February 1999

SAN DIEGO – Qualcomm Inc. said it has begun production shipping its integrated fifth-generation Code Division Multiple Access chipset and system software for use in cdmaOne handsets. The chipset and software solution provides wireless data rates as high as 86.4 …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. reported its net income for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 was $49 million, or 65 cents per share, compared with $37 million, or 50 cents per share, the previous year. Revenues were $941 million, an increase …

Zetron Zetron Inc. launched the Model Z907 PCS Fault Finder, which provides fast notification of power amplifier and antenna problems at personal communications services sites. The PCS Fault Finder monitors forward radio-frequency power and antenna return loss in the 1.8 …

Ball Wireless Communications Products introduced two new antenna products based on its AirBASE air dielectric technology. The DualBASE dual-band base station antenna allows wireless carriers to use one antenna to provide service in two frequency bands, which could ease zoning …

A Jan. 18 article about Sprint Spectrum L.P. launching service in Atlanta should have read that one of Sprint PCS’s calling plans is $45 per month for 500 minutes.

Power Products Power Products Unlimited Inc. selected Ken Donofrio as its new marketing director. He will orchestrate all aspects of the company’s marketing and carrier services program. Donofrio previously was director of marketing and carrier support for Cliffco Wireless. WirelessNorth …

WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association will host two-day sessions prior to Wireless ’99 in New Orleans to address small market operations, wireless data and Y2K. The “Market Operations Forum: Solutions for Networking Our Communities” targets wireless professionals in smaller markets. …

WICHITA, Kan.-Citing a “persistent weakness in the global test equipment market,” IFR Systems Inc. announced results for the second quarter of fiscal 1999, which ended Dec. 31, of a net loss of $401,000, or 5 cents per share, compared with …

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill.-Illinois Superconductor Corp. said it became an approved vendor for a large cellular system manufacturer, which it declined to name. As an approved vendor, Illinois Superconductor can provide its product directly from the original equipment manufacturer to cellular …

Paging Network Inc. announced it is offering the Iridium World Page Service commercially in the United States as the country’s exclusive paging carrier offering Iridium service. The paging portion of Iridium’s 66 low-earth-orbit satellite system was activated in November, after …

Despite a five-week service launch delay and continued handset production problems, Iridium L.L.C. finished the fourth quarter with results that beat analysts expectations. The quarter, ended Dec. 31, marked the long-awaited launch of the company’s 66 low-earth orbit satellite global …

STOCKHOLM-Ericsson Inc. announced it signed a contract with German operator Deutsche Telekom MobilNet to implement General Packet Radio Service into T-Mobil’s Global System for Mobile communications network. The technology will allow T-Mobil to offer wireless Internet and other Internet Protocol-based …

MALVERN, Pa.-Triton PCS Inc., an AT&T Wireless Services Inc. network affiliate, announced it has begun providing commercial wireless service to customers in six markets in the Southeast. The company is marketing its service under the brand SunCom. Time Division Multiple …

RICHARDSON, Texas-Ericsson Inc. and Tritel Communications Inc. announced they signed a $300 million agreement for Ericsson to supply Time Division Multiple Access infrastructure equipment for Tritel’s personal communications services markets located in the southeastern United States. Ericsson said Tritel will …

SAN CARLOS, Calif.-The United Illuminating Co. Inc. and CellNet Data Systems Inc. announced a memorandum of understanding to provide network meter-reading services to 312,000 customers in UI’s 17-town service territory. Subject to a definitive project agreement, the UI-CellNet network will …

IRVING, Texas-GTE Corp. reported its net income for the fourth quarter increased 21 percent to $855 million, or 88 cents per share. Net income for the year totaled $2.17 million, or $2.24 per share, compared with net income of $2.8 …

NEW YORK-GTE Network Services, Irving, Texas, rolled out a program last month to move wireless directory assistance off the shoulder of the road and into the fast lane of the telecommunications revolution. GTE’s Wireless Directory Assistance is intended to take …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Datalink Systems Corp. announced it will begin operating under the name Datalink.net to more accurately reflect its Internet-based strategy. “All of our products are driven by our Web-based customer interface, which enables our subscribers to customize their services …

WASHINGTON, D.C.-A new, 90-country survey conducted by TeleGeography Inc. reports competition allowed international callers to stay on the phone six billion minutes longer in 1997 for the same price they paid in 1996. Callers got more for their dollar mostly …

The third-generation technology debate is beginning to have a negative impact on the valuation of the world’s largest wireless carrier, Japan’s NTT Mobile Communications, which plans to become the first carrier in the world to deploy wideband Code Division Multiple …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson introduced its new T 28 dual-band mobile phone based on Global System for Mobile communications technology. The phone’s functions include voice control, automatic world clock and new batteries that use lithium polymer technology. The phone also includes …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has named Kathleen Wallman chairman of the FCC’s Public Safety National Coordination Committee. In August, the FCC adopted rules calling for a new committee to develop technical standards for public-safety use of the spectrum in the …

ESCONDIDO, Calif.-Global Access Pagers Inc. announced it has backed off from its proposed merger with Phone Time Resources Inc. The two entered an agreement to merge on April 21. No reason was given for the change of heart.

WASHINGTON-The bankruptcy sale of Geotek Communications Inc.’s 900 MHz specialized mobile radio licenses continued to be embroiled in uncertainty last week as company officials and creditors struggled over whether to roll the dice with a higher-albeit uncertain-bulk bid rather than …

ALAMEDA, Calif.-Geoworks Corp. announced a net loss of $3.4 million, or 22 cents per share, for the the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a net loss of $2.5 million, or 16 cents per share, reported for the corresponding previous …