1999

When it became the first satellite-based global voice operator to launch commercial service last year, Iridium L.L.C. predicted its success would serve as the example other such carriers would need …

WHIPPANY, N.J.-Bell Labs researchers say they have developed a wireless location system that is accurate to within 15 feet when users are outdoors, and to 100 feet when they are …

REDMOND, Wash.-Metawave Communications Corp. closed a $91 million round of private equity financing, the largest private equity amount raised by an equipment manufacturer during first-quarter 1999, according to the MoneyTree …

Today’s satellite-based data and messaging carriers have found the secret to their success is partnering with those they once considered their primary competitors-terrestrial-based wireless data carriers. At first, satellite data …

WASHINGTON – Nextel Communications Inc. last week met stiff opposition to efforts to secure private wireless spectrum and approval for the transfer of 900 MHz dispatch licenses from bankrupt Geotek …

Primal Systems Inc., a provider of customer management products, introduced a new product to its suite of e-business solutions, called WebCare, last week at Billing ’99 in Dallas. Designed to …

Iridium L.L.C. announced the deadline for meeting certain customer and revenue thresholds, under the financial covenants of its $800 million senior secured credit facility, has been extended to Aug. 11. …

CINCINNATI-Convergys Corp. said it signed an outsourcing agreement with AT&T Wireless Services Inc. to extend the current contract for inbound customer care and related services to 2006. Convergys handles many …

NEW YORK-It is true billions of people have never made a phone call, but that fact is worthless in determining actual demand for mobile satellite telephony services, according to Larry …

Deutsche Telekom AG has about $18 billion at its disposal after its $11-billion secondary offering last week, and speculation is running high about what acquisitions it will make in Europe …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission currently is considering how much mobile satellite service operators will have to pay to relocate incumbents in the 2 GHz band. MSS operators, particularly ICO Global …

BOSTON-A newly released report from the Yankee Group predicts the market for wireless telemetry services will grow to more than $6.6 billion in revenues by 2004. According the report, growth …

The gap between large and small independent tower companies became wider last week as a pair of transactions added nearly 2,500 towers to the portfolios of two of the larger …

More and more, I find myself agreeing with FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. However, even as I write that, I’m not necessarily comfortable with the claim. It generally has been my …

BERKSHIRE, England-Vodafone Group plc and AirTouch Communications Inc. completed their merger. AirTouch’s stock stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange at the end of the day June 29, and …

WASHINGTON-A major dispute has erupted between the wireless industry and the Clinton administration over the crafting of U.S. policy on third-generation wireless spectrum less than a year before the World …

WASHINGTON-Congress sent the White House a bill on Thursday designed to limit liability stemming from the onset of the millennium bug. President Clinton is expected to sign the measure. The …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp.’s Wireless Software Solutions division introduced the Nokia WAP Browser, a Wireless Application Protocol microbrowser designed for wireless handsets and personal digital assistants. The browser is featured in …

It stands to reason that if you know how to make mobile phones work, you can shut them down-say, like at gas stations or in airplanes, theaters and hospitals. That’s …

CHICAGO-Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems Inc., operating under the Cellular One brand name, introduced two new services to the Chicago market-Digital Edge SharePaks and Money Manager. Digital Edge SharePaks lets up …

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-A survey conducted by International Data Corp. found penetration of personal communications services phones is growing faster than penetration of either cellular phones or pagers. According to IDC’s “1999 …

SAN ANTONIO-ATX Technologies Inc. plans to acquire Protection One Mobile Services Group in a transaction valued at about $28 million. Both companies provide telematics services. Protection One Mobile currently is …

The Gartner Group’s Dataquest reports that Interim Standard-95 Code Division Multiple Access-based handsets are the top-selling handset in the U.S. market. As such, Qualcomm Inc., powered by a lead in …

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico-TeleCorp PCS Inc. said it initiated service in Puerto Rico under the SunCom brand name. It is the company’s largest market-3.8 million people. TeleCorp said it will …

WASHINGTON-The big debate at last week’s Federal Communication Commission enhanced 911 technology round table was not over the technical issues but rather over the policy issues. Still left to be …