2005

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp. said it has obtained a waiver from its lenders under its domestic revolving credit facility to extend the date by which it must file its annual report …

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-Fixed-mobile convergence revenues are expected to reach $80 billion in 2009, according to a report from Pyramid Research. That figure equals 6 percent of the total projected communications spending …

MENLO PARK, Calif.-Followap Inc., which provides presence and instant messaging solutions, announced it has released its iFollow Presence Platform for next-generation networks. The latest release of the platform is designed …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint and GE are cooperating on a new offering targeted at the real estate market. Sprint will offer GE’s eKEY and Supra iBox System along with Sprint PCS …

WASHINGTON-Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced legislation providing tax breaks to encourage deployment of broadband Internet facilities in rural and underserved areas. “Without access to broadband technology, …

ATLANTA and NEW YORK-Cingular Wireless has added Gwen Stefani to its portfolio, offering several new ringtones including a 30-second master tone from the singer’s hit “Hollaback Girl.” The carrier will …

WASHINGTON-The cellular industry this week continued to voice opposition to a request that mobile satellite service spectrum surrendered by Boeing Co. and Iridium be redistributed to other licensees. CTIA said …

WASHINGTON-Sometime this month, the Supreme Court will determine the future of broadband. “The next important piece of the broadband puzzle will be revealed when the Supreme Court rules in Brand …

Dobson Communications Corp. denied a Standard & Poor’s report that the regional wireless operator was considering a sale of its financially troubled American Cellular Corp. subsidiary. The S&P online newsletter …

SAN DIEGO-Macromedia will distribute Flash-based applications for BREW-enabled wireless handsets under an agreement announced Friday at Qualcomm’s 2005 BREW Conference. The San Francisco-based developer said it has signed on as …

VIENNA, Va.-Tachyon Networks Inc., which provides global satellite technology solutions, said it raised an additional $7 million in venture-capital financing to fund expansion of its operations. The expansion is focused …

ATLANTA-Comverse Technology Inc. has agreed to license two patents for voicemail and call-forwarding technology from BellSouth Intellectual Property Marketing Corporation, BellSouth said late Thursday. The deal is part of a …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Wireless technology company Ericsson has acquired Spanish software developer NetSpira Networks S.L. in an effort to bolster its mobile data offering, the company said Friday. Terms of the deal …

The following wireless companies received ratings changes or guidance this week from financial services and investment firms. MetroPCS, Nortel, Motorola, Sprint, Alltel, U.S. Cellular and Telus mentioned. Standard & Poor’s …

WASHINGTON-Spectrum in the 700 MHz band is worth $20 billion to the federal treasury, but has a social value of at least $233 billion, according to a study sponsored by …

WASHINGTON-The Japanese Embassy today confirmed the government plans to add three competitors to the mobile-phone market, a move that comes after months of prodding by the U.S. trade representative and …

SAN DIEGO-Verizon Wireless said it will launch location-based services starting in the third quarter. The carrier joins Nextel Communications Inc., Sprint and other wireless carriers in offering LBS services. John …

WASHINGTON-The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Thursday approved the planned sale of Urban Comm’s PCS licenses to Verizon Wireless. Urban Comm plans to sell its remaining licenses to Triton PCS Holdings …

Online security firm McAfee Inc. made two announcements in the wireless security arena with an acquisition and a partnership for over-the-air security. McAfee, which has previously warned the threat of …

Gaming announcements dominated the first day of Qualcomm’s BREW conference, as developers and publishers from around the world unveiled a litany of entertainment titles for the mobile platform. Among the …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-T-Mobile USA Inc. said it has reached an agreement with spokeswoman Catherine Zeta-Jones extending their commercial advertising relationship. Terms of the multi-year extension were not released, though T-Mobile USA …

RESTON, Va.-Nextel Communications Inc. added Motorola Inc.’s i836 handset to its line-up. The new iDEN handset includes access to Nextel’s digital cellular network, the carrier’s Direct Connect walkie-talkie service, the …

SINGAPORE-Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. said it invested $118 million in a 45-percent equity stake in Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd. (PBTL), a CDMA carrier in Bangladesh. Of this investment, $90 million will …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Location specialist SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. will pay $20 million for global positioning system chipset product lines from Motorola Inc., the company announced Thursday. SiRF, which makes tracking …

TOKYO-MTV Network will launch a subscription-based mobile entertainment service in Japan by the end of the month, the Viacom Inc. subsidiary said Thursday. Flux, which is expected to launch June …