2004

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Graphical content has emerged as the fastest-growing mass market for wireless data, according to a study from consultancy IDC. Although it generates less revenue than ringtones and games, the …

FORNEBU, Norway-Telenor said it began commercial UMTS services in Norway, with a focus on selling its mobile television service using the new network. Telenor said the UMTS network covers more …

Verizon Communications Inc. said it plans to sell its 20.5-percent stake in Canadian telecommunications provider Telus Corp. beginning early next week. Verizon noted that its current stake in the company …

GENEVA-Echovox Wireless launched a pan-European cross-network multimedia “chat” service. Multimedia messaging service Group Chat users will be able to interact with other users in a chat room by sending both …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Hewlett-Packard Co. has teamed with Swedish multimedia company Hotsip and Finnish mobile software developer Movial to bring a converged instant-conferencing product to market. The companies announced the release of …

SANTA MONICA, Calif.-In a sign of the continuing proliferation of Wi-Fi technology, Boingo Wireless and Tropos Networks have entered a partnership to allow operators of Tropos-powered metro-scale Wi-Fi networks to …

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. slipped past Motorola Inc. to become the world’s No. 2 mobile-phone manufacturer, according to new numbers from research firm Gartner Inc. According to Gartner, Samsung sold …

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp. announced its Latin American operations have increased purchases from Motorola Inc. to meet expected market growth demands. The company’s Celular Express business, which operates in Mexico and …

LONDON-The mobile-gaming space continued its trend toward consolidation as California-based entertainment publisher Sorrent announced it has acquired U.K. game publisher Macrospace. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Macrospace boasts …

MOSCOW-Nortel Networks Ltd. said it won three contracts in Russia for wireless broadband equipment in the 450 MHz band. The value of the deals was not disclosed. Nortel has been …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Regional wireless provider Alltel Corp. said it completed its previously announced $144 million acquisition of wireless assets from fellow operator U.S. Cellular Corp. and U.S. Cellular’s parent company …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Telefon AB Ericsson will team with Warner Music International to offer polyphonic ringtones, mastertones and other mobile content from the label’s artists, the companies announced Wednesday. Ericsson will deliver …

LONDON-Telecom and information technology company LogicaCMG announced Wednesday that it has been chosen by Telefonica Moviles Espana to supply a messaging and applications platform for the Spanish carrier. LogicaCMG’s platform …

ORLAND PARK, Ill.-Andrew Corp. said it won a two-year contract to upgrade Hong Kong’s mass transit railway underground communications network with third-generation wireless technology. The UMTS system will allow passengers …

Following months of speculation, sports entertainment company ESPN Inc. reported a deal with Sprint Corp. to begin offering ESPN-branded wireless services using Sprint PCS’ network. The mobile virtual network operator …

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. said it will begin deploying a UMTS/HSDPA-based network next year with plans to cover most major markets by the end of 2006. The carrier noted the network …

LOS ANGELES-Only a small percentage of trucking fleets have invested in global positioning system-based systems to locate and track trailer locations, despite the fact that many trucking fleets have difficulty …

CHICAGO-The Computing Technology Industry Association and The Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility announced plans to cooperate on developing a vendor-neutral certification program for radio-frequency identification technology. The groups said …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless is offering screen savers and wallpaper from National Geographic. Developer Rocket Mobile is powering the service, which is offered through the carrier’s Get it Now service to …

Canadian wireless provider Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. launched its TXT 2 Landline service, which will allow customers to send text messages to landline phones anywhere in Canada and the United …

WASHINGTON-The wireless industry is a $100 billion business. The U.S. Census Bureau today said revenues for cellular and other wireless telecom firms rose to $104 billion in 2003 from $92 …

HELSINKI, Finland-Comptel Corp. and CSG Systems have partnered to offer complementary provisioning and billing solutions. Comptel will provide its InstantLink provisioning solution as well as its OnlineLink solution for real-time …

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-ABI Research said the Wi-Fi market is benefiting from several forces, including a better economy, handheld devices aimed at niche markets and a variety of new Wi-Fi-ready phones. …

SCARBOROUGH, Ontario-Canadian operator Telus Mobility announced it is selling a new LG Electronics Co. Ltd. phone that features Digit Wireless’ Fastap keypad technology. The LG 6190 phone is available for …

WASHINGTON-The mobile-phone industry has recommended to federal regulators six principles that it believes will improve the nation’s inter-carrier compensation regime. “We believe that fundamental reform of the intercarrier compensation system …