Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
RIM up on quarterly results while Palm falls
Research In Motion Ltd. yesterday reported fiscal first-quarter 2007 revenue of $613 million, a 35-percent jump from the year-ago quarter, but profits for the quarter of $129.8 million were down slightly from the $132.5 million profit in the year-ago quarter. The company said increases in marketing and administration took a bite out of profits. … Read More
Court refuses to halt Aug. 9 AWS auction, but leaves questions about DE rules
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to halt the Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction, but the Federal Communications Commission likely faces continued litigation over small-business bidding rule changes in light of the court’s discomfort with the process the agency used to arrive at the new guidelines. … Read More
Report: RF Micro Devices hit by cancellations from Nokia, Motorola
Those pesky, detail-oriented analysts and emotional stock traders sent ripples through the market yesterday and today as news circulated that RF Micro Devices Inc.’s two largest customers—Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc., which happen to be the two largest handset vendors in the world—may have cancelled sizeable orders to the Greensboro, N.C.-based chip maker. … Read More
Verizon Wireless eases early termination fees
Verizon Wireless President and Chief Executive Officer Denny Strigl said that, starting this fall, the carrier will begin pro-rating early termination fees for customers who terminate their service contracts. Strigl made the announcement at The Yankee Group’s 2006 North American Wireless Leadership Summit this week in New York. The new policy, which the company has dubbed its Worry Free Guarantee, will gradually reduce the amount customers will owe for breaking their contract before it expires. The new policy will only apply to contracts signed or renewed after the policy is implemented, said Strigl. … Read More
Cingular cautiously approves VoIP over 3G network
Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is not completely opposed to its customers running Voice over Internet Protocol services over its high-speed UMTS/HSDPA wireless data network. However, the carrier would like to work out the billing and operational kinks before fully supporting such activities. … Read More
Sprint Nextel closes on Nextel Partners, gets OK from UbiquiTel shareholders
Sprint Nextel Corp. continued the work of reeling in its affiliates, as the national carrier closed on its acquisition of Nextel Partners and, just hours later, UbiquiTel Inc. stockholders approved Sprint Nextel’s purchase of the PCS affiliate. … Read More
Verizon Wireless commits to Rev. A from Lucent
Nothings spells “major contract win” like Lucent Technologies Inc.’s deal to supply Verizon Wireless with CDMA 1x EV-DO Revision A hardware and software as the carrier upgrades its nationwide network. Verizon’s Rev. A announcement comes as no surprise; the carrier has previously said it will eventually upgrade to Rev. A. However, Verizon’s timing is a little surprising. Just three months ago, the carrier described Rev. A technology as “not baked.” … Read More
FCC fields 252 applications for AWS auction; more than half seek DE status
The Federal Communications Commissions told a federal appeals court more than half of the 252 applicants seeking to participate in the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction claim “designated entity” status, a revelation presumably intended to refute arguments that recent changes to bidding rules will discourage small businesses from competing for the 1,122 licenses being sold by the government. … Read More
AT&T will accept conditions in BellSouth deal
AT&T Inc. Chairman Edward Whitacre last week told the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee he would not oppose conditions on special access lines as part of any regulatory approval of the company’s proposed $67 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. … Read More
Declining ASPs make emerging markets a gamble
The good news is that about 80 percent of the world’s population is covered by wireless networks, and only about one-quarter of those actually subscribe to a wireless service, which means emerging markets offer opportunities for handset vendors to grow market share and, possibly, profits. The not-so-good news is that profits on entry-level handsets are slim and profitability depends on massive volumes-favoring those with economies of scale and in-country manufacturing facilities-that only two major brands can muster. … Read More
