September 2003

CHESTERFIELD, Mo.-Video via mobile phone will be the No. 1 reason wireless subscribers upgrade to third-generation services, according to a new study from Datacomm Research Co. “A large market for short videos is emerging: mobile-phone and portable computer users,” explained …

SAO PAULO, Brazil-Nokia Corp. has released several new handsets focused on the Latin America market, with Nokia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jorma Ollila emphasizing the importance of the market. The news follows the Finnish supplier’s announcement at the beginning …

WASHINGTON-The chiefs of the FCC’s Enforcement and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus want to go on field trips to see how well carriers are implementing wireless local number portability. In letters to four carriers, WTB Chief John Muleta asked the carriers to …

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Mobile end users continue to use wireless technology more for personal use than professional, according to research by IDC. A survey of more than 2,500 members of IDC’s Mobile Advisory Council found 34 percent of respondents use a wireless …

Tropos Networks Inc. will provide its Tropos Wi-Fi equipment to enable the deployment of a metro-scale Wi-Fi network in downtown Baton Rouge, La. The network will be managed by 802.11 services provider Verge Wireless Networks Inc. The Tropos system works …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Wednesday proposed streamlining its rules for transmitters in the unlicensed bands to allow for the deployment of new technologies. The current rules are sometimes confusing, said Neal McNeil, an engineer in the technical rules branch of …

HELSINKI, Finland-The Open Base Station Architecture Initiative has released its first specification for base stations, which is aimed at reducing development effort and costs. OBSAI is at odds with another initiative known as the Common Public Radio Interface led by …

WARREN, N.J.-Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. reported its prepaid products and services are now available at more than 220 CompUSA Inc. stores nationwide, an expansion of its retail presence that includes Best Buy, Circuit City and Amazon.Com. “Our partnership with CompUSA …

LONDON-End2End has rolled out a mobile digital rights management solution and announced a first commercial customer in Europe. End2End’s DRM solution, which is based on the Open Mobile Alliance version 1.0 DRM specification, is being used to protect content offered …

DALLAS-Texas Instruments took some zip out of semiconductor optimism when it narrowed its quarterly forecast. The chip bellwether said it expects third-quarter earnings of between 20 cents and 23 cents per share as against its July prediction of between 19 …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless and Ztango announced that Verizon customers can now download polyphonic ring tones and monotonic ring tones using the operator’s TXT messaging. Verizon said Ztango’s offering is the first premium content available to its TXT customers and offers …

WASHINGTON-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. said it will challenge a record $12 million fine levied by the California Public Utilities Commission for violating state telecom laws. Cingular, jointly owned by SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., said it was appalled and shocked …

Sprint PCS president Len Lauer added the title of president and chief operating officer of Sprint Corp., where he will lead the company’s sales, marketing and customer care operations. Sprint added that Lauer will also direct the transformation of the …

Venture capital activity in the wireless sector continued in the second quarter, providing encouragement for the industry’s financial health, according to Rutberg & Co.’s 2Q03 Wireless Update. During the second quarter, 144 wireless companies received $915 million in venture capital, …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-The emergence of converged wireless handheld devices capable of multiple communications tasks may provide relief for the seemingly slowing PDA industry, according to research firm ABI. Converged devices, which ABI refers to as “connected PDAs,” have thus far …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Wednesday proposed relaxing future license and buildout rules in an effort to bring the benefits of wireless to rural America. While the notice of proposed rulemaking passed unanimously, the Democrats on the panel expressed some concerns. …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Wednesday closed out the four-year-old National Coordination Committee, which developed standards for using public-safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band. After more than 20 meetings, the NCC reached consensus that will ensure public-safety interoperability at 700 …

MANILA, The Philippines-Globe Telecom, the second-largest mobile operator in the Philippines, launched multimedia messaging service interconnection with more than 30 MMS operators around the world and a new Java-based subscriber identity module card. Mobileway said it worked with Globe Telecom …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-Micro fuel cells face a number of hurdles before wide-scale use and acceptance is possible, according to research from ABI. The firm emphasized that regulatory approvals must be granted for final product designs and a distribution network must …

WASHINGTON-If the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association hoped to prove to the consumer-advocate world that its voluntary code of conduct, which it officially unveiled Sept. 9, is an adequate response to criticism about lack of quality customer service, it was …

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands-Motorola Inc. introduced a new line of wireless cable modem gateways known as SBG900 for broadband and consumers in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The company said the product line incorporates two models, which are the DOCS 2.0-certified …

SEATTLE-Cometa Networks said it will launch more than 100 new hot spot sites in the Seattle area Sept. 25, and it expects to activate an additional 150 locations in the area by the end of this year. The company, which …

BRASILIA, Brazil-Brazilian wireless operator Oi signed a contract to be the first to deploy Nokia Corp.’s ConnectSite base station in Latin America. The GSM solution provides voice service at low cost of ownership, according to Nokia. “The new Nokia solution …

SEATTLE-Airline passengers may soon be able to access personal mobile communications applications during flights with a new subscriber identity module-card based solution from Altobridge. The solution combines Altobridge’s communications architecture with a passenger’s SIM card to convert seatback Inflight Entertainment …

Rural telecommunications provider Ntelos Inc. said it had completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings following the confirmation of its Joint Plan of Reorganization by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Ntelos …