January 2004

WASHINGTON-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger-despite lacking jurisdiction over the California Public Utilities Commission-is quietly pressing regulators to follow an executive order freezing pending regulations until their economic impact can be assessed, setting …

When tight carrier capital spending forced tower companies to focus on their primary businesses, non-core assets like managed rooftop portfolios justifiably became a second priority. But as the sector rebounds, …

SEOUL, South Korea-Korean mobile operators SK Telecom and KTF launched their W-CDMA networks last week to meet a year-end deadline, although full commercial services are not expected until March. A …

Few wireless companies have been able to target the often sought-after youth market like Boost Mobile L.L.C. Despite being owned by business-focused Nextel Communications Inc. and being available only in …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc announced it will use search technology from Fast Search & Transfer (FAST), which the companies said will allow users to search across an extensive portfolio of content …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless signed a definitive agreement to acquire 10-megahertz PCS licenses from American Wireless License Group L.L.C. covering 1.1 million potential customers in the Arkansas Basic Trading Areas of …

Industry has hailed the coming of packet technology, which has turned circuit networks into anachronisms. But the technology still has its challenges, one of which is “islands of IP.” It …

In the search for killer applications and other services that rake in revenue, independent software vendors are the new brides of wireless. With software expanding, the value of the hardware …

FORT WORTH, Texas-Mobility Electronics Inc. and RadioShack Corp. announced a global distribution agreement under which Mobility can sell RadioShack-manufactured power products to non-RadioShack outlets. Under the agreement, Mobility will exclusively …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc said it expanded its partner network agreement with Kuwait mobile operator Mobile Telecommunications Co. to include the Bahraini market. MTC-Vodafone launched services in Bahrain Dec. 28 after …

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan-Nortel Networks Ltd. said it will expand Pakistani mobile operator Pak Telecom Mobile Ltd.’s GSM 900 MHz national network under a $56 million contract. Nortel said it is the …

TORONTO-Nortel Networks Corp. announced last week amended financial reports for full-year 2002 and the first two quarters of 2003, following up on a previously announced plan to restate financial results …

ISTANBUL, Turkey-Turkcell said Turkey’s Telecommunication Authority has fined the mobile operator $64.1 million, claiming Turkcell made inadequate annual frequency usage fee payments. TA has demanded $11.3 million for insufficient payment …

HONG KONG-Chinese equipment vendor Huawei Technologies co. Ltd. said it agreed with Hong Kong wireless carrier Sunday to supply equipment and financing to assist with the rollout of Sunday’s third-generation …

If the predictions pan out, wireless carriers will loosen their purse strings in 2004 to further build out and enhance their networks. To appease unsatisfied consumers and to prove their …

After almost four years of waiting, Jason Devitt believes the time is now. Packet-switched networks are online. Mobile phones feature color graphics. And-perhaps most importantly-carriers can bill for third-party applications. …

OKLAHOMA CITY-Dobson Communications Corp. said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of NPI-Omnipoint Wireless L.L.C., which provides GSM service in northern Michigan, for approximately $28 …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Swedish company Svenska UMTS-nat AB, jointly owned by TeliaSonera and Tele2, has agreed to purchase the fourth third-generation license in Sweden from Orange Sverige. Svenska already owns a UMTS …

Qualcomm Inc. announced Pegaso Comunicaciones y Sistemas S.A. de C.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pegaso Telecomunicaciones, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican wireless operator now owned by Telefonica Moviles, has …

TORONTO-Canadian wireless operator Rogers AT&T Wireless reported an agreement with handset supplier LG Electronics Canada Inc. to provide LG GSM/GPRS handsets to Rogers AT&T Wireless customers. The companies said the …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless and minority interest parent company Vodafone Group plc said they plan to launch transatlantic text messaging capabilities between Verizon Wireless’ CDMA network and 10 Vodafone GSM networks …

Even as some are predicting the impending demise of WAP, others are betting their futures on it. One such player is Obigo, a longtime participant in wireless data that is …

Succeeding with a business partner in China is not always about great business acumen. Sometimes, it boils down to opening a taste bud for a snake delicacy. Two companies, Analog …

New ownership has provided mobile satellite services company Globalstar L.P. with hope in the new year. The company last month announced plans to be acquired by equity investor Thermo Capital …

A savvy Amazon.com shopper can find Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P.’s color-screen T616 camera phone with service from AT&T Wireless Services Inc. for -$150. That’s right: Buyers will actually receive …