Business Briefs

NetCom Technologies Inc. announced it has changed its name to VelociTel Inc. to reflect the rapidly expanding wireless industry. The company also announced a new corporate structure. The five existing NetCom subsidiaries-Alvar Architects Inc., National Site Development Inc., ComNet TelCom Construction Inc., Spectrum Technologies Inc. and TowerCel Inc. have been absorbed into the new VelociTel corporate structure. Based in Irvine, Calif., the company is a wireless infrastructure services provider and wireless tower owner and operator. The changes are effective immediately, according to Mario Alvarez, company chairman and chief executive officer.

William G. Mundee will join Mericom Corp. as its new vice president for the company’s newly established Network Engineering Division, which will provide wireless planning, design and optimization services. Mundee has 10 years of experience, beginning his career a decade ago with AirTouch International as a designer and manager of wireless networks.

MobilePlanet, a multi-channel direct reseller of mobile computing and wireless products, opened its first European office in Paris, France. According to Jan Loning, chairman and chief executive of MobilePlanet, the Paris office will broaden the company’s customer reach as well as support existing European customers. Phillippe Pastor, who joined MobilePlanet in June from Price Waterhouse Coopers in New York, was named MobilePlanet Europe’s president and CEO. According to Loning, “[Pastor’s] strong international management experience has allowed him to prepare MobilePlanet for a successful launch in Europe.”

Standard Communications Corp. announced it will move its wireless data division to the San Diego area, a change prompted by the focus on telecommunications in that area. The company said the division should be operational early this year. The division offers products that support machine-to-machine data and voice communications.

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