BRAZIL
Two wireless equipment suppliers said they won deals to supply gear to Vivo, Brazil’s largest mobile operator. L.M. Ericsson said it will expand and enhance Vivo’s access transmission network. Ericsson said its Mini-Link microwave transmission solution will provide extra backhaul capacity and flexibility, as well as reduce operating costs. In a separate announcement, Starent Networks said it deployed its ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway solution for Vivo’s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network. Vivo has more than 27 million mobile subscribers.
JAPAN
Motorola Inc. returned to the Japanese market with a high-end third-generation phone that features support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks. The company’s new M1000, based on its A1000 phone for Europe, will work on NTT DoCoMo Inc.’s FOMA W-CDMA network. Motorola jointly developed the phone with DoCoMo. The device represents Motorola’s re-entry into Japan, as well as DoCoMo’s willingness to expand beyond its traditional domestic handset suppliers.
CHINA
Warner Bros. Online said it has partnered with Tom Online Inc., a content aggregator, to market and distribute wireless and online content in China. The pair will launch an official Warner Bros. Studios Web site in China that will be part of the Tom Online portal. The site will deliver official studio content to Chinese users via Internet and wireless platforms, said the company. Content, including classic characters like Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny and Tweety, will be featured on the site along with movies, games and wireless Internet products.
SWEDEN
Infrastructure giant L.M. Ericsson announced it will acquire Norwegian network technology company Axxessit for $51 million in cash. The deal is subject to the approval of Axxessit shareholders. Axxessit develops, produces and markets devices and platforms for next-generation access and metro networks. The company counts 175 employees and scored sales of $24 million last year.
