September 2003

LAGOS, Nigeria-Motorola Inc. said it has launched its first GSM circuit core solution as part of its $50 million end-to-end system the company is deploying for M-Tel, an operator in Nigeria. “By working with M-Tel to strengthen its network and …

HOUSTON-Crown Castle International Corp. said it intends to amend certain provisions of its restricted group operating company’s $1.2 billion credit facility and make certain changes to its capital structure. The plan is subject to the consent of its senior credit …

MILPITAS, Calif.-Palm Inc. asserted that it will continue to use Novarra Inc.’s Web browser in its future wireless personal digital assistants. Novarra’s Web Pro 1.0 browser is included in Palm’s Tungsten T, Tungsten T2 and Tungsten W handhelds. “We’ve had …

WASHINGTON-The Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel) and the Association for Communications Enterprises (ASCENT) announced they will merge, pending a vote of approval by their respective memberships in the coming weeks. The combined organization will continue under the CompTel/ASCENT Alliance label. “The …

PALO ALTO, Calif.-Danger Inc. said it will include Sun Microsystems Inc.’s Java 2 Micro Edition application download technology in its Hiptop wireless device platform, which forms the basis for T-Mobile USA Inc.’s Sidekick wireless phone. Now, through Danger’s licensing agreement …

Following months of raised forecasts and hopeful outlooks, research firm IDC presented perhaps the most optimistic wireless industry outlook to date, predicting that sales of mobile phones will break the 500-million mark next year. The firm said advanced phones, including …

WASHINGTON-California regulators could issue a proposed decision as early as next week on their year-long investigation of Cingular Wireless L.L.C., according to a source close to the probe. The California Public Utilities Commission launched a probe into the business practices …

WASHINGTON-Identity theft is increasing and is much more of a problem than the government expected, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC estimated that during the last year 9.9 million people and during the last five years 27.3 million …

ATLANTA-Regional iDEN provider Southern LINC reported it had met the Federal Communications Commission’s Sept. 1 deadline to set up E911 Phase II implementation for Tier III wireless carriers. The carrier said the implementation was accomplished ahead of schedule, and it …

HELSINKI, Finland-Celcom, a mobile operator in Malaysia, has launched the Tecnomen Multimedia Messaging Service Centers. The center enables Celcom to take full advantage of MMS terminals and take a leading role in the market, Tecnomen said. Celcom is the second-largest …

ALAMEDA, Calif.-UTStarcom Inc. said it has signed a contract worth approximately $80 million with China Telecom Corp. to deploy its IP-based PAS equipment in the Jiangsu province of China. “Although competition in Jiangsu’s PAS market is fierce, UTStarcom commands the …

LONDON-Wireless messaging and IT consultancy company LogicaCMG announced its interim results, showing declining revenues of $1.3 billion and an operating profit of $73 million. The company asserted its reorganization is almost complete, and its wireless networks division will be profitable …

WASHINGTON-U.S. law enforcement officials want federal regulators to delay a decision on ICO Global Communications Ltd.’s application to acquire Globalstar Corp. mobile satellite service licenses until public-safety and national security issues are resolved. The proposed ICO-Globalstar deal has been pending …

DENVER-Qwest Communications International Inc., which recently announced plans to transition its nearly 1 million wireless customers to Sprint PCS’ network, reported a slight increase in wireless revenue from $151 million during the first quarter of this year to $154 million …

Following its solid earnings and its retrieval of the No. 5 handset maker slot, Sony Ericsson released a range of new phones and devices, including a unique toy racecar that mobile-phone users can control through Bluetooth technology. Sony Ericsson’s range …

RA’ANANA, Israel-Emblaze Semiconductor said it has launched its latest multimedia system-on-a-chip product known as RE4525 for cell phones, personal digital assistants and other devices. “The ER4525’s enhanced multimedia capabilities include MPEG-4 video capture and playback at CIF resolution, JVT video …

SINGAPORE-Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. said it will begin a free month-long third-generation service trial beginning end-December for about 100 customers. Full commercial service will begin during 2004. The trial customers, who will be selected from those who register via a SingTel …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Wireless Internet software provider Openwave Systems Inc. announced it could further its acquisition push with a new offering of $100 million in convertible subordinated notes due 2008. The company said it has no definite acquisition or investment plans. …

WASHINGTON-A House panel could hold a hearing later this month on a $2.25 billion federal program that subsidizes wireline and wireless Internet connections to schools and libraries, continuing an ongoing congressional probe that some officials predict will unearth massive fraud …

A 10 percent increase in customer churn associated with the scheduled implementation of wireless local number portability could cost the wireless industry more than $20 billion over four years, according to a study by market strategy consultant iGillottResearch Inc. Iain …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless signed a $1 billion multi-year agreement with Nortel Networks Ltd. to expand and upgrade the carrier’s nationwide CDMA network. The agreement calls for Nortel to provide expansion and upgraded CDMA2000 1x radio base stations, switching, Nortel’s Passport …

TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo Inc. said that its FOMA network would cover 99 percent of the population in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region of Japan, which includes Tokyo, beginning Sept. 6, and its network would cover 96 percent of the Japanese population by the …

WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. and Sprint PCS are facing unprecedented billing litigation, a legal challenge Nextel brought to the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing last month. Nextel is a defendant in seven class action billing lawsuits. …

WASHINGTON-The Communications Workers of America said it reached a tentative agreement on a new, five-year contract for Verizon Wireless technicians in the New York City area. CWA, which has been trading barbs in the press with the No. 1 mobile-phone …

Southwest Airlines joined several other major air carriers in relaxing its mobile-phone usage rules. The carrier said customers with cell phones onboard may begin using them while taxiing to the airport gate, after the flight attendant gives permission to do …