Mobile Phones

Brazil edged nearer to its stated goal of liberalizing its telecom industry when the Canadian-Brazilian consortium Americel S.A. became the first private mobile phone operator to compete against the state-owned carrier Telebras. Americel launched its digital cellular mobile phone system …

One big-name credit-card company believes it can help accomplish every wireless carrier’s objective: to gain brand recognition, target high-end users, simplify billing, reduce churn and perhaps entice customers to spend more money. American Express has been teaming with telecommunications carriers …

What, you haven’t had enough paparazzi already? Mohamed Al Fayed, owner of Harrods and the man who might have been father-in-law to the late Princess Di, is back in the news. He’s in court challenging a 70-foot mobile phone tower …

Players in the crowded Hong Kong market may finally get a little elbow room, as Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd. announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Hongkong Telecom CSL, plans to acquire full ownership of Pacific Link Communications Ltd. Hongkong Telecom signed …

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.-Ericsson Inc. recently announced that shipments of its smallest personal communications services phone are under way this month. The CF 788 weighs 4.7 ounces and stands four inches tall. It provides three hours and 20 minutes of …

INDIANAPOLIS-Brightpoint Inc.’s new subsidiary, Brightpoint (Ireland) Ltd., will supply Esat Digifone with “Digipacks” that will include fulfillment and distribution services, and wireless handsets and accessories. Ireland’s newest mobile phone operator, Esat Digifone launched last March with a full range of …

NEW YORK-For handset manufacturers, next year likely will be a transition period as new entrants gear up to enter the rapidly expanding wireless marketplace, said Jeffrey Schlesinger, wireless technology analyst for UBS Securities L.L.C. Brightpoint Inc. projects that sales of …

Only 24 more shopping days left before Christmas, but personal communications services pricing promotions don’t seem to look much different from those offered during the last few months. Though enticing price packages remain, like 400 minutes for $40, the deeply …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-VLSI Technology Inc. introduced the OneC Global System for Mobile communications platform, a customizable, single-chip baseband silicon solution. The OneC chip enables manufacturers to customize semiconductors for GSM mobile phones or related applications such as mobile computing, personal …

IRVING, Texas-Nokia Corp. said its dual-mode Nokia 2180 phone that uses Code Division Multiple Access technology is available in the San Diego market. Developed at Nokia’s research center in San Diego, the 800 MHz phone, which provides up to 210 …

WASHINGTON-Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) has resumed his probe of the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight of mobile phone safety, requesting the agency respond by Dec. 19 to a new series of questions on the status of government and non-government research …

Reps. Tom Bliley (R-Va.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) apparently have had it with rope-a-dope delays by Franklin L. Haney. Haney, as you may recall, is the Tennessee investor-developer and pal of Al Gore who is suspected of paying $1 million …

A Denver-based company has caught the attention of price-sensitive mobile phone carriers as well as some big manufacturers. Cactus Integration Group, incorporated Aug. 1, provides integrated, turnkey site development solutions to wireless carriers. Services range from site identification and acquisition …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson signed a framework agreement, estimated at $24 million, with the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) to expand its Global System for Mobile communications network. The agreement, won in competition with other major suppliers, will cover radio base stations …

NEW YORK-Telecom Analysis Systems, Eatontown, N.J., said Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, has implemented the TAS Code Division Multiple Access Automatic Test System for testing software in its cellular and personal communications services phones. A turnkey hardware and software solution, the …

CANCUN, Mexico-Northern Telecom Ltd.’s Proximity T-LTX, which allows operators to offer fixed wireless services from a wireline switching system, is now commercially available, announced the company at Mexico’s Wireless ’97 show. The Proximity T-LTX uses Time Division Multiple Access technology …

NEW YORK-Samsung Telecommunications America Inc. and Ameritech Corp. expect to announce by early next month a partnership to deliver dual-mode Code Division Multiple Access/Analog Mobile Phone Service phones. The handsets will be sold to Ameritech customers in a few major …

WASHINGTON-In an effort to increase safety for students, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Ericsson Mobile Phones announced their Safe Schools program yesterday, which will provide wireless phones and service to 1,000 schools in America. The phones can be assigned to …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group said Aliant Cellular Inc. awarded it a contract to replace an analog cellular network and deploy Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Service and Code Division Multiple Access cellular infrastructure equipment in Aliant’s Omaha and …

Italy’s award of a third mobile phone tender has hit another snag. The country’s Post and Telecommunications Ministry delayed once again the long-awaited process until February due to an October dispute in the government over budget issues. Italy’s telecom ministry …

WASHINGTON-Cellular subscriber growth in the United States increased dramatically this year following a slowdown last year, according to a study issued by The Strategis Group. The telecommunications consulting firm said the increase was due to increased competition, including lower prices, …

HELSINKI, Finland-Cellular penetration rates recently reached 40 percent in Finland, according to Mikael Akermarck, senior researcher with the Finnish Ministry of Transport. The increased demand is attributable to factors including a shift in perceptions of mobile phones from a “businessman’s …

As wireless industry leaders continue to tout convergence as the next frontier for the industry, one Southeastern carrier has quietly pulled itself ahead of the game. Alltel Communications Inc. significantly increased its wireless footprint as a result of the D-, …

WASHINGTON-After months of being publicly pounded on antenna siting, health concerns, unsafe cell phone drivers and blocked E-911 calls, the wireless industry is responding with an approach that relies on good corporate citizenship and uses the power of advertising to …

WASHINGTON-The grass-roots backlash against antenna siting continued last week as lawsuits driven by environmentalists, soccer moms and organized labor were filed in three federal circuits to overturn the 1996 federal radio-frequency radiation exposure standard, while House legislation was uncorked to …