NEWS BRIEFS

Nokia and Reuters signed a global cooperation agreement to develop and deliver financial, sports and general news services based on the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The new service is optimized for the Nokia 7110 media phone and supports the WAP 1.1 specification.

Comverse Technology acquired InTouch, a provider of voice portal software enabling voice dialing, integrated messaging and voice-controlled Web browsing.

Lucent Technologies signed a definitive agreement to merge with International Network Services (INS). The merger, valued at about US$3.7 billion, is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. The merger will expand Lucent’s enhanced network design and consulting capabilities and Internet Protocol integration experience, said Lucent.

Metapath Software International (MSI) announced a global alliance with Prime Response, a U.S.-based marketing automation company, to deliver an integrated Customer Relationship Management solution specifically geared for the wireless industry.

XACCT Technologies Inc., a developer of a metering and mediation solution for Internet Protocol (IP) networks, and Kingston SCL, a provider of telecommunications management solutions, entered into a strategic alliance. Under terms of the agreement, Kingston will use the XACCTusage application with its convergent Jupiter billing, administration and customer care system currently used by more than 18 million subscribers worldwide.

Boston Communications Group signed an agreement with Centigram Communications to distribute Boston Communications’ prepaid system throughout Centigram’s international markets.

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