January 2005

TORONTO-Researchers at the University of Toronto have invented a flexible infrared-sensitive material that converts solar energy into electrical energy. Ted Sargent, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and one …

BURLINGTON, Mass.-Lightbridge Inc. said it will close a Colorado call center and eliminate 40 jobs by the end of the month. The e-commerce company said it will shutter the offices …

WASHINGTON-President Bush has withdrawn certain trade benefits accorded Cote d’Ivoire, the western African nation that stormed Western Wireless Corp.’s offices in 2003 and forced the firm to shut down mobile-phone …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. said it will begin offering Kyocera Corp.’s Koi camera phone for its Cricket wireless service, which Kyocera claims is the first megapixel camera phone offered …

WASHINGTON-The Department of Labor said it reached a settlement with Cingular Wireless L.L.C. whereby the No. 1 mobile-phone carrier will pay more than 25,000 customer service representatives $5.1 million in …

A California lawsuit claims that Verizon Wireless displayed “willful, deceptive and oppressive conduct” in limiting the capabilities of its Bluetooth-capable Motorola Inc. V710 camera phone. Law firm Kirtland & Packard …

WASHINGTON-Telecom and tech firms, some already in the wireless business and others planning to enter it, are helping foot the bill for President Bush’s inauguration Jan. 20. The donors, according …

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.-Interchange Corp. launched a localized text-messaging search service that allows wireless users to find products, services and businesses from their handsets. The provider of local and national paid-search …

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.-Mobile-phone maker Motorola Inc. signed an agreement with sunglasses company Oakley Inc. to build “wearable wireless communications devices” using Bluetooth technology. The companies said they would release details and …

LONDON-U.K. content company Wasted said it has partnered with MmO2’s U.K. division to offer music, wallpapers, logos, pictures and text competitions on O2’s Web site to customers. “We are launching …

SEOUL, South Korea-Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. ended the year on a weak fourth quarter with a 2-percent drop in profits, but reported a profit for the year of $10 billion. …

NEW YORK-Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services placed its ratings on American Tower Corp. on CreditWatch with positive implications. S&P said American Tower, which has a B- corporate credit rating, had …

PARIS-French supplier Alcatel Corp. appointed Olivier Baujard as its new chief technology officer. The company said current CTO Niel Ransom is leaving “to pursue new opportunities outside of Alcatel.” Baujard …

LONDON-The GSM Association reported that Cingular Wireless L.L.C. has replaced AT&T Wireless Services Inc. on the trade association’s board following Cingular’s $41 billion acquisition of AWS late last year. Jordan …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Aptilo Networks, which develops system solutions for public wireless local area networks, said it is increasing its presence in the United States by relocating its chief executive officer, Torbjorn …

Kyocera Wireless Corp. announced it will move its mobile-phone and telemetry manufacturing operations from its headquarters in San Diego across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. The company said it would …

Sprint Corp. has decided to delay its participation in the controversial wireless directory this year due to continued legal challenges to the service. The company, which initially supported the voluntary …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau said Thursday that it expects that by the end of the year, 95 percent of the handsets used by customers of carriers that …

WASHINGTON-Often times when people go to trade shows, it is a business trip that feels nothing like being at home. CTIA hopes to change that this year at its show …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission granted Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary L.L.C. permission to launch a satellite to serve South America and the area between South America and the United States. The …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Cisco Systems Inc. announced it purchased privately-held Wi-Fi company Airespace Inc., based in San Jose, Calif., for $450 million in stock. Cisco said the deal would add wireless …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Intel Corp. and Chinese telecom supplier ZTE Corp. announced plans to jointly deliver global broadband wireless solutions using WiMAX technology. Intel and ZTE will cooperate to develop and …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-3G Americas signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Telecommunications Enterprises of the Andean Community that calls for the mutual cooperation regarding wireless communication issues in the …

BERNE, Switzerland-Swisscom Mobile said it has launched the first UMTS mobile phone with a 2-megapixel camera. The Sharp V902 UMTS mobile supports services such as live TV and video telephony. …

A computer hacker broke into T-Mobile USA Inc.’s network in 2003 and stole the names and social security numbers of about 400 T-Mobile subscribers, the carrier said. The hacker also …