2004

WASHINGTON-A leading consumer group asked the Federal Communications Commission to ban mobile-phone and long-distance carriers from hitting consumers with regulatory-related surcharges not mandated by any regulatory agency or law. “The …

DENVER-Bluegrass Cellular has purchased PCS licenses from AT&T Wireless Services Inc., the Michelman Divestiture Trust, Skagit Wireless and the Derby Divestiture Trust. The sellers were represented by Daniels & Associates. …

LONDON-Virgin Mobile in the United Kingdom said it will sell the first phone designed exclusively for left-handed users. The phone, a Sony Ericsson LH-Z200, will sell for about $220 starting …

LINCOLN, Neb.-Centurion Wireless Technologies Inc., which designs and manufactures antennas for wireless communications, has signed Sparco Technologies Inc. as an authorized distributor. Sparco, which distributes Wi-Fi technologies, will offer Centurion’s …

MILPITAS, Calif.-Personal digital assistant maker PalmOne Inc. released Java runtime software from IBM Corp. for its device customers. The runtime will allow Treo 600 and Tungsten users to run applications …

AMSTERDAM-Aptilo Network and Gemtek Systems said they have entered into a partnership to provide wireless local area networks solutions for carriers. Gemtek will offer its access gateways, hotspot-in-a-box solution and …

SAN ANTONIO-SBC Communications Inc. said its FreedomLink Wi-Fi service would be available in 1,500 UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations by the end of this year, with additional installations …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Cisco Systems Inc. said it has unveiled its transportation solutions program for enterprise and consumers for deployments at airports, roadways, public transportation and seaports worldwide. It is a …

LONDON-Top European mobile-phone companies have created a new alliance, Freemove, to promote global mobile services, and to take on Vodafone Group plc, according to several European reports. Partners in the …

NEW YORK-Mobile virtual network operator and prepaid wireless services provider STi Mobile has appointed Don Cunningham national vice president of sales. Cunningham joins from T-Mobile USA Inc., where he was …

TOKYO-Wireless industry leaders continue to push the boundaries of mobile-phone functions, and the latest innovation seems to hit close to home. NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced a new offering that will …

FRANKFURT, Germany-Despite recent claims by company management that it expected its T-Mobile USA Inc. wireless subsidiary would benefit from industry consolidation, Deutsche Telekom AG noted in its 2003 annual report …

WASHINGTON-Fewer complaints regarding wireless local number portability appear were logged at the Federal Communications Commission in the last month. The agency received fewer than 1,000 complaints regarding WLNP from Feb. …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-Nokia Corp. will use Mobile Digital Media to publish its branded multimedia expansion cards for its Series 60-based handsets in the United States, the companies announced. MDM will …

MEXICO-The Mexican government plans to auction spectrum in the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands this year for PCS and radio trunking services, according to the local press there. The …

FRANKFURT, Germany-As the mobile-phone sales increase, the world’s chipmakers continue to look to take advantage of the market opportunity. For example, Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe released its new Mobile Media Processors, …

SAN DIEGO-Handset maker LG Electronics Co. Ltd. announced it will build phones that support Qualcomm Inc.’s BREWChat push-to-talk technology. “By adding BREWChat capabilities to our line of wireless handsets, we …

SAN FRANCISCO-Aligo Inc. announced enhancements to its Mobile Access mobile groupware application offering for the enterprise. The enhanced application features speech-recognition capabilities, standards-based security, integrated access for multiple groupware applications, …

TOKYO-Responding to news reports that it planned to end its investment in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd., NTT DoCoMo released a statement that it has not made a decision about …

TEMPE, Ariz.-In spite of price declines, wireless local area networks chip market witnessed a 176-percent growth in 2003 with Broadcom Inc. as the big winner in revenues, according to a …

WASHINGTON-A group of senators, many of them alumni of the 1996 Farm Team, are urging the Federal Communications Commission to reject a recommendation to restrict universal-service subsidies to primary lines. …

WASHINGTON-Rural Cellular Corp. is asking Congress to extend the deadline for wireless enhanced 911 Phase II service. “The solution to ensure that rural communities receive the same assurances of their …

ATLANTA-Sun Microsystems Inc. and Pronto Networks unveiled the iForce Wi-Fi Hotspot Appliance at last week’s CTIA Wireless 2004 show in Atlanta. The tool enables operators to quickly and cost-effectively roll …

WASHINGTON-The founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), blasted proponents of the Balanced Approach Plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band. “It is …

Energy! The one word used over and over again to describe CTIA’s Wireless show last week in Atlanta was energy, as in “There’s a lot of energy this year.” People …