2006

Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG, answered a few questions for RCR Wireless News via e-mail regarding the factory raid in China. RCR: To what degree is this raid an ongoing effort on behalf of the Bluetooth SIG? …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission told Congress that there is effective competition in the wireless industry, noting a penetration rate of 71 percent and that nearly everyone between the ages of 20 to 49 has a mobile phone. Nevertheless, one commissioner …

NEW YORK-Here’s a sampling of the recent customer requests handled by service reps for Voce, the luxury mobile virtual network operator that apparently can do just about anything its subscribers ask of it. Ten customers wanted reservations at Wolfgang Puck’s …

Alltel Corp. went guerilla with its new advertising campaign promoting its My Circle calling plans. The company released a press release last week saying several of its new My Circle billboards had been “vandalized,” purportedly by four men wearing pink, …

DENVER-Where should cell-phone enthusiasts go for the latest in handset technology? EBay, it appears. An eBay shopper recently purchased a dual-mode CDMA/iDEN phone from Motorola Inc. for $300. Sold by “Rager4208,” the phone is dubbed the “Sprint Nextel Hybrid ic502” …

“We all want to change the world,” to quote John Lennon. Perhaps the biggest change taking place in society today is the growing popularity of social sites like MySpace.com and YouTube.com, virtual communities that have drawn millions. The wireless industry …

WATERLOO, Ontario—Research In Motion Ltd.’s stock rose sharply in trading after the company reported strong quarterly results and offered optimistic guidance. The firm’s stock was up almost 20 percent in trading to about $102.87 per share, a two-year high for …

WASHINGTON—A long-stalled bill to make the sale of telephone records illegal could come up for a vote today in the House as lawmakers race to get out of town for upcoming mid-term elections. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the …

BEDFORD, Mass.—Boston Communications Group Inc. said it probably will have to restate its finances due to its review of its stock-option grants and stock-option practices. The company said it continues to review its stock-options practices, but its preliminary conclusions show …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms. Click here for wireless ratings from past weeks from RCR Wireless News. Handset and infrastructure vendors Goldman Sachs raised its …

The following list details this week’s infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available. Click here for additional infrastructure …

LOS ANGELES—Xero Mobile Inc. found a buyer, inking a deal to sell “substantially all of its assets and liabilities” to newly formed Advanced Mobile Communications Inc. The mobile virtual network operator—which has yet to launch service—said it will receive an undisclosed …

WASHINGTON—Two key Senate lawmakers today suggested the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commissions consider imposing conditions—including the divestiture of WiMAX spectrum—on the proposed $67 billion merger of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corp. to prevent any anticompetitive warehousing of such spectrum …

Hello! And welcome to our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCR Wireless News to rant and rave about …

ESPOO, Finland—Nokia Corp. said it has developed an HSDPA connectivity module for notebook computers. The module will be included with Intel Corp.’s next-generation Centrino Duo mobile technology platform, said Nokia. “This collaboration is good news for notebook users as cellular …

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.—IDC said there is tremendous growth potential in the market for business-focused phones, and predicted that Microsoft Corp’s involvement with Motorola Inc., Palm Inc., and others, as well as Nokia Corp.’s commitment to an end-to-end strategy, threatens to weaken …

DENVER—Where should cell-phone enthusiasts go for the latest in handset technology? EBay, it appears. An eBay shopper recently purchased a dual-mode CDMA/iDEN phone from Motorola Inc. for $300. Sold by “Rager4208,” the phone is dubbed the “Sprint Nextel Hybrid ic502” …

NEW YORK—After a mere eight months on the market, Mobile ESPN has decided to get out of the mobile virtual network operator business. The brand’s entrance into the wireless space was eagerly anticipated, scrutinized and praised for its innovative user …

OTTAWA, Ill.—B&B Electronics, which provides automation and communications products, said it acquired Advanced Embedded Systems, a Phoenix-based company that develops industrial-focused wireless products. AES is expected to become part of B&B Electronics’ engineering and technical group. B&B Engineering said the …

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.—Verizon Wireless flexed its handset muscle with the launch of Motorola Inc.’s Krzr K1m phone, a music- and video-playing handset similar to Motorola’s Razr. Motorola gave the wireless industry its first peek at the Krzr in July, but …

WASHINGTON—The House suspended an in-building wireless license worth $1.5 million to $2 million to MobileAccess Networks. The move comes two weeks after Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) admitted in a plea agreement with U.S. officials to backing the bid of MobileAccess—the …

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Enough already—that’s the decision handed down from BenQ Corp. amid heavy losses at its mobile venture, BenQ Mobile. The company announced that it won’t pour any more money into its German-based mobile-phone subsidiary. As a result, BenQ said its …

RICHARDSON, Texas—Watch-maker Fossil Inc. and phone-maker Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P. announced a teaming to produce wristwatches that can connect to cell phones. Users will be able to mate their cell phone and watch through Bluetooth technology. The first product …

NEW YORK—A new mobile virtual network operator targeting Chinese-Americans officially launched today, offering cheap international calls to Asia and a Razr phone with menus in Chinese. Red Pocket Mobile soft-launched about two weeks ago, according to Max Smetannikov, vice president …

NEW YORK—Jamster International bulked up its content portfolio in North America with a deal to offer ringtones, graphics and mobile games from the Walt Disney Internet Group. Disney and its third-party content licensing arm Starwave Mobile already use VeriSign Inc.’s …