Mobile Phones

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said the European Patent Office upheld the validity of one of the company’s patents, which comes after two years of opposition from Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Qualcomm’s patent, called “Method and Apparatus for Determining the Data Rate …

Not one operator around the world has rolled out third-generation services yet, but discussion of fourth-generation technology is already under way. An industry that began offering a basic communications tool is evolving into something much flashier, much more futuristic and …

NEW DELHI, India-Cellular operators in Pakistan will move to the calling party pays (CPP) regime by the end of November, following a decision by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Making incoming calls free on the mobile phones is expected to …

WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration last week quietly released a long, overdue report that recommends mobile phones, pagers, the Internet and other technologies for delivering emergency alert warnings to citizens. The “Effective Disaster Warnings” report was placed on a Web site of …

WASHINGTON-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it plans to fine Clear Communications Group $120,000 for willful and repeated violations of federal workplace safety regulations. “The failure to provide adequate fall protection is one of the most common and most …

WASHINGTON-For all the confusion and uncertainty following last week’s presidential and congressional elections, it is possible telecom policy could escape the massive political gridlock that is predicted ahead. But don’t count on it. “I think there will be gridlock on …

TOKYO-Matsushita Communication Industrial announced a new company in the Czech Republic to manufacture mobile phones and car audio equipment. The company will begin production in October 2001. Matsushita, which markets mobile phones under the Panasonic brand name, said the production …

WASHINGTON-Beijing appears to be thumbing its nose at wireless provisions of the landmark U.S.-China trade agreement, posing potential problems for American mobile-phone firms and the next administration. The move comes as a group of U.S. wireless executives prepare to meet …

BEIJING-A department chief from the Ministry of Information Industry, Xie Linzhen, has said mobile phones manufactured by local companies would comprise 15 percent of the market by the end of this year, up from 8 percent by the end of …

WASHINGTON-The hearing-impaired community has asked the Federal Communications Commission to consider mandating hearing aid compatibility for digital mobile phones, saying the wireless industry has failed to adequately address the problem. The FCC has requested comments on the petition by Dec. …

BEIJING-Amiosonic’s new range of GSM mobile phones will be able to interoperate with Lucent Technologies Inc.’s GSM network infrastructure under a deal announced by the two companies. Mobile operators in China will now have an end-to-end solution starting next year, …

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Supreme Court, confronted with four appeals challenging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mobile-phone radiation standard and congressional intervention, in October granted the government’s request for more time to respond to lawsuits seeking to have the high court hear …

PRAGUE, Czech Republic-Cesky Mobil, the Czech Republic’s third mobile telephone operator, is seeking to differentiate itself from its competition by offering low start-up costs and emphasizing ease of use. The formula has paid quick dividends. In its first four operational …

Not one operator around the world has rolled out third-generation services yet, but discussion of fourth-generation technology is already under way. An industry that began offering a basic communications tool is evolving into something much flashier, much more futuristic and …

After pioneering efforts to bring Bluetooth technology to market, Ericsson dropped plans to launch the T36 cell phone, its first Bluetooth-enabled handset, in an attempt to pull its handset division back toward profitability. The T36, announced in June, was one …

WASHINGTON-A British consumer group in November said new tests reaffirm earlier findings that hands-free devices can increase RF radiation emitted by mobile phones, but the organization stopped short of claiming that earpieces pose a health risk. “Our latest tests confirm …

Handsets Neopoint The company released new dual-band and tri-mode smart phones that include increased capacity for personal digital assistant functions, built-in e-mail capabilities and a NeoPad Qwerty keyboard. The dual-band NeoPoint 2000 and tri-mode NeoPoint 2600 phones hold more than …

SANTA CLARA, Calif.-When most travelers plan out their itineraries, the most pressing needs involve finding an airline flight and booking the hotel reservations. If you are lucky you may even be able to match the two correctly and avoid spending …

ISELIN, N.J.-Electric Fuel Corp. announced that The PocketPhone Shop, a mobile phone retailer in the United Kingdom, will carry its line of Instant Power cell-phone batteries. The batteries are fully charged and disposable. Electric Fuel, which focuses on primary and …

WASHINGTON-As the nation prepares for a sea change that will come when a new president is elected, the wireless industry’s main trade association experienced some major changes recently and prepared for an upcoming campaign on one of its thorniest issues-driver …

OXFORD, United Kingdom-A survey of U.K. businesses has found more than 70 percent have no intention of implementing the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) in the near future, while just 15 percent have already done so, and only 14 percent have …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless launched its National Prepay Wireless service. A specially-priced starter kit now is available. Customers who purchase a starter time card beginning at $30 and one of several tri-mode mobile phones get a mail-in rebate for two $30 …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp. acquired the remaining 49 percent of its Brazilian joint venture NG Industrial from partner Gradiente Telecom S.A. for $415 million. The joint venture was established in 1997 to manufacture mobile phones for the Brazilian market under both …

WASHINGTON-A relatively minor mobile-phone case in Illinois state court-involving allegations of privacy invasion and health risk coverup in connection with an epidemiology study-has mushroomed into one of the largest class-action lawsuits in U.S. history. Judge Ellis Reid of the Circuit …

SINGAPORE-Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.-backed mobile phone company One.Tel announced its intention to pull out of the Singapore telecommunications market, citing Singapore Telecom as creating an unfavorable environment. One.Tel will move back to its Asian hub in Hong Kong. It further …