2006

SAN FRANCISCO-Razz headset vendor Phonebites Inc. announced a new partnership with Strax as well as a licensing agreement for audio clips from the cult hit “Napoleon Dynamite.” Phonebites said it …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent to Google Inc. for a technology that makes more data exchanges possible at faster speeds on a CDMA-based wireless network. …

IRVINE, Calif.-AskMeNow, which provides access to Internet-based information from mobile devices, launched an interactive voice response system to improve its mobile lifestyle network. The system allows customers to sign up …

TOKYO-Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. plans to invest an additional $300 million in the top Philippine wireless carrier, Philippine Long Distance Telephone, according to a public statement by President …

MOSCOW-Vimpel Communications, which provides cellular service in Russia, Kazakstan and the Ukraine, has acquired a 60-percent stake in Tacom, a wireless carrier in Tajikistan. VimpelCom paid $12 million for the …

ATLANTA-SouthernLinc Wireless said it is providing wireless priority service, a key post-9/11 telecom offering available to officials in federal, state and local governments and to critical industry executives. “The ability …

SEOUL, South Korea-Qualcomm Inc. is firming up its plans for mobile TV with news that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and LG Electronics Co. Ltd. will build phones to support its …

WATERLOO, Ontario-Research In Motion Ltd. received more good news last week as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled against two more patents from foe NTP Inc. The office issued …

LAS VEGAS-Motorola Inc.’s next music-centric phone will support its new iRadio service but not Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes software, the company announced. The handset manufacturer said its upcoming music subscription …

MELBOURNE, Fla.-Antenna vendor SkyCross announced it scored $14 million in its latest funding round. TL Ventures led the round. SkyCross, which sells antennas for mobile phones, PC data cards and …

TUCSON, Ariz.-Cell Wireless Corp. is set to acquire EzTel L.L.C., a Voice over Internet Protocol wireless broadband and long-distance provider, according to a contingent contract between the companies. Mississippi-based EzTel …

KUALA LAMPUR, Malaysia-Maxis Communications Berhad of Malaysia and its Indian Joint Venture Company, JVC, plan to acquire Indian mobile carrier Aircel Ltd. The two companies agreed to spend $1.08 billion …

OSAKA, Japan-Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. said it entered the wireless broadband arena through a partnership with last-mile wireless broadband technology provider Soma Networks Inc. The companies said they will jointly …

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.-Human RFID chipmaker VeriChip Corp. said it filed for an initial public offering. The company did not release information on the number of shares it will release or …

LANCASTER, U.K.-Monstermob Group plc said it plans to spend $27 million to acquire Mobicon, a Russian wireless content provider. U.K.-based Monstermob, which sells mobile game, images and ringtones, is looking …

DALLAS-Texas Instruments Inc. plans to purchase ZigBee chip designer Chipcon, which creates chips used in short-range, low-power wireless radio frequency devices such as wireless keyboards. TI said it plans to …

Comptel Corp., which provides network management services and software, has announced an agreement to supply its services to Easterbrooke Cellular Corp., a mobile service provider in central West Virginia. Easterbrooke …

Personal computer? Check. High-speed Internet? Got it. Cell phone? Definitely. The checklist of high-tech gadgets and services that Americans can’t live without keeps getting longer, a recent Associated Press poll …

When Cingular Wireless L.L.C. bought AT&T Wireless Services Inc. in 2004, creating the nation’s largest cellular carrier, Verizon Wireless found itself handing over its title belt as the U.S. heavyweight …

With U.S. operators in the midst of building out 3G networks, wireless firms from around the world are heeding the words of Neil Diamond: They’re coming to America. But, like …

Growth of the wireless location-pinpointing industry is evident with a flurry of company announcements. Boston-based Skyhook Wireless said it raised $6.5 million in its first round of Series B financing. …

WASHINGTON-The Electronic Frontier Foundation blasted a federal judge’s decision to give the Department of Justice access to cell-phone location information. The ruling appears to be within the scope of the …

WASHINGTON-Lynch Interactive Corp. again vehemently denied any wrongdoing in its activities with mobile-phone auctions. The company performed bidding and auction administrative services for a variety of bidders in recent years. …

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.-InterDigital Communications Corp. scored another court victory as a New York judge confirmed a ruling that calls for Nokia Corp. to pay InterDigital around $250 million for …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. will team with KDDI Corp. to explore broadcasting wireless video programming to subscribers of the Japanese operator. The companies will establish MediaFlo Japan Planning Inc., a joint …