Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

WEYMOUTH, Mass.-Worldwide camera-phone shipments are expected to grow from 178 million units last year to more than 860 million units in 2009, according to projections from InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. During the same timeframe, camera phones will grow to account for 89 …

OKLAHOMA CITY-Dobson Communications Corp. said it lost 25,600 customers subscribers during the fourth of last year compared with a gain of 14,400 net subscribers during the fourth quarter of 2003. The customer losses during the fourth quarter of last year …

WASHINGTON-Sprint Corp. said it has decided to delay its participation in the controversial wireless directory this year due to continued legal challenges to the service. The company, which said it continues to support the voluntary 411 directory of wireless phone …

WASHINGTON-Often times when people go to trade shows, it is a business trip that feels nothing like being at home. CTIA hopes to change that this year at its show in New Orleans in March. It is building a 7,000-square …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Mike Zafirovski, credited in helping to turn around the company’s handset business, announced he plans to leave the company at the end of this month. “On behalf of Motorola’s employees, customers and shareholders, I want to thank …

Whittled down from 49 total applicants, 35 certified bidders placed more than $325 million in deposits with the government for a crack at 242 spectrum licenses up for bid in the 1.9 GHz band beginning on Jan. 26. Those licenses …

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday is expected to hear oral argument as it decides whether a city has to pay attorney fees if it loses a tower-siting case. Mark Abrams, an SMR operator, wanted to use a 54-foot antenna on …

A California lawsuit claims that Verizon Wireless displayed “willful, deceptive and oppressive conduct” in limiting the capabilities of its Bluetooth-capable Motorola Inc. V710 camera phone. Law firm Kirtland & Packard L.L.P. is seeking class-action status for the lawsuit and is …

WASHINGTON-New Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) intends to eliminate the communications subcommittee, a move that would strengthen the lawmaker’s influence over the planned re-write of the 1996 telecom act and effectively weaken the clout Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) …

President Bush has withdrawn certain trade benefits accorded Cote d’Ivoire, the western African nation that stormed Western Wireless Corp.’s offices in 2003 and forced the firm to shut down mobile-phone operations. The White House took action in December, removing Cote …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless launched Novatel Wireless Inc.’s V620 Wireless PC card for use on the carrier’s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network, which Verizon Wireless said provides average throughput speeds of between 300 and 500 kilobits per second and was recently expanded …

PALO ALTO, Calif.-More than 3 billion mobile instant messages were sent and received through Danger’s Hiptop devices last year, the developer and manufacturer said. Danger’s line of Hiptop handsets, which is sold through eight operators in six countries, includes the …

LAS VEGAS-Filling in for Motorola Chief Executive Officer Ed Zander, who missed the conference due to a death in the family, Ron Garriques, president of the company’s personal devices business, said, “Tech is back, and it’s personal,” in his remarks …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. said it scored almost 29,000 net customer additions in the fourth quarter of 2004, bringing its total number of net additions for the year to 97,000. The carrier’s churn rate for the quarter was 4.1 …

WASHINGTON-The mobile-phone industry, consistently thrown off balance by new taxes and regulations in one state after another, is fine-tuning a master plan that draws on tried-and-true political strategies that carriers hope will attract consumer support and media attention while putting …

In addition to its carrier rankings, Consumer Reports also posted consumer rankings for handsets from the major carriers. Those rankings were dominated by Asians manufacturers. LG Electronics’ VX7000 and Kyocera Wireless Corp.’s SE47 posted the highest overall scores on Verizon …

Mobile media company Zingy will team with MTV to launch an album of original ringtones by hip-hop producer Timbaland, the companies said. The offerings will include polyphonic and master ringtone beats, voice ringtones, ringbacks, voice mail greetings and images. Content …

Investors lashed out at wireless vendor UTStarcom Inc.-sending its stock down more than 23 percent to around $15.32 per share-following the company’s announcement that its fourth-quarter revenues will be well below its previous guidance. Some analysts also reacted with hostility, …

Consumers’ love-hate relationship with the wireless industry appears to be as contentious as ever. The latest survey and rankings released by Consumer Reports showed that despite the near-record-level of customer growth during the past year, customer satisfaction scores for wireless …

LAS VEGAS-Below is a quick rundown of some of the numerous new gadgets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show: c Kodak announced a new digital camera with Wi-Fi capability for e-mailing and viewing pictures. Kodak said the EasyShare-One camera will …

Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. made headlines last week by announcing it was part of an effort to develop standards for a new mobile-phone technology that would transfer data more than 10 times faster than current third-generation networks. But exactly …

WASHINGTON-The telecom industry is still scratching its head about what potential impact a directive regarding the U.S. global positioning system signed by President Bush Dec. 8 could have on its networks. The directive allows the president to deny access to …

WASHINGTON-Nearly two years after the Bush administration announced an agreement to free 5 GHz frequencies for Wi-Fi technology without causing interference to military radar systems, government and industry officials have yet to settle on a solution that fully resolves technical …

WASHINGTON-By denying a waiver request, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has reiterated the importance of potential auction bidders to review their applications and submit proper and accurate applications on time. The action means potential auction participant Cleartone Corp. cannot bid …

FOLSOM, Calif.-Regional wireless operator MetroPCS Inc. said it has expanded its northern California service area south from Stockton through Modesto and Merced. The carrier also offers its flat-rate, unlimited calling service in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. In …