2001

WASHINGTON—The Bush administration, alarmed about the inability of law enforcement to track suspects who communicate by cell phone, is seeking expanded wiretap authority as part of an anti-terrorism package being …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—Prepaid cell-phone users will now be able to check account details, review account activity and top up balances using a new system announced by Logica. The new service, …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—The boards of Sony and Ericsson have both approved their mobile-phone joint venture, first announced in April. The joint company, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, is slated to begin operations …

TOKYO—KDDI, the second-largest operator in Japan, is going to postpone its third-generation (3G) service launch from the original plan of this quarter to April 2002 due to delays in software …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Against all predictions, the government of Uruguay has decided to jointly auction licenses for personal communications services (PCS) and third generation (3G) services. The sale consists of 50 …

HELSINKI, Finland—Nokia Corp. said its Nokia Game 2001, a multimedia game that will involve radio, television, newspapers and mobile phones, will be available Nov. 4-23 in 28 countries around the …

LONDON—Hutchison 3G UK reported an agreement with 186k to provide a nationwide fiber optic network and colocation services. A separate agreement with Nortel Networks will provide 10-gigabits-per-second-per-channel dense wave division …

MADRID, Spain—Telef

CINCINNATI, United States—Convergys announced it has been chosen by Denmark’s Telia Telecom A/S for its Geneva active revenue management (ARM) software to support its business growth and innovation. Telia plans …

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts, United States—NMS Communications said the Philippines’ IdeaWurx selected its technology to power a short message service (SMS) technology used by Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company …

NEW DELHI, India—India’s Bharti has acquired a controlling stake in SkyCell, a cellular operator in the Indian city of Chennai in southern India, by buying out the stakes of BellSouth …

BOSTON, United States—In a recent report, analyst and consulting company Ovum warned that operators need to follow thought-out strategic business plans to successfully implement third-generation (3G) technologies in the foreseeable …

HELSINKI, Finland—Akumiitti Telematics said it is partnering with CellPoint Unwire, a developer and manufacturer of wireless application servers, platforms and telematics terminals. Under terms of the agreement, CellPoint Unwire and …

NEW YORK—Hutchison 3G UK, holder of the largest block of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) spectrum in the United Kingdom, has contracted with U.S.-based ADC Telecommunications to deploy ADC’s Singl.eView …

FRANFURT, Germany—Moody’s Investors Service downgraded French vendor Alcatel to Baa1 from A2 for senior debt rating and to prime 2 from prime 1 for its short-term debt. “In the short-term, …

PARIS—Alcatel will supply Entel’s broadband wireless network in Chile through a recently awarded US$40 million contract. Entel plans to offer a nationwide wireless network in the 3.5 GHz range, beginning …

TAMPA, Fla.—TSI Telecommunications Services announced Venezuelan wireless operator Movilnet has agreed to test the company’s short messaging service (SMS) Message Manager Solution. TSI said the product provides SMS routing and …

KISTA, Sweden—Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia, founders of the Wireless Village initiative, said they have successfully demonstrated interoperable mobile instant messaging and presence services. The companies said that in the demonstration, …

LE PLESSIS-ROBINSON, France—Wireless operator Orange selected Lucent Technologies to provide a network management solution for its mobile network in France. Lucent said its Netminder solution will provide detailed surveillance, analysis …

TOKYO, Japan—Phone vendor Mitsubishi Electric said it is pulling out of the cell-phone business in the United States as well as closing its sales offices all over North America. Sharp, …

WASHINGTON—The government of Madagascar has launched the privatization process of the Malagasy Telecommunication Company (TELMA), offering 36 percent of the company’s shares. The tender also includes a GSM 1800 MHz …

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WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has loosened its rules to help facilitate the opening up of spectrum as TV transitions from analog to digital. The new rules will allow TV …

TUCSON, Ariz.-Texas Instruments said it has unveiled converters with the lowest noise for wireless devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and 802.11 PCMCIA cards. “By reducing power supply …

Palm Inc. watched its stock drop more than 20 percent after the company released its earnings with the news that it will not make profitability by the second quarter and …