Boston Communications Group Inc. said it will contest a class-action suit brought by some shareholders in the wake of last month’s $128 million patent-infringement verdict. The new suit seeks unspecified damages against the wireless network access management and back-end services provider, claiming among other things that BCGI failed to disclose adverse facts regarding last month’s suit by Freedom Wireless. An eight-person jury found that BCGI had infringed on Freedom’s patents, awarding Freedom a judgment that could soar past $400 million. BCGI plans to appeal the Freedom judgment.
Global Signal Inc. filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that calls for the company to sell up to $1 billion in debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or warrants. The company said it will use any proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, including repayment or refinancing of outstanding indebtedness as well as financing of potential future acquisitions. Global Signal recently closed its $1.2 billion transaction with Sprint Corp., which gives it exclusive rights to lease or operate about 6,600 of the carrier’s towers for a period of 32 years.
A Finnish inventor filed a patent lawsuit against Nokia Corp. on the company’s home turf in Helsinki, alleging Nokia’s products infringe on his patented hands-free technology for mobile phones. A Nokia spokesman said the company was looking into the matter but declined to comment further. Patent dispute firm Anadeus Ltd. filed the suit on behalf of inventor Jari Lahtinen. The suit, filed in the Helsinki District Court, alleges Nokia’s hands-free technology for mobile phones infringes on Lahtinen’s 2003 patent.
SK-EarthLink announced it will sell the Treo smart phone from PalmOne Inc. through retailer OfficeMax. The device will sell for $450, with calling plans starting at $40 per month and Internet access for $20 per month. “The EarthLink Wireless Treo 650 smart phone with exclusive TotalAccess software is perfect for mobile professionals,” said Brent Cobb an SK-Earthlink executive vice president.
