December 2002

OSLO, Norway-Mobile operator Orange confirmed Thursday it would back out of the Swedish mobile market, a move that had been widely predicted due to the financial problems of owner France …

Secured Lenders approve Microcell recapitalization TORONTO-Microcell Telecommunications Inc. said its secured lenders have agreed on the terms of a recapitalization plan for the struggling company. Microcell missed a US$29.3 million …

TORONTO-Canadian carrier Bell Mobility announced it will begin offering basic location-based services through its new MyFinder application and that it plans to expand the service with additional features. The service …

Showing off the diverse nature of the wireless industry in North America, a recent survey and ranking of operators’ third-quarter results rendered a top-five ranking that included carriers serving a …

Wireless messaging gets positive reviews SAN FRANCISCO-Two new reports peg wireless messaging as an important and growing application, one that could contribute significant revenues to the wireless market. According to …

Editor’s note: At the end of each year, the RCR Wireless News editorial staff looks back on the news events that made headlines and decides which were the most significant, …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint PCS announced it will begin selling Samsung Telecommunications America’s new SPH-i330 personal digital assistant/mobile phone device. The device is much like the Samsung SPH-i300, but includes support …

McCain urges auction for MSS spectrum WASHINGTON-The wireless industry got some powerful support Dec. 20 in its quest to have the Federal Communications Commission auction off spectrum in the 2 …

WASHINGTON-It would be nice to say this policy or that technology will shape the direction of the wireless industry in 2003. But neither industry nor official Washington has that luxury. …

Editor’s Note: Each year RCR Wireless News chooses the person who has most impacted the wireless industry. Our choice for 2002 is Dennis Strigl, Verizon Wireless Inc.’s chief executive. Verizon, …

NEW YORK-Following an unsuccessful court challenge by some bondholders, Qwest Communications International Inc. reduced its outstanding debt by $1.9 billion to $22.6 billion through an exchange offer. Qwest offered the …

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands-Electronics giant Royal Philips Electronics announced it will acquire Systemonic, which makes silicon products for wireless local area networks, a move Philips said will help the company add …

MILPITAS, Calif.-Handheld device makers Palm Inc. and Research In Motion Ltd. seemed to fare relatively well over the quarter, with both companies reporting relatively solid earnings. Palm said it managed …

spectrum in Northcoast buy Fresh off the government’s decision to release all participants from the financial responsibility related to the ill-fated auction of NextWave Telecom Inc.’s wireless spectrum, Verizon Wireless …

Grayson’s Geometrix 911 system now supports 1xRTT RESTON, Va.-Grayson Wireless said its Geometrix 911 wireless caller location system now supports wireless networks that use 1xRTT technology. According to Grayson, Geometrix …

CAMBRIDGE, U.K.-Market research firm Analysys has released a new report warning European operators against a price war between fixed and mobile carriers as fixed-to-mobile service substitution continues. Such a battle …

Getting into the holiday spirit, Nextel Communications Inc. and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. provided gift-wrapped updates on the technology upgrades for their respective networks, as well as time frames and what …

The nearly one-year-old Association of Wireless Professionals is offering the industry a new way to better reach its ever-valuable consumer base-through educated wireless retail professionals working on the front lines …

MURRAY HILL, N.J.-Lucent Technologies Inc. released a new chip the company said will work as a smart antenna for CDMA networks, doubling the networks’ capacity for voice and data traffic. …

TOKYO-J-Phone said it has requested permission from the Japanese regulator to unify its regional company price plans into six national price plans and seven discount services for its PDC networks, …

NEW YORK-Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its corporate credit ratings on Dobson Communications Corp. from B+ to B, citing the impact of lower roaming yield on revenue growth, lower …

Nextel ups 800 MHz band relocation offer; consensus parties threaten FCC WASHINGTON-In a Christmas Eve filing, Nextel Communications Inc., private-wireless licensees and the public-safety community threatened the Federal Communications Commission …

RESTON, Va.-Daniel Akerson, chairman and chief executive officer of XO Communications Inc., will quit the company following the completion of XO’s financial restructuring. The company will move into the hands …

cuts back W-CDMA launch plans Analyst: Continuous upgrades confuse market AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said it will push back the launch of its advanced W-CDMA network by six months and …

WASHINGTON-The wireless policy-making world will ring in 2003 in much the same way it rang in 2002: by debating the merits of wireless local number portability. In the final days …