Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

SAN FRANCISCO.-Bluefire Security Technologies Inc., which develops security solutions for mobile handheld devices, announced availability of its Bluefire Mobile Security VPN Software Development Kit. The company said the product release is in response to growing demand from enterprises and software …

Startup Roundbox today announced $8 million in its first round of venture funding, news that coincides with the company’s emergence from stealth mode. Headed by executives from Dynamicsoft, Flarion Technologies Inc. and Microsoft Corp., Roundbox is positioning itself directly within …

WASHINGTON-The Bush administration’s plan to zero out an embattled, government-backed telecom venture-capital fund before next year’s auction of third-generation mobile-phone and other wireless licenses appears to have fizzled. A confluence of factors-particularly the turnaround efforts of Silicon Valley veteran James …

KINGS PARK, N.Y.-Visant Strategies predicted a $3.4 billion annual market for fixed and portable broadband equipment by 2010. WiMAX will account for half of that amount or $1.7 billion. Report author Andy Fuertes said he expects much of the activity …

With the wireless industry’s six largest operators now serving more than 90 percent of the country’s wireless subscribers, regional players continue to scramble for their pieces of the pie. Many of these carriers have managed to lower their dependence on …

Wireless carriers continued the arduous task of repairing networks in the Gulf Coast region hit hard by Hurricane Katrina last month, though few operators have released financial details of the repairs. The federal government noted last week that it could …

Facilities-based telecommunications provider IDT Corp. unveiled its TuYo Mobile prepaid wireless service targeting the rapidly growing-and increasingly targeted-Hispanic community. IDT said the TuYo Mobile service will offer a bilingual customer experience, international calling and text messaging, and “culturally relevant” music, …

EBay Inc. has agreed to spend at least $2.6 billion in cash and stock to acquire Internet startup Skype International S.A. The online auction company said it will pay $1.3 billion in cash and an equal amount in stock for …

Conceding that no carrier wants to offer islands of coverage, U.S. Cellular Corp. and Alltel Corp. swapped assets in rural America to fortify their geographic footprints and shed nonstrategic assets. U.S. Cellular paid $50 million and gave up two rural …

ESPOO, Finland-Nokia Corp. raised its revenue expectations due to what the company said were stronger-than-expected sales of mobile phones. Nokia’s stock jumped almost 4 percent on the announcement to $16.71 per share. Nokia increased its revenue expectations by about $350 …

Sprint Nextel Corp. this week plans to announce its fourth music service, a wireless version of RealNetworks Inc.’s Rhapsody Radio. The offering includes five channels of streaming audio including alternative, pop, urban and country music, as well as podcasts from …

WASHINGTON-A key court battle with far-reaching implications for nationwide calling plans of top mobile-phone carriers kicked off in a federal appeals court in Atlanta, with a consumer group and Vermont regulators arguing the Federal Communications Commission exceeded its authority in …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission and Congress may have differing opinions on upcoming auctions of third-generation and digital TV spectrum, warned the Rural Telecommunications Group. RTG said the FCC’s idea of allowing combinatorial bidding could go against Congress’ wishes that spectrum …

Verizon Wireless has tapped into the international capabilities of parent company Vodafone Group plc to launch its Global Data Access product that will allow users to access Verizon Wireless’ CDMA2000 1x EV-DO data network for domestic wireless data needs and …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless said it helped shut down an Internet firm that was selling its customers’ calling records. “Accessing a person’s personal telephone records without a valid court order or the customer’s permission is illegal,” said Steven Zipperstein, the carrier’s …

MONTREAL-Satellite and terrestrial wireless equipment manufacturer Advantech AMT has acquired Powerwave Technologies Inc.’ microwave operation in Gothenberg, Sweden. Advantech said it would resurrect the Allgon Microwave brand, which it used prior to joining the Powerwave group. Advantech said Allgon Microwave …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.-Palm Inc. authorized two mobile-phone distributors to distribute its Treo smart phone in the United States. The company signed agreements with Brightpoint Inc.’s North American subsidiary and with CellStar Corp. to distribute the Treo. Both distributors will offer the …

BOSTON-Industry research and analyst firm The Yankee Group reported that wireless usage continues to outpace wireline usage in the United States. Citing its own internal surveys, government reports and industry trade group reports, The Yankee Group reported that personal calling …

Trip Hawkins believes the last thing wireless gamers want is to play console-style offerings on their phones. “If you take Madden Football and put it on a mobile device, it can’t possibly live up to the experience the customer is …

WASHINGTON-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. has been expelled from the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York, according to a report in a Rochester, N.Y., newspaper. The nation’s largest wireless carrier acknowledged the situation. “We did indeed meet with the BBB of …

Nokia Corp. released a new, low-priced wireless e-mail product that will work with almost any new mobile phone, be it a low-end, voice-centric device or a high-end smart phone. The offering sets Nokia squarely in the wireless enterprise marketplace and …

SANTA CLARA, Calif.-Wireless e-mail vendor Good Technology Inc. said it cut an unspecified number of jobs due to the company’s transition from direct to indirect sales. The cuts were part of a restructuring at Good that resulted in a total …

Nokia Corp. is hoping to create a framework for Java-based developer tools with this week’s expected announcement that it has joined Canada’s Eclipse Foundation. Nokia said it will contribute software and developers to a new Eclipse project that seeks to …

Alltel Corp. is taking a slow and steady approach to integrating its recently acquired Western Wireless Corp. assets. The company is expected only to make minor changes through the end of this year and wait on major initiatives until next …

Most wireless communications towers were able to remain at least upright through Katrina’s wrath. Power and telecommunications facilities sustained widespread damage from water in some of the hardest-hit areas, but for the most part, the towers themselves weathered the storm …