Archived Articles

AMSTERDAM-Europe’s Gemplus International S.A. and Axalto N.V., the world’s two largest smart card vendors, announced plans to merge in an all-stock transaction. If approved, the combined company would have 2005 …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc said it plans to launch eight new mobile TV channels including wireless versions of HBO, MTV and Twentieth Century Fox Television. The new video content will be …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-VeriSign Inc. said its Jamster subsidiary is working with Melodeo Inc. to develop a digital music platform that will support full-track music downloads. Verisign noted that Jamster was …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless plans to enter the location-based services market next week with a GPS-based subscription offering. The carrier is expected to launch VZ Navigator, a $10-a-month downloadable application that …

LONDON-The board of Virgin Mobile Holdings plc rejected a $1.4 billion takeover offer from U.K. cable operator NTL Inc. “The board has concluded that the potential offer materially undervalues Virgin …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it has conducted a live trial of interactive mobile TV services with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. Ericsson explained that the trial demonstrated how consumers could use …

ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.C.C. introduced a new smart phone it is selling as the Cingular 2125. The device features Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and is available for $200 …

Wireless distributor and fulfillment services provider Brightpoint Inc. is going directly to consumers with branded retail stores. The company said it plans to sell mobile phones and services from Sprint …

Four years after it was founded, MacroPort is finally coming to market. The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup unveiled its first offerings this week, launching a suite of wireless software designed …

Video-game giant Electronic Arts Inc. shook the mobile gaming world last week with the announcement it would shell out $680 million to acquire publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc. EA said it …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. said it will install Qualcomm Inc.’s uiOne technology in its new phones. The carrier also unveiled its first phone running the technology, Sanyo Corp.’s CDMA2000 …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms. Carriers RBC Capital Markets tweaked its 2006 forecasts for Sprint …

LONDON-United Kingdom-based mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile Group plc reported plans to extend its brand into South Africa through a 50/50 venture with South African GSM network operator Cell …

OSAKA, Japan-Japanese industrial firm Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., which makes phones under the Panasonic brand name, announced a sweeping reorganization that will see the company shut down its GSM …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. will forge ahead as a wireless-only business, the company announced. Alltel is spinning off its wireline business into a $9.1 billion merger with Texas-based Valor Communications …

SHENZEN, China-Wireless handset designer Cellon International said it raised an undisclosed amount in a Series D round of financing. TVG Capital Partners led the round, joining existing Cellon investors Intel …

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless has forced two telemarketing firms to stop making illegal sales pitches to the wireless carrier’s customers. As part of court-approved settlements, Verizon Wireless won permanent injunctions against …

SAN FRANCISCO-Akira Technologies launched its Publisher 2.0 Web-based publishing and content management tool, which the company said allows users to create interactive content for mobile devices. Akira noted the product …

LOS ANGELES-Supporters of a death-row inmate in California are using text messaging to urge Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute his death sentence. Stanley “Tookie” Williams is scheduled to be executed …

OREM, Utah-Mobile virtual network operators Ready Mobile and Mojo Mobile said they will buy phone-in-a-box kits and airtime from Q Comm International Inc., which provides prepaid transaction processing and electronic …

PARIS-Alcatel Corp. and KT Corp. announced that they plan to work as a team to accelerate the adoption of mobile WiMAX, beginning with the establishment of an interoperability testing center …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Game-making giant Electronic Arts Inc. will shell out $680 million in cash to acquire mobile publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc., the companies announced after Wall Street’s closing bell. EA …

MORRISVILLE, N.C.-Israeli-based iDEN network operator MiRS Communications Ltd., selected Tekelec’s core convergence switching solution as part of its transition to Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem architecture. Tekelec said the solution provides …

COLUMBUS, Ohio-National reseller IMO reported plans to offer Verizon Wireless phones and service. IMO-short for “independent mobile”-was founded last year as an alternative to both carrier-branded stores and big-box retailers. …

SEATTLE, Wash.-In a move that proves cellular phone service is truly going to the dogs, Cimbix Corp. said it has completed a licensing agreement that allows it to proceed with …