May 2004

AUSTIN-The Wi-Fi Alliance announced it has adopted a color-coded Wi-Fi Certified logo and a product Interoperability Certificate for its Wi-Fi Certified branding program, designed to help consumers in wireless local …

WASHINGTON-The Department of Defense denied adopting a policy against camera phones, saying imaging devices are already covered by guidelines for wireless communications by the military and the Geneva Convention’s treatment …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc reported a 10-percent increase in revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, but a net loss of $16.3 billion. The global carrier added 13.7 million new …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Repeater manufacturer Avitec S.E. has acquired the technology assets of Littlefeet Inc., the provider of distributed coverage solutions for wireless carriers that went defunct in March. Littlefeet “synergizes very …

WALL, N.J.-Centennial Communications Corp. said it was evaluating strategic alternatives for its wholly owned Centennial Puerto Rico Cable TV Corp. subsidiary, which currently serves approximately 73,500 subscribers in southern and …

WASHINGTON-A bill banning 16- and 17-year-olds from using mobile phones while driving passed the California Senate Tuesday. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Debra Bowen (D), was approved by a 24-to-11 …

WASHINGTON-Government regulators have reportedly approved a settlement with NextWave Telecom Inc. regarding the company’s $4.3 billion debt it owes the Federal Communications Commission for wireless licenses it acquired during auctions …

LEVITTOWN, Pa.-FTS Wireless Inc., which operates retail wireless locations that sell wireless services and operate Wi-Fi hot spots, said it will begin offering bundled Wi-Fi Internet service combined with Voice-over-Internet …

ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and T-Mobile USA Inc. reported plans to end their network-sharing arrangement, which currently provides Cingular access to T-Mobile USA’s network in New York City in exchange for …

Wi-Fi service provider Wayport this week unveiled Wi-Fi World, a new pricing model for its Wi-Fi-enabled McDonald’s restaurants in which service will be provided for a fixed monthly fee per …

BOULDER, Colo.-Cellport Systems Inc. said Harman Becker Automotive Systems, a division of Harman International, has signed a worldwide license to use Cellport’s patented Plug & Play Telematics architecture in any …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-A non-stop talking contest initiated in Albuquerque, N.M., by Leap Wireless International Inc.’s Cricket Communications Inc. subsidiary was still going strong after 72 hours as two contestants continued in …

NEW YORK-Standard & Poor’s Rating Services assigned its ‘B+’ bank loan rating and a ‘3’ recovery rating to Nextel Partners Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary Nextel Partners Operating Corp. $800 million …

GREENSBORO, N.C.-RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD), provider of radio frequency integrated circuits, has completed its acquisition of Bluetooth solution provider Silicon Wave Inc. RFMD expects the acquisition to expand its …

NEW YORK-Carrier consolidation and increasing common standards are forcing wireless equipment makers to cut prices, according to a new report from Heavy Reading, a market research division of Light Reading …

REDMOND, Wash.-Ahead of the final voting episode of “American Idol,” AT&T Wireless Services Inc. unveiled a new text messaging package allowing customers to send 1,000 text messages and receive unlimited …

Several third-generation commercial launches were announced in markets across Western Europe this week, with market leaders Vodafone Group plc, Telefonica Moviles and Telecom Italia Mobile all beginning services in various …

Motorola Inc. has unveiled what it describes as the first cross-technology Push-to-Talk over Cellular solution rooted in wireless networks. This announcement comes against the background of an industry search for …

BOSTON-American Tower Corp. announced its operating subsidiaries have refinanced their previous credit facility with a new $1.1 billion senior secured credit facility. The new credit facility consists of a $400 …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson announced two contracts this week, one worth $1.5 billion and the other valued at $120 million. The company signed a 10-year $1.5 billion contract with MTN Group …

WALLINGFORD, Conn.-SmartLink Radio Networks Inc. announced the opening of a new office in Billerica, Mass., to house its eastern regional sales, corporate marketing, business development and engineering development divisions. The …

Tim Berners-Lee, widely credited with creating the World Wide Web, published a paper criticizing the wireless industry’s attempts to create “.mobi,” a mobile-specific Internet domain name. The Technical Advisory Group …

Software infrastructure company VeriSign Inc. announced a $273 million acquisition of German wireless content company Jamba!, a move VeriSign said would add wireless content distribution, billing and transaction technologies to …

CAMBRIDGE, U.K.-Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd. (CPS) said it has raised $9 million from existing investors to drive adoption of its Matrix location technology. The technology provides accuracy within 100 meters …

BERLIN-Siemens announced it will discontinue its line of fashion-focused mobile phones sold under its Xelibri brand. Launched early last year, the line-up of phones included devices made to look like …