2007

Two disparate events-the 700 MHz auction and the iPhone introduction-have the potential to alter the wireless industry’s existing course. Traditional wireless players must adapt to these new forces of change-and if they respond correctly, they will remain healthy.It is ironic …

In a sense, the iPhone phenomenon-the feeding frenzy that gave instant icon status to a multimedia device that was conceived outside the box before a single consumer had even removed it from inside the box-arguably represented the most poignant, glorious …

Dear Editor,We would like to respond to some of the many misleading comments made by Reed Hundt in RCR Wireless News relating to our editorial. That piece argued that the FCC should not play favorites in auctioning spectrum, and that …

More than three years after the wireless industry launched an effort to establish a ratings system for mobile content, carriers are finally beginning to restrict access to the edgy stuff. Whether such efforts will help fuel data revenues, though, remains …

SANTA MONICA, Calif.-In years past, the E3 Media and Business summit was a catch-all for geeks, gamers and everything in between, but this year the conference organizers tightened their traditionally welcoming arms-so much so that mobile was all but completely …

hedge*hog*ging v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube. What the heck is up with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s 700 MHz draft? What a headache! We thought the overarching concern was …

The mobile-phone industry challenged a Federal Communications Commission decision to better safeguard consumer phone records, citing provisions that it claims run contrary to applicable legal standards and to the agency’s enforcement regime.The FCC in April beefed up rules governing access …

The Federal Communications Commission asked for a new round of public comment on regulation of special-access lines, last-mile connections essential to wireless carriers and largely controlled by AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.House telecom subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-Mass.), citing …

Reliance Communications, a CDMA network operator in India, tapped Qualcomm Inc. and Alcatel-Lucent to help it expand its wireless network in India in what Alcatel-Lucent called one of the largest telecom expansions undertaken by a telecom operator anywhere in the …

RCR Wireless News would like to clarify a point in the July 9 article, “ATSC’s mobile TV standard on the clock.” Nokia Corp. submitted a complete proposal for major elements of an ATSC-M/H standard before the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s …

The mantra of OPM-other people’s money-is alive and well in wireless.The latest private-equity investments, announced last week, include New York-based Lindsay Goldberg’s $283 million stake in Brightstar Corp., which is expanding its wireless distribution and supply chain operations globally.Separately, Los …

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin’s 700 MHz plan may face trouble securing support from the agency’s two Democrats, but the draft rule could entice Verizon Wireless to become more serious about partnering with public safety.“I’m a big believer in …

VeriSign Inc.’s CFO, Dana Evan, has resigned, another apparent casualty of the company’s internal examination of its stock-option practices.Evan will be succeeded by Bert Clement, the company’s controller. Stratton Sclavos, former CEO, resigned in June. Sclavos’ departure came with a …

Wireless broadband provider NextWave Wireless Inc. has agreed to purchase a majority stake in Tokyo-based telecom company IPMobile.Terms of the deal were not disclosed; NextWave is acquiring all the IPMobile shares held by Mori Trust Co. Ltd. of Japan. NextWave …

As the two, next-largest handset vendors fling themselves at the dual prospects of entry-level phones in emerging markets and upgrade cycles in mature markets, all in an effort to compete with Nokia Corp.’s breakaway, a few rivets are coming loose. …

Welcome to our new Friday feature, Week in Review. Every Friday, RCR Wireless News will run through the major events of the past week, outlining what happened and speculating on what to look for in the coming weeks. Check below …

The extended family of “The Simpsons” is making a big bet on mobile. The creative minds that introduced us to Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and dozens more back in 1989 are now bringing fresh content to the third screen …

The public-safety community appears to be gathering behind the 700 MHz plan floated by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, a stark contrast to the volatile reaction to his attempt to impose an open-access-like condition to a third of the …

Mobile payment startup Obopay padded its bank account, hauling in $29 million in a third round of funding.Richmond Management L.L.C. affiliate Richmond Global Cellular led the round and existing investors Qualcomm Inc., Redpoint Ventures and others participated. Obopay also added …

AT&T Mobility will work with Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. to build a 3G wireless network in Hawaii, the two companies announced. DoCoMo said it will provide up to $24 million to support the network build, which AT&T plans to …

T-Mobile USA Inc. and Nortel Networks Ltd. have agreed to a $150 million multi-year extension of their contract for wireless voice and data services. The contract extension will add capacity to the No. 4 carrier’s existing network and address coverage …

WiMAX and other increasingly low-cost data options could help turn U.S. wireless networks into dumb pipes, according to research firm Analysys. The company identified three possible paths for the evolution of the wireless industry, including a scenario in which “wireless …

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 …

How can the world’s largest cellphone maker expand its sales efforts? That’s the question Bill Plummer is working on. Plummer is VP of Multimedia Sales and Channel Management in North America for Nokia. In his role he oversees handset sales …

Level 3 Communications Inc. announced it acquired Servecast Ltd., which provides live and on-demand video management and streaming services for broadband and mobile platforms.Level 3 paid about $45 million in cash for the company.“Servecast’s video and rights-management platform, combined with …