March 1999

EAST FISHKILL, N.Y.-A new chip technology developed by IBM Corp. could lead to smaller electronic devices, including cellular phones and personal computers, said the company. The semiconductor technology IBM developed …

CANNES, France-InterWave Communications International Ltd. introduced its new packet-switched networking capability that provides interoperability between Global System for Mobile communications wireless and Internet protocol networks at the GSM World Congress …

STAMFORD, Conn.-International Telecommunication Data Systems Inc., a provider of customer-care and billing services to wireless carriers and resellers, formed a strategic business alliance with Novazen Inc. The alliance calls for …

NEW YORK-Moody’s Investors Service has changed to stable from negative its outlook on $279 million in Ba1-rated debt securities issued by SK Telecom Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea. “The change …

SAN DIEGO-Pegaso PCS, the Mexican operating company of Leap Wireless International Inc., last week launched its first market in Tijuana, Mexico. The company plans to build a nationwide network in …

BURLINGTON, Mass.-Lightbridge Inc. announced it changed the accounting for its acquisition of Coral Systems Inc. in November 1997. The restatement results in an increase in net income for the fourth …

TOKYO-Anticipating the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) scheduled March decision regarding key characteristics for the third-generation cellular, IMT-2000, Japanese carriers are mounting efforts to be able to kick off their 3G …

Sources close to International Telecommunication Union activity on third-generation technology say standards likely will not be set during the 31 March meeting in Brazil. The ITU had hoped ideally by …

WASHINGTON-Omnipoint Corp., Leap Wireless International Inc. and Cook Inlet/VoiceStream PCS could be among the top bidders for the March 23 re-auction of 356 C-, D-, E- and F-block personal communications …

CANNES, France-RangeStar International revealed its first dual-band embedded antenna for wireless handsets that operates in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz personal communications services frequency bands. The antenna features a …

DULLES, Va.-Orbcomm Global L.P. announced it is registered with the International Telecommunication Union as a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite Memorandum of Understanding repository member. The company now is …

HOUSTON-Shaffer Tower Services Inc., a Houston-based communications consulting firm and tower construction company, announced it signed an agreement with Pathnet to upgrade their microwave system on a path that runs …

Personal communications services network buildout is largely complete in the nation’s largest markets, and carriers this year are beginning to focus their attention on filling in coverage and building out …

WASHINGTON-The regulatory landscape for the personal communications services industry is dominated not by issues that are PCS-specific but by issues impacting the entire commercial mobile radio services industry. “Even though …

AMSTERDAM-Royal Philips Electronics Friday made a bid to acquire San Jose, Calif.-based VLSI Technology Inc., a company that designs and manufactures custom and semi-custom integrated circuits for the wireless communications …

BALTIMORE-Judge E. Stephen Derby last week denied a motion by Pocket Communications Inc. to reverse its election, thus allowing the re-auction of all but 12 of Pocket’s licenses to go …

WASHINGTON-Wireless Technology Research Chairman George Carlo has informed federal regulators that five cell-culture studies under his purview raise questions about possible bioeffects from radio-frequency radiation emitted from mobile phones. Carlo, …

WASHINGTON-The House last week overwhelmingly passed wireless E911 and privacy bills, leaving it now to the Senate to move on the two measures that will curb eavesdropping on the 68 …

Sprint PCS is attempting to change the way the industry does business with affiliate companies, but the task has not been without its difficulties as some affiliate companies struggle to …

LONDON-A new report compiled by The Strategis Group reveals per-minute revenues for European wireless operators have declined substantially from 64 cents per minute in 1995 to 47 cents per minute …

VIENNA, Va.-Teligent said it launched SmartWave, its local, long-distance, high-speed data and Internet service for small- to medium-sized businesses in New Orleans, bringing its number of markets served across the …

WASHINGTON-Personal communications services subscribers use their phones more than cellular subscribers, said the Telecommunications Industry Association last week. PCS subscribers use their phones for 300 minutes per month while cellular …

SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS, France-VLSI Technology Inc. said it and debis Systemhaus of Germany have jointly ported Global System for Mobile communications stack software to VLSI’s OneC GSM single-chip solution. “With the debis …

The Wireless Application Protocol effort gained momentum last week at the GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, with several Global System for Mobile communications carriers and handset manufacturers announcing WAP-compatible …

CHICAGO-Practical Sales Tools Inc. introduced its UnwiredContact wireless data interface for use between contact-management programs and portable devices. The product works with ACT! and the SalesLogix Sales Information System. As …