2003

WASHINGTON-The Department of Defense inspector general has referred “to appropriate investigative authorities outside the Defense Department” the results of its preliminary inquiry into the awarding of mobile-phone licenses in Iraq, a Pentagon official told RCR Wireless News Friday afternoon. The …

Apple Computer Corp. said the newest version of its QuickTime video player technology supports wireless video standards, including those from the 3GPP and 3GPP2 wireless standards bodies. Apple said its QuickTime program supports Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) …

FORT WORTH, Texas-Mobility Electronics Inc. and RadioShack Corp. announced a global distribution agreement under which Mobility can sell RadioShack-manufactured power products to non-RadioShack outlets. Under the agreement, Mobility will exclusively sell RadioShack-manufactured products, including cigarette lighter adapters, low-power mobile AC …

TeleCommunication Systems Inc. announced it bought the enterprise mobility division of Aether Systems Inc. for $19 million, a move TCS said will boost its data offerings and further serves to highlight the difficulties in the wireless enterprise market. The deal …

In an attempt to further spur handset development for its next-generation FOMA network, Japanese wireless operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it will invest approximately $350 million during the next several years in handset manufacturers. The manufacturers include Fujitsu Ltd., Mitsubishi …

KIRKLAND, Wash.-Nextel Partners Inc. reported that its registration statement covering the sale of selling security holders of its 1.5-percent senior convertible notes due 2008 and shares of Class A common stock have been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Cranite Systems Inc. has partnered with Hewlett Packard to offer secure networking solutions to government and healthcare organizations. Under their agreement, Cranite’s WirelessWall security software will be used in two of HP’s government contracts. The companies also plan …

GENEVA-STMicroelectronics said it has acquired wireless local area networks chip developer Synad Technologies Ltd., a startup based in the United Kingdom. The acquired company, which has 50 engineers, will bring to ST its expertise in radio frequency, digital integrated circuit …

MEXICO CITY-America Movil said the Nicaraguan government accepted its bid in a public auction for a 49-percent stake in Empresa Nicaraguense del Telecomunicaciones S.A. (Enitel). The bid price was $49.6 million. Enitel holds a CDMA 1900 MHz license in Nicaragua, …

Despite an increase in the total amount of inventory, U.S. wireless carriers reduced their days of sales in inventory 13 percent from 48.6 days during the second quarter of this year to 42.5 days in the third quarter, according to …

CHESTERFIELD, Mo.-Worldwide sales of wireless metropolitan area networks will surge to more than $5 billion a year by 2007, according to a report by Datacomm Research Co. The report, titled “Wireless Metropolitan Networks: Opportunities and Illusions,” attributed this surge to …

HONG KONG-Chinese equipment vendor Huawei Technologies co. Ltd. said it agreed with Hong Kong wireless carrier Sunday to supply equipment and financing to assist with the rollout of Sunday’s third-generation business. Huawei said a heads of agreement was signed between …

TOKYO-Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. reported plans to “liquidate” a number of its international operations, including DCM Capital USA Ltd., DCM Capital TWN Ltd., Taiwan DoCoMo Ltd. and NTT DoCoMo Telecomunicacoes do Brasil Limitada. The company said the liquidation …

WASHINGTON-Audiovox Corp. and Dr. Bonnie O’Day have reached a settlement and are asking the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss a complaint filed by Dr. O’Day last February. “I filed this complaint because blind and low-vision people were frustrated with the …

RESTON, Va.-Nextel Communications Inc. and its affiliate Nextel Partners Inc. announced a contract with the state of New York to allow government agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities and all other authorized users to procure Nextel handsets and services as needs arise. …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it is the sole supplier for a full commercial EDGE network by Hungarian wireless operator Westel. The value of the contract was not disclosed. Westel has already launched commercial EDGE services in the heaviest traffic areas …

WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell announced Tim Donahue, Nextel Communications Inc. president and chief executive officer, will assume the chairmanship of the newly re-chartered Network Reliability and Interoperability Council. The FCC said the council is being chartered for a …

HERNDON, Va.-Xius announced the launch of its next-generation Wireless Intelligent Services Engine (WISE), an integrated operational support system/billing platform that combines real-time signaling with billing capabilities. The platform allows wireless carriers to support advanced billing and revenue-enhancing services, including global …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it has signed a license agreement to integrate the media engine and codecs of RealNetworks Inc. with its mobile platform offerings. RealNetworks products include RealOne Player, the Helix DNA Client and the RealAudio and RealVideo codecs. …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Thursday took the first step toward fining California Pacific Mortgage for violating the telemarketing rules by calling people whose names and telephone numbers were on the Do-Not-Call Registry. “This is a landmark enforcement step-the first FCC …

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.-A new research report from Global Information Inc. analyzes the role adult entertainment could play in the uptake of mobile multimedia. According to GII, “adult entertainment has a long and reliable track-record of driving the adoption of new …

Japanese wireless data giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. introduced its new 900i series of third-generation FOMA mobile phones, devices that feature perhaps the most advanced services the wireless industry has ever seen. Most importantly, DoCoMo said the devices in general offer …

MURRAY HILL, N.J.-Lucent Technologies Inc. said it has appointed John P. Giere as chief marketing officer. The vendor said Giere, who will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patricia Russo, is expected to build a central marketing organization to …

MILPITAS, Calif.-PalmOne Inc. reported a 5-percent increase in revenues to $271 million for its second fiscal quarter compared with the same quarter a year ago, as well as a decrease in income from $9.5 million a year ago to $2.6 …

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Prepaid wireless phone service provider Liberty Wireless has released a new set of prepaid wireless calling plans, which the company is touting as consumer friendly, especially following the recent implementation of wireless local number portability. “One-third of all cell-phone …