announced it signed a contract with Puget Sound Energy to expand CellNet’s 700,000-meter network by another 100,000 meters to extend network meter reading to some 85,000 additional natural gas customers and 15,000 electric customers. Under the …

The rapid growth of prepaid wireless services in Western Europe will not continue unchecked, according to a report published by Strategy Analytics. The availability and adoption of prepaid wireless services in Western Europe has increased dramatically during 1998, with an …

ASHLAND, Ky.-Ram-Page announced it has transitioned most of its paging network to satellite link distribution, choosing Microspace of Raleigh, N.C., as the vendor.

CHICAGO-Ameritech Corp. said it introduced Ameritech Roadside Assistance, designed to provide prompt, reliable nationwide auto service to stranded motorists via their cellular phone. The service costs about 10 cents a day, and customers pay on a monthly basis, said the …

CHICAGO-Safco Technologies Inc., a division of Salient 3 Communications, said its VoicePrint voice quality measurement system is available for Global System for Mobile communications networks. VoicePrint helps carriers and infrastructure vendors determine the performance of GSM networks using Harvard speech …

LONDON-Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd. said it has become the first United Kingdom mobile service provider to offer roaming in Israel. The service in Israel was launched as Orange in October 1998, as a result of the licensing of the …

Orbcomm Global L.P. announced its $500 million constellation of 28 low-earth-orbit satellites is complete and able to offer full commercial service worldwide. Orbcomm has offered limited service capabilities for more than two years on the two satellites it launched in …

DALLAS-Paging Network Inc. announced it will be the exclusive provider of ESPN sports information to its paging subscribers, according to an agreement the two companies signed. Initially, PageNet subscribers will get general sports information updates and limited customization of categories, …