Lucent Technologies Inc. announced a feature enhancement that increases the battery life of Time Division Multiple Access digital mobile phones. The software, refined by Bell Labs, turns down transmitter power levels when the user is not speaking into the handset, which effectively increases talk time by extending battery life up to 30 percent for a typical user. The Discontinuous Transmission feature will be generally available for network operators to install in their Lucent-supplied TDMA networks in the fall, said the company.
Hewlett-Packard Co. unveiled the new name for its technology company-Agilent Technologies. The name is derived from the word “agile,” which is meant to reflect the company’s focus on providing breakthrough products and services with agility, speed and commitment to its customers. The Agilent symbol-a series of graduated circles that form an eight-point starburst-represents a “spark of insight,” said HP. The company color is the blue HP used before it entered the computer and printing businesses. The logo includes a heritage tag line, “Innovating the HP Way.”
U S West Wireless and Touch America, the telecommunications subsidiary of The Montana Power Co., announced a joint venture to provide a one-number digital personal communications services offering to nearly 2.5 million customers in a seven-state region from the Pacific Northwest to the upper Midwest. “Now customers in smaller and mid-sized communities can use the same number for their wireless phones as they use for their home office,” said Peter Mannetti, president, U S West Wireless.
Pinnacle Towers Inc. acquired 73 wireless communication towers from Meretel Communications L.P., a Sprint PCS affiliate that provides service in several Louisiana and Texas markets, announced Daniels & Associates, which handled the transaction. The agreement covers the 73 towers, scheduled to close in phases, plus a number of future towers Meretel will build as it expands its network coverage, said Pinnacle.
Globalstar L.P. announced it successfully launched four more low-earth-orbit satellites, bringing the total number of satellites in orbit to 32. This completes the minimum constellation needed for the company to begin offering limited service, which it plans to do in September.
