2006

SEATTLE-Yahoo has the early lead in the race to become the wireless Web portal of choice for U.S. consumers, according to new figures from M:Metrics. An average of nearly 13 …

WATERLOO, Ontario-Research In Motion Ltd. finally notched a victory in the courtroom-but not the big win it was hoping for. The BlackBerry maker said the federal patent court in Germany …

RESTON, Va.-Sprint Nextel Corp. is carrying forward the battle against companies that offer cellular phone records for a price. The carrier filed for injunctions against a private investigation company called …

CALABASAS, Calif.- NeoReach Wireless announced it plans to use equipment from Strix Systems, a wireless mesh-network provider, to build a 72-sqare mile municipal Wi-Fi network in Chandler, Ariz. Strix said …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched a new iteration of its prepaid phone service, dubbed “U.” Users of the U prepaid service can pay by the minute, day or month. Pay-per-minute …

Floating towers soon may give some rural North Dakotans better wireless voice and data coverage. Next month, Chandler, Ariz.-based Space Data Corp. is set to trial its latex communications balloons …

WASHINGTON-A pair of studies reach different conclusions on whether cell phones pose health risks to consumers, continuing a trend of conflicting scientific results that keeps consumers scratching their heads and …

OKLAHOMA CITY-Dobson Communications Corp. announced that two of its subsidiaries have been designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETC) in rural areas of Alaska and Minnesota by the states’ respective regulatory …

CERRITO, Calif.-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. reported a deal with Gigante USA Inc. targeting Latino wireless users in Southern California. The carrier said it plans to operate kiosks in all nine Gigante …

DULUTH, Ga.-Systems integration company DataPath Inc. announced it acquired wireless broadband company Third Rail Americas Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. DataPath said the acquisition would allow it …

RESTON, Va.-Wireless Matrix Corp., which provides enterprise wireless data services, extended its contract with satellite provider Mobile Satellite Ventures through January 2008. Wireless Matrix uses satellite services as part of …

NEW YORK-Shuffle Master Inc. made a $3 million private equity investment in Sona Mobile Holdings Corp. via the purchase of 2.3 million shares of common stock, the companies announced. Sona …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-Google Inc. launched a personalized tool bar that allows PC users to share Web pages via text messages. The tool bar-installed in a desktop computer-includes a “send to” …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-A 1,500 square-mile high-speed wireless data network covering Silicon Valley is being planned by the area’s civic and business leaders. A coalition called Smart Valley agreed to begin …

REDMOND, Wash.-Microsoft Corp.’s Mobile & Embedded Devices business-which houses the company’s smart phone efforts-posted its first-ever quarterly operating profit, helping the software giant meet Wall Street earnings expectations for the …

WASHINGTON-CTIA told state regulators earlier this week that they should focus on the needs of wireless consumers-and the benefits wireless can bring to rural America-rather than boosting the revenues of …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms. Carriers Robert W. Baird raised its 2006 estimates on BellSouth …

LOS ANGELES-Move aside Barbie, Bratz now have their own mobile phones. MGA Entertainment-the company behind the Bratz “fashion dolls”-announced it will sell a Bratz-branded mobile phone through select Wal-Mart locations …

BANGALORE, India-SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. said it has acquired Impulsesoft, which specializes in Bluetooth stereo solutions and embedded software. Terms of the cash deal were not disclosed. Impulsesoft’s products include …

WASHINGTON-Wireless and other telecom manufacturers urged the Bush administration to establish a national information and communications technology policy framework that encourages marketplace competition and stimulates investment. The Telecommunications Industry Association …

OKLAHOMA CITY-Dobson Communications Corp. announced that two of its subsidiaries have been designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETC) in rural areas of Alaska and Minnesota by the states’ respective regulatory …

PARIS-Openwave Systems Inc.’s new subsidiary Musiwave said it is powering a new subscription-based, full-track music download service for French carrier SFR. SFR, an affiliate of Vivendi Universal and Vodafone Group …

WASHINGTON-The House and the Senate will each hold separate hearings next month on the ever-burgeoning consumer-privacy scandal regarding the disclosure and sale of telecommunications records. The Senate Commerce consumer-affairs subcommittee …

NEWARK, N.J.-IDT Corp. said Detroit-based GVC Networks L.L.C. bought its Winstar subsidiaries, which provide telecommunications services to various U.S. government agencies. Though terms of the sale have not been disclosed, …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Sprint Nextel Corp. CDMA affiliate iPCS Inc. said it added 18,900 net wireless customers in the quarter ended Dec. 31, and closed out the year with around 495,300 subscribers. …