November 1998

AirNet Communications Corp. has struck a chord with smaller personal communications services licensees and is working on grabbing the attention of A- and B-block PCS operators. Melbourne, Fla.-based AirNet, a …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-The market for power semiconductors, integrated circuits and modules is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 19 percent, to reach $2.8 billion by the end …

President Bill Clinton signed into law late last month the federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, which authorizes prison terms of up to three years and fines …

NEW YORK-By the tenor of their top executives’ flirtatious banter Nov. 2, WinStar Communications Inc. appears to be an amorous suitor to a somewhat hesitant Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. “Spectrum …

GREENSBORO, N.C.-Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. commenced a cash tender offer and consent solicitation relating to its $200 million outstanding principal amount of 9.38 percent senior debentures due April 15, 2006. …

Motorola Inc.’s ReFLEX chipset and software solution first announced a month ago is available for purchase. The company also released more details about the product. The chipset includes a ReFLEX …

Italy Telecom Italia Mobile announced it will begin a market trial of Unwired Planet Inc.’s UP.Link Server and software planet for wireless Internet access to mobile phones. Equipped with Unwired …

WAYNE, Pa.-Comcast Cellular Communications Inc. announced new national and regional service plans that provide service for one low rate, without roaming or toll charges. Rates for the new Digital PCS …

CHICAGO-Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. lowered the senior debt rating of Sprint Corp. from A to BBB+. Sprint’s commercial paper rating also has been lowered from D-1 to D-2. …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is looking for a new primary spectrum band for wireless medical devices used by hospitals. Medical telemetry devices, such as heart monitors, today are secondary users …

ITA The Industrial Telecommunications Association said it appointed Laura Leigh Smith executive director, government relations. She formerly was deputy division chief (legal) in the public safety and private wireless division …

Rural Cellular Corp. Rural Cellular’s revenues increased 103 percent to $34 million from $16.8 million during last year’s third quarter. Net loss for the quarter totaled $4.5 million, or 50 …

PENSACOLA, Fla.-BellSouth Mobility Inc. launched personal communications services in northwest Florida, including Panama City, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala and Tampa. The company’s licenses in northwest Florida include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa …

While Iridium L.L.C. continues work to improve the technical prowess of its low-earth-orbit satellite-based global phone service, the company also must turn its attention to its global sales and marketing …

WASHINGTON-Franklin Haney, a Tennessee developer closely tied to Vice President Gore and a central figure in Portals investigations, was indicted by a federal grand jury last week on charges of …

NEW YORK-Hellenic Tele-communications Organization S.A., a multiservice carrier headquartered in Athens, went public Nov. 2 with a 43.8 million-share stock sale that raised $1.1 billion. Salomon Smith Barney and Credit …

Analysts say the launch of Iridium L.L.C.’s mobile satellite service has positioned Globalstar L.L.P. to be a low-cost provider when it offers service around 2000. After losing 12 satellites in …

NEW YORK-Conventional wisdom may hold that scale is superior when it comes to carriers and miniaturization is most desirable when it comes to handsets. However, neither attribute necessarily implies long-term …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it and Swedish operator Telia will conduct further trials of business communication services, providing Global System for Mobile communications wireless connectivity over Internet Protocol-based enterprise networks. …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson announced expansion contracts with Singapore Telecom and Chongqing Telecom and the Hebei PT in China. Ericsson plans to expand SingTel Mobile’s Global System for Mobile communications network …

WASHINGTON-Well, the game is over and the fat lady has sung. But who won and what does it mean for the wireless telecommunications industry? The easy answer is that nothing …

NEW YORK-“There is no question that, with no bank or bond market to finance your start-up, you need either to be crazy or have a well thought out plan,” said …

Aggressive digital pricing plans are quickly driving the migration of customers from analog service to digital service, say analysts. “We attribute today’s successful migration directly to rate plans combined with …

InterFigital reports net loss; revenues increase KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.-InterDigital Communications Corp. reported a third-quarter net loss of $6.1 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with a net loss …

WASHINGTON-Key lawmakers, amid stepped-up negotiations last week on third-generation mobile phone technology, are laying the groundwork to move legislation in 1999 if they conclude in crucial coming months that U.S. …