June 2007

GPS chipmaker SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. announced it purchased Centrality Communications Inc, which makes processors for “mobile navigation devices,” in a deal worth $283 million in stock and cash.SiRF’s stock …

The New Jersey legislature passed and sent to Gov. Jon Corzine (D) a bill to bolster the state’s existing ban on cellphones while driving, and to also outlaw text messaging …

AT&T Mobility has joined rivals Verizon Wireless Sprint Nextel Corp. and trend-starter T-Mobile USA Inc. in offering an unlimited messaging option for family plans. AT&T Mobility’s unlimited family messaging plan …

A partial ban on the importation of new handset models containing Qualcomm Inc.’s 3G chips will remain in effect as the chip vendor’s appeal is heard in a federal court …

Welcome to our new Friday feature, Week in Review. Every Friday, RCR Wireless News will run through the major events of the past week, outlining what happened and speculating on …

Shares of Openwave Systems Inc. continued to slide after Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund withdrew its offer to buy a majority stake in the company.Already Openwave’s second-largest shareholder, Harbinger earlier …

Speech-recognition company Nuance Communications Inc. announced it will purchase Tegic Communications Inc., which supplies the popular T9 predictive-text software for cellphones, in a deal worth $265 million. Nuance said the …

SAN DIEGO-The BREW 2007 conference opened with a rock-concert feel this morning as a large instrumental band spread out on the conference floor-some musicians wheeled around the audience in a …

CHICAGO-WiMAX, gaining momentum domestically and globally, will serve to “mobilize the Internet” in a way the voice-centric networks of cellular could never do, according to Barry West, president of Sprint …

Bell Industries Inc. said it would sell an undisclosed chunk of 2.5 GHz spectrum to Sprint Nextel Corp. for $13.5 million, pending approval by the Federal Communication Commission. FCC approval …

The two largest telecom carriers in Canada are in discussions over a possible tie-up, although no official deal has been announced. Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. said they are pursuing …

President Bush said he intends to nominate Republican Deborah Taylor Tate to another term at the Federal Communications Commission.Tate, a former Tennessee regulator who is serving out an abridged FCC …

The Mobile Marketing Association said it will join forces with the dotMobi Advisory Group to develop guidelines for mobile advertising, and push adoption of the controversial .mobi domain.The industry associations …

AT&T Mobility announced it will begin shutting down its TDMA network in 18 markets this year. The move is an attempt to get the carrier’s customers to migrate to its …

Qualcomm Inc. established another European beachhead for its BREW service as Hutchison Whampoa’s 3 Group said it plans to offer handsets supporting the platform.The carrier, which offers service in Australia, …

Hello! And welcome to our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for …

CHICAGO-Telecommunications will be the disruptive force of the 21st century, with the potential to bring radical changes to areas such as education, medicine and the creative arts, Verizon Communications Inc. …

Behind the seemingly mild-mannered, Finnish face of Nokia Corp. lies the heart of a crafty predator.The company has seen the markets of the future and it plans to be organizationally …

The International Telecommunication Union said it struck a pact with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to use satellite communications for improved emergency and humanitarian response to natural …

A broad-based mix of high-tech, consumer, civil rights, educational and Hispanic interests urged Congress to ensure that vacant TV airwaves are freed up for unlicensed wireless broadband as soon as …

The French ModeLabs Group, a contract device manufacturer, appears to be dialing in on American brands by making phones that both promote those brands and serve as a fashion and …

Mobile payment startup Obopay Inc. announced a distribution deal that secures space on the deck of Verizon Wireless, the nation’s No. 2 carrier.The Redwood City, Calif.-based payment company unveiled a …

Qualcomm Inc. is targeting brands and media companies with a new platform for both on- and off-deck mobile content.The San Diego-based firm unveiled BREW BrandXtend Signature Solution, an offering designed …

Change is in the air for two wireless content companies: Both mobile gaming company Vollee Inc. and messaging firm fastmobile Inc. announced new chief executives. Vollee will now be helmed …

The fixed-mobile convergence market took a step forward with Verizon Communications Inc.’s introduction of its Wireless Office, PBX Mobile Extension and Mobile Conference Connection products, which the company said will …