2003

MURRAY HILL, N.J.-Lucent Technologies Inc. said Qwest Communications Inc. plans to deploy the Accelerate voice over Internet Protocol solutions the vendor just introduced for mobile and wireline service providers for voice, data and multimedia services. Lucent said its solutions will …

Wireless infrastructure company Alcatel announced it purchased the network division of streaming video company PacketVideo Corp., a move Alcatel said will bolster its video offerings to include video messaging, video telephony, video conferencing, video streaming and video downloading. Terms of …

RESTON, Va.-Nextel Communications Inc. named communications and marketing directors for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, which the carrier in June signed a 10-year contract to sponsor beginning in 2004. Nextel appointed Jill Gregory director of series marketing where she will …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-InterWave Communications Inc. said it has launched what it calls the world’s first Internet Protocol-based cellular infrastructure network that uses CDMA2000 technology. The product, which is called Wave2000, transmits voice and data. “With its local switching capability in …

PalmSource Inc. made several announcements at the COMDEX show in Las Vegas this week. The company announced the launch of the Palm Powered MobileWorld program for mobile operators, infrastructure providers and software developers focused on the smart-phone market. The program’s …

Research firm Allied Business Intelligence has revised its projections for third-generation base stations sales for 2003, noting that it expects 35,000 unit sales as against 32,500 as earlier predicted. The report said although contract awards dipped in August and September, …

RESTON, Va.-Nextel Communications Inc. signed an agreement with the Las Vegas Monorail Co. to house a 15,000-square-foot theme venue in the Las Vegas Convention Center Station highlighting Nextel products and services. The station is the transfer point for the Las …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Trade Commission Monday said two New York firms that claimed their devices blocked harmful radiation from cell phones and other electronic gadgets agreed to pay $85,000 to settle charges brought against them by U.S. officials. Tecnozone International L.L.C. …

HOUSTON-Crown Castle International Corp. has priced $300 million of its 7.5-percent senior notes due Dec. 1, 2013. The company expects to receive $293 million in net proceeds from the offering, which it plans to use to tender outstanding 10.375-percent senior …

WASHINGTON-FCC Chairman Michael Powell said Tuesday he expects there will be hiccups next week when customers are allowed to port their telephone numbers, but he expects them to be “modest, minor and temporary.” Powell’s view seems to contradict most in …

BEND, Ore.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. network partner Edge Wireless L.L.C. introduced Danger Inc.’s Hiptop device for the carrier’s initial GSM/GPRS product launch in the Mendocino and Lake Counties, Calif., markets. Edge noted the device allows for over-the-air updates of applications …

OTTAWA-PointShot Wireless has secured $1 million in Series A funding from institutional investors, bringing the company’s total investments to $1.5 million. The company currently offers wireless Internet service on passenger trains in North America and is actively in trials with …

NEW YORK-U.S. Cellular Corp. Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Meyers said the regional operator has no plans to cut prices ahead of the Nov. 24 local number portability mandate, and the carrier will instead focus its attention on retaining its approximately …

WASHINGTON-The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions said it has developed and released a technical document designed to meet challenges wireless carriers are expected to encounter in implementing the local number portability mandate. ATIS explained its Ordering and Billing Forum’s Wireless …

Nextel Communications Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Donahue admitted that while the wireless industry will encounter bumps associated with the impending local number portability mandate, he expects Nextel to gain market share following the Nov. 24 implementation date. “We believe …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched its Simple Freedom Professional Series national prepaid wireless service package designed for business customers that will be available at more than 350 Sam’s Club locations across the country. The service is priced at $90 and …

MERIDEN, Conn.-Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) announced its Optimizer RT remote antenna tilt system is compliant with the Antenna Interface Standards Group’s recently released open specification for the interface of remote-controlled cellular antenna systems that use digital control and monitoring capabilities. …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. released the third version of its BREW application download technology, which the company said includes support for memory cards, external keyboards and auto-installing technology. “The BREW system continues to connect operators, publishers, developers and device manufacturers in …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc said it will increase its cash returns to investors by buying back $4.2 billion of its shares and increasing its dividend per share by 20 percent following strong financial results for the six months from April through …

ATLANTA-Regional operator Southern LINC launched its Recharge prepaid offering designed for business users, which includes cellular, text messaging and its Instant LINC two-way radio service, without a credit check, deposit or contract. The iDEN-based carrier said Recharge customers will receive …

VANCOUVER, British Columbia-In Motion Technology Inc. and Lucent Technologies Inc. said they have joined forces to provide wireless service providers with solutions that integrate third-generation networks and Wi-Fi networks. In the deal, Lucent will provide its CDMA2000 and UMTS mobile …

ROSEVILLE, Calif.-Rural telecommunications service provider SureWest Communications introduced flat-rate unlimited wireless local calling plans. The plans, which require two-year contracts, cost $30 per month for unlimited calls to a customer’s own area code, $33 per month for unlimited calls to …

The world’s handset makers continue to make news at a frantic pace, with Motorola Inc. announcing a range of new products and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. trumpeting its market successes. First, Motorola announced six new mobile phones, mainly low-end devices …

The last round of third-quarter results posted last week continued to show the growing operational gaps between the country’s six nationwide carriers and the numerous rural operators that are finding a more difficult balance between customer growth and fiscal restraint. …

AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said last week it was making progress on fixing a software glitch that has prevented the carrier from activating new GSM customers, converting current TDMA customers to its GSM network or accessing any of its current …