Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

WASHINGTON-As one House committee passed a pro-network neutrality bill, another bill with weaker network-neutrality provisions from a different committee awaits House action, setting up a fight over how to govern the information highway. Network neutrality has emerged as the key …

Verizon Wireless announced that 95 percent of its customers are using location-capable handsets. Verizon Wireless is the first carrier using a handset-based approach to E-911 to meet the FCC’s 95-percent threshold. However, it did so six months after the Federal …

WASHINGTON-Jim Balsillie, chairman of Research in Motion Ltd., last week urged the United States to take a leadership position in reforming its patent system and promoting protection of intellectual property rights on the world stage. “This is the most important …

WASHINGTON-The wireless industry applauded the Bush administration’s decision today to abandon the U.S. government’s long-held support for the federal excise tax on wireless and long-distance services. The tax, incorporated in 1898 to fund the Spanish-American War, adds 3 percent to …

OTTAWA, Canada-Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol software developer SIPquest said it picked up $7 million during its third round of funding, money that comes as the company works to rename itself FirstHand Technologies. FirstHand sells mobile client and server software …

ATLANTA-Boost Mobile L.L.C. users can exchange cash electronically for prepaid calling minutes at various locations, due to a recent arrangement with CheckFreePay. Boost is a subsidiary of Sprint Nextel Corp. CheckFreePay is a business unit of CheckFree Corp. and offers …

LOMABARD, Ill.-Startup tower company Central States Tower Holdings L.L.C. said it picked up $30 million during its first round of equity financing through Sweetwater Capital and Merchants Capital Partners L.P. The company says it plans to use the funds to …

WASHINGTON-XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and WCS Wireless L.L.C. said they terminated an agreement that called for XM to buy WCS after the companies failed to secure government approval for the transaction. The companies announced the agreement last July. The …

Sprint Nextel Corp. says it is testing so-called “4G” technologies for use on its expansive 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings and that it plans to choose one that has a “global reach and presence.” The carrier said it was currently in …

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.-Advertising agency PinPoint Interactive Media has launched a suite of mobile marketing solutions, including SMS marketing and mobile Web site development, appropriately dubbed PinPoint Mobile. The company said its new division will offer a single outlet for a …

Mobile-phone users in the United States are incrementally more satisfied with the operation of their handsets than in the past, suggesting that vendors in general are improving user interfaces, according to a study released by J.D. Power and Associates. Sanyo …

SINGAPORE-Cellular subscribers in seven Asia-Pacific markets soon will be able to receive an international version of Mobile ESPN sports content. The Bridge Mobile Alliance plans to distribute ESPN Star Sports content and service applications; the move is part of Bridge …

Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. wants its users to have a sugar mama who will help them earn free airtime-and advertisers are stepping up to fill that parental role. The youth-oriented prepaid brand is forging ahead where other service providers thus …

The nationwide investigation into executive stock-option grants seems to be widening daily. And some major players in wireless are coming under the microscope. At issue is the practice of retroactively changing dates stock-option grants become effective. Stock options-allowing employees to …

In the May 22 issue, RCR Wireless news incorrectly reported a filing by NextWave Wireless L.L.C. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NextWave filed a Form 10, registering its existing shares of stock, which the company said is not the …

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group announced a new drive to develop a medical device profile that could make medical, health and fitness devices interoperable with wireless consumer electronic products-namely cell phones, laptops and PDAs. The Bluetooth SIG said it expects …

WASHINGTON-Public-safety agencies with a request for 800 MHz retuning planning funding that equals less than $55 per subscriber can take advantage of a new fast-track process announced last week by Sprint Nextel Corp., the 800 MHz Transition Administrator and public-safety …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Various telecommunications firms including Covad Communications Group Inc., Korea Telecom Corp., TeleKom Malaysia Berhad, Japan’s NTT Inc. and China’s PCCW announced they formed the WiBro and mobile WiMAX Community, a new trade group seeking to further the deployment …

SAN FRANCISCO-The average U.S. mobile TV subscriber spends $40 a month more on wireless services than non-mobile TV users, according to new figures from Telephia. The research firm, which announced its first wireless TV user panel, said more than 2 …

SAN FRANCISCO-Wireless backhaul transporters FiberTower Corp. and First Avenue Networks Inc. said they plan to merge in an all-stock deal worth about $1.5 billion. First Avenue said it will issue approximately 74 million shares of its common stock to FiberTower …

Now, what to do with that extra million dollars you have lying around the house? Hmm, why not spend it on a cell phone made of 18-carat gold, encrusted with diamonds … like the Swiss-made Goldvish “Illusion” phones that run …

In the face of raging immigration debates across the nation, Applied Digital Corp.’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Silverman suggests “chipping” immigrants to help gain control of the situation. Appearing last Tuesday on FOX News’ FOX & Friends, Silverman …

JetBlue’s LiveTV L.L.C. was the top bidder at $506,000 at the end of round 29 for a one-megahertz license to offer air-to-ground services in the 800 MHz band. LiveTV’s bid corresponds with a high bid from Acadia Broadband L.P. at …

In the past few quarters it seems as if nearly every carrier has had a new customer record to crow about: best-ever net new subscribers, lowest-ever churn. According to CTIA, the wireless industry added nearly 26 million net new customers …

During the past several years, the four national U.S. carriers have whittled away the number of price plans they offer to consumers, dropped low-end plans and largely come into lock-step with each other on service plan price points. On the …