Hedge*hog*ing v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube.From the "we can't make this up" department, there's a service provider getting started in the United Arab Emirates called "Moobility Telecom." Don't believe us? Go to...
Private equity has made its biggest wireless deal yet with the $27.5 billion agreement for ownership of Alltel Corp., the fifth-largest U.S. carrier and major roaming partner for all four national operators. The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007 or...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier --Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its ratings on Alltel Corp. to BB from A- and kept the company on CreditWatch with negative implications...
Mobile search startup JumpTap Inc. expanded its relationship with mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. with a local search application.The white-label offering, which launches this week, delivers local business listings as well as driving directions and local maps. JumpTap has powered an...
Alltel Corp. announced Sunday that it agreed to be acquired by two private-equity firms in a $27.5 billion transaction.The buyers are TPG Capital, the global buyout group of private-investment firm TPG (formerly Texas Pacific Group), and GS Capital Partners, the private-equity vehicle of The...
Mobile-phone carriers blasted a new Federal Communications Commission proposal to cap wireless universal service support in rural areas.The FCC plan, based on a recommendation by the Federal-Joint Board on Universal Service, is a stop-gap attempt to limit a growing high-cost component of the universal...
Getting the blessing of regulators is just one of many hurdles carriers must clear when they acquire another carrier. Sometimes it's the little things that add up to a complex, pressing matter. When Alltel Corp. purchased Midwest Wireless last year, it also snatched up...
Speedus Corp., a holding company that owns a variety of patents, said it will drop two patent complaints it filed against Verizon Wireless last year.Speedus said neither company made any payment as part of the mutual agreement.The patents at issue deal with the transmission...
Mobile-phone carriers blasted a new Federal Communications Commission proposal to cap wireless universal service support in rural areas.The FCC plan is a stop-gap attempt to limit a ballooning high-cost component of the universal service fund-one accounting for about $4 billion of the $7 billion...
Several private-equity groups have reportedly formed in an attempt to acquire Alltel Corp., according to the Wall Street Journal.The paper said at least three groups exist that are pursuing the nation's fifth-largest wireless carrier, including Blackstone Group and Providence Equity Partners; TPG Capital L.L.C....
T-Mobile USA Inc. appears to have refreshed its handset lineup by discounting most of its Motorola Inc. Razrs-four models dropped to $30 from $50-and discontinuing the Moto Pebl.The Pebl had once been one of Motorola's flagship devices, and T-Mobile USA was the only major...
Alltel Wireless is following AT&T Mobility's lead by encouraging subscribers to side-load tunes from their computers to mobile phones.The Little Rock, Ark.-based carrier launched Jump Music, a free downloadable application for transferring files from PCs to Alltel handsets via a USB cable. The software...
First impressions really do count in wireless, and retail store staff had better be quick on their feet, according to the most recent customer satisfaction survey by J.D. Power and Associates. The firm found that wireless customers want to be greeted within their first...
Several private-equity groups have reportedly formed in an attempt to acquire Alltel Corp., according to the Wall Street Journal.The paper said at least three groups exist that are pursuing the nation's fifth-largest wireless carrier, including Blackstone Group and Providence Equity Partners; TPG Capital L.L.C....
Alltel Corp. added a new handset over the past week dubbed the "Snap," which the carrier is selling online for 99 cents with a two-year contract.The Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. flip phone features a camera and support for Alltel's various Web and application offerings.The...
The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission, already under siege from the Democratic-controlled Congress on a slew of telecom issues, could be hearing lots more from lawmakers-from both political parties-on a federal-state panel's controversial recommendation that would limit universal service support for wireless carriers in rural...
Alltel Corp. added "The Wafer"-a new, thin, bar-style handset from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.-to its portfolio. The handset is $50 with a mail-in rebate and two-year contract, and is available to existing Alltel customers whose rate plan allows them to upgrade their handset.The Wafer...
As it continues to be the target of rumors of an acquisition by one of its larger competitors, Alltel Corp. enthusiastically reported double-digit revenue growth during the first quarter. Revenues for the quarter hit $2 billion as net income reached $225 million, a 34%...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier --Credit Suisse First Boston upgraded Qwest Communications International to neutral from underperform and raised its price target to $9 from $7.50 after the carrier...
Alltel Wireless added "The Wafer"-a new, thin, bar-style handset from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.-to its portfolio. The handset is $50 with a mail-in rebate and two-year contract, and is available to existing Alltel customers whose rate plan allows them to upgrade their handset.The Wafer...
Alltel Corp. announced it will offer a new "Day Pass" service for wireless Web browsing. For $1.50, Alltel customers will be able to buy a 24-hour pass to Alltel's Axcess wireless Web service."Alltel continues to offer services that allow customers to easily integrate mobile...
As it continues to be the target of rumors of an acquisition by one of its larger competitors, Alltel Corp. enthusiastically reported double-digit revenue growth during the first quarter of 2007. Revenues for the quarter hit $2 billion as net income reached $225 million,...
Nearly drowned out in broad policy debates over controversial public-safety and broadband wireless proposals are pressing questions about how the Federal Communications Commission will craft the 700 MHz band plan. A coalition of 21 small- and medium-sized wireless and wireline carriers and state regulatory...
T-Mobile USA Inc. continued to dominate the J.D. Power and Associates regional survey of wireless customer satisfaction, receiving the highest ranking in all six regions of the U.S. for the fifth consecutive time-although it tied with other carriers in three of those regions. Verizon...
