BUSINESS BRIEFS

Aquis Communications Group Inc. announced it has completed its acquisition of SourceOne Wireless Inc., having managed the day-to-day operations of the Wheeling, Ill., firm since August. The deal adds Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis and Milwaukee to Aquis’ footprint.

Nokia Corp.’s board of directors has resolved to repurchase a maximum of 2 million of the company’s shares at market price. According to the company, the shares will be used to further develop the capital structure of Nokia, to finance business acquisitions or other arrangements, to be disposed in other ways or to be canceled. The repurchase is to begin on Feb. 8 at the earliest.

Brightpoint Inc., a provider of outsourced services to the global wireless industry, announced its Brazilian subsidiary, Brightpoint de Colombia, has entered an agreement with Comunicacion Celular S.A. The agreement calls for Brightpoint to provide Comcel shipping, receiving, warehousing, handset kitting, order processing and fulfillment, and reporting services. Brightpoint will establish a physical presence in Colombia in order to deliver these services to the country’s largest cellular provider.

American Mobile Satellite Corp., announced a partnership with Strategy.com to send AMSC’s eLink subscribers customized information services like weather, finance and news.

Winstar Communications Inc. announced it closed a previously announced $900 million investment by Microsoft Corp. and several leading investment firms, including Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners L.P.; Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe VIII L.P.; and Cascade Investments. Winstar noted it will use the new investment, in the form of convertible preferred stock that convert into common stock at $67.50 per share, to fund business plans and expand its network. In addition, Lawrence Sorrel, a general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe, and Hartley Rogers, managing director and co-head of Credit Suisse First Boston, have joined Winstar’s board of directors.

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