2003

Nextel Communications Inc. said its Nationwide Direct Connect service is now available in the northern region of Baja California, Mexico, including Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, Mexicali and Tecate. The quasi-international coverage, which was launched with Nextel’s international partner NII Holdings Inc.’s …

Sprint PCS reported a deal with Cometa Networks that will allow Wi-Fi Access subscribers to roam onto select Cometa hot spots, which are expected to include more than 250 locations in Seattle by the end of this year. Sprint PCS, …

Nokia Corp. put a damper on the stock market as it announced its guidance for the third quarter. Although Nokia expects faster-than expected volume growth for its handsets for the quarter, on a year-on-year basis, the company expects sales to …

LOS ALTOS, Calif.-PhatWare Corp. has acquired Epiphan Consulting Inc.’s CEMyNetwork mobile network analysis product for Pocket PCs. CEMyNetwork allows real-time data and security performance monitoring on any Windows-based wireless device and has gained popularity among local area network and wide …

America Movil is continuing its buying spree by acquiring 51 percent of Salvadorian company CTE, which provides mobile and fixed services in El Salvador, for $417 million. America Movil is buying the stake from France Telecom, which is exiting the …

MARLBORO, Mass.-Rogers AT&T Wireless will use Telica Inc.’s Plexus 9000 Gateway Mobile Switching Center application to handle network traffic more efficiently and to facilitate the operation of its dual TDMA IS-136 and GSM/GPRS networks. “The deployment of the Gateway MSC …

Sprint PCS president Len Lauer said the carrier expects its upcoming Ready Link push-to-talk service will be competitive with Verizon Wireless’s current offering, though would still fall short of the sub-one-second call latency provided by Nextel Communications Inc. Direct Connect …

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 …

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 …

In addition to an expected jump in customer churn, analysts predict a huge financial burden tied to the implementation of wireless local number portability that eventually could ignite carrier consolidation rumors that have been simmering since the government relaxed spectrum …

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 …

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 …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-In its continued defiance of its numerous skeptics, a Hutchison Whampoa subsidiary took on another European third-generation license. The Norwegian government awarded a third-generation license to Hi3G Access Norway AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison’s Swedish 3G subsidiary …

DALLAS-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 …

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-Wireless carrier Alltel Corp. announced a wide-ranging deal with Walt Disney Internet Group to bolster its wireless content offerings, including its BREW application download service. Through the new deal, Alltel said it will offer sports scores from ESPN.com, …

HONG KONG-Hong Kong’s telecom regulator the Office of the Telecommunications Authority said it would waive the submission of performance bonds due in October from the four third-generation services licensees. The bonds are in respect of the sixth and seventh license …

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. Openwave said …

WASHINGTON-The California Public Utilities Commission, facing heavy pressure from mobile-phone carriers with generous funding support from their national trade association, last week sent fresh signals that it may postpone a scheduled Sept. 18 vote on a proposed telecom consumer bill …

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. The move is notable as …

Out of the ashes of failed Wi-Fi startup Mobility Networks rises a new effort, Azaire Networks Inc., a company with much of the same technology and staffing but with a slightly different-and wider-business focus. “We’re not just focused on wireless …

The school bell has rung. The still of summer is about to be shaken. Thank goodness. The wireless industry has held its collective breath waiting for a business uptick for months (years) now, and several prospects for just that are …

While many industry observers applauded Verizon Wireless’ introduction of its Push to Talk service as a way for the carrier to attract high-end business customers interested in a walkie-talkie services, some were disappointed with certain latency issues in Verizon Wireless’ …

MOSCOW-Nortel Networks Ltd. said it has won a contract to provide the wireless network of BaykalWestcom with GSM and GPRS equipment and services across portions of Siberia. “The network upgrades will position BaykalWestom to introduce text messaging, Internet access, e-mail …

DENVER-A Denver District Court has certified a class-action lawsuit against AT&T Wireless Services Inc., claiming the carrier’s delayed billing for roaming calls violated its contracts with certain Digital One Rate customers. The lawsuit, which was filed in the District Court …