March 2006

WASHINGTON-Telematics providers have come out against FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s numbers-based approach to financing the universal-service fund . Those providers noted that because telematics is not connected to the public-switched telephone network Martin’s plan would significantly add to the cost …

SANTA CLARA, Calif.-Lucent Technologies Inc. outbid L.M. Ericsson in the auction of Ethernet developer Riverstone Networks Inc.’s business. Riverstone said Lucent’s final bid was $207 million in cash along with certain modifications to the Asset Purchase Agreement originally signed by …

Editor’s Note: The companies listed below represent the four first-tier wireless operators that control enough spectrum for a nationwide footprint. They are ranked by their number of subscribers at the end of 2005. Subscriber additions and financial results are from …

READING, U.K.-Britons use mobile phones to keep up with the news, while the Chinese want to know the weather report. According to a recent poll, 70 percent of Britons download news bulletins and updates, while 76 percent of Chinese view …

LAS VEGAS-Wireless issues played second fiddle to convergence and net neutrality at last week’s United States Telecom Association’s first TelecomNext conference in Las Vegas, though a handful of executives touched on expanding wireless services during keynote addresses. Despite lacking the …

WASHINGTON-Online wireless retailer InPhonic Inc. unveiled a business unit targeting small business users. The company launched Wirefly.biz, an Internet storefront hawking products and rate plans designed for home office workers and small businesses. The site carries offerings from Cingular Wireless …

Regional telecommunications operator Ntelos Holdings Corp. reported strong growth in the fourth quarter and full-year 2005, generating wireless operating revenues of $73 million during the final three months of 2005 and $280 million for the year. Ntelos Inc., the company’s …

More reality-check news on embattled U.S. tech competitiveness and the eager evolution of offshoring as something a bit more than a passing industry trend. The competitiveness issue-currently getting big play at the White House and on Capitol Hill-actually is just …

LAS VEGAS-BellSouth Corp. unveiled a pre-WiMAX wireless broadband back-up system for businesses’ Internet connections. The carrier said the system allows customers to activate a Wi-Fi hot spot at a business location, with a WiMAX backhaul, in the event the wireline …

Sling Media Inc. launched a software package allowing wireless subscribers to view TV broadcasts on Windows Mobile devices. The developer announced a beta version of the much-awaited offering, which sends video from a cable box through an Ethernet cable to …

Do Europeans like chocolate as much as South Koreans? What about Americans? If we’re talking food, the question is crazy. But because we’re talking about LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s new Chocolate mobile phone, which has done well since its release …

MIAMI-Brightstar Logistics Pty Ltd. said it signed a three-year agreement with Australian carrier Telstra to manage its handset supply chain. The deal calls for Brightstar to manage the carrier’s retail fulfillment operation and launch inventory management tools to help Telstra …

WASHINGTON-Cellular companies and disability advocates are at odds over industryproposed changes to a revised standard for mobile-phone hearing-aid compatibility, a dispute that has escalated in recent weeks and whose resolution could help determine whether carriers and manufacturers meet the next …

WASHINGTON-Despite concern about the potential for collusion at the upcoming advanced wireless services auction and the need to head off any problems by limiting bidder information, federal officials admit they have pursued only a handful of cases where suspected abuse …

WASHINGTON-The ground shifted under the telecommunications regulatory landscape March 19 when the Federal Communications Commission did nothing-or at least nothing official. By not acting, the FCC granted a forbearance request from Verizon Communications Inc. that its high-capacity broadband network not …

PLEASANTON, Calif.-Verizon Wireless selected Xign Corp., a purveyor of on-demand, order-to-pay software, to streamline its order delivery, invoice processing and payment management. By moving to electronic billing and payment of vendor accounts, Verizon Wireless plans to save money through efficiencies …

Qualcomm Inc. and Chinese firm China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Ltd. announced they would form a new venture, TechFaith Software China Ltd. (TechSoft), to develop software applications for wireless devices. The deal is worth up to $35 million in cash …

WASHINGTON-The Justice Department last week filed a slew of documents with a New York federal court in support of a request to join the auction fraud lawsuit against Wall Street telecom titan Mario Gabelli, a belated move in the five-year-old …

SAN MATEO, Calif.-Mobile game publisher Kayak Interactive has rebranded as Blaze after consolidating with European subsidiary Synergenix Interactive. The move follows the integration of Chasma Interactive Publishing, which Kayak acquired last April. Blaze has offices in London and Stockholm, Sweden, …

TORONTO-Nortel Networks Ltd. said its insurers have agreed to put $228.5 million toward Nortel’s settlements of a pair of class-action lawsuits that stemmed from an accounting scandal. In February, Nortel agreed to pay more than $2.4 billion in cash and …

BRISTOL, United Kingdom-Icera Inc., a wireless soft modem company based in the United Kingdom, announced it secured $40 million in a Series C round of venture funding. Amadeus Capital Partners led the round, with existing investors Accel Partners, Atlas Venture …

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. started out in 2001 as a company with a network that was more than two-thirds TDMA and analog technology. Now, the company has indicated that it is on track to turn off both its legacy TDMA and …

SAN FRANCISCO-Content providers will need to deliver compelling programming for mobile video to grow beyond the young, male demographic it currently attracts, two new reports indicate. Mobile TV is already drawing a key demographic for advertisers, according to Telephia. Wireless …

BEIJING—Motorola Inc. announced it opened another research and development center in China, this one in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou’s Hi-tech Industry Development Zone. The center will focus on developing equipment products for China’s operators. Motorola said the new center …

ANDOVER, Mass.—Mobile music company Groove Mobile announced it closed $8.5 million in new venture funding. Egan-Managed Capital led the round, while Charles River Ventures, Kodiak Venture Partners and Star Ventures also participated. Groove has so far raised more than $20 …