AAT Communications Corp. announced it plans to acquire all tower assets of Signal One L.L.C., a privately held Chattanooga, Tenn.-based tower owner and site management company. The assets include 226 owned towers and 199 managed sites mainly located in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. The deal follows AAT’s recently announced plans to acquire up to 97 towers from US Unwired Inc. The combined transactions, expected to close at least in part by mid-March, will expand AAT’s portfolio to approximately 1,800 owned towers and more than 6,000 managed rooftop and tower sites across 48 states.
Nextel Communications Inc. announced the availability of Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry 7510 wireless handheld, the first BlackBerry equipped with a speakerphone. The BlackBerry 7510 provides integrated access to one or multiple corporate and personal e-mail accounts. It also features a built-in cell phone, personal organizer and Web browser, supports Nextel Online Wireless Web and is the only BlackBerry handheld to offer Nationwide Direct Connect. Built on Java 2 Micro Edition, Nextel said the BlackBerry 7510 can integrate with a variety of corporate data applications targeted to key vertical segments such as financial, government, distribution, professional services, real estate, field sales and service, construction and manufacturing.
Motorola Inc. said it will develop personal wireless location solutions using a platform developed by Wheels of Zeus Inc., the startup founded last year by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Wheels of Zeus has developed a wireless platform that offers a range of location, status, control and communications offerings for consumers and businesses. It includes a reference design, wireless network and online service. Motorola’s Broadband and Communications Sector plans to license the technology as part of its strategy to deliver next-generation home electronics products for consumers and service providers.
