RCR Wireless News back issues from August 2002:
GoAmerica to exit CDPD space. (Late News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... Due to the high cost of managing roaming CDPD subscribers, wireless enterprise software and service provider GoAmerica Inc. announced it deactivated several thousand CDPD customers and said it plans to sell off the rest of its CDPD subscriber base, which numbers about 18,000. "Our emphasis ...
Carriers embrace computing giants.
Aug 05, 2002; ... While the mainstream computing powerhouses have had a difficult time stamping a similar footprint in the wireless space, wireless operators appear to be realizing that if they want wireless data applications to be accepted by the computer-literate general public, they are going to have to ...
AT&T GSM overlay smooth, New York challenge up ahead.
Aug 05, 2002; ... More than a year-and-a-half after announcing plans to overlay its technologically dead-ended TDMA network with a more worldly focused GSM derivative, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said its initial deployment plans remain on schedule and on budget. Through the first half of this ...
Mobile sourcing tax law in effect: act places greater burden on carriers.
Aug 05, 2002; ... NEW YORK--The Florida Department of Revenue and Group 1 Software has launched a Web site at http://geotax.state.fl.us/ that will let communications services providers download the most recent county and statewide databases of telecom customer address listings for tax jurisdiction ...
DT's best bet may be to keep U.S. holdings. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... VoiceStream Wireless Corp.'s launch of wireless service last month in California and Nevada not only provided the country's smallest nationwide operator with a footprint in a pair of lucrative markets, but also was the carrier's first public launch of its T-Mobile brand name to match ...
Microsoft promises to step up R&D efforts. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... Microsoft has never lowered its guard because it is either making rivals of other companies or other companies are aspiring to become rivals of the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant. But today's battlefield has never seemed softer than at any time in the software giant's short ...
Big carriers warn E911 delays, rules set for smaller operators. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... WASHINGTON--The deployment of wireless enhanced 911 appears to be finally moving along, but there are still roadblocks in the way as evidenced by progress reports filed by four of the six nationwide carriers. "Verizon Wireless Inc. has also seen how a lack of [public-safety ...
Seduced by color: color may be killer enhancement. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... In and of itself, color is nothing. For 3G, however, color rocks. Color heralded high resolution for the same TV pictures that viewers saw in black and white. The wireless experience on the 2.5 and 3G levels is different. The wireless user does not want the color, but the ...
ADC to exit optical components business. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... MINNEAPOLIS--Following ADC Telecommunications Inc.'s earlier announcement it intended to lower its quarterly break-even sales point toward $250 million per quarter from its original goal of $300 million, the company has decided to exit the optical components business and will sell or close ...
Icahn continues XO negotiations. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... RESTON, Va.--Despite several frustrating and fruitless negotiations with XO Communications Inc.'s bank lenders, Carl Icahn is still hovering around the company's restructuring proceedings, this time offering to pay investors 50 cents for every senior secured loan dollar, without any ...
FCC responds to Tauzin with 800 MHz data. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... WASHINGTON--The Federal Communications Commission on July 26 responded to Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, and others regarding the requested detailed accounting of the current licensees in the 800 MHz band "The data in this report represents ...
Motient cuts staff by 29%. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... RESTON, Va.--Wireless data carrier Motient Corp. cut its work force by 29 percent, a total of 94 positions, to save money in a tight economy. About half the layoffs were at the ...
Numbering crisis averted, FCC says. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... WASHINGTON--There are more telephone numbers available for end users than currently assigned, said the Federal Communications Commission. There are 480 million assigned telephone numbers while 625 million telephone numbers are waiting to be assigned, said the FCC. ...
Multimedia partnerships grow pie, popularity. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... NEW YORK--The new alliance between Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. and MTV Networks is a good omen that wireless data in this country can be popularized through interactive, multimedia communications, said panelists at the Digital Media Wire Inc. "Future of Mobile Entertainment" seminar held late ...
Negotiating the limits of unlicensed spectrum. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... WASHINGTON--If the Federal Communications Commission decides to further regulate unlicensed spectrum, there is a myriad of ways that it can go about the effort, as evidenced by numerous themes at the FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force's first public workshop. Is spectrum limited? If ...
CTIA named to critical infrastructure panel. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... WASHINGTON--The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association was appointed as a nonresident member of the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications on the same day the Federal Communications Commission released its response to a Bush administration critical-infrastructure ...
Scan Mobile, Orange enter messaging partnership. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... LONDON--Text messaging company Scan Mobile scored a major new outlet for its wireless e-commerce applications, announcing a partnership with European carrier Orange to offer a variety of messaging applications. Among its portfolio, Scan Mobile will offer Orange subscribers its ...
Say it's so: speech-recognition integral piece of multimodal success. (Focus: Voice Recognition).
Aug 05, 2002; ... Speech--recognition technologies--once in contention for the prized "killer app" title--may have decided not to go it alone. Speech will play a major role in future apps, industry experts say, but not without several high-tech counterparts. Eventually, speech will thrive on ...
Firm personalizes mobile-phone sound. (Focus: Voice Recognition).
Aug 05, 2002; ... While wireless companies strive to develop speech-recognition applications that help electronic devices listen to, understand and respond to human speech, California-based Sound ID is taking similar steps to help people hear better while they're on the phone. Sound ID, a company ...
Carriers take Worldcom subscribers. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... The trials and tribulation of WorldCom Inc.'s wireless customers soon may be coming to an end as the bankrupt telecom company announced plans to transfer most of its subscribers onto its carrier partners' networks ahead of its planned September exit from the wireless resale business. ...
RIM continues suits against Good. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... WATERLOO, Ontario--BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. said it filed its third legal complaint against rival Good Technology Inc., this time alleging Good engaged in unfair competition, false advertising, trademark infringement and trademark dilution. RIM is asking the ...
A pep talk. (Opinion).
Aug 05, 2002; ... It's time for a pep talk Ya gotta believe! These days, it's a little challenging to believe in almost anything. And that is understandable; it's been a pretty rotten year, in wireless and outside of the industry. A piece of the world was crushed to dust ...
Getting the picture. (Opinion).
Aug 05, 2002; ... Research analysts at investment banks are retreating, lemming-like, from the telecom sector. Some banks are abandoning research in the sector completely, citing the diminishing potential for activity, such as mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, bond issues, rights issues and even wrongs ...
Hollings looks to solve Powell's bankruptcy conflicts. (News).
Aug 05, 2002; ... WASHINGTON--The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee wants to resolve the conflicts between bankruptcy and communications law but it does not appear that any legislative solution would solve the question to be answered next year by the U.S. Supreme Court in the NextWave Telecom Inc ....
Pinnacle reorganization plan approved. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... SARASOTA, Fla.--Pinnacle Holdings Inc. said the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed the company' reorganization plan, which Pinnacle will attempt to complete by Aug. 20. The plan will be funded by an equity investment up to $205 million by ...
Verizon breaks 30m subs. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002; ... The nation's largest wireless operator reported second-quarter results highlighting that while the industry is experiencing a noticeable slowdown in the number of customers it's attracting, carriers are trying to adjust by extracting as much from those customers as possible. ...
Base station sales on decline as 3G falters, ABI predicts. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002; ... NEW YORK--Global sales of wireless base stations will total $17.4 billion this year, a 15-percent decline from the $2.3 billion posted in 2001, projects Allied Business Intelligence, Oyster Bay, N.Y., in a report to be released in late August. "The wireless industry has changed ...
Qualcomm joins OMA. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002 ... SAN DIEGO--CDMA giant Qualcomm Inc. said it is now a sponsor member of the newly formed standards group Open Mobile Alliance, and also sits on the group's board of directors. "Qualcomm has consistently maintained an active presence in standards initiatives in the wireless space ...
Nortel to expand China Mobile GSM network. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002 ... BEIJING--China Mobile, China's largest wireless operator, selected Nortel Networks Ltd. to expand its GSM network in Shaanxi Province as part of ...
Wireless Stock Watch.
Aug 05, 2002 ... <Pre> Wireless Stock Watch July 24-July 31 GAINSCLOSING CLOSING PERCENT EXCH COMPANY 7/31/02 7/24/02 CHANGE NAS AirGate PCS 1.24 1.0221.81 NYS Allen Telecom ...
High-yield bond investors upbeat about 2003. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002; ... NEW YORK--High-yield bond investors responding to a recent survey on the Lehman Brothers Inc. Web site expressed uncertainty about wireless industry fundamentals for the remainder of this year but optimism about next year. "We did this survey because wireless bonds and stocks ...
Motorola may build Palm smart phone for Nextel. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002; ... Nextel Communications Inc. may soon offer a smart phone running on Palm Inc.'s operating system and built by Motorola Inc., a device that could draw much enthusiasm from the carrier's business user customer base. "It wouldn't be surprising to see a Palm-based device," said ...
Zafirovski to bring energy to Motorola's top spot. (Business).
Aug 05, 2002; ... Edward Breen's sudden departure from his post as president and chief operating officer of Motorola Inc. two weeks ago unnerved shareholders, but his replacement has proven himself to be an aggressive and successful leader. Mike Zafirovski assumed the COO position following ...
European ASPs find business market tough to crack: shared risk, reward models coming into play. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002; ... DUBLIN, Ireland--Software firms across Europe have developed myriad mobile applications aimed at the business market during the past few years, raising hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital to fund their development. But with few applications being widely used and businesses ...
Australasian operators sign MMS agreements. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002 ... MELBOURNE, Australia--Vodafone New Zealand has chosen Ericsson to provide end-to-end multimedia messaging service (MMS) services between New Zealand and Australia. Vodafone New Zealand plans to launch extended MMS services in September. According to Ericsson, it will establish a ...
France Telecom reaches agreement on MobilCom debt. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002 ... PARIS--France Telecom said it reached an agreement with the banks holding a credit facility of $4.6 billion for MobilCom, the German operator in which France Telecom holds a 28.5-percent stake. The final agreement is subject to France Telecom completing a number of conditions before Sept ....
Malaysia awards 2 3G licenses. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002 ... KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--The Malaysian government awarded two of three available third-generation licenses this week, with incumbent operators Maxis Communications and Telekom Malaysia walking away with the $13.2 million awards. Three other bidders, Time Dotcom, Technology ...
More questions raised over Europe's 3G markets. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002; ... OXFORD, United Kingdom--Europe's third-generation market was under heavy scrutiny last week, with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. attempting to calm market jitters and more questions arising from Sonera's and Telefonica Moviles' announcement to end their German service. In an effort to ...
Sonera sells stake in SmarTrust. (Global Wireless).
Aug 05, 2002 ... HELSINKI, Finland--Sonera Corp. has sold a stake in SmarTrust AB to venture capital funds the Carlyle Group, GE Equity and Eqvitec Partners for $34.3 million. Sonera will retain a 39.3-percent stake in SmarTrust, which provides mobile security services and infrastructure. ...
Alltel completes deals. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--Alltel Corp. said it has completed its $1.9 billion purchase of local telephone properties in Kentucky from Verizon Communications Inc. and its $1.6 billion dollar purchase of CenturyTel Inc.'s wireless assets. The wireless properties include more than 700,000 ...
WSC gets Nextel interoperability contract. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... RESTON, Va.--Nextel Communications Inc. selected Wireless Services Corp. to serve as its network interoperability provider, enabling customers to send and receive text messages to and from subscribers of other U.S. wireless ...
Nokia releases latest mobile Internet toolkit. (News).
Aug 05, 2002 ... IRVING, Texas--Nokia Corp. today released the newest version of its mobile Internet toolkit for wireless application developers, which Nokia said will allow content creators to develop applications for the emerging multimedia messaging service standard. "With the Mobile Internet ...
Corrections.
Aug 05, 2002 ... In the "Ericsson wins MMS infrastructure battle in Europe" story on page 8 in the July 29 issue of RCR Wireless News, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. is incorrectly identified in the accompanying chart. The company's recently introduced mMode Pix picture-messaging ...
Network Services files Chapter 11. (Late News).
Aug 12, 2002 ... Paging and wireless messaging services company Network Services L.L.C. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company said it will operate as usual and services will continue uninterrupted during the reorganization. Prior to making the ...
Leap to pay $41M to MCG. (Late News).
Aug 12, 2002 ... A binding arbitrator said Leap Wireless International Inc. will have to pay an additional $41 21.5 million shares to MCG PCS Inc. for wireless licenses Leap purchased in April 2000, covering Buffalo and Syracuse, N.Y. MCG claimed a purchase price adjustment under a clause in the purchase ...
Nationwide 3G launched: Sprint PCS launch should make data watch more interesting.
Aug 12, 2002; ... Fulfilling the claim that it would launch its highly anticipated next-generation network this summer, Sprint PCS pulled the wraps off of its PCS Vision data service, which is expected to hit consumers this week. From the devices, coverage and pricing, a number of analysts agree with the ...
Operators gain access to more spectrum: FCC drops analog set aside; requires digital tuners in TVs.
Aug 12, 2002; ... WASHINGTON -- It was digital transition time at the Federal Communications Commission. In two separate actions, the FCC Thursday moved to get wireless carriers what they desperately seek--access to more spectrum. The FCC sunsetted the requirement that all cellular ...
Tower show showdown.
Aug 12, 2002; ... After suffering through a long bout of bad luck and wireless industry upheaval, the Personal Communications Industry Association is hoping to make a comeback with a new trade show in 2003 geared specifically toward the tower sector. Its choice of timing, however, could spark some ...
Triton 2Q bright, churn hurts Alamosa, AirGate. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... With most of the nation's largest wireless operators already posting second-quarter results, underscoring the general slowdown in the industry, a number of affiliates and rural operators reported results last week providing proof that the smaller markets were not immune to the challenging ...
Tower firms hit 52-week lows after revised outlooks. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... The tower industry's two largest players experienced respectable second quarters, but Wall Street punished both after the companies adjusted earnings and new tower build projections for the rest of the year. Both American Tower Corp.'s and Crown Castle International Corp.'s ...
Will consumers latch on to throw-away phones? (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... A mobile phone that is so in-expensive its users don't mind throwing it away seems like an excellent idea, but several potential problems could derail the concept before it reaches the masses. Disposable phone makers HopOn.com in Garden Grove, Calif., and New Horizon ...
Like the '70s, bundled offerings are hip again. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... One of the predicted outcomes of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was that telecom companies would begin offering customers bundled service plans offered on one bill. Unfortunately, after billions of dollars were thrown into the endeavor, most companies looking to capitalize on bundled ...
Judge tells carriers, consumers to fine-tune arguments in bundling complaint case. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Calling the criticisms by the Wireless Consumers Alliance too broad, and the responses of four major wireless carriers it is suing too narrow, Federal Judge Milton Pollack postponed making a decision Aug. 6 on a motion to dismiss a legal challenge alleging anti-competitive ...
CTIA: carriers don't need exit regs. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... WASHINGTON -- The wireless market is competitive so the Federal Communications Commission should not impose exit regulations on mobile-phone carriers, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association told FCC Chairman Michael Powell on Thursday. "Requiring [commercial ...
Verizon expands Express Network. (News).
Aug 12, 2002 ... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Verizon Wireless expanded coverage of its Express Network service into six counties surrounding the greater San Francisco Bay Area including Napa County, Monterey County, San Benito County, ...
Seven rocks with access software platform. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... If Seven Networks Inc. were a rock group, MTV would deem it "buzz worthy." The company out of Redwood. City, Calif., boasts an impressive line-up of executives and a mobile data access software platform that it says performs the functions of middleware without the cost and ...
Marconi sells Strategic Communications unit. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... When the Italian government decided to invest in its prophet, Guglielmo Marconi had long died. Marconi was merely 20 years old when he first demonstrated that people could transmit messages over long distances without the support of wires. The Italian government would not grant ...
Broadcasters want more details on 3G spectrum plan. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration proposal to make 90 megahertz of spectrum available for advanced wireless was criticized by TV broadcasters that will be impacted by the relocation of military services into the broadcast auxiliary service band. The National ...
Sinclair leaves 100 MHz band auction, 125 bidders left. (News).
Aug 12, 2002 ... WASHINGTON -- Sinclair Broadcast Group L.L.C. has dropped out of the auction for the 700 MHz band C- and D-blocks after Congress passed a bill delaying the auction of the bulk of the 700 MHz band licenses. The auction of the 700 MHz band C- and D-blocks is scheduled to ...
Anywhereyougo.com ceases operations. (News).
Aug 12, 2002 ... PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Anywhereyougo.com, a HewlettPackard Co.-sponsored operation, for ...
Getting away from the 'wireless Internet': as wireless data advances. (Wireless Internet).
Aug 12, 2002; ... The name of this focus story--RCR's Wireless Internet Update--may be a little out of date. But that's OK. The term "wireless Internet" represents an important move within the wireless industry. It signifies the fact that wireless users can do more with their phones than just ...
Reports aglow with wireless Web potential. (Wireless Internet Focus).
Aug 12, 2002; ... Wireless data in all its forms--from users accessing Internet information through their mobile phones to home businesses flipping on wireless local area networks--is forecasted to be a major market for revenues in the coming years, according to several new studies. However, ...
Spy time. (Opinion).
Aug 12, 2002; ... Ever since I watched Spy Kids, I've wanted to be a spy. The only thing holding me back has been the danger aspect. But having lived through the last year in the wireless industry, I've decided danger is relative. So last week, I decided to go for it. Using a few well-placed antennas, some ...
Language barriers. (Opinion).
Aug 12, 2002; ... How can the wireless industry be doing poorly? It is a question that I had the displeasure of answering several times as I attended a few social functions last weekend. First I attended a long-time friend's 40th birthday party. I would bet that three out of five people ...
Burns urges FCC to share UWB data. (News).
Aug 12, 2002; ... WASHINGTON -- A senior lawmaker with connections to both transportation and communications is compelling the Federal Communications Commission to go public with its testing procedures for ultra-wideband. "The [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] process ...