March 2006

SAN DIEGO—Speech-recognition search technology firm V-Enable announced that it raised $6 million during a funding round led by SoftBank Capital and Palisades Ventures. V-Enable says demand from carriers for its mobile search application is increasing. The company boasted that more …

SAN FRANCISCO—Cell phone headset maker Phonebites Inc. said it raised $7 million in its second round of venture funding, which was led by Mayfield Fund. Mayfield Managing Director Janice Roberts is expected to join Phonebites’ board of directors as part …

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.—Wireless franchise Wireless Toyz said it nearly doubled the number of stores it operates last year and plans to double its footprint again this year. The company grew from 65 stores to 124 stores last year and is …

WASHINGTON—Virginia’s Senate Finance Committee approved legislation creating a flat tax for mobile phone service and other communications offerings, moving closer to possible passage of a bill with national implications. The Senate panel agreed to the bill Tuesday by a 12 …

CHICAGO—U.S. Cellular Corp. and its parent company, Telephone and Data Systems Inc., said they received a fourth financial filing extension from the American Stock Exchange. The companies, which had been expected to file tardy financial results from the third quarter …

MURRAY HILL, N.J.—Lucent Technologies Inc. gave its corporate controller, John Kritzmacher, the nod to succeed Frank D’Amelio as chief financial officer. D’Amelio left Lucent’s CFO post up for grabs when he became Lucent’s chief operating officer in January. Kritzmacher has …

WASHINGTON—The Information Technology Council offered advance praise for a House GOP innovation initiative being unveiled on Capitol Hill this afternoon. “The Republican leadership’s competitiveness act will create jobs and keep the American tech industry vibrant and growing,” said Rhett Dawson, …

NEW YORK—Ogo device vendor IXI Mobile Inc. said it is merging with Israel Technology Acquisition Corporation, the firms announced. IXI Mobile is expected to become a wholly owned subsidiary of ITAC when the deal closes, which is expected in the third …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—An Alltel Corp. subsidiary extended its agreement with T-Mobile Austria GmbH for the sale of Alltel’s Austrian business, tele.ring. Alltel acquired the international subsidiary, Western Wireless International Austria Corp., along with the rest of Western Wireless Corp. last …

EDINBURG, Va.—Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. announced that it plans to restate its financial results for the years 2003 and 2004, plus the first three quarters of 2005, with a cumulative net pretax impact of about $2.1 million. Shentel, which is a …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google Inc. continued the expansion of its mobile applications portfolio with a wireless version of its Google News service. Google News for mobiles, which can be accessed via a link on the company’s mobile Web site, allows users …

WASHINGTON—Spectrum being reclaimed from broadcasters as part of the digital TV transition should be auctioned in smaller chunks than is currently contemplated, Sen. Conrad Burns told Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin in a letter. “I am convinced of the …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.—InnoPath Software Inc. reported that Japanese wireless operator Vodafone K.K. selected its firmware over-the-air device management solution to deliver upgraded features and services to its subscribers. “With the growing popularity of sophisticated handsets, a total solution dedicated to fast, …