Sprint Nextel Corp. is reportedly planning to lay off several thousand employees, according to an article citing anonymous sources in The Wall Street Journal. Sprint Nextel declined to comment on the story. "We don't comment on rumor or speculation," a spokesman told RCR Wireless...
Venture-backed wireless companies often depend on deals with carriers and telecom equipment manufacturers for their success. For a startup, trying to land a deal with a major wireless carrier is a lot like elephant hunting: There is the chance for great glory, top-dog status,...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Jupiter Research's Julie Ask, iGR's Iain...
Google Inc. kicked things off at the Macworld Show in San Francisco by unveiling a streamlined version of its iPhone interface.The interface, which was launched last month, serves as a single access point for Google services including Gmail, Reader, calendar and Picasa. The Internet...
Alltel Corp. announced it is expanding its "My Circle" feature to be included in more calling plans. The feature, which allows customers to call wireless subscribers from any carrier of their choice without pulling from their monthly bucket of minutes, will now be available...
Aptilo Networks announced it is acquiring Airpath Wireless Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Aptilo said the acquisition would double its presence and revenue stream in the United States by expanding its position as a provider of integrated solutions for WiMAX, metro Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi...
A high-tech group urged the broadcast industry to stop mischaracterizing government testing of unlicensed wireless devices. The testing, which is set to enter a second round, is being conducted to determine whether portable wireless gadgets can operate in vacant television channels - called white...
Digital music revenues in the United States will grow steadily over the next few years, but mobile network operators aren't likely to see much of that money, according to a report from Yankee Group.The market research firm said online music sales will climb from...
Motricity continued to streamline its business, spinning off its retail electronic book business to eBook seller Fictionwise Inc. for an undisclosed amount.The eReader business was a division of PowerByHand, a Tennessee startup that merged with North Carolina's PinPoint Networks four years ago to form...
Private Media Group Inc. launched a direct-to-consumer mobile storefront for its adult content wares.The site, www.private.mobi, allows consumers to use a credit card to access a variety of images and video clips. The offering is powered by Mobile Streams, a wireless entertainment company with...
Vivendi Mobile Entertainment announced that Sandrine Dufour will take over as chairwoman of the company. She will take over for Robert de Metz who recently left Vivendi. The business unit's zaOza service will continue to be led by Cedric Ponsot, CEO of Vivendi Mobile...
An informal survey of four analysts on the mobile devices on display at the International Consumer Electronics show this week in Las Vegas quickly took different directions with a common theme. Mobile, handheld devices on offer were "evolutionary," not "revolutionary" and that ratcheted up...
Frontline Wireless L.L.C.'s freakish free-fall has begun to raise questions about whether the upcoming 700 MHz auction will produce a bidder willing to spend billions of dollars on spectrum and construction of a national public safety-commercial broadband network.Click here for complete 700 MHz auction...
Following this week's single-day 10% drop in AT&T Inc.'s stock value, a financial firm is raising its guidance for the telecommunications juggernaut, citing strong iPhone sales as a major driver for what it sees as an upswing over the coming year.In a note to...
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 RCRWirelessNews.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....
House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) announced the launch of a probe into the Federal Communications Commission, and strongly encouraged agency Chairman Kevin Martin to preserve records and to notify employees of their right to cooperate with congressional investigators. "We are writing to...
Vivendi Games said it will distribute some of its mobile titles through Nokia Corp.'s Download Application and Nokia Catalogues.Download is embedded on more than 50 Nokia handsets including NSeries and ESeries devices and offers a rotation of recent mobile game releases. Vivendi said franchises...
Aruba Networks Inc. reported plans to buy Airwave Wireless Inc., purveyor of management tools for multi-vendor wireless networks, for $37 million in stock and cash.Airwave will operate as a business unit of Aruba, which said the acquisition supports its strategy of fostering partnerships for...
MetroPCS Communications Inc. plans to begin offering service in Jacksonville, Fla., following the acquisition of 10 megahertz of Personal Communications Service (PCS) spectrum.The company said it will pay an undisclosed sum for the spectrum from PTA Communications Inc.; MetroPCS also agreed to buy network...
LAS VEGAS -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin talked about his commitment to deregulation, removing barriers and increasing competition in a chat with Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro that ranged from wireless services to the nonstop increase in cable prices.Martin...
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.--Kyte: Telefonica led a $15 million round of funding into Kyte. Also participating were Nokia Growth Partners, DoCoMoCapital Inc.,...
ESPN announced it partnered with MobiTV to create ESPN Mobile TV. The 24/7 channel for wireless is designed to offer live, simulcast sports events; comprehensive and breaking sports news, mobile-exclusive programming; commentary and analysis; and real-time sports scores and game updates.Already ESPN and MobiTV...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier--Credit Suisse First Boston lowered its 2007 EPS estimates on Leap Wireless to a loss of 99 cents and raised its 2008 EPS estimate to...
The mobile-phone industry, criticized for stifling competition and innovation said to be on display in European and Asian markets and fearing a regulatory backlash in the United States, filed with the Federal Communications Commission an analysis showing the American wireless market leading its overseas...
