March 2006

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 …

REDMOND, Wash.—Microsoft Corp. is expected to overhaul ActiveSync, its Windows Mobile device management offering, when the software giant rolls out the next version of its PC operating system later this year. Microsoft will change the service’s name to Windows Mobile …

FREMONT, Calif.—The Flo Forum ratified technical specifications for devices, transmitters and test applications based on Qualcomm Inc.’s Flo technology standard for mobile TV. The group said the new specifications are companion documents to the previously ratified Flo Air Interface Specification …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google Inc. is dipping its toe in the mobile browser business, formatting Internet sites for users surfing the wireless Web. The company has developed software that modifies Web sites for the smaller screens of cell phones. Users who …

WASHINGTON—Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch (D) asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision striking down a state law requiring cell phone carriers to notify subscribers of—and sometimes get permission for—changes to wireless contracts. In December, …

SAN DIEGO—Network design and engineering firm Wireless Facilities Inc. reported a net loss during the fourth quarter of $3.4 million, a reversal from its net income of $12.3 million during the same quarter of 2004. The net loss included a …

BOSTON—WiMAX networks are expected to play an important role in the evolution of mobile networks to future technology generations, according to a new report from Pioneer Consulting. Rather than competing with each other, various third-generation and fourth-generation mobile technologies may …

BOSTON—Everypoint, a mobile sports application firm, attracted $10 million in a second round of venture capital funding, the company reported. Venrock Associates led the round, which included existing investors Prism Venture Partners and TD Capital Ventures. Everypoint’s downloadable applications provide …

BERWYN, Pa.—Wireless location technology developer TruePosition Inc. said it is moving forward with its suit against Andrew Corp., alleging the company’s products infringe on its patents for dealing with the location of cell phones using the wireless network control channel. …

WATERLOO, Ontario—Research In Motion Ltd. is going public with its crusade to improve the patenting process. The BlackBerry maker took out full-page advertisements yesterday in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and six other newspapers urging reforms for the U.S. …

WASHINGTON—The Congressional Black Caucus has urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to prohibit the awarding of spectrum auction bidding discounts to small business applicants affiliated with the five largest mobile phone carriers in the United States. “We are concerned …

EDINBUG, Va.—The fourth quarter of 2005 was kind to Shenandoah Telecommunications Co., which outpaced analysts’ expectations as it brought in total revenues of $39.2 million, a jump of more than 21 percent over the same quarter in 2004. Shentel, which …

ATLANTA—Cingular Wireless L.L.C. rolled out a new pricing plan, without its signature Rollover feature, in a move to counter a similar plan offered by T-Mobile USA Inc. Cingular’s Nation 1000 plan for $40 per month includes nationwide long distance 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 …

SAN DIEGO—Handset distributor InfoSonics Corp. said it plans to sell Alcatel and TCL-branded phones in the Caribbean under a distribution agreement it signed with T&A Mobile Phones S.A. de C.V. T&A Mobile Phones is a joint venture of TCL and …

BRISTOL, Conn.—ESPN announced an international push for its ESPN-branded mobile content. The company said the new initiatives target wireless customers in Canada, Europe and Latin America and covers a variety of content including sports news and information, video, ringtones, wallpaper, …

WASHINGTON—The Oklahoma Senate has passed legislation forbidding teen drivers with learner’s permits from using cell phones while behind the wheel. “We’ve seen recent studies that discuss the high incidence of accidents by young drivers and the high correlation to the …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Razr availability through Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and T-Mobile USA Inc. may be unpredictable until the end of March, according to equity research firm Bear Stearns. That’s when the firm expects Motorola Inc. to fix and return Razr batches that …

WASHINGTON—Two key Senate lawmakers introduced legislation to overhaul the secret government panel responsible for scrutinizing foreign investment in U.S. companies—including those in the wireless, telecom and high tech sectors—and transferring jurisdiction from the Treasury Department to the Department of Homeland …

CAMBRIDGE, England—Mini-base station developer Ip.access Ltd. picked up $8.5 million in funds to develop in-building third-generation access points for homes and small businesses. Scottish Equity Partners led the round, joined by Intel Capital and Rothschild Gestion. The company said it …

LONDON—I-play removed the word “acting” from David Gosen’s title, installing the 2-year employee as the company’s new chief executive officer. Gosen, who started with I-play in 2004 as chief operating officer, had been acting CEO since Brian Greasley stepped down …

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 …

TOKYO—Call it the luck of the Irish—at least as it relates to Finnish vendor Nokia Corp.’s 3G handset debut with Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. DoCoMo announced that sales of Nokia’s 6630 3G handset, branded as DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA NM850iG, …

WASHINGTON—U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake has reclaimed jurisdiction—at least temporarily—over two health-related lawsuits that she recommended be sent to other courts only last month. The turnabout was indirectly prompted by the addition of South Korean giant L.G. Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A. …

WASHINGTON—The Rural Cellular Association this morning came out against a proposal by the Federal Communications Commission to keep spectrum auction information secret. “A ‘blind bidding’ process would deter participation by RCA members who want to know, round by round in …