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!
Carriers livin’ on the EDGE
BELLEVUE, Wash.-Forty-eight operators around the world have announced commitments to EDGE technology, according to data released today by the 3G Americas association, which promotes the technology. In the United States, AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Cingular Wireless L.L.C., T-Mobile USA, Dobson Communications, Cellular One of Northeast Arizona and EDGE Wireless are all on the list. … Read more
Gimme some of that BREW
SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said it scored another carrier deal for its BREW application download service, with Telefonica Moviles Peru planning to offer BREW services in the country by the end of the year. In other BREW news, application company Dwango North America Inc. said it will offer its Star Exceed game on Verizon Wireless’ BREW download service.
Debating wireless-only area codes
WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association Wednesday questioned the need for Connecticut to implement a wireless-only area code in light of the upcoming mandate for wireless local number portability. “The Federal Communications Commission has made clear its intent to implement the LNP requirements for wireless carriers on Nov. 24, well in advance of its decision to tentatively authorize the Connecticut wireless-only area code. Wireless customers will prefer numbers drawn from the 203 and 860 area codes over the new and unfamiliar wireless-only area codes and will be able to port numbers from these legacy codes to avoid the discriminatory dialing patterns and disadvantages associated with the new wireless-only area code,” wrote CTIA. The FCC in May said the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control could establish for three years a separate area code for wireless and other non-geographic services. … Read more
Verizon exits APAC to focus on Americas
BANGKOK-Verizon has agreed to sell its 10-percent stake in Thai telecom company TelecomAsia to Golden Tower Trading Ltd. and Mission Gain Investments Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. “Our decision to exit from this investment is based solely on our strategic decision to focus on the Americas. As a result of that strategy, Verizon has already sold its investments in the Philippines and other Asian countries,” said Daniel C. Petri, group president international for Verizon. … Read more
Nextel’s strong performance greeted by yawns
Nextel Communications Inc. reported a strong quarter of subscriber additions and rising revenues, but the news didn’t help spur a market depressed by unimpressive reports from industry heavyweights like Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc. Nextel announced second-quarter revenue of $2.6 billion, up 19 percent over the same quarter last year. The carrier scored $582 million in operating income and subscriber additions of 591,000. Nextel’s subscriber base now clocks in at 11.7 million. “This quarter represents Nextel’s strongest performance to date,” said Tim Donahue, the carrier’s president and chief executive officer. “We are delivering on every front and producing record earnings, record subscriber additions and garnering the most valuable customers in the industry. Nextel continues to attract and retain the most valuable customers in the industry due to our differentiated wireless products and services, our targeted sales approach and our enhanced back office systems.” … Read more
Yamaha gets in on that sweet, sweet ringtone market
TOKYO-Following on its promise to enter the wireless ring tone market, Yamaha Corp. said it scored deals to sell what it calls “ringing melodies” throughout China and Spain. Yamaha makes musical instruments and digital audio products. Yamaha said it scored a deal with China Unicom to offer 16- and 40-tone ringing melodies throughout the county. The company will deal with Telefonica Moviles Espana to offer the ring tones in Spain. … Read more
Building Iraq’s cellular infrastructure
WASHINGTON-The U.S.-led occupational force in Iraq today said it will seek bids for three regional mobile-phone licenses in a war-ravaged nation whose continued instability could undercut telecom reconstruction and economic development generally. The Coalition Provisional Authority, led by Paul Bremer, said it will issue a request for proposals the week of July 28. Proposals will be due two weeks later. The CPA will require each applicant to bid on at least two of the three regional licenses covering northern, central and southern regions that encompass primary population centers with a total of 17 million people. The RFP will outline conditions to enable regional licensees to eventually provide full national coverage. Hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts are up for grabs. … Read more
Byebye, bundles?
MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J.-Interest in one-stop shopping for communications services continues to decline, with less than half the population still interested, according to new research from Solomon-Wolff Associates. The survey found that 46.1 percent of respondents were interested in getting local and long-distance phone service, wireless phone service, cable/satellite TV and ISP service from the same provider if the price was comparable, down from the 64.9 percent of consumers who were interested three years ago. “We had expected those with high incomes or those who are high spenders on various communications services to be most interested,” said Joey Wolff of Solomon-Wolff. “And we found some correlation with those variables. What was more surprising were the other variables that showed relationships. Certain ethnic groups, those with ‘high-tech’ orientation, and specific age groups showed strong correlation with interest in one-stop shopping.” … Read more
CDMA2000 hits 50 million
COSTA MESA, Calif.-The cdma2000 global subscriber base surpassed 50 million in May, according to the CDMA Development Group. There are currently 53 commercial cdma2000 networks in 29 countries and 17 more networks are scheduled to be deployed later this year, according to the CDG. The group also said cmda2000 subscribers make up more than 99 percent of the total 3G market. … Read more
XO slashes jobs
RESTON, Va.-Telecommunications provider XO Communications Inc. will shut down some offices and lay off 500 people by the end of the year, according to a report in the Washington Post. Cuts will be made in the finance, marketing and human resources divisions, while the company hires 300 people to work in sales, according to Carl Grivner, XO’s chief executive officer. Meanwhile, XO continues efforts to acquire the assets of bankrupt telecommunications provider Global Crossing Ltd. … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News Archives for more stories from the past.
