Verizon Wireless has launched mobile TV service using MediaFLO USA Inc.'s technology and network, initially offering the service in 20 markets across the United States from Richmond, Va., to Portland, Ore. The service is priced at $15 per month for mobile TV only, which...
Alltel Corp. renewed its contract with Convergys Corp. to continue managing Alltel's wireless data-rating operations for another four years. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bob Lento, Convergys' communications, technology and automotive group president, said that the flexibility of Convergys' product "permits...
Private-equity buyout companies are the darlings of Wall Street, snapping up companies left and right and flush with the cash to do so. According to Thomson Financial, buyouts by private-equity companies accounted for more than 25 percent of the total merger-and-acquisition activity in the...
Want to invest like Verizon? Like any smart investor, Verizon Communications Inc. has its pension fund invested in a diverse array of stocks, from the Cheesecake Factory to Northrop Grumman Corp. The company's $40-plus billion pension portfolio includes hundreds of companies. The Verizon Investment...
Alltel Corp. posted robust wireless results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2006, solidifying its position as the largest small player in the wireless space. However, the company's president and CEO, Scott Ford, sparked speculation about Alltel being a possible acquisition target during remarks...
Hedge*hog*ing v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube.--All the talk about Alltel being acquired is not settling well with some of the RCR Wireless News staff. The thought that anything might interfere with the...
Sprint Nextel Corp. this past week made increased efforts to work its online retail handset angle. The carrier added at least four new handsets in the entry- and low-tiers, cut prices on smartphones and toyed with pricing on its iDEN handsets.Between Feb. 12 and...
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it put Alltel Corp.'s credit rating on CreditWatch with "negative implications." The move follows comments from Alltel executives about the company considering various "strategic alternatives," financial language that usually means the company is actively seeking buyers."Given that Alltel...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier Robert W. Baird raised its price target and estimates on Alltel Corp. after the carrier reported strong fourth-quarter results. The new price target is...
A glance at Motorola Inc. Krzr and Razr prices across carriers serves to tell a story about one handset vendor's product succession plans, as well as the fractured and cutthroat nature of the cellphone retail market.The Krzr's prices are all over the map, ranging...
Sprint Nextel Corp. this past week made increased efforts to work its online retail handset angle. The carrier added at least four new handsets in the entry- and low-tiers, cut prices on smartphones and toyed with pricing on its iDEN handsets.Between Feb. 12 and...
Dobson Cellular Systems will change its name, effective March 5, to Cellular One from Dobson Cellular Systems. The firm purchased the Cellular One name last year from Western Wireless Corp. as a condition of Western Wireless' acquisition by Alltel Corp. Next month Dobson will...
Alltel Corp. posted robust wireless results for the fourth quarter and full year 2006, solidifying its position as the largest small player in the wireless space.Alltel reported that its wireless business added 661,638 customers during the fourth quarter of last year, which was a...
The ripples are still making their way across the lake in the wake of Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s surprise announcement that it will offer mobile broadcast TV through Qualcomm Inc.'s MediaFLO USA Inc. network. The nation's largest wireless carrier somewhat stole the thunder from its...
Sprint Nextel Corp. wrapped up its trial of Qualcomm Inc.'s MediaFLO service last month, and has decided not to use the MediaFLO network to offer mobile TV services-at least for the time being.A Sprint Nextel spokeswoman said the carrier might reconsider its decision in...
T-Mobile USA Inc.'s chief marketing officer, Mike Butler, has resigned.A spokesman for the wireless carrier said Butler was in route to the T-Mobile USA-sponsored NBA All Star Game in Las Vegas and could not be reached immediately for comment. The spokesman declined to discuss...
Alltel Corp. has settled a patent suit with Los Angeles-based Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing L.P., and agreed to pay an unspecified sum for a license on patents that Katz owns related to interactive voice applications. The nonexclusive license "covers services offered by Alltel...
Hedge*hog*ing v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube.--If you are one of the 12 people who haven't yet viewed Stephen Colbert's history of the new AT&T Inc., please go to Youtube.com to watch it....
T-Mobile USA Inc. continued its run as the carrier with the best customer-service ratings by consumers, edging out other operators for the fifth year in a row in J.D. Power and Associates' semi-annual survey. Verizon Wireless scored second place with a ranking of 101...
Alltel Corp. wireless customers who just can't get enough of personalizing their wireless phones now have a new option: ringback tones. The carrier introduced a ringback tone service, and will charge $1 per month for the offering. The fee includes one complimentary ringback tone;...
An innovation volley between Alltel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. in recent months has been going something like this: Alltel introduces myCircle, a calling plan which allows users to pick 10 numbers regardless of network for unlimited calling.T-Mobile USA later unveils myFaves, which does...
Revenue assurance software vendor Subex Azure Ltd. announced it reached a deal to acquire Syndesis Ltd., a telecom operations support software company, in an all-cash deal valued at $164.5 million.The proposed deal is part of Subex Azure's goal to become a leading vendor of...
Alltel Corp. is continuing its innovation game with the introduction of CellTop, a new user interface running initially on the carrier's Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. SCH-U520 handset. Alltel said it plans to extend the UI to all of its new handsets by the end...
ST. LOUIS-Alltel Corp. announced extended its content-billing deal with Amdocs Inc.Terms of the multi-year contract were not disclosed. Amdocs' Qpass Digital Commerce platform allows Alltel subscribers to browse and purchase content such as ringtones, messaging and games. Amdocs purchased Qpass last year for $250...
