2007

TomTom NV fired the latest salvo in the bidding war for Tele Atlas, offering to acquire the Dutch digital mapping company for $4.25 billion.The Amsterdam, Netherlands-based maker of car navigation equipment outbid rival Garmin Ltd., which last week offered $3.3 …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier–RBC Capital Markets lowered its price target on Embarq to $60 from $67 after the company reported in-line third-quarter results.–R.W. Baird …

The following list includes venture capital and other investments into wireless companies announced during the past week. The value of the investment is included when available. –4INFO: Peacock Equity, a joint venture of GE Commercial Finance’s Media, Communications & Entertainment …

Andrew Corp. agreed to sell its satellite communications business to Resilience Capital Partners in a deal that will allow Andrew to maintain an ownership stake in a new company that Resilience Capital Partners plans to establish.Andrew will receive up to …

CBS Mobile has tapped Danny Bonaduce for a new mobile video series that will air on major wireless carriers beginning next week.The first original animated program developed under the CBS Mobile brand will air new three-to-five minute episodes every two …

Research In Motion Ltd. is targeting small and medium-sized businesses with a new BlackBerry software offering for up to 30 users.The Waterloo, Ontario-based developer released BlackBerry Professional Software, a “streamlined” offering that allows users to access e-mail, Internet and intranet …

U.S. Cellular Corp. reported a strong third quarter, with average revenue per user up 10% and postpaid customer gains of about 73,000 subscribers. However, the company missed Wall Street estimates on its earnings per share, sending its stock down sharply …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to Reality Check, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. We’ve gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile content industry to give their insights into the marketplace. …

Differentiation, finally!Google’s announcement that its mobile play will consist of an open-source software platform highlights the division in industry between featuring content on the carrier’s deck and the benefits and risks of taking it off-deck. The editorial staff at RCR …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect …

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.Cellular–Uruguay: L.M. Ericsson said it has …

Alltel Corp. announced that it will be using QuickPlay Media Inc.’s OpenVideo platform to provide new streaming video channels on the No. 5 carrier’s Celltop information-on-demand service.Through the partnership, Alltel will offer new video “cells” including the latest entertainment, horoscopes, …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to Yay or Nay, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week we’ll review a new wireless application or service from the user’s point of view, with the goal …

Google Inc. is the new E.F. Hutton-when the Internet search giant talks, everybody listens. Many observers today expected to hear about a long-rumored Google phone-it didn’t happen. Nor were any specific handset models announced. But listeners probably included likely competitors …

Google Inc. ended weeks of speculation about its mobile plans, unveiling an alliance of industry heavyweights centered on a new, open-source software platform.The Internet behemoth joined Qualcomm Inc., Motorola Inc., HTC Corp. and T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom AG to take …

Synchronica acquired GoodServer to boost its ability to target mobile device synchronization and management, the company announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.GoodServer’s technology was already a key component of Synchronica’s Mobile Gateway and the purchase will give Synchronica …

In Verizon’s third-quarter results last week, the company tallied its wireless customers at 63.7 million-that number includes 1.8 million new ones. Though the marketer didn’t specify whether the gains came from first-time cellphone buyers or by luring existing ones from …

Despite 11th hour attempts to prevent a work stoppage, Hollywood writers went on strike today. Renewed talks between the Writers Guild of America and networks and studios failed to halt the guild’s planned strike, despite the pressure of a federal …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to 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 Current Analysis’ …

A group of industry heavyweights-headed by Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC Corp., Qualcomm Inc., and Motorola Inc.-announced a new software platform for cellphones that includes an operating system, middleware, user interface and applications. The alliance said the first phones based on …

The following infrastructure contracts were announced in October:

Crown Castle International Corp. reported growth in site rental revenues, although its losses widened year-over-year.The company’s results included those of Global Signal Inc., which Crown Castle acquired earlier this year.On a pro forma basis, site rental revenues jumped 7.3% year-over-year. …

THE MOBILE-PHONE INDUSTRY’S BUSINESS MODEL continues to come under attack, with challenges to carrier control increasingly playing out in the courts, Congress and at the Federal Communications Commission.National wireless carriers find themselves ensnarled in more than a dozen handset-locking and …

Like former Yankee Alex Rodriguez, Tele Atlas N.V. plans to cash in on the free-agent market.The Netherlands-based digital mapping company in July accepted a bid of $2.8 billion from TomTom NV, agreeing to recommend the offer to shareholders. But Tele …