2006

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s investment arm led a second round of funding for California-based software developer Mobile Complete. Financial terms were not disclosed, although Mobile Compete reportedly raked in $10 million in the Series B round. Existing investor Innovacom VC also …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. officially began offering its Cricket branded cellular service in its hometown of San Diego. The low-cost, flat-rate carrier now operates in four California markets and 50 markets total, and plans to roll service in Portland, …

TAIPEI, Taiwan-Nortel Networks Ltd. landed a mobile WiMAX network supply deal with Chungwa Telecom in Taiwan. Nortel said a countywide WiMAX network will be built in Northeastern Taiwan in Yilan County as part of the country’s Mobile-Taiwan initiative. The initiative …

Yahoo Inc. became the latest-and perhaps the largest-player in the nascent but rapidly growing mobile social networking playground with a new service that allows users to set up group events through text messaging. The service, dubbed Mixd, acts as a …

Just when it seemed like the world had stopped making predictions about when China’s government would grant third-generation licenses to operators, reports surfaced in the Chinese press indicating that the government will make its move in February. An article published …

SAN DIEGO-Russian CDMA operator Sky Link now has BREW wireless data services available to its customers, enabled by Qualcomm Inc. Sky Link is the largest Russian CDMA operator, and now its customers have access to mobile content including games, ringtones, …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson and Intel Corp. are collaborating to boost market uptake of PC-based mobile broadband and multimedia applications and services. The companies said they will work together to integrate Ericsson’s HSPA platform for mobile broadband as well as its …

NEW YORK-Jason Hirschhorn, MTV Network’s former digital guru, and Ben White, his deputy at MTV, have landed full-time at Sling Media. Their role is to take the company, which is known for place-shifting TV content, into what Hirschhorn calls “phase …

WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell could be drawn into the AT&T Inc.-BellSouth Corp. merger debate as early as today in order to break a 2-2 deadlock on the $79 billion deal, according to telecom analysts at Stifel, Nicolaus & …

DURHAM, N.C.-Mobile content provider Motricity Inc. will cut 50 jobs in a surprisingly drastic move to cut costs and “optimize the organization.” Motricity, which offers both a content portfolio and content delivery technology, will release more than 16 percent of …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. apparently couldn’t resist adding Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output technology to its already huge portfolio of wireless technology. The behemoth chipmaker announced it is buying MIMO creator Airgo Networks Inc. for an undisclosed amount to extend its mobile broadband offering …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. reported plans to acquire RF Micro Devices Inc.’s Bluetooth-related assets for $39 million in cash. Qualcomm said that the acquisition, which focuses on Greensboro, N.C.-based RF Micro Device’s Bluetooth-related intellectual property and team in San Diego, would …

ATLANTA-A small Florida company that sells equipment that can be used to jam cell phone reception is continuing in its quest to allow wider use of the technology, despite having its lawsuit over the issue thrown out of federal district …

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-U.S. wireless subscribers are increasingly using their phones to send and receive e-mail, according to new figures from The NPD Group. The market research firm said 6 percent of mobile consumers used personal e-mail on their phones in …

HONG KONG-Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. provided a glimpse into its finances at the ITU trade show taking place in Hong Kong. The Chinese vendor said it expects to take in $11 billion in sales during 2006, having earned $5.2 billion …

UPDATED December 7, 2006OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. introduced the latter’s M1 handset, a high-end multimedia phone with lots of onboard memory and a two-megapixel camera, for $200 with a two-year contract. The phone may provide …

Editor’s Note: Welcome our Monday feature, Analyst Angle. We’ve collected a group of the industry’s leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Strategy Analytics’ Chris …

MILPITAS, Calif.-Chipmaker LSI Logic Corp. jumped into the wireless arena by scooping up Agere Systems Inc., a mobile phone chip producer. LSI develops chips for hard drives and DVD recorders, while Agere competes in the communications chip market against powerhouses …

WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told Congress he asked agency lawyers to determine whether fellow GOP Commissioner Robert McDowell can be ethically cleared to participate in the agency’s consideration of the politically deadlocked, $79 billion merger of AT&T Inc. …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Shares of Openwave Systems Inc. surged after the company said it will record additional stock-option expenses of roughly $182 million following an internal review of the fiscal years 2000 to 2005. The mobile software developer said that while …

TV Guide Mobile Entertainment Inc. and mobile broadcast software company Roundbox Inc. said they signed an exclusive agreement that calls for them to develop and co-market an Electronic Service Guide for mobile television. Roundbox is providing its software to the …

PHOENIX-Freedom Wireless Inc. sued two wireless carriers and three service providers for allegedly violating the company’s patents on providing prepaid wireless services. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Alltel Corp. are named as defendants in two separate suits, along with their prepaid …

LOS ANGELES-Carriers worried about becoming a “dumb pipe” should jump headlong into the digital music waters, according to entertainment executive Kedar Massenburg.Network operators have “the opportunity to become the record companies of the future,” the lawyer-turned-music-mogul urged during his keynote …

Within the mobile industry, security vendors’ warnings are gaining traction as headlines blare the latest loss of corporate or government data-a sure way to destroy an organization’s credibility, not to mention the violation of federal mandates on data privacy and …