January 1999

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is not likely to authorize the scanning/jamming devices that recently were approved in Japan. “We would not authorize knowingly any transmitter that interfered with another service,” …

WASHINGTON, D.C.,-The Wireless Data Forum announced it is developing an electronic-commerce program in conjunction with Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing, to be called the Wireless E-Commerce Initiative. The initiative will …

WASHINGTON-The wireless industry, already facing stiff resistance to antenna siting from local zoning boards and federal land managers, has come under fire from the Federal Communications Commission for erecting transmission …

DUSSELDORF, Germany-Mannesmann AG announced it has increased its participation in Italian mobile carrier Omnitel Pronto Italia by 3.2 percent. The transaction included offering AirTouch Communications Inc. an option to raise …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-Nextlink Communications Inc. announced it has reached an agreement to acquire WNP Communications Inc. in a combined cash and stock transaction valued at $695 million. Through the deal, Nextlink …

Geoworks Corp. announced the latest stage in its continuing transformation last week with the introduction of a consulting division called the Professional Services group. The business unit was created to …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. announced that as of the end of its first quarter of fiscal year 1999, ended Nov. 30, two of its networks initiated commercial operation and …

NEW YORK-A company called Beatie, King & Abate L.L.P. has filed a class-action lawsuit against Lucent Technologies Inc. individually and as a successor to AT&T Corp., alleging its telecommunications products …

Today’s telecommunications behemoths soon will rank right up there with journalists and used-car salesman on the “Who don’t you trust” list. As competition tries to come to the telecom industry, …

Unwired Planet Inc. took another step toward making its vision of Wireless Application Protocol devices and services a commercial reality by providing interoperability testing between its WAP-enabled UP.Link Server and …

WASHINGTON-In 1998, the wireless industry started paying into the Universal Service Fund. In 1999, the industry could find out how much money can be withdrawn from the fund. The government …

NEW YORK-Lucent Technologies Inc., the Murray Hill, N.J., telecommunications equipment giant, gobbled up two other properties last week. In its bid to become a single-source supplier to a rapidly growing …

WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration, reacting for the first time to a new congressional report that concluded American satellite exports to China harmed U.S. national security, last week defended U.S. export controls …

CINCINNATI-Cinergy Communications Inc., Lattice Partners Ltd. and a partnership led by Robert M. Bass announced they will form a venture to acquire and develop a large portfolio of communications towers …

NEW YORK-“The SBC (Communications Inc.)-Ameritech (Corp.) merger will provide outstanding opportunities for minorities to get into the wireless business,” said Thomas A. Hart Jr. on Thursday at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s …

Qualcomm Inc. may be ready to sell off its handset division as competition in the cdmaOne handset business intensifies and costs increase. Sources say Qualcomm is in discussions with Siemens …

A clash between cellular operator Western Wireless Corp. and a rural telephone company in North Dakota could set a precedent with the Federal Communications Commission concerning wireless competition with landline …

AT&T Wireless employee wounded in Utah shooting SALT LAKE CITY-The Associated Press reported AT&T Wireless Services Inc. employee Anne Sleater was shot in the head Thursday by a woman demanding …

NEW YORK-Sun Microsystems Inc., the Palo Alto, Calif., computer hardware and software giant, announced the availability of a new suite of products and services to serve the telecommunications industry. “Moving …

ESPOO, Finland-Tele Danmark announced it has made The Tecnomen Group’s Enhanced Services System commercially available and signed a contract to introduce Tecnomen’s unified messaging services. Tele Danmark uses Tecnomen’s platform …

Tegic Communications Inc. said Groupe Sagem will incorporate Tegic’s European and Chinese character-based versions of its T9 Text Input software into Sagem mobile phones. “The demand for new advanced communications …

MADRID, Spain-Telefonica and Lucent Technologies Inc. announced they signed a memorandum of understanding that strengthens their relationship by recognizing Lucent as a preferred global supplier of telecommunications systems to Telefonica. …

LAS VEGAS-Topp Telecom Inc. unveiled its new $20 million national advertising campaign at the International Consumer Electronics Show last week, featuring TV ads produced by the director of the Little …

JACKSON, Miss.-Tritel Inc. announced it will launch a 1900 MHz personal communications services wireless network as an affiliate of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. The network will cover Mississippi, Alabama and …

Motorola Inc. said it expects to meet Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the first quarter, though it remains cautious in light of last week’s currency devaluation in Brazil and the …