2005

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.-Six organizations have joined the Computing Technology Industry Association’s RFID certification initiative, which is focused on developing a vendor-neutral certification in radio-frequency identification technology. The groups include the …

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.-SmartServ Online Inc. said it has added direct dialing international calling services to its Uphonia prepaid mobile virtual network operator offering. Uphonia customers previously had to use 1-800 …

WARWICK, R.I.-Wireless broadband service provider ICOA Inc. said it signed a three-year agreement with the Norfolk Airport Authority for ICOA’s subsidiary Airport Network Solutions to provide public and private Wi-Fi …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission today extended truth-in-billing rules to mobile-phone carriers and said regulatory recovery fees cannot be disguised as government-mandated taxes. But the agency also ruled state regulations governing …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it has unveiled a payment solution that simplifies the business model among content providers, mobile operators and consumers. Known as Internet Payment eXchange, the company said …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Hoops hysteria hit mobile phones this week, as Sprint PCS launched an offering of voice tones from cacophonous college basketball commentator Dick Vitale and an ESPN-branded application based …

The wireless carrier trade association agreed to produce guidelines for managing wireless porn, even as porn giant Larry Flynt announced plans to enter the U.S. wireless market. CTIA said Tuesday …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc and Japanese handset maker Toshiba announced a strategic partnership to market a range of exclusive third-generation handsets in Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The relationship marks …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has asked Alltel Corp. to provide additional information in regard to its pending $6 billion acquisition of Western Wireless Corp. The request, which was filed March …

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.-On-demand mobile TV provider GoTV announced a hip-hop themed video offering for wireless subscribers. Dubbed PurePhat, the channel will deliver industry news, music and special programs centered on …

NEW YORK-Once again, the tower operators are postponing their earnings releases for the fourth quarter. The major players, American Tower Corp., Crown Castle International and Global Signal Inc., said they …

Phone makers released a variety of high-tech wares in conjunction with the CeBIT show. Among those making announcements were: Motorola Inc., which showed off a range of new handsets. The …

HANNOVER, Germany-Four wireless infrastructure suppliers announced contract wins with carriers around the world. Lucent Technologies Inc. said it won a contract with T-Systems and Caymanone to provide a third-generation network …

PALO ALTO, Calif.-Danger Inc. announced T-Mobile in Germany will join T-Mobile in the United States in selling its innovative Hiptop device. T-Mobile in Germany will sell it as the T-Mobile …

HAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom-The North American mobile game market will increase tenfold during the next five years, exploding into a $4.1 billion industry, according to a new study by Jupiter Research. …

SEOUL, South Korea-Wireless data behemoth WiderThan expanded its mobile music offerings Wednesday, launching a global service to deliver ringtones, ring-back tones, music videos and streaming tunes. The sister company of …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-Citing the pending completion of a review of its accounting for operating leased towers, Western Wireless Corp. said it is delaying the full release of fourth-quarter and year-end 2004 …

SAN FRANCISCO-Mobile messaging and billing company mBlox Inc. scored $7.5 million from Orix Venture Finance L.L.C. The company to date has raised more than $25.8 million in funding. “Orix chose …

Kodiak Network’s rapidly expanding Real-Time Exchange System and accompanying Advanced Voice Services applications received another set of updates, which the company said further advances the platform beyond a push-to-talk offering. …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-Nextel Communications Inc. extended its current contract with modular radio solutions provider RadioFrame Networks Inc. to include a multi-million dollar purchase of additional MC-Series Base Stations solutions and RadioBlade …

WASHINGTON-A coalition of nine local and public-safety advocacy groups, led by the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials, released a statement urging Congress to pass a hard date to end TV’s …

WASHINGTON-Connecticut State Sen. Andrea Stillman (D) is pushing legislation that would ban cell-phone use at gas stations and impose a $250 fine for violations. “I know when we pump gas …

LONDON-Wireless carriers Vodafone Group plc and Telesystem International Wireless Inc. said they are in discussions regarding the possible sale of TIW’s wireless interests in Eastern Europe. Vodafone said any offer …

BOSTON-American Tower Corp. said it will postpone its 2004 earnings release for the second time to enable it to complete the year-end audit of the company. The company had earlier …

IRVING, Texas-Nokia Corp. said it has demonstrated live Internet Protocol multimedia applications over a commercial CDMA2000 network. The announcement underlines Nokia’s commitment to CDMA technology. The vendor has been known …