2005

MEXICO CITY-America Movil S.A., the Mexico-based wireless service provider, said it acquired 100 percent of Chilean wireless carrier Smartcom for $472 million from Spanish company Endesa Participadas S.A. Smartcom has …

As profit margins from voice become razor-thin, operators are hoping to push lucrative content and applications to bulk up the bottom line. Ironically, they’re looking to voice-driven technologies to help. …

ALAMEDA, Calif.-UTStarcom Inc. posted a loss in the second quarter, and its third-quarter outlook offered no relief, news that helped send its stock down more than 6 percent to around …

YOKNEAM, Israel-In a move that will expand its U.S. presence, Mind CTI Ltd., a real-time mediation, billing and customer-care solutions provider, reached an agreement to acquire U.S.-based Sentori Inc., which …

LONDON-Wireless and online download services are fueling a dramatic surge in digital music offerings, according to a study from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The group’s annual report …

Sprint Corp. received an important endorsement for its pending acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc. as the Federal Communications Commission granted its approval for the deal, which will solidify the new …

Independent regional operators posted mixed second-quarter results that in most cases included sagging customer growth, but increased revenue per subscriber bolstered by growing wireless data usage. Recently strengthened Alltel Corp., …

CARROLLTON, Texas-Mobile-phone distributor CellStar Corp. owned up to its financial failings in China with an admission that its employees used unauthorized tactics to boost the company’s revenues and then hid …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-T-Mobile USA Inc. announced it will sell the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. x495 for $50 with a service contract. The phone features an internal antenna, tri-band GSM capabilities and …

The U.S. launch of Tiger Telematics Inc.’s Gizmondo portable video-game device, as outlined on page 18 of this week’s issue, has been delayed until October. The company blamed the delay …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Friday changed the band plan for advanced wireless services in the 2 GHz band, making additional licenses available in rural areas. “The minor modifications we make …

Nokia Corp.’s longtime Chief Executive Jorma Ollila announced he will step down next year, paving the way for the head of the company’s mobile-phone operations to take the wheel. The …

A District Court judge in Collin County, Texas, ruled in favor of Ericsson Inc. at an Aug. 1 hearing for injunctive relief against distributor MarketShare Telecom, according to Ericsson. The …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. launched service in Fresno, Calif., extending its footprint throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Leap also offers service south of Fresno in Visalia, as well as …

PARIS-Alcatel Alsthom announced it will double its existing GSM mobile network in Kosovo, having been chosen by Vala900, a division of Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo. Alcatel said its solution …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.-Brightpoint Inc. entered the mobile content space via an agreement with InProdicon AB, which distributes digital content in the Nordic region. The agreement between Brightpoint Sweden AB and InProdicon …

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.-InterDigital Communications Corp. said it will continue its battle with Nokia Corp. over royalty payments for InterDigital’s 2- and 2.5-generation technologies. The company said it would oppose …

Tiger Telematics Inc. is scheduled to release its high-end Gizmondo portable video-game device in the United States Thursday, although information on the launch is hard to come by. The company …

Motorola Inc. is in the process of rolling out a new user interface the company hopes will take it into the multimedia age. “We’re not building a phone; we’re building …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.-Mobile virtual network operator ESPN Mobile signed an agreement with Brightpoint North America L.P. for Brightpoint to provide integrated logistics services to ESPN Mobile. Services include inventory management, custom …

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. staged a minor coup last week as the industry’s largest operator signed a 10-year deal to replace smaller, but faster-growing rival Verizon Wireless at RadioShack Corp.’s more …

As tower companies’ second-quarter earnings begin to roll in, three firms posted net losses last week, but industry analysts said the companies are on the right track and most rate …

Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA Inc. and Nextel Communications Inc. all gained bragging rights from this year’s J.D. Power and Associates Wireless Call Quality Performance Study. Customers rated each carrier highest …

A few weeks before our wedding nine years ago, my husband and I set out to buy something cool for his groom’s gifts. Back in July 1996, we decided that …

WASHINGTON-The Rural Cellular Association has asked the Federal Communications Commission to change the band plan for the 700 MHz spectrum that is expected to be made available with the transition …