Mobile News – RCR Wireless News

ALAMEDA, Calif.-UTStarcom Inc. posted a loss in the second quarter, and its third-quarter outlook offered no relief, news that helped send its stock down more than 6 percent to around $8 per share. “While we had hoped that the downward …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. closed on its $6.5 billion acquisition of Western Wireless Corp. Alltel reported it would issue 54.3 million shares of common stock and pay $933.4 million in cash to Western Wireless shareholders. Alltel also will assume $2.1 …

WASHINGTON-The Rural Cellular Association has asked the Federal Communications Commission to change the band plan for the 700 MHz spectrum that is expected to be made available with the transition to digital TV. “RCA asks that the FCC make portions …

Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA Inc. and Nextel Communications Inc. all gained bragging rights from this year’s J.D. Power and Associates Wireless Call Quality Performance Study. Customers rated each carrier highest in call quality in at least one of the six …

NEW YORK-Two of the nation’s largest tower operators posted second-quarter losses despite increasing revenues as they continued to move toward a pending merger. SpectraSite Inc. reported a net loss of $1.4 million, or 3 cents per share, during the quarter, …

America Online Inc. is testing a suite of mobile search services that would allow users with Web-enabled phones to search the Internet for information, including local business listings, and to compare prices of goods from online retailers. Israeli technology provider …

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Verizon Wireless each announced investments in network upgrades in several states. Cingular specifically said it plans to spend an estimated $6.2 billion this year upgrading its network nationwide. Cingular said it is spending $160 million …

BEDFORD, Mass.-Boston Communications Group Inc. said it placed $41 million into escrow to be used as bond if a $128 million judgment against it is upheld. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. also agreed to post bond for any amount in excess of …

U.S. Cellular Corp. launched wireless service in St. Louis, which becomes the carrier’s second-largest market behind Chicago. The carrier noted that it has deployed nearly 300 cell sites, hired more than 400 people and invested about $90 million to build …

ANCHORAGE, Alaska-Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. said it added a company-record 6,782 customers during the second quarter, a 119-percent improvement compared with the 3,092 customers the carrier added during the second quarter of last year. ACS ended the quarter with …

The frenzy of consolidation sweeping the wireless industry may not be over as an industry research firm recommended that some nationwide operators could see both long- and short-term benefits by acquiring keenly focused regional players. Citing the possibility of increased …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said it will partner with Access Co. Ltd. to make the Japanese mobile content delivery firm’s i-mode Global Profile offering available on select W-CDMA MSM chipsets from Qualcomm.The two companies will work together to optimize and port …

The second quarter is shaping up as a one-horse affair as Verizon Wireless appears set to take substantial market share away from its competitors and move ever closer to its larger rival Cingular Wireless L.L.C. Verizon Wireless, which ruled supreme …

Centennial Communications Corp. reported its board approved more than $1.7 million in bonuses for some executives, including $740,576 for Michael Small, chief executive officer; $395,288 for Thomas Fitzpatrick, chief financial officer; $413,986 for Phillip Mayberry, president of U.S. wireless operations; …

SAN DIEGO-InfoSonics Corp., a wireless handset distributor in the United States and Latin America, said Edge Wireless has approved VK Mobile’s VK530 mobile phone on its network for prepaid and postpaid service. InfoSonics is the sole distributor for VK Mobile …

COSTA MESA, Calif.-The CDMA Development Group said its Global Handset Requirements for CDMA team has developed and published common requirements for different classes of CDMA2000 handsets to reduce cost and time to market, as well as to facilitate service provisioning …

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-North American and European businesses are adopting mobile applications more quickly than originally planned or expected, according to a report from Forrester Research. The survey indicated nearly half of the 1,000 network and telecom decision-makers polled had deployed wireless …

Alltel Corp.’s acquisition of Western Wireless Corp. is expected to be completed this week following a shareholder consideration election held late last week at Western Wireless Corp.’s final annual shareholders meeting. An Alltel spokesman noted that the shareholder election was …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-The move toward universal multimedia messaging service interoperability continued with a deal between two of the top U.S. carriers. Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS are the latest Tier 1 carriers to ink deals allowing subscribers to exchange picture …

WASHINGTON-Just as wireless was largely left on the edges of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, it once again remains in the shadows as lawmakers map out new plans for telecom reform. Broadband is the key word today as fears grow …

WASHINGTON-The Communications for Coordinated Assistance and Response to Emergencies (ComCare) Alliance is asking the Federal Communications Commission to maintain its deadline for location-capable handsets. ComCare requested that the FCC deny a waiver request from CTIA and the Rural Cellular Association …

When Electronic Arts Inc. signaled its long-awaited entry into mobile gaming earlier this year, many onlookers expected the 800-pound gorilla to quickly devour a competitor or two. Instead, the company appears to be making steady progress in wireless on its …

Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. continue to wage a number of side battles in Sprint’s attempt to acquire Nextel. Most of the conflicts are with respective affiliates that are trying to clear up partnership pacts before the merger closes, …

WASHINGTON-It appears the White House may be looking inside its own walls to fill the vacancy created when former FCC Chairman Michael Powell left the Federal Communications Commission in March. Michael Meece, special assistant to the president and deputy director …

Novatel Wireless Inc. strengthened its position as the No. 1 supplier of PC cards in the United States in the second quarter, finally beating long-time rival Sierra Wireless Inc. Sierra has dominated the PC card market, but several critical missteps …