March 2001

WEST POINT, Ga.-Personal communications services provider Powertel Inc. reported its customer base exceeded 1 million customers during the first quarter. The carrier, which was the first PCS carrier to offer commercial service in 1996, currently serves 34 metropolitan markets covering …

NEW YORK-YadaYada Inc. announced it will partner with Coola Inc. to provide corporate intranet access to mobile professionals through the YadaYada Wireless Corporate Services Program. Coola’s InterChange platform, which enables workgroups to integrate standard and customized handheld applications and facilitate …

MADRID, Spain-The controversy over the Spanish government’s plans to impose an annual 160 billion peseta (US$866 million) “supertariff” on spectrum use has taken a new twist. Anna Birules, the minister of science and technology, announced the rate could be revisable …

BUCHAREST, Romania-Greek GSM operator Panafon announced three new services for its customers. The services can link customers to the Internet through their mobile GSM phones. The Panafon NetOffice package of services now allows users to send and receive e-mails through …

ATLANTA-Cirronet Inc., which makes wireless broadband products for residential areas, announced it signed a purchasing agreement with Sino U.S. Commercial Group Inc. to distribute Cirronet’s products in China. “The purchasing agreement will enable Cirronet to leverage ChinaUSe-com’s implementation and technical …

SAN DIEGO-Novatel Wireless Inc., which provides wireless data communications access solutions, and Tech Data Corp., which provides IT products, logistics management and other value-added services, announced an international distribution agreement. Novatel Wireless’ product portfolio of wireless computing devices will be …

LAS VEGAS-TSI Telecommunication Services Inc., a global supplier of interoperability solutions, made announcements regarding several newly formed strategic alliances at CTIA Global Wireless 2001. The company signed a technology agreement with AT&T Wireless Services supporting simplified international roaming capabilities. The …

Lucent Technologies Lucent Technologies introduced Flexent Wireless IP Core Network Architecture, which it said will help wireless carriers deliver a range of voice and data services to customers. According to Lucent, the first phase of the architecture, the Lucent Softswitch …

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-By issuing approximately 1.7 million of its shares, Canadian Wi-LAN Inc. will purchase California-based UC Wireless, furthering its position in the global broadband wireless market. With the purchase, Wi-LAN will receive UC Wireless’ proprietary Versatile Intelligent Network Environment …

Dennis Roberson is sitting at a large, round conference table talking about the mandate he was given three years ago to “fix” Motorola Inc.’s storied research lab. As the conversation progresses, he reaches inside his breast pocket and pulls out …

MENLO PARK, Calif.-Nuance, which provides voice Web software, has signed an agreement with Cisco Systems to incorporate its speech recognition and voice authentication software into Cisco’s Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data products. According to the agreement, Cisco will …

Advanced Technology Workshop on Ceramic Technologies for Microwave March 26-27 IMAPS/CII. Adam’s Mark Hotel, Denver. www.imaps.org/forms/ceramic2001regist.htm. 3rd Annual Tower Investment Symposium March 26-27 Shorecliff Communications. New York City. www.scievents.com. The 3G Wireless Seminar: Promises and Realities March 26-27 Alexander Resources. …

GroupServe GroupServe announced Tom Stroup, president, will also take on the role of chief executive officer. Stroup’s first task as CEO will be to oversee the commercial product launch of GroupPort. Stroup will also oversee the company’s business development, strategic …

DALLAS-Sendo Plc has chosen Texas Instruments Inc.’s high performance, low power OMAP technology to power its new Z100 Multimedia Smartphone. According to the company, TI’s OMAP architecture will give the phone greater functionality, performance and battery life. The Z100 Multimedia …

LAS VEGAS-Qualcomm Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. and Microsoft Corp. said a study they commissioned showed consumers want mobile multimedia services now. International Data Corp., which conducted the research study, surveyed several end-user segments to determine what the most popular mobile …

LAS VEGAS-Sprint PCS used the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association’s Wireless 2001 show to finalize its widely rumored plans to roll out next-generation services using cdma2000 later this year. While the carrier’s 3G plans surprised few, its claim to have …

NEW YORK-China Mobile Hong Kong does not need 3G to take advantage of opportunities in a populous country with rising per capita income and low penetration by personal computers and second-generation wireless, said Wang Xiaochu, chairman and chief executive officer …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Metricom Inc. launched its high-speed wireless Internet access service, Ricochet, in Los Angeles, the company said. The company said the move was the largest launch of its service to date. The initial footprint will cover about 10 million …

IRVINE, Calif.-Verizon Wireless introduced its Local Digital Prepay Phone In A Box in Southern California, allowing customers to purchase airtime on a pay-as-you-go basis. “We recognize that many people would like to have digital wireless service, but are unclear about …

NEW YORK-ICO-Teledesic Global Ltd. and New ICO Global Communications Holdings Ltd. have withdrawn plans for the public sale of securities related to their planned merger. New ICO also has applied for a waiver of the bankruptcy court requirement that it …

WASHINGTON-The trade association for state legislators said recently it will try to find “common ground” on the use of wireless devices while driving. “Our goal was to bring the various stakeholders together. Safety advocates in the same room with telecommunications …

MOSCOW-Russian Communications Minister Leonid Reiman, who is known to back European-developed technologies, confirmed that the U.S.-developed IS-95 standard is doomed in Russia. “I continue to believe that the standard has absolutely no prospects for the Russian market. We shall stick …

RESTON, Va.-In its new Performance Plan, CelPlan Technologies, a wireless software and systems consultant, has promised its customers it will provide advanced engineering solutions that improve network capacity-or the customer doesn’t have to pay. “We believe that this offer is …

TOKYO-Qualcomm Inc. announced VectorOne, an integrated hardware and software solution that provides directional information for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies’ Mobile Station Modem family of integrated circuits, beginning with the MSM3300 solution. AP One systems Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, which provides electronic …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Networks announced that its board of directors re-elected Jorma Ollila, chief executive officer, to chair the board and also decided Paul J. Collins will continue as vice chairman of the board. Nokia’s board of directors also elected members …