ST. LOUIS—Software developer and billing platform provider Amdocs Ltd. plans to enter the digital transaction space with a $275 million buyout of Seattle-based Qpass Inc. Qpass’ technology facilitates content sourcing, merchandising, delivery and billing across mobile, VoIP and Wi-Fi networks. Amdocs said the all-cash...
DETROIT—MetroPCS Communications Inc. launched wireless service today in Detroit, offering flat rate plans with unlimited local and domestic long distance without a contract. MetroPCS is offering four calling plans, with unlimited local calling for $30 or $35 per month and unlimited local and long...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Alltel Corp. is teaming with software developer Seven Networks Inc. to offer mobile e-mail and data to subscribers with Palm-powered and Microsoft Corp. Windows Mobile-based smart phones. The operator launched two versions of Office Sync, allowing users to send and receive e-mail...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Alltel Corp. said it has sold one of its Arkansas rural service areas to Cingular Wireless L.L.C., as part of Alltel’s divestiture requirements related to its purchase of Western Wireless Corp. last year. The Arkansas 11 RSA covers the counties of Hempstead,...
ESPOO, Finland—Nokia Corp. announced plans to bolster its research and development operations in China, adding wireless network product development to its center in Chengdu in order to be more responsive to customer needs as they emerge in the market."The Chinese mobile market is seeing...
BROOMFIELD, Colo.—Level 3 Communications Inc.’s buying spree continues as the wholesale fiber optic network operator said it was spending $163 million to pick up Englewood, Colo.-based ICG Communications Inc. Under terms of the agreement, Level 3 will spend $36 million in cash along with...
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Motorola Inc. announced plans to acquire privately-held wireless Ethernet provider Orthogon Systems. Motorola said it expects the acquisition to advance its growing wireless broadband business, supporting its MOTOwi4 products for WiMAX, mesh solutions, as well as its Canopy products. Motorola further explained that...
SEATTLE—Junxion Inc.’s cellular/wireless local area network box recently received carrier approval from both Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Sprint Nextel Corp. The device combines a Wi-Fi radio with a PC card slot for use with a carrier’s data card to provide wide area wireless backhaul...
FRANKFURT, Germany—A German newspaper reported that Motorola Inc. is looking into buying Siemens A.G.’s money-losing telecom equipment unit, Com. The Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported that Motorola is mostly interested in the profit-bearing Mobile Network division of Com, but Siemens wants to sell Com in its...
KUWAIT—Telecom company Mobile Telecommunications Co. said that its African subsidiary, Celtel, has signed a conditional deal to buy 65 percent of Nigeria’s Vmobile for about $1 billion. MTC added that the agreement included an option for the purchase of the remaining 35 percent of...
IRVINE, Calif.—A pair of youth-oriented wireless service providers are looking to raise their profile and score exclusive content with separate deals. Boost Mobile L.L.C., which is a division of Sprint Nextel Corp., announced a two-year deal to sponsor the Major League Gaming (MLG) Pro...
SUNNYVALE, Calif.—A privately held California company, Mino Wireless, said it has garnered $1.5 million in first-round venture-capital funding to launch low-cost international wireless calling using Voice Over Internet Protocol technology. According to Mino, the mobile services company has been working on technology to connect...
SINGAPORE—Flextronics International Ltd. said it was selling off its software development and solutions business to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for approximately $900 million. Flextronics said the sale continues its strategy to focus on boosting growth in its core EMSS business, including design, vertically...
WASHINGTON—Sprint Nextel Corp.’s soon-to-be-spun-off local wireline business, Embarq Corp., has filed to issue as much as $4.49 billion in senior notes, according to information from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Embarq said in the filing that it would issue Sprint Nextel three sets of...
WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission denied a 2002 request from the American Bird Conservancy and the Forest Conservation Council to study whether wireless towers contribute to the death of migratory birds, clearing the way for wireless towers to be rebuilt along the Gulf Coast.Meanwhile, an...
WASHINGTON-The Department of Justice reported Qualcomm Inc. and Flarion Technologies Inc. have agreed to pay a $1.8 million in civil penalties for violating "pre-merger waiting period requirements" associated with Qualcomm's $600 million acquisition of Flarion. According to the complaint, Qualcomm obtained operational control over...
Portland, Ore., city officials announced that MetroFi beat out Earthlink Inc. and VeriLAN to supply Wi-Fi networking across the city's 135-square miles. City officials said MetroFi won the contract "by submitting a proposal that excelled in demonstrated operational experience and its level of public...
In the wake of several announcements regarding HSDPA contracts and gear testing, the CDMA Development Group reminded the wireless industry that CDMA technology's evolution path is marching along swiftly and expects to announce further advancements by the end of this year. The CDG said...
LOS ANGELES-Amp'd Mobile Inc. continued to rake in venture capital last week, raising $150 million in a third round of funding. New investors Tudor Investments, Intel Capital, Rho Ventures, Qualcomm Inc., Quilvest Ventures, Polygon Investment Partners and Heights Capital Management participated in the round....
WESTCHESTER, Ill.-Andrew Corp. says it scooped up Precision Antennas Ltd., paying about $26 million for the subsidiary of U.K.-based aerospace and defense contractor Cobham plc that makes antenna systems primarily for cellular network backhaul. Last year, Precision Antenna posted $46 million in sales. Andrew...
Where do your loyalties lie? As wired and wireless telecom, Internet, cable and satellite companies begin to bundle services to compete for larger chunks of your money, the answer to the loyalty question becomes more important for each of the carriers that offer a...
Software giant Oracle Corp. announced it's spending about $220 million to buy Portal Software Inc., a firm that develops billing and revenue management solutions for the communications and media industries. Oracle cited its long commitment to the communications industry and noted that its Siebel...
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-Wireless location services for businesses could top 1 million subscribers by 2010, according to new figures from In-Stat. The technology market research firm said the location-based services business market is set to nearly double during the next five years from fewer than 600,000...
