March 2001

A far-reaching bill introduced Feb. 7 in the Texas state House of Representatives received a major makeover after the amateur radio community and wireless industry lawyers inadvertently joined forces to strongly oppose the legislation during last week’s public hearing in …

LAS VEGAS-The world’s leading mobile-phone makers launched an extensive array of new devices supporting a range of new technology last week, including GPRS, Bluetooth and full-color displays-moves the companies hope will garner more customers and counteract sluggish phone sales. Nokia …

SAN DIEGO-Zucotto Wireless Inc., a company that uses Java technology to create of semiconductor-based solutions, and Plazmic Inc., a provider of mobile media solutions for the wireless Web, announced a partnership whereby Plazmic will integrate its Media Engine with Zucotto’s …

LAS VEGAS-Computer and Internet royalty gathered in Las Vegas for the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association Wireless 2001 show, offering up opinions and advice about the comparatively new wireless industry that is becoming an integral part of the desktop, laptop …

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.-Arch Wireless Inc., MSN, and Motorola Inc. announced an agreement to provide consumers access to MSN’s Hotmail e-mail and Messenger instant-messaging communications services as well as content from MSN Mobile on Motorola’s wireless two-way messaging device, the Talkabout T900. …

Ukraine The Ukrainian State Communications Committee designed the procedure for issuing third-generation licenses. “The committee has already designed the licensing terms,” Committee Chairman Oleg Shevchuk said. He did not elaborate and said the procedure was yet to be approved by …

RESTON, Va.-Comsearch, a company that designs, deploys, and optimizes wireless networks worldwide, opened a new office near Sydney, Australia, to support wireless operators, vendors and system integrators in the Asia-Pacific region. Comsearch’s new office will offer engineering services including design, …

NEW YORK-Sun Microsystems Inc. is serving up advanced computing power for wireless network elements and operations support systems, according to separate announcements the company issued last week. With its new series of Sun Fire Midframe servers now available in quantity, …

PHOENIX-Conexant Systems Inc. has licensed LSI Logic Corp.’s ZSP400 digital signal processor core for integration across its product lines supporting wireless mobile and communications applications. Conexant joins IBM, Broadcom and Virata in supporting LSI Logic’s ZSP open architecture strategy.

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 …

Every year after the show, I wonder if I should write a column with profound insight into the state of the wireless telecommunications industry and enamor you with all of the wisdom I have gleaned from the show, or should …

LAS VEGAS-Symbian, a provider of software platforms for next-generation mobile phones, made several announcements at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association’s Wireless 2001 show last week in Las Vegas and at CeBIT in Germany. Symbian unveiled its 2.5G platform, Symbian …

NEW YORK-Nexthaus Corp., Raleigh, N.C., plans to help wireless carriers “squeeze as many dollars as possible from existing 2G networks” with its new SyncSuite synchronization software, said Rob Lease, co-founder and vice president. The company based its product on the …

LAS VEGAS-Like fresh water on a dry rock, some good news for Lucent Technologies Inc. But how good? The $5 billion deal last week with Verizon Wireless provided a shot in the arm for a company whose repeated stumbles have …

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 …

CALGARY, Alberta-Cell-Loc Inc. signed an agreement with Abercorn Group to provide its LocationBroker middleware platform and its fleet tracking and L411 location services for application across Australia. The agreement includes up-front licensing fees and ongoing royalties payments, totaling about $317,600 …

Sadly lost in the debate over wireless E911 is life itself. The mobile-phone industry and we in the press are engrossed in an E911 debate focussed on deadlines, waivers, costs and technologies. Then comes the tragic story of Karla Gutierrez. …

LAS VEGAS-Cingular Wireless said it will launch its first operational standards-based General Packet Radio Service in the United States, dubbed Cingular Wireless Internet Express, in its GSM markets in California, Nevada and Washington during the second quarter. The GPRS service …

LAS VEGAS-Motorola Inc. announced its Global Telecom Solutions Sector has successfully transmitted live video over its own third-generation CDMA 1xEV-DV solution in its lab in Arlington Heights, Ill. According to the company, the new solution enables real-time voice, data and …

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 …

LAS VEGAS-OmniSky’s service will run on two new devices and will enhance support for corporate e-mail. The company demonstrated its service running on the Kyocera QCP 6035 smart phone for the CDMA network, which it said shows its desire to …

LONDON-AlterEgo Networks, a provider of Internet software and services, will team with BT Cellnet, a mobile operator based in the United Kingdom, to combine BT Cellnet’s wireless data GPRS network system with AlterEgo’s Adaptive Performance Suite of software solutions. According …

BOCA RATON, Fla.-SBA Communications Corp., a tower developer and owner, has closed on 203 of the 275 towers included in its agreement with TeleCorp PCS Inc., an affiliate of AT&T Wireless. The entire sale is expected to be finalized in …

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. …

LAS VEGAS-Telcordia Technologies Inc. announced an agreement with CTI Squared Ltd. to offer robust, carrier-grade, scalable IP-based Unified Communications services for wireless and wireline carriers, ASPs, ISPs and other providers. Telcordia’s Unified Communications offering has been enhanced with CTI2’s W.W. …