March 2001

KINGSTON, Jamaica-Five Caribbean governments have agreed with Cable & Wireless plc, the region’s telecom provider, on a phased dismantling of the company’s monopoly that would bring full competition in about 18 months. In addition, Cable & Wireless withdrew its threat …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm has developed an integrated circuit and software solution that it said will allow CDMA handsets to compete with the price of GSM handsets. “The MSM6000 radioOne-based integrated circuit and system software will assist manufacturers in offering equal or …

The New Jersey state government is considering a bill that would prohibit the erection of, enhancement or addition of equipment to a tower within 1,000 feet of a public or private school, any area zoned residential, or a public park, …

NEW YORK-A private placement of $450 million of eight-year senior subordinated notes, which American Cellular Corp., plans to issue, received a speculative-grade rating of B from Standard & Poor’s Corp., the debt rating organization said March 9. Jointly owned by …

PORTAGE, Mich.-Shareholder meetings to approve the purchase of Triple S Plastics Inc. by Finnish parts maker Eimo Oyj have been delayed in the wake of financial problems by Nokia Oyj, the largest customer of Triple S. Telecommunications producer Nokia said …

SAN DIEGO-Contract manufacturers are beginning to reshape the global plastics industry, according to a senior official with Flextronics International Ltd. Paul Santina, vice president of business development and global plastics for the Singapore firm, is speaking from experience. Flextronics has …

WASHINGTON-“Digital dog food is still dog food, and I think the markets are awakening to that. We had a pretty wild party last year and this year we have a hangover,” said Harry Hopper, a partner with Columbia Capital L.L.C., …

RESTON, Va.-In their first deal ever, Nextel Communications Inc. has picked Lucent Technologies Inc. to supply gateway switches for its digital wireless network in the United States and other markets. “This is just the beginning of what we expect to …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless selected Boxerjam, a developer of games for wireless devices, to provide its Mobile Web customers with two new games to play on the wireless Internet, including Knockout and Dr. Popko. In Knockout, players try to knock out …

LISLE, Ill.-Tellabs, a developer of echo cancellation and VQE technology, will provide Globtel, a Slovakian mobile communications operator, with a new voice-quality enhancement solution in its GSM digital wireless network. According to Tellabs, the EC Duo 8000 solution will eliminate …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-OmniVision Technologies Inc., provider of highly integrated CMOS image sensors used in electronic cameras, announced its newest design will be used by Kyocera Corp., a mobile-phone manufacturer. OmniVision’s OV6630 image sensor will be used on Kyocera’s new mobile-phone camera …

DALLAS-Texas Instruments Inc. said its Bipolar-CMOS radio frequency transceiver, TRF6001, achieved Bluetooth certification from 7 Layers AG, a Bluetooth qualification body. “We are pleased to have been granted certification, as it adds further credibility for our field-proven Bluetooth chipsets,” said …

MONROE, La.-CenturyTel Inc.’s board of directors voted to increase the company’s quarterly cash dividend from 4.75 cents per share to 5 cents per share payable on March 23 to shareholders of record on March 12.

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. entered an agreement to design cdma2000 1xEV infrastructure modem card equipment for Motorola Inc. to enable high-speed wireless Internet access. “CDMA has proven capabilities and superior performance that will allow Motorola to develop high-speed wireless network solutions …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp. signed a letter of intent to deliver a third-generation wideband Code Division Multiple Access Radio Access network and IP mobility core network for Telia Mobile throughout Finland. “We are delighted to continue our role as sole supplier …

San Diego, Calif.-Qualcomm Inc. has granted Intercube its CDMA license to design and market its 3G CDMA applications. Intercube will pay Qualcomm royalties at the same rates for second- and third-generation equipment.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-NEC, the Japanese manufacturer, inaugurated a software development center in Argentina, and it plans to invest $100 million over three to five years. Hajime Sasaki, director of NEC, took part in the event and spoke of the experience …

CHICAGO-Cambia Networks, a provider of open data gateway platforms for wireless service providers, has secured $11 million in funding from Benchmark Capital, Skymoon Ventures and Eagle Technology Ventures. The company will deliver an open architecture data communications platform that connects …

DENVER, United States-Bolivian personal communications services operator Nuevatel will likely be the first operator in the Americas to launch General Packet Radio Service. The Andean nation of Bolivia, which usually takes a backseat to markets such as Argentina, Brazil and …

Like the stubborn ache of a mild whiplash, new wireless application service providers (WASPs) and wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) are chipping away at the territories of established carriers, according to a study released by Friedman, Billings and Ramsey & …

Adicom Wireless Adicom Wireless announced Asymmetric Wireless Data Link, a new broadband wireless access product. AWDL, targeted at both U.S. and European markets, is designed to resolve major challenges wireless service providers face, including universal coverage in a cell and …

BELMONT, Calif.-Covigo Inc., a software company that helps enterprises adapt to wireless, has wirelessly enabled flutter.com, a U.K.-based person-to-person betting site. Covigo’s wireless application platform enables flutter.com customers to check odds via wireless devices, including PDAs and mobile phones. Users …

OTTAWA-Canada’s national telecommunications authority, Industry Canada, is seeking public advice on the use cellular phone silencers in public places. Currently, only law-enforcement agencies have been given licenses for signal jammers. David Warnes, senior advisor for spectrum policy for Industry Canada, …

AWR Applied Wave Research appointed Ronald Patston as vice president of marketing. Prior to joining AWR, Patston held several positions in various companies in the wireless and EDA industry including Agilent Technologies, Verticom Inc. and Hewlett Packard. As VP of …

KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Sprint PCS will feature Forbes.com Inc. content on its wireless Web service, allowing access to Forbes.com’s daily new stories covering business, technology, investing and lifestyle.