SBC Communications

MONTREAL-Bell Canada International (BCI) said it signed an agreement with Taiwan Cement Corp. to sell its 20-percent minority interest in KG Telecom, a Taiwanese PCS provider, for US$1.71 per share, generating gross proceeds of about Canadian $790 million (US$534 million). …

Denmark Tele2 entered an agreement with Sonofon to become a mobile virtual network operator (VNO) in Denmark. Sonofon is the first operator to open its networks to mobile VNOs, according to Tele2’s parent company, NetCom. Finland Sonera said it is …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said it will vigorously enforce wireless radiation safety rules that go into effect later this week. “We are serious about this and will be checking,” said Robert Cleveland, the FCC’s expert on radio-frequency exposure rules. Cleveland …

WASHINGTON-While the Communications Workers of America succeeded in winning concessions that make it easier to organize wireless workers at Verizon Communications-the nation’s largest mobile phone and local telephone company-the prospect for widespread wireless unionization is challenged by a confluence of …

OSLO, Norway-Tele Danmark and partner SBC Communications Inc. agreed to sell their combined 40-percent stake in Norway’s mobile operator NetCom ASA to Sweden’s Telia. In May, Tele Danmark purchased 25,000 additional shares in NetCom and attempted to take control of …

TOKYO-Japan’s dominant wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo, is in talks with SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. about taking a minority stake in the combined mobile venture between the two U.S. carriers, according to a report in the Aug. 17 edition …

WASHINGTON-A little known government panel could play a big role in the coming years as new trade rules free up foreign firms to buy U.S. wireless companies, a trend that some in Congress claim is a national security threat. The …

WASHINGTON-The Baltimore law firm that earlier this month filed a mobile-phone cancer lawsuit against several wireless firms and two industry trade associations is expected to file additional lawsuits as early as this week, according to sources. The lawsuits could be …

WASHINGTON-While Verizon Communications workers strike in part to make it easier for its wireless workers to join unions, union issues have been largely settled at other companies. Before its workers began striking Aug. 6, Verizon Communications said it did not …

LOS ANGELES-As the official communications and wireless company of the 2000 Democratic National Convention, SBC Communications Inc. provided voice, data, video and wireless services for the four-day convention, and the more than 15,000 journalists and 5,000 participating delegates. SBC noted …

VoiceStream Wireless Corp. last week reiterated its confidence in its merger with German operator Deutsche Telekom as both companies’ stock values dropped since the merger announcement. By press time, the deal was valued at about $45.3 billion, or $171 per …

BALTIMORE-Maryland doctor Chris Newman, 41, filed an $800 million lawsuit in Baltimore City Circuit Court claiming his wireless phone caused a malignant tumor behind his right ear. The tumor was discovered in March 1998. The lawsuit, first reported by Jeffrey …

WASHINGTON-A top-flight Baltimore law firm is expected to file a lawsuit this week claiming a malignant brain tumor diagnosed in a 42-year-old male neurologist was caused by heavy and long-term mobile-phone use. The lawsuit, likely to be filed in a …

WASHINGTON-While international attention is focused on Deutsche Telekom AG’s $50.3 billion bid for VoiceStream Wireless Corp. and the fireworks it has set off in Congress, merger and acquisition activity in the coming months is expected to be dominated by smaller …

The upcoming U.S. spectrum auctions present some interesting times for the wireless industry. Auctions in the past were more predictable, primarily reserved for veteran executives experienced in running wireless networks. Today, the story is much different. Wireless has caught the …

AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said it will offer two-way short messaging service later this year, giving the carrier a more seamless data offering with its affiliates. AT&T Wireless offers SMS service today and relaunched its PocketNet service, based on Cellular …

WASHINGTON-A congressional subcommittee and the wireless industry put pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to delay the upcoming 700 MHz auction, while private wireless wants the agency to go ahead with the guard-band auction. In addition, Verizon Wireless asked to …

ATLANTA-Stephen Carter was named president and chief executive officer of the joint-venture company that will be created with the merger of SBC Communications Inc.’s and BellSouth Corp.’s wireless operations. Carter was president of SBC Wireless, and was responsible for the …

WASHINGTON-The joint venture between BellSouth Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. to create the sixth nationwide wireless carrier hit a speed bump in its cruise for approval last month when a small Michigan cellular operator objected. Thumb Cellular L.P. filed papers …

The Federal Communications Commission gave final approval to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s acquisition of U S West Inc. after Qwest agreed to sell off its long-distance business serving a 14-state territory where U S West also operates local telephone service. …

The Federal Communications Commission received comments from wireless operators over its tentative decision to allow large carriers to bid in the re-auction of C- and F-block personal communications services spectrum. Most large carriers, however, feel the potential rules severely limit …

FRANKFURT, Germany-WorldCom Inc. formally pulled out of the German auction for third-generation licenses. The company is the third bidder to withdraw from the process before the auction officially begins July 31. France’s Vivendi and Talkline, an SBC Communications Inc. and …

MEXICO CITY-Telefonos de Mexico and Bell Canada International announced they will form a new company with an initial capitalization of US$3.5 billion to target the South American market. Telmex and BCI will hold equal interests in the venture. The companies …

Germany WorldCom, Vivendi and Talkline, an SBC Communications and Tele Danmark joint venture, formally pulled out of the German auction for third-generation licenses, scheduled to begin 31 July. U.K. operator Orange also backed out of the Group 3G consortium, which …

MEXICO CITY-Telefonos de Mexico and Bell Canada International announced they will form a new company with an initial capitalization of $3.5 billion to target the South American market. Telmex and BCI will hold equal interests in the venture. Telmex and …