May 1998

DALLAS-“It’s an exciting time in the industry. It’s a time of growth and rebirth.” So said Konstantin Zsigo, president of Zsigo Wireless Data Inc., at the opening session of Wireless …

Trying to compete with satellite-industry giants, Celsat America Inc., a small, domestic player in the mobile satellite services arena, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission opposing the allocation of …

Creativity is becoming key for wireless carriers trying to build out their networks amidst resistance from local municipalities that in some cases have gone as far as placing moratoria on …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Telephone carrier LCI International Inc. will begin marketing Metrocall Inc.’s paging and wireless messaging services to business and residential customers through its direct sales force and other sales and …

RESTON, Va.-American Mobile Satellite Corp. announced JS Express Inc. has signed a three-year contract extension for its Ardis wireless data network. JS Express, a one-hour, on-demand delivery service, uses the …

WASHINGTON-GTE Corp. filed a private antitrust lawsuit at a U.S. federal district court here last week in an attempt to block the planned $38 billion merger of WorldCom Inc. and …

WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association’s latest Semi-Annual Data Survey reported the industry gained 11.2 million wireless phone subscribers in 1997, which it said led to lower bills and increased revenues. …

NEW YORK-U.S. District Court of Maryland Judge Alexander Williams Jr. has dismissed a breach of contract lawsuit Comsat Corp. had filed Jan. 30 against IDB Mobile Communications Inc., saying it …

WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association remains concerned proposed guidelines for siting wireless antenna on National Park Service lands will not adequately protect sensitive commercial information about wireless carriers’ future business …

Chatham Technologies Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of custom enclosures for electronic and communications equipment, announced it has acquired Innovation Inc. of Bothell, Wash., an engineering and design firm serving the …

CINCINNATI-Cincinnati Bell Wireless said it has launched personal communications services based on Time Division Multiple Access technology in the Cincinnati/Dayton/northern Kentucky market. The launch is coordinated through a management agreement …

Are Judge Judy, Judge Koch and Judge Wapner behind this move in the wireless industry to settle disputes in court? Remember, it was Doug Llewelyn of People’s Court fame, who …

Motorola Motorola Inc. appointed Dennis Roberson vice president and chief technology officer. Roberson reports to Merle L. Gilmore, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. As president, EMEA, Gilmore also oversees …

Vivox USA Inc. Vivox USA Inc. plans to begin shipping its patented hands-free car kit, the VL-1E7 for GE/Ericsson 6xx/7xx series cellular phones this month. The system uses a vehicle’s …

WEST POINT, Ga.-Powertel Inc. said it added 38,000 net personal communications services customers during the first quarter, closing the period with about 157,000 total PCS subscribers. PCS revenues and sales …

Sygnet Wireless Inc. said it is exploring strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the company, and has retained Lehman Brothers Inc. as its financial adviser. The company said the …

WASHINGTON-Representatives of the Land Mobile Communications Council have begun informal contacts with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, the agency that must approve any spectrum-sharing arrangement with the federal government, …

WASHINGTON-The House Commerce Committee, raising the stakes in its probe of the Federal Communications Commission’s planned headquarters move, last week authorized subpoenas to Portals developers Franklin Haney and Steven Grigg; …

Here’s something to ponder: Is the FBI to blame for the current CALEA fiasco, as the wireless industry has long claimed? Or does this rather serious controversy reflect the wireless …

SINGAPORE-What was to have been one of the most glorious moments in Singapore’s telecommunications history turned out to be a major fiasco when one of the contenders for the nation’s …

WASHINGTON-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, in what could become a model for other states, has signed into law a bill to give local communities without approved zoning plans the power to …

JACKSON, Miss.-Mobile Telecommunication Technologies Corp. reported operational results for the quarter that again exceeded analysts’ financial expectations but did not meet their subscriber forecasts. Mtel reported a net loss of …

The 220 MHz specialized mobile radio industry, sometimes known as the final frontier of wireless spectrum opportunity, gained a major player when four of its larger operators agreed in principle …

NEW YORK-Telecommunications Techniques Corp., which produces testing equipment for wireless and wireline networks, has obtained a $370 million bank credit facility and hopes to raise an additional $275 million from …

The on-again, off-again personal communications tender in Argentina has leaned to the off side, as a court order there suspended the auction of the two licenses in response to complaints …