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!
Verizon updates wireless Internet service
Verizon Wireless launched its Mobile Web 2.0 service, which the carrier said would provide customers easier access to news, tools and information content and the ability to read and send e-mail messages from their wireless handsets. The service, which builds on the carrier’s original Mobile Web offering and is provided in conjunction with InfoSpace Mobile and Vindigo Studios, includes a VZW Today home screen with updated news and stories as well as a toolbar that allows customers to access the search tool, favorite content and bookmarks. The service also provides access to Verizon Wireless’ content offerings from branded content providers and premium content that is available for additional charges. … Read More
Motorola premieres camera phone at New York event
Motorola Inc. released the A630 wireless handset at a gala in New York City today.
The candy bar-shaped device features a hidden QWERTY keyboard for texting, e-mailing and instant messaging. It offers integrated Bluetooth wireless technology, a speaker phone and e-mail support for POP3, SMTP and Imap4. The device also comes with a VGA camera with four-times zoom, a color display and multimedia messaging capabilities for sharing images. Finally, the phone includes GSM tri-band capabilities, J2ME downloading functionality, gaming keys and a polyphonic speaker for enhanced sounds and advanced MP3 ring tones. … Read More
Verizon to offer text traffic alerts
Autodesk Location Services and Verizon Wireless today announced the availability of location-based traffic alert services for Verizon’s vtext.com text-messaging portal. With the service, Verizon customers can log into vtext.com and set up specific routes for which to view traffic information and choose a time, or several times, for text-message alerts to be sent to their handsets to notify them of any traffic tie-ups. Autodesk collects its information from TeleAtlas, which aggregates real-time traffic data from Westwood One and Clear Channel, which provide such information to radio and TV stations. Autodesk then works the information into a “personalized and actionable” message, which Joe Astroth, executive vice president at Autodesk, believes are key components to any location-based mobile service. … Read More
Carlyle Group, Kyocera spend $2B to get PHS biz from Japan’s KDDI
A consortium of the Carlyle Group and Kyocera Corp. announced plans to acquire Japanese PHS carrier DDI Pocket, a subsidiary of Japanese mobile carrier KDDI, in a $2 billion deal. Under the agreement, Carlyle Group, a U.S. investment fund, will own 60 percent of DDI Pocket, the country’s leading PHS carrier, and Kyocera will retain 30 percent. The remaining 10 percent will be held by KDDI. Taha Rangwala, an analyst in the Business Strategies Group with Pyramid Research, said the $2 billion price tag follows its estimates of DDI Pocket, considering the carrier has been a cash cow for KDDI. Pyramid valued DDI Pocket at between $2.3 billion and $2.6 billion, making the combined Carlyle/Kyocera 70-percent stake for $2 billion in line with Pyramid’s valuations. … Read More
Bush, Kerry talk high-tech
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) lavishly injected high-tech into election-year rhetoric at opposite ends of the country last week, with each presidential candidate identifying wireless technology as a key component of his broadband agenda. Indeed, the GOP and Democratic presidential candidates said more about high-tech in one day than in all previous campaign speeches combined. The tech sector has been clamoring during the past three-and-one-half years for vocal support and direction from the Bush administration. Rarely does wireless technology-which supports sophisticated mobile-phone networks and Wi-Fi hot spots popping up everywhere-draw such high-level attention in the political arena. … Read More
Cellular group urges ban on shared use of licensed, unlicensed channels
A GSM organization, fearing interference could undercut billions in mobile-phone industry investment, called for a prohibition on shared use of licensed and unlicensed frequencies and urged that any new Wi-Fi-type spectrum allocations be above 5 GHz. “The issue of licensed vs. unlicensed spectrum is a concern for everyone and encompasses the use of not only mobile devices, but unlicensed spectrum wireless devices as well, which can cause interference and reduce the quality of service for mobile customers and operators,” said Chris Pearson, president of 3G Americas. … Read More
Nextel, SouthernLINC reach agreement for 800 MHz rebanding
Nextel Communications Inc. and SouthernLINC have reached an agreement that would change the channel allocations in the retuning of the 800 MHz band, putting Southern in the cellular band but leaving other non-Nextel economic area licensees in the non-cellular band. “The 800 MHz channel plan for areas to be designated for cellular operations in the 800 MHz band will be different in the southeastern part of the United States from the rest of the country. The intent of this frequency plan is to accommodate the two large SMR operators with existing systems in this area, SouthernLINC and Nextel, and to allow both companies to continue their operations once the 800 MHz band is reorganized,” reads a Realignment Plan for the Southeastern United States supplied by SouthernLINC. … Read More
Verizon to buy Qwest’s wireless assets
In a move expected to bolster its spectrum position and coverage in the western United States, Verizon Wireless reported late last week that it had agreed to acquire Qwest Communications International Inc.’s wireless assets, including spectrum and network infrastructure for $418 million. Analysts noted the deal also could impact Verizon Wireless’ planned rollout of high-speed wireless data services as well as upcoming spectrum auctions. The deal includes 10-megahertz PCS licenses in 62 markets scattered throughout 14 western states covering 30.8 million potential customers, as well as Qwest’s CDMA infrastructure, including cell sites and network switching centers. Verizon Wireless noted 53 of the licenses are in markets where it currently offers service, including Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle, and would be used to bolster capacity. However, nine of the markets are not currently part of the carrier’s network, including Rochester and St. Cloud, Minn.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Longview, Wash. … Read More
Crown sheds U.K. assets
Crown Castle International Corp. last week confirmed it is selling its U.K. business, including 3,600 tower sites, to British utility company National Grid Transco plc for $2.035 billion cash. “The price fully values the U.K. business plan,” said Ben Moreland, Crown’s chief financial officer. “We are now going to be at our targeted capital structure,” an impressive stance for a company in the traditionally highly leveraged wireless tower industry. Indeed, the transaction makes Crown a “substantially different company from a risk profile perspective,” added Kelly, saying that Crown will use $1.3 billion of the proceeds to fulfill its operating company’s credit facility. … Read More
Cities and counties deploy Wi-Fi as part of economic strategy
Metro-scale broadband networks based on Wi-Fi technologies are popping up across the country, with big and small industry players alike endorsing the systems for use by municipal entities and consumers. Cisco Systems Inc. recently announced the Cisco Metropolitan Mobile Network solution to provide citywide broadband wireless access to public agencies including city, state and federal government; first responders; public transit; and public works groups. Cisco’s goal is to extend wireless applications, including real-time data access and video surveillance, to improve security, productivity and operational efficiency among the agencies as well as to enable collaboration among multiple agencies, explained Ann Sun, senior manager of wireless/mobility marketing for Cisco. … Read More
Check out RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
