2004

WASHINGTON-It will cost billions of dollars to solve the public-safety interference problem in the 800 MHz band, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission told Congress last week. Powell appeared …

WASHINGTON-Just as the new chair of the House Commerce Committee said Congress may not need to step in to speed the digital TV transition because the movement is gaining steam …

NEW YORK-Tele2 said it obtained 100-percent ownership in Russian GSM operator Sankt-Peterburg Telecom with the purchase of the remaining 14-percent stake in the company that Tele2 previously did not own. …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Aptilo Networks and WeRoam are partnering to add WeRoam’s roaming service to Aptilo’s service management platform as a standard option. The partnership will allow wireless operators and wireless Internet …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-Increased availability of Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets has led to an increased commitment to Bluetooth by automobile original equipment manufacturers, according to a study from ABI research. The availability …

MUNICH, Germany-Siemens AG said ZAO Smarts, the fourth-largest mobile carrier in Russia, has contracted the German vendor to deliver equipment worth $36.4 million. The order includes GSM technology, microwave systems …

VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Investors cheered Sierra Wireless Inc.’s upgraded first-quarter forecast, sending the company’s stock up almost 13 percent to $40.72 per share. Sierra said strong sales of its wireless PC …

WASHINGTON-Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), the new chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said Thursday that Congress may not need to act to accelerate the digital TV transition. “Another provision in …

Acquisition mania seems to have hit the wireless data industry, as wireless enterprise player Sybase Inc. announced a massive $95.2 million acquisition of rival XcelleNet Inc. Separately, Sybase said its …

WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. said that a February proposal from Verizon Wireless to re-band only the 800 MHz spectrum and make Nextel pay for the retuning to solve public-safety interference is …

Verizon Wireless this week launched several sports-related offerings from its Get It Now virtual store. The carrier is offering Play Ball!, a suite of games and applications for baseball fans. …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-Led by UMTS deployments, the wireless infrastructure market has experienced a strong up-tick in recent weeks, according to ABI Research. The group said the wireless infrastructure market is …

TOKYO-Casio Computer Co. Ltd. and Hitachi Ltd. outlined the details of their mobile-phone joint venture, first announced in November. The companies said their new phone business will be called Casio …

BURLINGTON, Mass.-Easy411 said it is offering wireless directory assistance for half the cost wireless carriers traditionally charge. Easy411’s service will cost 65 cents per call vs. wireless carrier offerings, which …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-Operating system company PalmSource Inc. said its 3 million share offering will be priced at about $18 per share. The company’s stock was up slightly after the news to …

Siemens said it will become the latest company to license BlackBerry technology from wireless e-mail company Research In Motion Ltd. The news lends further credibility to industry watchers who argue …

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to do a better job of spurring broadband deployment through the Rural Broadband Program, two senators said Thursday. “The rural broadband program is one …

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.-Jazz Semiconductor said it has entered a partnership to manufacture Magnolia Broadband’s chipset known as DiversityPlus with a view to improving coverage and doubling subscriber reach for operators. …

WASHINGTON-Wireless services may not pose as substantial a threat to the wireline industry as many have speculated, according to new research from the Phoenix Center. “Wireless is not an effective …

WASHINGTON-A powerful lawmaker Wednesday directed the Federal Communications Commission to send its best scientists to meet with the Pentagon to help alleviate the continuing problem of improvised explosive devices. “Would …

WASHINGTON-China, already facing mounting U.S. criticism over its Wi-Fi security standard, said it will consult with U.S. officials on a separate dispute before the World Trade Organization in which the …

HONG KONG-Hong Kong’s Office of Telecommunications Authority announced plans to issue a new license in vacated spectrum of two existing mobile services licenses offering CDMA and TDMA services when the …

LUBBOCK, Texas-Sprint PCS affiliate Alamosa Holdings Inc. has set its dividend, record and ex-dividend dates for its 7.5-percent series B convertible preferred stock. The record date for the second dividend …

PARIS-Sol Trujillo will step down as chief executive officer of Orange S.A., and Sanjiv Ahuja, currently Orange’s chief operating officer, will replace him. Trujillo plans to return to the United …