August 2003

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc announced it agreed to sell Japan Telecom Co. to an affiliate of RHJ Industrial Partners, a Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. fund. Japan Telecom will receive $2.2 billion for …

ATLANTA-Intec Telecom Systems said Ukrainian Mobile Communications (UMC) will use Intec’s Inter-connecT billing solution to help it charge other carriers for using its network facilities. “This new agreement will help …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-The automotive industry will spend about $600 million on radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology this year, according to a new study from market research firm Allied Business Intelligence Inc. …

PALO ALTO, Calif.-Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the satellite manufacturing subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, announced that its Optus C1 communications, which covers Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region, as …

ASPEN, Colo.-Two Federal Communications Commission officials put wireless communications technology to use when stormy weather trapped them in a gondola in Aspen during the Progress & Freedom Foundation’s Aspen Summit …

DENVER-Wireless broadband communications services provider USURF America Inc. will acquire broadband Internet access service provider Pipeline Networks of Colorado L.L.C. The acquisition will include Pipeline’s operating assets and approximately 500 …

LONDON-Symbian Ltd., which designs operating systems for smart phones, said its Symbian OS unit shipments grew in the first half of the year to 2.68 million from 230,000 in the …

COLUMBIA, Md.-The engineers at the Federal Communications Commission have completed their examination of various proposals to solve the interference problem experienced by public-safety agencies in the 800 MHz band. And …

TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced it will limit the number of e-mail messages users can send to 1,000 per day, beginning Oct. 20. The company said the move is part of …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-Spreadtrum announced its Spreadtrum GSM/GPRS module, SM5100, has achieved full type approval (FTA) certification and is now in volume production with multiple designs. The module offers wireless voice communication …

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-New research shows wireless overtaking the traditional personal digital assistant market, and the research firm advises PDA players like Dell Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Palm Inc. to prepare …

SEATTLE-Ring tones and music have become a major part of the wireless industry, as providers from the United States to Japan launch new audio services. Indeed, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. …

Dobson Communications Corp. signed a three-year GSM/GPRS roaming agreement with T-Mobile USA Inc. providing both companies with access to each other’s networks throughout the United States. Dobson recently announced plans …

Sprint introduced a new messaging offering that extends e-mail and instant messaging services to mobile phones and other devices, news that could help Sprint’s wireless business Sprint PCS. Sprint Messenger …

N. BILLERICA, Mass.-Radio Waves Inc. announced it is sponsoring a contest to find the company that can use Radio Waves’ antennas to achieve the longest reliable path in the 5 …

REDMOND, Wash.-MSNBC.com announced the launch of its wireless service known as the MSNBC Wireless Traveler to allow users of mobile laptops to access news, including top national and international coverage, …

Nokia Corp. purchased multiplayer gaming technology from Sega Corp. and will use it to offer multiplayer functions to its upcoming N-Gage mobile-phone/video-game device. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. …

NEW YORK-Bankrupt satellite communications company Loral Space & Communications has received an offer from EchoStar Communications Corp. for its six North American telecommunications satellites. EchoStar also indicated interest in acquiring …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless expanded its board of directors from seven members to nine members with the appointment of Lowell McAdam, its chief operating officer, and Julian Horn-Smith, group COO of …

WASHINGTON-Texas officials plan to re-file criminal charges against a man who allegedly was using his cell phone when his vehicle hit another car, killing two family members in January 2002. …

WASHINGTON-A Bahrain Telecommunications Co. official said today his firm has entered a joint venture with Iraqi, Arab and Singapore investors to submit bids on Iraqi mobile-phone licenses tomorrow. Rashid Al …

Nextel Communications Inc. and RadioFrame Networks Inc. launched an integrated cellular/wireless local area network system designed to improve in-building coverage and capacity for wireless voice and data services and provide …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Stratex Networks Inc. will provide solutions for Bangladesh Telegraph & Telephone Board (BTTB) to build high-speed, medium-capacity microwave links to expand the county’s telecommunications infrastructure under a contract …

LONDON-Mobile operators are positioned to beat other content providers at their own game, according to new research from Ovum. The research firm suggests mobile operators will generate more revenue from …

NEW YORK-TTP Communications said it suffered a pre-tax loss of between $5 million and $5.5 million for the six months to Sept. 30. In the same period last year, the …