2003

Wireless took another major step toward third-dimensional technology with the ratification of the OpenGL ES application development standard for wireless devices. The 3D graphics forum Khronos Group said it ratified the standard, and wireless heavyweights from Motorola Inc. to Nokia …

Sprint PCS continued to improve on last year’s difficult quarterly results, posting 360,000 net customer additions during the second quarter of this year, which was a 17-percent increase compared with the 308,000 net customer additions the carrier posted last year …

INDIANAPOLIS-Brightpoint Inc. released positive second-quarter 2003 financial results, reflecting an upturn in demand in the Asia-Pacific region. The company recorded revenues of $379 million, up 25 percent from the year-ago quarter, which Brightpoint attributed to strong market demand in the …

TOKYO-Mobile-phone maker Sharp Corp. said net income was up about 13 percent to $117 million, and sales of its camera phones helped spur sales in a down worldwide economy. Sharp said net sales of its audio-visual equipment, which includes camera …

In what industry experts see as a counterpunch to WinTel, a Microsoft-Intel partnership, some major industry players have a formed a new alliance that focuses on peripherals, microprocessors and software interfaces for mobile devices. Nokia Corp., Texas Instruments Inc., STMicroelectronics …

Motorola Inc. could have plans to build a disposable mobile phone through a new licensing deal with disposable phone company Hop-On. Officials for neither Motorola nor Hop-On were immediately available for comment. According to a short news release from Hop-On, …

MANKATO, Minn.-Rural telecommunications provider HickoryTech Corp. reported $3.968 million in wireless revenues during the second quarter, which was a slight improvement compared with the $3.963 million the company reported for the second quarter of 2002. HickoryTech posted improved wireless revenues …

While wireless trends emphasize the movement to data, the use of voice as an enabler tends to tail off to the background in carriers’ marketing schemes. But as the new announcement by IBM Corp. on real estate indicates, voice keeps …

A number of New York area sub-dealers said they received notice last week from T-Mobile USA Inc. telling the dealers that if they began selling wireless products or services from Cingular Wireless L.L.C., T-Mobile USA would terminate their sub-dealer contracts. …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Openwave Systems Inc. had a fiscal fourth-quarter net loss of $25.7 million, or 14 cents per share, compared with the previous quarter when it had a net loss of $23.2 million, or 13 cents per share. The company’s …

TAIPEI, Taiwan-Two Taiwanese mobile operators have agreed to merge, marking continuing consolidation in Taiwan’s mobile market. Far EasTone Telecommunications said it will acquire KG Telecommunications for about $877 million. KGT shareholders will be offered to convert one KGT share into …

Nokia Corp. requested international arbitration in a licensing disagreement with wireless technology company InterDigital Communications Corp., news that sent InterDigital’s stock down almost 25 percent after the news. The company’s stock was back up slightly to $18.35 in trading the …

MEXICO CITY-The previously announced agreement on the sale of Verizon Communications Inc.’s and Vodafone Group plc’s stakes in Mexican mobile operator Grupo Iusacell SA came under doubt late last week when U.S.-based Fintech Advisory offered $20 million in a counter …

ARLINGTON, Va.-Nextel Communications has asked a federal judge to dismiss Verizon Wireless’ allegations last month that Nextel improperly obtained and tested samples of Verizon’s unreleased press-to-talk handsets. “Verizon’s lawsuit is a classic example of a market Goliath with an inferior …

Interest in Wi-Fi technology surged again last week as Sprint PCS announced it will begin offering a Wi-Fi solution later this summer that initially will provide its customers with access to high-speed Internet services in more than 800 locations across …

As the wireless industry aims to work together to exploit data initiatives and conserve cash through network sharing, it continues to play hard ball whenever it has the chance. The competition is the enemy, after all. It must be frustrating …

WASHINGTON-A day before the civilian administrator of Iraq addressed the National Press Club and the U.S. Department of Commerce released the details of an auction of Iraqi mobile-phone licenses, a mobile-phone network began operations in Baghdad. Batelco Iraq, a new …

KIRKLAND, Wash.-Nextel Partners Inc. named Barry Rowan vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, overseeing the financial management of the company. Rowan, who is scheduled to join Nextel Partners Aug. 18, previously served as principal of consulting and private investment …

Sprint PCS can be largely thanked (or blamed, depending on your outlook) for what those in the industry term the “Asian invasion.” Sprint in the 1990s made the bold and risky decision to use an untried wireless technology-CDMA-to launch its …

Two-way messaging devices may have a niche in emergency services communications. U.S. emergency service organizations need an effective way to guarantee that their wireless devices and their users receive the emergency messages that are intended for them, according to research …

The advent of packet-data networks and all the resulting applications-from picture messaging to push-to-talk services-creates a host of new issues that network operators and other wireless players must confront. And one important although potentially overlooked issue has absolutely nothing to …

Driver distraction has become an increasing debate among lawmakers, with Congress likely to consider legislation soon that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving-nationwide. Such legislation would put a damper on the futuristic plans of the automotive …

SAN FRANCISCO-MarketWatch.com Inc. announced it purchased news and information provider Pinnacor Inc. for about $103 million. Pinnacor, formerly known as ScreamingMedia, offers a range of wireless news and information updates and counts Tribune Media Services, Virgin Mobile and Verizon Wireless …

In the early days of wireless, users could expect their phones to store, perhaps, 100 names and phone numbers. Today, users in some cases can expect their phones to hold an entire half-hour TV show, complete with audio and video. …

BOULDER, Colo.-SandCherry Inc. recently committed to refining its focus by working with partners to offer complete mobility solutions to its enterprise and service provider customers, an announcement that was followed by a flurry of partnership deals and product releases that …