Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. announced that it will help parents locate their children through a downloadable Family Locator service that utilizes Global Positioning System technology in handsets. The service sneaks into the market ahead of mobile virtual network operator …

RESTON, Va.-Sprint Nextel Corp. has hinted that the first fruits of its joint venture with several cable companies will launch in seven markets later this year, and news of which markets those will be is starting to bubble up. The …

Verizon Wireless said it purchased Mid-Missouri Cellular, a small TDMA/CDMA operator in central Missouri. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal includes Mid-Missouri’s 27 cell sites and other network equipment, plus spectrum licenses that cover 198,000 potential …

SEOUL, South Korea-Samsung Electronics Co. reported net income in the first quarter of $1.96 billion, a modest increase from the $1.6 billion net income the electronics giant reported in the year-ago quarter. Mobile phones and chips represented about two-thirds of …

Soon-to-launch mobile virtual network operator Xero Mobile plans to use 2 million free handsets and discounted talk time to jump into the wireless marketplace-the catch being that the freebies are in exchange for allowing mobile advertising on the handset. The …

WASHINGTON-Federal regulators last week agreed to give wireless broadband carriers improved access to educational spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, a move sought by telecom and a major investment firm, but resisted until recently by a powerful parochial school system. …

WASHINGTON-The Bush administration last week said China agreed to further open its massive telecom market and to refrain from favoring its homegrown third-generation wireless standard over other technologies, progress U.S. trade officials highlighted even as they pressured other trading partners …

Content providers and big-name brands soon will be able to target consumers with a new Internet domain exclusively for wireless use. For some industry insiders, though, the question is, why? Mobile Top Level Domain Ltd. (mTLD) said it will launch …

WASHINGTON-The Utility Reform Network and the Division of Ratepayer Advocates of the California Public Utilities Commission asked the agency to reconsider its recent decision overhauling the telecom consumer bill of rights and replacing it with a campaign emphasizing enforcement and …

LANCASTER, U.K.-Monstermob Group plc continued its spending spree in China, agreeing to shell out $81.5 million to acquire content provider W-Infinity. W-Infinity, which is based in Beijing, netted $12.4 million last year selling off-deck content to wireless users in 27 …

Regional operator Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. is considering the sale of its wireless operations, the company said on Friday-one day before the forbearance agreement the company had signed with Sprint Nextel Corp. was to expire. Shentel, a Sprint Nextel CDMA affiliate, …

The signature letters in LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s name, back at the dawn of time when the company formed in 1958, stood for Lucky Goldstar. Whatever connotations that name might have once had undoubtedly would be lost on mobile-phone consumers …

Mobile-phone behemoth Nokia Corp., with the credibility that comes from commanding one-third of the global market share and the kick provided by its recent, optimistic projections for handset shipments in 2006, appears well-positioned to take a leadership shift in stride …

Sprint Nextel Corp. retooled its mainstay price plans, the Fair and Flexible option and Free Incoming plans, and moved its off-peak calling time up to 7 p.m. The carrier’s changes put its plans generally in line with the offerings of …

WASHINGTON-A Florida company that makes and sells radio-frequency jammers for the federal government and overseas markets has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission claiming it is being harmed by its inability to sell the devices to state and …

SARASOTA, Fla.-Global Signal Inc. announced it has hired Jerry Elliott as its new president and chief executive officer, succeeding Wesley Edens, who will serve as chairman of the company’s board. Elliot recently served as president of Citizens Communications Co., a …

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International appointed George S. Rice Jr. its new executive director. Rice joins APCO International from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, where he currently serves as assistant executive director. APCO noted that …

LAS VEGAS-In this town, people refer to a large, varied repast-such as that offered in CTIA Wireless 2006’s opening-day keynote session-as a buffet. As with any ambitious spread, the keynote repast included a few tasty treats, something for everyone and …

LAS VEGAS-Mforma Group Inc. is the latest mobile-game publisher to get a makeover, dropping its name in an effort to become more consumer-friendly. The San Francisco-based developer is rebranding as Hands-On Mobile and expanding its portfolio to offer a variety …

LAS VEGAS-Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. added to its broad portfolio of devices for both consumer and enterprise markets with the introduction of a bevy of handsets that will bring its handset offerings to nearly three dozen. The South Korean handset …