2007

Qualcomm Inc. established another European beachhead for its BREW service as Hutchison Whampoa’s 3 Group said it plans to offer handsets supporting the platform.The carrier, which offers service in Australia, Hong Kong, Israel and five European markets, said it will …

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 to rant and rave about whatever rubs …

CHICAGO-Telecommunications will be the disruptive force of the 21st century, with the potential to bring radical changes to areas such as education, medicine and the creative arts, Verizon Communications Inc. Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg told NXTcomm attendees during his …

Behind the seemingly mild-mannered, Finnish face of Nokia Corp. lies the heart of a crafty predator.The company has seen the markets of the future and it plans to be organizationally more nimble to pounce on opportunity as it arises-or as …

The International Telecommunication Union said it struck a pact with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to use satellite communications for improved emergency and humanitarian response to natural disasters.“The partnership that we have established with ICO Global Communications …

A broad-based mix of high-tech, consumer, civil rights, educational and Hispanic interests urged Congress to ensure that vacant TV airwaves are freed up for unlicensed wireless broadband as soon as possible.“Allocating the TV white spaces for unlicensed use will stimulate …

The French ModeLabs Group, a contract device manufacturer, appears to be dialing in on American brands by making phones that both promote those brands and serve as a fashion and communication accessory.The latest: ModeLabs announced that it will be making …

Mobile payment startup Obopay Inc. announced a distribution deal that secures space on the deck of Verizon Wireless, the nation’s No. 2 carrier.The Redwood City, Calif.-based payment company unveiled a BREW-enabled version of its flagship application that allows users to …

Qualcomm Inc. is targeting brands and media companies with a new platform for both on- and off-deck mobile content.The San Diego-based firm unveiled BREW BrandXtend Signature Solution, an offering designed to provide an “easy-to-use platform for the discovery and delivery” …

Change is in the air for two wireless content companies: Both mobile gaming company Vollee Inc. and messaging firm fastmobile Inc. announced new chief executives. Vollee will now be helmed by Martin Dunsby, while Marc Zionts will join fastmobile as …

The fixed-mobile convergence market took a step forward with Verizon Communications Inc.’s introduction of its Wireless Office, PBX Mobile Extension and Mobile Conference Connection products, which the company said will help traveling professionals merge their wireless and wireline communications. Verizon …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier –Goldman Sachs adjusted its estimates on Leap Wireless to 63 cents from 49 cents for 2007; $1.10 from $1.11 for …

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.–AceComm: Hale Fund Management L.L.C. invested $4.2 million into AceComm Corp. via a private financing …

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama’s campaign said it launched a new text messaging initiative to expand its grassroots network and organize volunteers for events. “This campaign is about the people across the country who are taking organizing into their own …

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he will block a President Bush-appointee to the Department of Homeland Security until the administration implements a 2002 law to create teams of high-tech volunteers that would help communities repair communications networks compromised by attacks …

The Federal Communications Commission affirmed the 2008 analog cellular sunset date, rejecting a request for a two year extension by the alarm industry.The FCC said the decision five years ago establishing the sunset date “had achieved its goal of facilitating …

Although the nation’s No. 3 carrier has announced plans to launch a WiMAX network and is looking at an array of options to help drive the technology into ubiquity, Sprint Nextel Corp. today announced that its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision …

Verizon Wireless named Ajay Waghray as its new chief information officer, effective July 1. Waghray has been a leader in the company’s information technology organization for seven years and will now be responsible for the carrier’s overall information technology strategy, …

CHICAGO-Telecom vendors will need to offer unique wireless services to entice new subscribers-rather than simply bundling wireless service with other telecom offerings, according to a panel of speakers at a Digital Hollywood session during the pre-show conferences at NXTcomm. Wireless …

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–Kenya: Alcatel-Lucent announced a deal with …

Opera Software ASA overhauled its popular Mini browser, adding a zooming feature that delivers close-up views of Web pages for mobile phones, a function similar to the iPhone’s much-touted Web browser.The Norwegian developer unveiled a beta version of Opera Mini …

CHICAGO-AT&T Inc. is launching its Video Share offering in three markets, and plans to roll the service out more broadly starting next month, CEO and Chairman Randall Stephenson announced at the NXTcomm trade conference this morning.Stephenson, speaking during the show’s …

In the primordial days of the affordable, multimedia/enterprise slab-say, a year ago-the Nokia Corp. E62 swiftly joined the fray initiated by the Motorola Inc. Q. They were soon joined by the RIM Pearl, along with a host of others. The …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the first edition of 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 larger wider business world …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the first edition of 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 …