Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on those sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
T-Mobile US launches video messaging
BELLEVUE, Wash.-T-Mobile USA Inc. launched its video messaging service allowing customers to record and send video messages with sound from wireless phones. The carrier’s initial handset offering for the service is Nokia Corp.’s 3650, which sells for $199 after rebate. In addition to its video recording capabilities, the Nokia 3650 can … Read more
Chinese government limits CDMA tech
BEIJING-At a national conference on wireless telecommunications management, China’s Ministry of Information Industry (MII) vowed to strengthen frequency management, which will limit CDMA technology to China Unicom. Fixed-line operators have been ordered to dismantle some of their wireless local loop operations, called Little Smart or Xiaolingtong. Targeted are a limited number of city-wide services based in the 450 MHz band using CDMA technology. Carriers have one month to conform to the orders. The ministry seems determined to limit CDMA services to mobile carrier China Unicom. … Read more
Iceland in hot water over late 3G start
LONDON-Iceland has been reprimanded by the European Free Trade Association’s Surveillance Authority for not putting in place a regulatory and legal framework for issuing third-generation (3G) licenses. Iceland has delayed its 3G licensing due to delays across the Continent, but the agency said the country must still have a framework in place even if it does not actually issue licenses. … Read more
Lucent settles lawsuits for a price tag of $600 million
CHICAGO-In what market watchers describe as one of the largest class-action settlements ever, Lucent Technologies Inc. has resolved all outstanding shareholder lawsuits for more than US$600 million. The settlement, which made Lucent’s share price rise, involves 54 lawsuits. … Read more
Shifting positions in the Ukrainian mobile market
KIEV, Ukraine-Two leading Ukrainian carriers continue to expand in the country, while some outsiders had to quit the market, opening a way for acquisitions and takeovers. The Ukrainian Mobile Communications (UMC), which has close to 1.8 million subscribers, said it will invest US$400 million into nationwide network development during the coming four years. Director General Erik Franke said the company had invested US$400 million in 10 years of its existence and will accelerate the pace after Russia’s biggest carrier Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) acquired its controlling interest. Kyivstar, with more than 1.8 million subscribers, placed bonds worth an additional US$60 million in March underwritten by Dresdner Bank. The demand exceeded the supply by US$50 million, which allowed the carrier to decrease the annual yield to 10.96 percent compared with 12.75 percent during the first placement worth US$100 million last November. In April, Kyivstar plans to borrow another US$11.06 million in the domestic market. The yield will range from 13.5 percent for dollar-nominated corporate bonds to 17 percent for hrivna-nominated bonds. The carrier initially scheduled the issue for February, but postponed it for two months because of delays in agreements with major vendors. … Read more
Roaming alliance takes shape in India
NEW DELHI, India-In an apparent bid to compete with pan-Indian coverage provided by leading cellular providers like AirTel and Hutch, four regional players have joined to form a national alliance for roaming and other services to their customers. BPL Mobile, Escotel, RPG Cellular and Spice Telecom announced in Mumbai on Wednesday the formation of the MobileFirst alliance. The new venture will offer enhanced value across tariffs, roaming and long distance calling to its 3 million subscribers across 700 towns in the country. MobileFirst will be operated by an executive management committee comprising officials of the four companies and will have an independent secretariat. … Read more
Strong multi-media messaging uptake in Germany, Japan
TOKYO and LONDON-Vodafone Group plc and J-Phone Co. Ltd. both announced strong subscriber numbers for their respective multimedia messaging services. Vodafone said it has met its target of 1 million Vodafone Live! customers by end-March. The global operator said 375,000 Live! users are in Germany, 220,000 are in the United Kingdom and 190,000 are in Italy, with an additional 420,000 customers in those markets owning multimedia messaging service-capable devices. The Vodafone service, which combines picture messaging, polyphonic ring tones and color games with camera phones, is available in 10 countries, with Vodafone’s subsidiaries in Egypt, Australia and New Zealand set to begin the services soon. The company launched Live! five months ago. J-Phone, Vodafone’s Japanese subsidiary, said the number of its subscribers with picture messaging-enabled handsets topped 9 million as of March 25. … Read more
Multi-media messaging on the rise
LONDON-Multimedia messaging services continues to drive much of the news in the wireless industry, with LogicaCMG and others announcing moves in the area. LogicaCMG announced an MMS framework agreement with KPN Mobile, and that E-Plus in Germany will be the first carrier to use LogicaCMG’s MMS technology under the agreement. The contract with E-Plus follows the carrier’s use of LogicaCMG’s Wireless Service Broker for its i-mode services. “We believe that multimedia messaging services fit very well with the mobile data environment established by i-mode,” said Mark de Jong, a board member for KPN Mobile. “During the implementation of our i-mode infrastructure, LogicaCMG proved to be a reliable and innovative partner, which is why we also selected them to help us exploit the synergies between i-mode and MMS.” Also on the MMS front, wireless content and software company InfoSpace Inc. said it launched MMS services in the Netherlands through a partnership with MmO2. The initial launch includes 20 branded MMS services backed by content sources such as ANP, the Dutch press association, and Voetbal International, a popular Dutch weekly. … Read more
Cisco buys Linksys
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Cisco Systems Inc., announced a definitive agreement to acquire The Linksys Group Inc., a privately held provider of home networking products including wired and wireless products for consumers and small office/home office users. The acquisition represents Cisco’s entry into the consumer/SOHO networking market. According to the agreement, Cisco will issue common stock with an aggregate value of approximately $500 million to acquire the Linksys business and to assume all outstanding employee stock options. The acquisition of Linksys is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Cisco’s fiscal year 2003. The acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to various closing conditions. “Fueled by consumer broadband adoption, the home networking space has experienced mass market acceptance. Linksys has captured a strong position in this growing market by developing an extensive, easy-to-use product line for the home and small office,” said John Chambers, president and chief executive officr of Cisco Systems. … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News Archives for more stories from the past.
