Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

Crown Castle International Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. are placing huge bets on mobile TV, spending a combined $1.3 billion to build networks dedicated almost entirely to one-way wireless video. Traditional TV networks and film studios are hastily establishing divisions to …

Adamind Ltd. announced a three-year deal to provide mobile content production and delivery software to Universal Music Group subsidiary Universal Music Mobile U.S. The California-based developer, which also maintains a research and development facility in Israel, said the agreement calls …

WASHINGTON-Wireless carriers whose networks were severely damaged or destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita have the opportunity to take advantage of federal tax breaks, including a bonus depreciation that many believe will help wireless players rebuild and upgrade their networks …

WASHINGTON-U.S. telecom firms again are complaining to Bush administration trade officials about fees charged by foreign mobile-phone carriers to connect calls, a controversy cellular operators do not want to see enlarged at the Federal Communications Commission at a time when …

In RCR Wireless News’ Jan. 6 article, “Computer makers, carriers embrace embedded chips,” Qualcomm Inc.’s Kristin Taylor’s name and title were incorrect. Taylor is senior director of enterprise business development.

OKLAHOMA CITY-The fourth quarter of 2005 brought continuing net customer losses but higher annual revenue per user for Dobson Communications Corp, according to preliminary figures released by the company. Dobson said it lost about 22,500 total customers during the final …

WASHINGTON-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger officially named former federal telecom regulator Rachelle Chong to the California Public Utilities Commission. “Rachelle’s more than two decades of experience in telecommunications law in conjunction with her exceptional understanding of the regulatory environment will be …

Regional carrier Centennial Communications Corp. lowered its stock price substantially in recent weeks as part of a process to evaluate strategic alternatives for its operations. On Dec. 21, Centennial announced that it had completed a $550 million senior notes offering …

WASHINGTON-The Missouri Supreme Court gave a stunning rebuke to rural local exchange carriers, which have been trying unsuccessfully to recover money they believe wireless carriers owe them for connecting calls from mobile phones to their customers. The Missouri court reaffirmed …

SAN FRANCISCO—Moderati released its list of 2005’s top ringtones, with notes on some regional flavor. Hip-hop dominated the list in ’05, with 60 percent of the songs from these artists. Video-game themes such as “Super Mario Brothers” and movie themes …

LAS VEGAS-Motorola Inc. announced an extensive agreement with camera company Eastman Kodak Co. that calls for the two players to collaborate on mobile imaging and printing. Specifically, Motorola announced it will use Kodak’s CMOS sensors in its upcoming camera phones …

Centennial Communications Corp.’s earnings tumbled in its second quarter, despite an increase in revenue and healthy growth in its U.S. wireless operations. The carrier reported $8.2 million in income from continuing operations during the quarter, compared with $18.6 million for …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-John Garcia, senior vice president of strategic partners for Sprint Consumer Solutions, will head up the joint venture between Sprint Nextel Corp. and cable companies Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications. The joint venture …

Just when you thought your new Wi-Fi-enabled laptop was nifty, along comes a bevy of new laptops embedded with PC cards and chips that support wireless broadband Internet access via third-generation carrier networks. Several announcements touted the latest collaborations between …

Qualcomm Inc. announced it has acquired Berkana Wireless Inc., a wireless chip designer, for $56 million in cash. Silicon Valley-based Berkana provides metal oxide semiconductor radio frequency integrated circuits, or RF CMOS chips, to the wireless industry, and Qualcomm said …

CINCINNATI-Cincinnati Bell is buying out Cingular Wireless L.L.C.’s stake in a joint venture between the two companies. According to Securities and Exchange Commission filings by Cincinnati Bell, the company must pay $83 million for Cingular’s stake. The sale is anticipated …

WASHINGTON-Even as FCC Chairman Kevin Martin administered the oath of office to returning colleague FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and new Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, he could be closer to finding himself in the majority. The White House is rumored to …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission may lack the time to make changes to designated-entity rules before this June’s third-generation wireless auction, a possibility that may upset the agency’s two Democrats at a time when litigation has surfaced alleging Wall Street mogul …

WASHINGTON-Brian Kidney, CTIA’s chief operating officer, has left the wireless trade association, CTIA confirmed to RCR Wireless News. “Brian Kidney and CTIA President Steve Largent had different management styles and have mutually agreed to part ways,” said John Walls, CTIA …

WASHINGTON-Minnesota has become the latest state to enforce legislation restricting cell-phone use by teenage drivers, the 10th state to do so in the face of mounting research on the dangers of talking on the phone while driving. Given their inexperience …

WASHINGTON-The National Association of Theatre Owners is considering asking the Federal Communications Commission to allow theaters to install equipment that would jam mobile-phone signals, but the trade group has yet to take such action. Jamming equipment is banned today. “The …

Crown Castle International Corp.’s media subsidiary debuted a new name and marketing campaign amid details about its plans to use its tower network and unencumbered spectrum rights to launch live mobile TV in the nation’s top 30 markets, including a …

Human RFID chipmaker VeriChip Corp. said it filed for an initial public offering, but the company did not release information on the number of shares it expects to release or the share price or what it plans to do with …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent to Google Inc. for a technology that makes more data exchanges possible at faster speeds on a CDMA-based wireless network. Google did not return requests for comment on the patent, …

WASHINGTON-California Public Utilities Commission member Geoffrey Brown is seeking to delay the scheduled Jan. 26 vote on a scaled-back telecom bill-of-rights plan, while Commissioner Dian Grueneich crafts an alternative consumer protection measure. Brown-whose telecom consumer-protection package was approved in May …