Bell Atlantic Mobile announced a new flat-rate price plan for wireless Internet access based on its AirBridge Internet Access service. For $25 a month, customers receive unlimited e-mail access and full Internet access for $40 a month. Novatel Wireless Inc. announced a new smaller, lighter version of its Minstrel III Wireless IP Modem designed for personal digital assistants using the Palm Computing Platform, such as the Palm III and IBM WorkPad PC Companion.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 15 on a proposal that would prohibit cab drivers from talking on their cellular phones while driving, except to report emergencies. The planned rule, not yet fully formulated, would not apply to taxi drivers’ use of their dispatch radios.
Spyglass Inc. announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Navitel Communications Inc., a developer of Windows CE-based software and applications platforms for Internet-enabled telephones. Under the terms of the agreement Spyglass will give Navitel stockholders 1.25 million shares valued at about $11.3 million. Spyglass earlier had announced a deal to license its Mosaic software technology to Microsoft Corp. and also help develop Windows CE products, in return for $20 million during the next three years.
WITI Corp. announced the launch of its WeatherWindow Wireless service from its Web site. Designed for wireless users in the construction and other weather-dependent industries, the WeatherWindow service delivers severe weather warnings and forecasts for specific locations to a mobile phone, pager, handheld computer device and/or personal computer.
Pinnacle Towers Inc. purchased 16 towers in five acquisitions last week. The towers are located in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia and Connecticut.
