Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

WASHINGTON-Well, the game is over and the fat lady has sung. But who won and what does it mean for the wireless telecommunications industry? The easy answer is that nothing …

Cellular carriers have made significant progress in their efforts to upgrade their 800 MHz analog networks to digital technology. Consumers’ appetite for digital features is demonstrated by the success of …

Aggressive digital pricing plans are quickly driving the migration of customers from analog service to digital service, say analysts. “We attribute today’s successful migration directly to rate plans combined with …

CHICAGO-Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. lowered the senior debt rating of Sprint Corp. from A to BBB+. Sprint’s commercial paper rating also has been lowered from D-1 to D-2. …

WAYNE, Pa.-Comcast Cellular Communications Inc. announced new national and regional service plans that provide service for one low rate, without roaming or toll charges. Rates for the new Digital PCS …

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp., Carrollton, Texas, announced Nov. 5 it has signed a memorandum of understanding to settle with the State of Wisconsin Investment Board lawsuits filed against the company for …

WASHINGTON-In the post-telecom-act era, the cellular telephone industry continues to face intertwined challenges of policy and perception. On the one hand, the Federal Communications Commission wants to foster the local …

SAO PAULO, Brazil-Despite its drive for a competitive and liberalized market, Brazilian regulatory agency Anatel finally succumbed to market pressures and postponed to Jan. 15, the tender of licenses to …

BellSouth Mobility Inc. introduced text and alphanumeric pagers with unlimited local service for as low as $10 per month in BMI’s one-stop-shop retail stores. “By adding paging to our product …

Motorola Inc. announced a partnership with BMW North America Inc. to create a new telematics cellular phone system expected to be available on all BMW models by late this year. …

KIRKLAND, Wash.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said it opened an automated online store on its Web site. Consumers and small businesses can get help assessing their wireless needs and service availability, …

The main goal for the American Mobile Telecommunications Association is regulatory flexibility or more accurately-one-size-does-not-fit-all. AMTA President Alan Shark has been fighting the good fight with the Federal Communications Commission …

PARIS-Alcatel said a plan to reorganize its telecom business into market segments aims to address the rapid evolution of markets and recent stock-market turmoil. The telecom sector will be organized …

LOS ANGELES-As expected, AirTouch Cellular signed a letter of intent with Nortel Networks to purchase network switches, base stations and controllers. RCR reported last week AirTouch was close to awarding …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-The market for power semiconductors, integrated circuits and modules is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 19 percent, to reach $2.8 billion by the end …

President Bill Clinton signed into law late last month the federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, which authorizes prison terms of up to three years and fines …

NEW YORK-By the tenor of their top executives’ flirtatious banter Nov. 2, WinStar Communications Inc. appears to be an amorous suitor to a somewhat hesitant Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. “Spectrum …

GREENSBORO, N.C.-Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. commenced a cash tender offer and consent solicitation relating to its $200 million outstanding principal amount of 9.38 percent senior debentures due April 15, 2006. …

WASHINGTON-The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is adamant the wireless industry comply with rules requiring digital phones be compatible with text telephones (TTYs) used by the deaf community, especially …

DALLAS-Philips Semiconductors and Texas Instruments Inc. said they reached an agreement to support a common protocol communications standard for Radio Frequency Identification smart labels. The companies submitted a common proposal …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp. said it will supply a Global System for Mobile communications network to Philippines’ wireless carrier Smart Communications Inc. According to the companies’ contract, Nokia will be the …

Paging Network Inc. announced it signed an agreement with SmartRoute Systems to offer SmartRoute’s real-time personalized traffic information system to paging subscribers. PageNet said it initially will roll out the …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is looking for a new primary spectrum band for wireless medical devices used by hospitals. Medical telemetry devices, such as heart monitors, today are secondary users …

During its third-quarter earnings conference call, Metrocall Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer William Collins III, announced the company plans to have its dedicated e-commerce site available to America Online …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Aeris Communications Inc. said it signed agreements with Southwestco Wireless L.P. and First Cellular of Southern Illinois for the carriers to deploy its MicroBurst technology on their respective …