World Wireless Communications Inc. signed a development and license agreement with Panasonic, a unit of Kyushu Matsushita Electric Co. Ltd. According to the agreement, World Wireless is responsible for the design and development of a narrowband radio system for use in a Panasonic-branded consumer electronics product. World Wireless also will engineer the principal communications technology and interface components for the Panasonic product.
Ericsson OMC Ltd. said it signed two contracts with Globalstar L.P. to supply handheld and stationary satellite phones. Ericsson values the arrangement at a total of $204 million. The handheld terminals can be used in both satellite and Global System for Mobile communications modes, said Ericsson. The stationary telephone terminals are suitable for remote areas such as in phone booths in small, remote villages.
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The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association pointed out several unresolved issues concerning wireless enhanced 911 in reply comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission. The issues the FCC must address, said CTIA, include the responsibility of states and localities to adopt non-discriminatory cost-recovery mechanisms to pay for upgrades to emergency communications systems; and the expansion of liability protections for wireless carriers similar to those now enjoyed by wireline carriers.
CommQuest Technologies Inc. signed a product development and manufacturing agreement with Korean telecom company Pantech Co. Ltd. The contract calls for the development of a dual-band Global System for Mobile communications 900 MHz MHz handset and a GSM 900 cellular handset. Future plans include the development of a “world phone” using CommQuest’s new tri-band GSM chipset.