1998

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission, in actions designed to foster domestic and global competition, last week proposed allocating spectrum for fixed wireless access and approved a spectrum plan for broadband wireless local loop and other commercial services. Under the FCC proposal, …

LISLE, Ill.-Indian mobile network operator BPL-US West Cellular Ltd. said it again selected Tellabs’ MartisDXX managed transport network solution for the expansion of its Global System for Mobile communications digital cellular network. The contract was awarded through Motorola India. According …

CUPERTINO, Calif.-DSP Communications Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire Isotel Research Ltd., a Calgary, Canada-based developer of call-processing software and Java-based products and services. DSPC said the acquisition fits in with its goal of expanding its position as a …

WASHINGTON-The Justice Department’s denial of Nextel Communications Inc.’s request to modify a 1994 antitrust consent decree kept the nation’s top dispatch radio operator from bidding on bankrupt Geotek Communications Inc.’s licenses last week, a potentially major setback that could stifle …

Convergys extends pacts with carriers CINCINNATI-Convergys Corp. said it extended its contracts with L.A. Cellular and Houston Cellular well into the next century. Convergys’ new outsourced billing and customer care contract with L.A. Cellular will run through 2007, and the …

Metawave Communications Corp. last week expanded its SpotLight 2000 product line to include a Code Division Multiple Access/Advanced Mobile Phone Service smart antenna system that works with Motorola Inc.’s SC 9600 base station. The SpotLight 2000 product also is compatible …

NEW YORK-The boundaries between internal and external computer networks are disappearing due to the warp-speed incursion of the Internet, raising security concerns within enterprises that want to exploit this promising opportunity safely. “Security is one of the inhibitors. It has …

Sierra Wireless said it has brought together 17 other companies in an alliance formed to work together to offer more complete solutions so the general public will adopt wireless data devices more quickly. The WirelessReady Alliance is an invitation-only collaborative …

BOSTON-American Tower Corp. and Triton PCS announced they entered into a contract in which American Tower will build 115 build-to-suit tower-development sites in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, Triton PCS has contracted American Tower’s acquisition and zoning …

MIAMI-Topp Telecom announced it signed a licensing agreement with Motorola Inc. to incorporate Topp Telecom’s prepaid software into select Motorola phones, including the StarTac model. The prepaid Motorola phones will be available off-the-shelf and will not require any signed contracts, …

FORT WORTH, Texas-Motorola Inc. announced it licensed its FLEX protocol decoder chipset to Korean equipment manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The agreement is expected to speed the transition from POCSAG to FLEX paging technology in the Asian market. Samsung reportedly …

MELVILLE, N.Y.-In-Touch Management Systems Inc. and TSR Wireless announced the In-Touch II system has been successfully installed in 17 markets for TSR Wireless. The integration benefits TSR Wireless by giving the carrier one database from which to manage its business.

WASHINGTON-A Government Accounting Office report says the U.S. Postal Service has “put on hold” plans to expand an antenna-siting program, which could have significant impacts on efforts to get antenna-siting and enhanced 911 legislation passed next year. UniSite Inc., an …

MALVERN, Penn.-Triton PCS Inc. selected Lightbridge Inc. to provide integrated solutions for customer activation, retail management and fraud prevention. Triton PCS is building and will operate a digital wireless network in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, enabling AT&T …

WASHINGTON-The battle over whether major local telephone companies will be allowed to merge-expected to be debated again today at the Federal Communications Commission-is tied to spectrum caps more than most people realize, said Motorola Inc.’s Michael D. Kennedy. The Practicing …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will begin immediately using the Universal Licensing System for all licensing activity in the cellular radiophone service. Use of ULS for the cellular service is part of the wireless bureau’s ongoing phased development …

NEW YORK-Sun Microsystems Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., released the Java 2 platform, which it said provides significant performance improvements, a flexible security model and a complete set of applications programming interfaces. “Java 2 is well-suited to a far broader range …

FORT LEE, N.J.-MobileMedia Corp. announced the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved its disclosure statement, allowing the company to move forward with its plan to merge with Arch Communications Group Inc. The plan contains terms of the …

WASHINGTON-Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) late Friday blasted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard and his press office for staff statements to the press suggesting the agency might block pending telecom mega-mergers even if they are approved by …

BOSTON-The success of wireless value-added services depends on the region where the services are being offered, according to a Yankee Group report on value-added services, including call management, voice mail, advanced messaging, personal number services and short message service. Of …

DALLAS-CAI Wireless Systems Inc., Heartland Wireless Communications Inc. and CS Wireless Systems Inc. announced a master agreement under which CAI acquired Heartland’s approximate 36-percent equity interest in CS Wireless. CS Wireless and Heartland also agreed to exchange certain spectrum assets …

HOUSTON, BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Bell Atlantic Mobile and Crown Castle International Corp. announced an agreement to form a joint venture company that will own, operate and actively advance the leasing space on BAM’s existing network of wireless towers throughout the country. Additionally, …

The semiconductor industry is showing signs it could be emerging from a slump that has plagued it this year. The Asian economic crisis, coupled with a glut of semiconductor products in the market, has led the industry into one of …

ATLANTA-Telecom Wireless Solutions Inc. announced it obtained $17 million in financing for strategic acquisitions, new ventures and product development initiatives. As a part of this strategy, TWS also added four new board members. They include: Hugh Sawyer, chief executive officer …

Research companies predicting wireless handset market share have ruffled a few industry feathers. Qualcomm last week issued a statement disputing Dataquest research that had Qualcomm’s market share dropping from 17.4 percent in 1997 to 8.2 percent for the first three …