2005

After 12 official drafts, the IEEE finally approved the 684-page proposal from the 802.16 Task Group, designating the mobile WiMAX standard as 802.16e-2005. The WiMAX Forum is set to begin …

NEW YORK-Investment banking firm CIBC World Markets raised its 2006 handset sales forecast to almost 1 billion phones, supporting claims that the worldwide mobile-phone market continues to exceed expectations. CIBC …

LONDON-The board of Virgin Mobile Holdings plc rejected a $1.4 billion takeover offer from U.K. cable operator NTL Inc. “The board has concluded that the potential offer materially undervalues Virgin …

Video-game giant Electronic Arts Inc. shook the mobile gaming world last week with the announcement it would shell out $680 million to acquire publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc. EA said it …

ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.C.C. introduced a new smart phone it is selling as the Cingular 2125. The device features Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and is available for $200 …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission proposed rules to change the way the agency determines the universal-service support paid to larger carriers serving rural customers, including wireless carriers that serve customers who …

PARIS-Alcatel Corp. and KT Corp. announced that they plan to work as a team to accelerate the adoption of mobile WiMAX, beginning with the establishment of an interoperability testing center …

WASHINGTON-California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey is poised to take control of the deregulatory telecom bill-of-rights plan championed by Commissioner Susan Kennedy, who is set to leave the agency …

Promises fulfilled was the message from Cingular Wireless L.L.C. as the industry’s largest operator announced the launch of its UMTS/HSDPA network-dubbed BroadbandConnect-in 16 U.S. markets. The carrier has been touting …

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.-Enterprise broadband service provider iPass Inc. reported plans to purchase Wi-Fi hot spot service aggregator GoRemote Internet Communications Inc. for $76.5 million in cash. While iPass serves roaming …

BellSouth Corp. denied that it withdrew an offer to donate a building to house the displaced New Orleans Police Department. At the same time, the carrier also announced plans to …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. launched a new subsidiary that the carrier said will focus on offering voice and data offerings to large businesses and government customers. Sprint Nextel reported …

LOS ANGELES-CBS is finally wading into wireless, inking a deal to bring TV shows to Verizon Wireless subscribers. Verizon Wireless’ Vcast users can access clips from the station’s hit “CSI” …

WASHINGTON-One week after the 9/11 Commission gave the federal government an “F” in public-safety interoperability, Wayne County, Mich., said it chose a software solution from Codespear L.L.C. to solve its …

Four years after it was founded, MacroPort is finally coming to market. The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup unveiled its first offerings this week, launching a suite of wireless software designed …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission should “declare victory” on the deployment of enhanced 911 service, even if many carriers do not have 95 percent of their customers using a location-capable handset. …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. will forge ahead as a wireless-only business, the company announced. Alltel is spinning off its wireline business into a $9.1 billion merger with Texas-based Valor Communications …

SHENZEN, China-Wireless handset designer Cellon International said it raised an undisclosed amount in a Series D round of financing. TVG Capital Partners led the round, joining existing Cellon investors Intel …

LOS ANGELES-Supporters of a death-row inmate in California are using text messaging to urge Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute his death sentence. Stanley “Tookie” Williams is scheduled to be executed …

OREM, Utah-Mobile virtual network operators Ready Mobile and Mojo Mobile said they will buy phone-in-a-box kits and airtime from Q Comm International Inc., which provides prepaid transaction processing and electronic …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless has forced two telemarketing firms to stop making illegal sales pitches to the wireless carrier’s customers. As part of court-approved settlements, Verizon Wireless won permanent injunctions against …

LONDON-United Kingdom-based mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile Group plc reported plans to extend its brand into South Africa through a 50/50 venture with South African GSM network operator Cell …

SAN FRANCISCO-Akira Technologies launched its Publisher 2.0 Web-based publishing and content management tool, which the company said allows users to create interactive content for mobile devices. Akira noted the product …

OSAKA, Japan-Japanese industrial firm Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., which makes phones under the Panasonic brand name, announced a sweeping reorganization that will see the company shut down its GSM …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms. Carriers RBC Capital Markets tweaked its 2006 forecasts for Sprint …