Sprint broke with the wireless industry in stating it did not need more spectrum for 3G services, while AT&T moved to acquire Vanguard Cellular … 18 years ago this week
Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Sprint PCS breaks from crowd by not asking for more spectrum
In comments that may reflect competitive positions in today’s mobile phone market, mobile phone and mobile satellite service industries told the Federal Communications Commission more spectrum will be needed for third-generation services. Industry comments are in response to a Notice of Inquiry the FCC released in August seeking statements on third-generation services. The FCC wants to forge a U.S. position on spectrum for the International Telecommunication Union at the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2000. The ITU is now considering whether it should add more spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 service. ITU is in charge of setting 3G standards and coordinating frequencies for their use around the world. The anticipated new 3G services are expected to enable portable data rates of 384 kilobits per second and global roaming. … Read More
Pure-play Vanguard joins consolidation ranks
AT&T Corp. last week announced plans to buy Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc., ending months of speculation about who might acquire the independent cellular operator. Vanguard has been rumored widely to be an acquisition target, fueled by a decision it made earlier this year to sell its non-core cellular assets in the South. It was thought the more compact footprint would make it easier for an acquiring company to fold Vanguard’s markets into its operation. The company last week closed on the sale of markets it owned in Florida and earlier closed the sale of its South Carolina markets. … Read More
SkyTel snares Pentagon paging pact
Citing in part its superior response to the Galaxy IV satellite outage, the U.S. Department of Defense said it will replace Paging Network Inc. with SkyTel Communications Inc. as its paging provider for the Pentagon’s 25,000 paging users. PageNet’s contract with the Defense Telecommunications Service-Washington-which provides the DOD’s Washington personnel (i.e., the Pentagon) with various types of communications services-expires at the end of the year. Rather than renegotiate a new contract with PageNet, the DTS-W decided to obtain paging services through its inclusion in the Federal Wireless Telecommunications Services contract negotiated by the Federal Technical Services division of the U.S. General Services Administration. … Read More
CHS to buy start-up cellular distributor
CHS Electronics Inc., an international distributor of microcomputer products, announced an agreement to purchase BrightStar Corp., a start-up wholesale distributor of cellular phones and accessories, the companies said. CHS will use cash and shares of stock to pay for the acquisition, but other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. BrightStar distributes products for wireless device manufacturers, including Motorola Inc., Nokia Corp., L.M. Ericsson, Philips Electronics NV and Audiovox Corp. Two-thirds of the company’s sales are in the United States and the rest come from Latin America. … Read More
Changing times may force FCC to relax spectrum cap
A confluence of factors are converging that may force the Federal Communications Commission to relax the commercial wireless 45 megahertz spectrum cap, an antitrust check that some feel has outlived its intended purpose and even may be hindering wireless industry development. The emergence of mobile phone competition, the prospect of wireless carriers competing with landline phone companies and the global development of third-generation wireless technology have called into question the utility of the spectrum cap. … Read More
Arch acquisition of MobileMedia moves forward
Officials at MobileMedia Corp. said they will not postpone the Oct. 14 bankruptcy court hearing to review its disclosure statement, setting in motion the legal process necessary to complete its acquisition by Arch Communications Group Inc. and putting to rest rumors of another company making a counter offer. MobileMedia requested several extensions of the hearing date while it was soliciting acquisition offers this summer. When Arch picked up that gauntlet, MobileMedia had to modify its plan of reorganization to include the tenets of the merger agreement, said spokeswoman Krista Grossman. … Read More
Microsoft unveils new software platform
Microsoft Corp. introduced its third-generation software platform for handheld personal computer products, called the Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition, or H/PC Pro. The platform, based on Windows CE 2.11, improves remote access and connectivity to corporate data while retaining the familiar user interface of Windows, the company said. “We’ve focused on making the H/PC Pro an excellent specific-use mobile computing tool by improving the remote access e-mail, Internet access and synchronization back to the office,” said Craig Mundie, senior vice president of Microsoft’s consumer platforms division. … Read More
Metrocall likely buyer for Vanguard paging properties
AT&T Corp.’s announced acquisition of Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. has raised some questions as to what AT&T plans to do with Vanguard’s paging operations. Many analysts expect AT&T to sell off the business unit, just as it did its own paging business-AT&T Wireless Inc.’s Advanced Messaging Division-to Metrocall Inc. That deal closed last week. Should AT&T dispense with Vanguard’s paging business, Metrocall would be the likely buyer. With an 18-percent stake in Metrocall, AT&T is the company’s largest shareholder. … Read More
Siemens latest vendor to reorganize
Changing times are requiring some infrastructure vendors to reorganize their businesses and better align themselves with their customers. Siemens AG of Germany is the latest vendor to realize this. The company’s New York subsidiary, Siemens Corp., announced last week three new business units in the United States, a result of the largest reorganization in Siemens AG’s 150-year history. … Read More
C-Block amendment killed in Senate
An amendment that had the potential to change the outcome of the C-block auction has been killed. The C-block personal communications services amendment was attached to a slamming bill forwarded by the House Commerce Committee. But Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, refused to accept it. The (C-block) amendment would have turned the C-block auction process on its face. … Read More
Check out RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
