2003

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said its W-CDMA chipset known as MSM6200 has been tested and validated by 13 worldwide infrastructure vendors. “Qualcomm’s chipset solution is the first to achieve voice, circuit and packet data interoperability with all W-CDMA infrastructure vendors, enabling …

LUBBOCK, Texas-Sprint PCS affiliate Alamosa Holdings Inc. reported that the exchange offer of its public debt that was first announced Sept. 12 expired Nov. 10 with 97.3 percent of the total aggregate tendered and not withdrawn in the offer. The …

HOUSTON-TWR Lighting Inc. recently introduced its L864/865 dual lighting system for tower structures and touted it as a potential source of cost savings for tower operators. The new system, which uses LED and strobe technology, features longer warranty support and …

LONDON-LogicaCMG said Portuguese mobile operator Optimus has deployed its Wireless Service Broker product, which will enable Optimus to deliver mobile Internet services based on WAP 2.0 and multimedia messaging services. The LogicaCMG technology will replace existing infrastructure and enables the …

ALLENTOWN, Pa.-Agere Systems Inc. said it has unveiled what it describes as the smallest and fastest EDGE chipset solution for enhanced mobile handsets and smart phones. The company said it will enable phone manufacturers to develop compact handsets with download …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Monday said wireline carriers must port customers’ telephone numbers to wireless carriers even if the wireless carrier does not have a switch in the wireline carrier’s rate center, but the FCC is seeking comment on how …

ROUND ROCK, Texas-Dell Inc. this week released its Dell TrueMobile 5100 Tri-Band GPRS PC Card with a choice of wireless access service plans from AT&T Wireless Services Inc. or T-Mobile USA Inc. The new GPRS PC card is designed for …

UbiquiTel Inc. said it has reached a three-year agreement with network partner Sprint PCS covering a number of inter-carrier issues, including roaming, reseller and back-office rates that UbiquiTel noted would provide immediate savings to its cost structure. The agreement calls …

REDMOND, Wash.-Following a Financial Accounting Standards Board directive Oct. 8 on how companies report their interests in certain partnerships, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. posted an additional $27 million in net income for the third quarter, raising the carrier’s result to …

WASHINGTON-The White House opposes a spending measure provision enabling Northpoint Technology Ltd. to acquire wireless licenses free rather than competing for licenses at a government auction next year, objecting to what congressional budget experts say would amount to a $100 …

The Open Mobile Alliance industry standards group announced a major new specifications release aimed at breaking down the barriers between GSM and CDMA carriers. The specifications center around picture messaging and multimedia messaging services, allowing GSM subscribers to send MMS …

Just what are Craig McCaw and Nextel Communications Inc. up to, separately or together? Is there a grand plan waiting to be hatched or just some heady hedges that may-or may not-lead to something big? There’s enough of a history …

To the Editor, I read your opinion piece, and agree that the parties to the Consensus Plan seem like they cannot get on the same page. I take issue with your statement that “a version of the best-practices approach has …

BANGKOK, Thailand-The world’s first roaming demonstration of multimedia data services was conducted on a live EDGE network in Asia last week, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association said. Thai operator Advanced Info Systems and Hong Kong’s CSL Ltd. demonstrated how users …

Because operators prefer to manage capacity rather than allow it to dictate their businesses, the nation’s expanding subscriber base continues to pose problems. The traditional answer has been to build more equipment, which also creates not only space inconveniences but …

WASHINGTON-The ransacking of a U.S.-owned mobile-phone company in Cote d’Ivoire, the recent jailing of a billionaire oil tycoon in Russia and geopolitical instability associated with global terrorism represent the kind of new challenges in high-growth emerging markets that could make …

Although Nextel Communications Inc. has announced no clear commitment on its next-generation protocol, Qualcomm Inc.’s trial of its push-to-talk solution, known as QChat, has made CDMA2000 hotter on the carrier’s plate of options. “We’re definitely working with them (Qualcomm) on …

An Oct. 31 article in RCR Wireless quoted Sen. Ted Stevens from Alaska as saying, “We should let cell-phone companies get additional price support to expand cell-phone towers into rural America.” Sounds simple, but Sen. Stevens did not run the …

A new study shows the mobile-phone industry grew 21.2 percent year-over-year in the third quarter, with most of the world’s major phone makers seeing increased gains. The new study from research firm IDC, which comes after similar results from research …

BOCA RATON, Fla.-Airspan Networks Inc., provider of broadband fixed wireless DSL networks, announced it plans to acquire Nortel Networks’ fixed wireless access business for $12.9 million by the end of the year. Airspan will acquire all existing assets associated with …

WASHINGTON-The House of Representatives last week passed the E911 Implementation Act of 2003 by voice vote. “While most state governments tax cell-phone users for upgrades and implementation of enhanced 911 services, that money often has been diverted for other uses. …

London Following its launch of an MVNO service in the United Kingdom promoted through a multimillion-dollar ad campaign, British Telecommunications Inc. launched a new service, BTringtones.com, on its public Internet kiosks. The new service offers ring tones, as well as …

WASHINGTON-Michael Gallagher, President Bush’s nominee to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, told Senate lawmakers that engineering and trust among agencies are key to forging spectrum policies that balance economic and homeland security objectives in the post-9/11 world. Senate …

The head of Microsoft Corp.’s mobile devices division, Juha Christensen, will leave the software giant to start his own company, which will focus on creating Web services for advanced wireless devices. “We’re sorry to see him go, but are thrilled …