1999

BERN, Switzerland-Swisscom took a significant step in becoming a major service provider in Europe by acquiring a 58-percent stake in Germany’s No. 3 mobile communications provider, Debitel AG, for $1.62 …

TORONTO-Microcell Connexions Inc. and Telemetrix Inc. signed a letter of intent to conclude an agreement that will bring personal communications services based on the Global System for Mobile communications standard …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Metrocall Inc. announced it has completed the nationwide rollout of its OnTheGoInfo customizable information services suite, based on Motorola Inc.’s iKno! information architecture platform. Metrocall originally launched the service …

After a year of development and testing, Paging Network Inc. and Computer Associates Inc. have introduced a monitoring solution that integrates CA’s Unicenter TNG enterprise management system with wireless capabilities …

WASHINGTON-In the last procedural move before proceeding with auctions in the 39 GHz band (38.6-40.0 MHz), the Federal Communications Commission affirmed the licensing and service rules adopted in January 1997 …

WASHINGTON-The American Association of Retired Persons released the results of a $30,000 study conducted by Economics and Technology Inc. that reports SBC Communications Inc. and Bell Atlantic Corp. did not …

SEATTLE-XyPoint Corp. and Wireless Services Corp. said they have formed a technology alliance to develop a secure technology platform called WebWireless, which will enable consumers to conduct transactions through Internet-based …

LUTHERVILLE, Md.-Americom Wireless Services opened its fourth wireless handset repair and refurbishment center located in Hartford County, Md. The 33,000-square-foot facility in the Lakeside Business Park just north of Baltimore …

Poor financial results continue to plague personal communications services operator Aerial Communications Inc., and its spinoff from parent company, Telephone and Data Systems Inc., is moving slower than anticipated. Analysts …

WASHINGTON-AT&T Corp. said Chairman C. Michael Armstrong was elected head of the U.S.-Japan Business Council, a 75-member group that promotes improved business and economic ties between the two countries. Armstrong …

The supply contract between Research In Motion Ltd. and BellSouth Wireless Data L.P. ends next month and the two companies are already in negotiations to renew the deal. The outcome …

WASHINGTON-Legislation to extend the digital wiretap act grandfather date to June seems to be on a fast track to nowhere because proponents don’t have a strategy to get it passed …

BETHESDA, Md.-Comsat Mobile Communications signed a three-year agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas, Argentina’s national passenger airline, to provide fax, data and voice communications via satellite for both crew and passengers. Under …

NEW YORK-In a move apparently intended to get ahead of the crowd, Hutchison Telecommunications Australia Ltd., Sydney, announced July 12 it plans to sell 29.5 percent of the company in …

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp. said it agreed to provide a variety of value-added services to Telerj Celular S.A. and Telest Celular S.A., two wireless operators in the Brazilian states of Rio …

ORLANDO, Fla.-Brite Voice Systems Inc. said it received a $10 million order from a major European communications provider. The provider wants to expand its capacity to add subscribers and enhanced …

LONDON-British Telecommunications plc said it will buy Control Data Systems Inc., a software company based in Arden Hills, Minn., for $340 million. The purchase will expand British Telecom’s service offering. …

Wireless carrier marketing efforts during the last year have largely focused on new pricing schemes, but that may be about to change. AT&T Wireless Services Inc. kicked off the trend …

PARIS-France Telecom Group said it will sell all of its shares in Deutsche Telekom next year, valued at about $2 billion. Jean-Louis Vinciguerra, France Telecom’s executive vice president of finance, …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The Personal Communications Industry Association is expanding the membership of its Wireless Broadband Alliance to any person or entity, including partnerships and corporations, holding a license from the Federal …

NEW YORK-Globalstar L.P. announced it launched four more low-earth-orbit satellites on July 10, bringing the total number of satellites in orbit to 28. The four satellites were launched on a …

During its second-quarter earnings conference call, Motorola executives said Iridium L.L.C. could face liquidation if it fails to bring in the revenues and subscribers originally planned. At the same time, …

Second-quarter subscriber growth in the U.K. mobile-phone market exceeded analysts’ expectations as prepaid services continue to provide a growth engine for the industry. “The market has been ahead of expectations …

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.-Arch Communications Group Inc. said it has expanded its agreement with 7-Eleven to sell the MobileComm Pre-Paid Paging package in stores nationwide. Arch first began selling the product in …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Phone.com Inc. gained ground in Japan recently, having signed agreements to incorporate its UP.Link Server Suite in wireless networks there. Two Japanese cellular carriers, DDI Corp. and IDO …