Vodafone

Two Code Division Multiple Access carriers launched limited data services last week that involve linking wireless phones to laptop computers via a cable, allowing the phones to act both as a voice device and wireless data modem. Such a solution …

The worldwide wireless industry is expected to pass a significant milestone sometime during 2000. With total mobile subscribers at the end of last year of about 315 million and a growth rate of nearly 8 percent this year, mobile subscribers …

LONDON-British Telecommunications plc said it will acquire for $5 billion Securicor’s 40-percent shareholding in BT Cellnet, the United Kingdom’s second-largest cellular operator-behind Vodafone AirTouch plc-with about 5 million subscribers. British Telecom already owns 60 percent of BT Cellnet, so the …

The popularity of prepaid wireless services has skyrocketed in the United States, but carriers are experiencing a not-so-pleasant side effect- high churn-and many are challenged by the need to expand prepaid offerings without exposing themselves to this phenomenon. Prepaid wireless …

Intelligent agent technology has been long considered a potential boon for messaging applications looking to provide meaningful content to wireless devices. Agents are small bits of code capable of monitoring data, recognizing what information is valuable to its user and …

The industry has seen AT&T Wireless Services Inc. pick up smaller cellular carriers in order to fill in gaps and avoid paying high roaming fees, and Vodafone AirTouch plc’s acquisition of rural cellular carrier CommNet Cellular Inc. indicates other carriers …

Yet another study has been done on the merits of reselling wireless service. This one, conducted by Professor John Mayor of the Georgetown University School of Business, Mark Burton of Marshall University and David Kaserman of Auburn University, concludes that …

Poor financial results continue to plague personal communications services operator Aerial Communications Inc., and its spinoff from parent company, Telephone and Data Systems Inc., is moving slower than anticipated. Analysts believe TDS may be better off selling the company. Aerial …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. named Susan Swenson president of Leap and chief executive officer of Leap’s U.S. subsidiary, Cricket Communications Inc. Swenson, who also will join Leap’s board of directors, previously served as president and CEO for Cellular One, …

Second-quarter subscriber growth in the U.K. mobile-phone market exceeded analysts’ expectations as prepaid services continue to provide a growth engine for the industry. “The market has been ahead of expectations since the fourth quarter” when carriers introduced aggressive prepaid pricing …

Pannon GSM Tavkozlesi RT, Budapest, Hungary, was expected last week to place privately about $123 million in euro-denominated bonds it plans to use to refinance outstanding debt. Pannon, which operates a Global System for Mobile communications 900 network, has about …

United Kingdom British Telecommunications plc said it will buy Control Data Systems Inc., a software company based in Arden Hills, Minn., for $340 million. The purchase will expand British Telecom’s service offering. Control Data makes software that links programs from …

BERKSHIRE, England-Vodafone Group plc and AirTouch Communications Inc. completed their merger. AirTouch’s stock stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange at the end of the day June 29, and shares of the combined company began trading on the London …

WASHINGTON-An International Telecommunication Union task group in June in Beijing approved a carrier-crafted plan to harmonize competing U.S. and European CDMA technologies for Internet-friendly third-generation mobile phones, paving the way for the compromise to be translated into a new, global-roaming …

DUBLIN, Ireland-One of the most common complaints from telecommunications companies competing with former monopoly operators is cross-subsidization by the incumbent, particularly in countries where the incumbent also controls a major cellular operator. However, regulators across Europe have been tackling this …

WASHINGTON-Bell Atlantic Corp. continues to study ways to take its wireless business public, said Dennis F. Strigl, chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic Global Wireless. Strigl also was a featured speaker at the Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. conference. …

SWINDON, U.K.-Lucent Technologies Inc. and Vodafone Group plc announced they made their first third-generation over-the-air trial calls using Lucent’s Global Third Generation Code Division Multiple Access technology at Vodafone’s headquarters in Newbury, England. “These trials, together with Lucent’s public demonstrations …

WASHINGTON-As industry opposition to Pentagon spectrum bills mounts, the Federal Communications Commission confirmed last week it is prepared to suspend the normal regulatory process for deciding how to auction 36 megahertz from TV channels 60-69 if Congress votes to hold …

HONG KONG-China United Telecommunications Corp.’s plan to deploy Code Division Multiple Access technology ensures its survival into the next generation and creates momentum for cdmaOne technology throughout the Asia-Pacific region, cdmaOne proponents indicated at the CDMA Development Group’s fourth annual …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc reported revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31 of $5.4 billion, a 36-percent increase from the $4 billion in revenues reported for the previous year. The company reported earnings of $1.5 billion, or 33 cents per …

WASHINGTON-An International Telecommunication Union task group in Beijing last week approved a carrier-crafted plan to harmonize competing U.S. and European Code Division Multiple Access technologies for Internet-friendly third-generation mobile phones, paving the way for the compromise to be translated into …

The Operators Harmonization Group, an ad hoc assembly of mobile phone operators from around the world, sent its third-generation technology harmonization proposal to the International Telecommunication Union, which meets in Beijing this week. As RCR reported, the agreement defines a …

Industry executives in February hailed the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue agreement as a major breakthrough in the 3G debate, but today it appears standards bodies have made little progress to pursue this framework, and political infighting among the 3G players remains. …

The U.K. government now plans to auction five third-generation mobile phone licenses early next year, explaining that more competition will drive down prices and spur innovative services. Last year, the United Kingdom plans to auction four 3G licenses by mid-1999, …

WASHINGTON-MCI WorldCom Inc. last week halted talks to buy Nextel Communications Inc. after succumbing to differences over price, putting shares of the No. 2 long-distance telephone company and the last independent national wireless operator on a wild roller-coaster ride for …