November 2000

Dear Editor, RCR Wireless News recently ran the SMR Special Report in the Nov. 13 issue. Upon careful reading, it more properly should have been called the Nextel Special Report. …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-Spectrian Corp. announced it will sell its UltraRF semiconductor division to Cree Inc. The deal calls for Cree to purchase UltraRF for about 908,000 shares of its common stock …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Global Telecom Solutions Sector won another large stake in China’s mobile phone market with a $29 million GSM communications award covering about 370,000 people in the …

WASHINGTON-While the world awaits the final outcome of the seemingly endless process in Florida to pick the president of the United States, members of the wireless world are also awaiting …

NEW YORK-U.S. Wireless Data completed its previously announced $10 million acquisition of CellGate Technologies, which was made in cash and shares. U.S. Wireless hopes CellGate, which manufactures integrated wireless Internet …

SAO PAULO, Brazil-Director of Anatel Ant”nio Carlos Valente da Silva said Nov. 16 that Brazil already has 20.9 million activated cellular lines. Valente also said mobile telephony has a penetration …

In a move that the company said would strengthen its New World strategy and its ability to deliver next-generation wireless networks using the IEEE 802.11a standard, Cisco Systems Inc. agreed …

PARIS-Equant and France Telecom’s Global One announced they will merge, forming a company with about 3,700 large business customers and pro forma annualized revenues of up to $3 billion. The …

HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp. introduced its CityHopper Broadband Wireless Access range of products, which the company said will bring high bandwidth services to businesses and other multidwelling buildings. Successful trials of …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-In preparation for its entry into the broadband wireless market, Radix Wireless Inc. announced it changed its name to BeamReach Networks Inc. “Beam” refers to the company’s beam-forming …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said Bolivian operator Entel Movil selected it to deploy Latin America’s first General Packet Radio Service network. The three-year $36 million agreement is for a full GSM/GPRS …

WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth last week leveled perhaps his strongest criticism yet against fellow telecom regulators and the Clinton administration, accusing both of subverting the process for moving military …

The wireless Internet’s influence on the wired Web is often portrayed as a positive, allowing people to access the information previously available only when hooked to a wire from a …

I’m beginning to think those mobile-phone studies on memory loss are for real. How else to explain the superb op-ed penned by Ron Nessen in the Nov. 19 Washington Post? …

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.-Just in time for the busy holiday season, buy.com and AT&T Wireless Services announced a partnership to offer buy.com’s online store to wireless customers through AT&T’s Digital PocketNet …

ORLANDO, Fla.-MeshNetworks Inc. raised $26 million in its second round of funding, which was led by Redwood Ventures. Additional investors included ITT Industries Inc., BancBoston Ventures, Patricof & Co. and …

WOODBURY, N.Y.-Comverse Technology Inc. announced it will offer $500 million of its convertible debentures, which are due 2005, to certain institutional investors. The debentures can be turned into common stock …

Continuing the flow of wireless technological improvements from north of the border, Burnaby, British Columbia-based PMC-Sierra Inc. introduced its Power Amplifier Linearizer and Distortion Inhibitor-10 chip, designed to allow traffic …

ATLANTA-Air2Web Inc. and Mascot Systems Ltd. announced a partnership to allow Mascot to develop wireless application solutions using Air2Web’s wireless platform. Mascot will also have access to Air2Web’s Always Interactive …

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority has withdrawn from the third cellular license case. Addressing a stakeholders briefing held in Sandton, South Africa, ICASA Chairman Mandla Langa said it …

CALABASAS, Calif.-A partnership between Countrywide Home Loans Inc. and Sprint PCS could allow home buyers and real estate agents to wirelessly research and determine options for home loan financing, the …

TAIPEI, Taiwan-Taiwan’s TransAsia Telecommunications said it is in talks with Far Eastone Telecommunications to sell a mobile-phone stake, according to international press reports. U.S.-based SBC Communications owns 43 percent of …

Littlefeet Littlefeet Inc., a wireless network infrastructure developer, appointed Kai Cheong Chan as the general manager and sales director for the company’s new regional office, which will serve Singapore and …

A new venture backed by veteran airline executive Dan Colussy is reported to be buying the assets of Iridium L.L.C., Motorola Inc.’s financial drain and the center of controversy since …

HUNT VALLEY, Md.-Tessco Technologies Inc. got a vote of confidence from Cisco Systems Inc. after Cisco gave the company premier channel partner certification status. “Premier certification status provides strong recognition …