operator

Nextel Communications Inc. said it more than doubled its 1998 subscriber unit base to a total of 2.96 million, adding more than 1.5 million domestic digital subscribers during the year, including 372,500 new subscribers during the fourth quarter. The enhanced …

TOKYO-Anticipating the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) scheduled March decision regarding key characteristics for the third-generation cellular, IMT-2000, Japanese carriers are mounting efforts to be able to kick off their 3G businesses earlier than any other nation. Japan Telecom Co. (JT), …

The Wireless Application Protocol effort gained momentum last week at the GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, with several Global System for Mobile communications carriers and handset manufacturers announcing WAP-compatible products. Nokia Corp. announced both a WAP-compatible handset and an …

COLUMBIA, Md.-Tecore said it plans to deploy its AirCore platform prepaid solution in Nigeria for cellular operator Bourdex Telecommunications. The Tecore system will connect to Nitel, the public switched telephone network, and will interface to Bourdex Telecom’s existing Advanced Mobile …

CANNES, France-Nextel Communications Inc. last week announced plans at the GSM World Congress to establish roaming between its iDEN-based networks and Global System for Mobile communications systems in Europe and Asia. The company is working with Motorola Inc. as it …

CANNES, France-Motorola Inc. and Global System for Mobile communications operator Vodafone Ltd. announced a collaborative agreement to implement Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems technology, a third-generation standard chosen by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. According to the agreement, Motorola is prepared …

Sprint PCS is attempting to change the way the industry does business with affiliate companies, but the task has not been without its difficulties as some affiliate companies struggle to obtain financing. To date, Sprint PCS has signed on 16 …

U.S. Global System for Mobile communications carriers took a financial beating in 1998, but analysts expect 1999 to look brighter for these carriers as they look to butter up their bottom lines and find strategic partners. Tight financing, high churn …

Italy-the location of some of Shakespeare’s finest plays-last week became the setting for the largest telecom drama to occur in European history. The players: Olivetti Spa-A smaller operator that just two years ago was on the verge of bankruptcy. It …

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp. said it has agreed to sell its Movil Amigo prepaid operation in Venezuela to Movilnet, the cellular operator subsidiary of CANTV. As part of the sale, CellStar said it was awarded an exclusive two-year contract under which …

CANNES, France-Motorola Inc.’s Network Solutions Sector introduced the M-Cell Horizonoffice, a Global System for Mobile communications wireless enterprise system. The Wireless Enterprise is Motorola NSS’ GSM in-building wireless communications strategy for employee off-site and on-site mobility, said the company. M-Cell …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-WatchMark Inc. announced it received a telecommunications management network order from German wireless operator Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH to provide its WatchMark Pilot visualization product for T-Mobil’s network surveillance system for the D1 Global System for Mobile communications 900 …

CANNES, France-CNN Interactive last week announced at the GSM World Congress its CNN Mobile service, a mobile telephone news and information service using a platform it co-developed with Nokia Oy. The service will allow consumers to get text-based CNN news …

WASHINGTON-The future of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association has become clouded by the anticipated departure of Nextel Communications Inc., the nation’s top dispatch radio operator and a major underwriter of the trade association. “We’re reshaping things,” said AMTA President Alan …

The Finnish government said it will be the first European country to grant third-generation mobile phone licenses by spring, and one company’s bid to use cdma2000 technology remains. Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications said Vodafone Group plc and a …

Utah state representative Ralph Becker said he has withdrawn his bid to ban drivers from using wireless phones. “After careful consideration, I have decided not to introduce legislation limiting the use of cellular phones while driving,” Becker told RCR. “Rather, …

NEW ORLEANS-The Universal Wireless Communications Consortium and the GSM North American Alliance announced plans to work to achieve interoperability between TDMA and GSM technology, a move that could facilitate national and global consolidation among carriers with incompatible technologies and in …

While wireless data applications made a big splash at Wireless ’99 last week in New Orleans, a new company quietly slipped into the pool with the introduction of a new end-to-end mobile data service solution called Saraide.com. Saraide.com is a …

NEW ORLEANS-International Telecommunication Union members did not reach any consensus in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, on harmonizing the various radio transmission technology proposals received by the ITU for third-generation technology. The ITU has decided harmonization efforts will rest with carriers and …

Japan Tu-Ka Phone Kansai Inc., based in Osaka, Japan, said it selected Brite Voice Systems and Marubeni, a large Japanese trading company, to launch an intelligent network-based version of BriteDebit, Brite’s prepaid service. Brite said it will help Tu-Ka Phone …

NEW ORLEANS-AirNet Communications Corp., Melbourne, Fla., plans to announce Global System for Mobile communications 900 MHz and 1800 MHz systems at the GSM World Congress later this month, AirNet President and CEO Lee Hamilton told RCR at Wireless ’99. The …

A Finnish Internet service provider will test the European Commission’s claim it has not shut competing mobile phone technologies out of Europe. Clari Net Oy, wholly owned by Finnish ISP Saunalahden Serveri Oy, has applied for a license to operate …

SAO PAULO, Brazil-Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory agency, announced the auctions for the remaining two mirror licenses would be delayed from March 11 to April 23. The two licenses, for the regions of Tele Centro Sul and Sao Paulo, are being …

Wildfire Communications Inc. announced United Kingdom operator Orange plc has begun a targeted deployment of Wildfire’s network voice-activated virtual assistant. Orange said the initial deployment will involve several thousand customers who represent different age, gender and accent demographic groups, on …

C-block personal communications services operator Indus Inc. remains committed to launching Time Division Multiple Access service within the coming weeks despite buildout, zoning and technical struggles that delayed its launch date by about eight months. The company initially planned to …