Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
T-Mobile contracts with Ericsson for GPRS, EDGE expansion
T-Mobile USA Inc. signed a $500 million contract with L.M. Ericsson to expand and upgrade its wireless network to support GPRS and EDGE data services. The deal calls for Ericsson to deploy GSM, GPRS and EDGE radio access equipment and associated services in two new markets for T-Mobile USA in Western Virginia and parts of New England. In addition, Ericsson will upgrade and expand the carrier’s core network infrastructure, radio access equipment and associated services in 18 markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, where Ericsson equipment is already installed. … Read More
Master Towers buys 24 towers from PGBW
Master Towers L.L.C. has purchased tower company Portland General Broadband Wireless L.L.C. from Oregon-based utility Portland General Electric, a subsidiary of Enron, for an undisclosed amount. With the company, Master Towers acquired 24 monopole tower sites in Oregon’s Multnomah, Marion, Washington, Columbia and Clackamas counties, capable of serving populations in cities including Portland, Salem and Eugene. According to Steve Master, president of Master Towers, the purchase makes Master Towers one of the strongest and largest private tower companies in Oregon. … Read More
FCC clears NextWave’s ownership structure
NextWave Telecom Inc. on Monday passed the final regulatory hurdle when the Federal Communications Commission said it was not in violation of foreign-ownership rules.“We’re glad that it’s now put to rest,” said Michael Wack, NextWave senior vice president and general counsel. The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and International Bureau reviewed NextWave’s ownership structure because the company had asked for such a review prior to it filing bankruptcy in 1998. … Read More
Chinese vendor to make Palm OS smart phone
The smart-phone operating system race continues unabated, with Palm Inc.’s PalmSource subsidiary announcing another device win for the Chinese market. Hong Kong electronics manufacturer Group Sense Ltd. said it will build a smart phone using the Palm OS for the hot Chinese device market. The new GSL Xplore G18 will feature GPRS connections, an integrated digital camera and multimedia messaging support. … Read More
Philips, Intel, TI announce alliances
Joint ventures and alliances continue to tie ideas and initiatives together across various tiers of the wireless industry from infrastructure to Wi-Fi to semiconductors. Asian companies play crucial roles in the cooperation. Royal Philips Electronics NV announced a joint venture with Accton Technology Corp. to provide solutions for original equipment manufacturers, retailers and consumer electronics companies. The joint venture, which is dubbed “Arcadyan,” will emphasize audio and video quality. … Read More
Device makers weigh in on warranties
While the industry looks to foster the growth of third-party software, many of the industry’s advanced phone makers will not replace a ruined device if that same third-party software caused the problem. “It hasn’t been an issue yet,” said Michael King, senior analyst at Gartner Research. “It doesn’t mean it won’t be.” As the wireless industry continues its slow march toward data, such issues serve to highlight the many and varied challenges voice players face as they enter the wireless computing market. With wireless carriers beginning to offer ring tones, games and other wireless data applications, they and the rest of the industry have been forced to face issues such as digital rights management, transmission speeds and other computer- and Internet-oriented subjects. … Read More
Calif. driving-and-dialing legislation dies
A bill to ban driver use of handheld cell phones in California unexpectedly died in the state legislature after a Senate amendment so watered down the measure as to prompt the bill’s chief sponsor to seek its defeat. The Assembly in May passed legislation to require drivers to use hands-free devices to make cell-phone calls while behind the wheel. A rider was attached to the bill in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday that would have increased the penalty for an individual guilty of reckless driving as a result of distractions ranging from personal grooming to food consumption to operating electronic devices to interacting with passengers or pets. In addition, the amendment would prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from using mobile phones in any form. … Read More
Carriers ask court to overturn FCC’s MSS ruling
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Verizon Wireless asked a federal appeals court here to overturn a Federal Communications Commission ruling permitting mobile satellite service operators to use their frequencies to provide land-based mobile-phone communications. “Converting a satellite-only authorization into a license for mixed satellite and terrestrial use was a major license change requiring the FCC to conduct an auction under Section 309(j) of the Communications Act,” stated AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless. The petition for review was filed Tuesday at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. … Read More
Extend America to take Nextel service to rural areas
Nextel Communications Inc. entered an agreement with Extend America Inc. to provide iDEN network coverage for Nextel in a number of rural markets beginning later this year. Extend is expected to begin selling wireless digital voice, text and numeric messaging and Nextel’s Nationwide Direct Connect service under the Extend America name, powered by Nextel, and will benefit from the same services as Nextel and Nextel Partners Inc. customers. In addition, Extend’s, Nextel’s and Nextel Partners’ customers will be able to use their service on any of the three companies’ networks at no roaming cost. … Read More
Studies predict strong mobile gaming, data opportunities
The worldwide opportunity for mobile data and wireless games is huge, according to two new studies, but wireless carriers will need to accurately price and market the applications to take advantage of the market. According to The Research Room, the global market for wireless gaming services will grow from $561 million last year to $41.3 billion in 2007. Java- and BREW-based downloadable games will lead the charge, with 146 million users by 2007. “Wireless, gaming and the Internet will create a new market for interactive and multiplayer wireless gaming services,” said Tim Sheedy, The Research Room’s managing director. … Read More
