PHOENIX-Circle K Stores Inc. joined the prepaid wireless space with the launch of its Talk-and-Go Mobile service that offers no-contract, prepaid calling services using Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s GSM network. Circle K said the service, which is powered by mobile virtual network enabler Ztar Mobile Inc., uses...
European operator O2 UK plc said it will use Qualcomm Inc.'s uiOne user interface technology in its high-end, "X range" devices. Although somewhat limited in scope, the deal signals a notable turning point in the worldwide wireless industry. "Our X range devices are a...
BEDMINSTER, N.J.-The Tier 1 carriers continued to move to universal multimedia messaging service interoperability this week as Verizon Wireless quietly became MMS-interoperable with Sprint Nextel Corp.'s iDEN network and T-Mobile USA Inc.Verizon Wireless subscribers can now exchange picture and video messages with users of...
LONDON-European operator O2 UK plc said it will use Qualcomm Inc.'s uiOne user interface technology in its high-end, "X range" devices. Although somewhat limited in scope, the deal signals a notable turning point in the worldwide wireless industry."Our X range devices are a key...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.CarriersStandard & Poor's Rating Services placed its ratings on UbiquiTel Inc. on CreditWatch with positive implications. The move is based on steady improvements in the...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.CarriersRobert W. Baird adjusted estimates on Alltel Corp. following the company's third-quarter report. Baird raised its estimates on Alltel to EPS of $3.45 from $3.38...
Boston Communications Group Inc. suffered another legal setback when a federal judge ordered the company to stop providing the prepaid wireless services that account for 70 percent of its revenue. BCGI provides a platform carriers like Cingular Wireless L.L.C. use to deploy prepaid offerings....
WASHINGTON-North Carolina's potentially precedent-setting telecom tower standard has gone into effect, despite objections from the National Association of Tower Erectors to a fall-protection provision that it says is too harsh for small businesses. NATE tried to have the requirement changed by the state legislature,...
Expectations for a strong third quarter got off to a rocky start as early reports from three of the industry's five largest operators have shown customer growth falling short of the previous year and analysts estimates. Reigning heavyweight Cingular Wireless L.L.C. missed reduced expectations...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. said it rolled out new rate plans to former Western Wireless Corp. and Cellular One customers who Alltel acquired when it purchased Western Wireless Aug. 1. The new rate plans take advantage of Alltel's extensive roaming agreements and include its...
Cingular Wireless L.L.C. inched ahead with its planned launch of third-generation services, upgrading its UMTS networks in Seattle, Phoenix and Dallas to higher-speed HSDPA capabilities. Cingular noted it is the first carrier in the world to commercially launch a HSDPA network. The upgrades were...
Enhanced directory-assistance provider Metro One Telecommunications Inc. said Sprint Nextel Corp. is terminating the master services agreement between Metro One and Nextel Operations Inc. effective Jan. 9. Nextel Operations is a subsidiary of Sprint Nextel following Sprint Corp.'s acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc. in...
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless has asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive its rules requiring location technology to be embedded in 95 percent of a carrier's handset base by the end of the year. However, Verizon said it can meet the requirement by June-much earlier than...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. posted a disappointing 20,887 internally driven net customer additions during the third quarter, less than half the 58,254 customers the carrier added in 2004 and below analyst estimates. Alltel attributed the shortfall to higher churn in markets it recently acquired...
PORTLAND, Ore.-Enhanced directory assistance provider Metro One Telecommunications Inc. said it has received notification from Sprint Nextel Corp. that the carrier is terminating the master services agreement between Metro One and Nextel Operations Inc. effective Jan. 9. Nextel Operations is a subsidiary of Sprint...
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless late Monday asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive its rules requiring location technology to be embedded in 95 percent of a carrier's handset base by the end of the year, but Verizon Wireless said it can meet the requirement by June-much...
Alltel Corp. said it rolled out new rate plans to former Western Wireless Corp. and Cellular One customers who Alltel acquired when it purchased Western Wireless Aug. 1. The new rate plans take advantage of Alltel's extensive roaming agreements and include its Total Freedom,...
Lucent Technologies Inc. and L.M. Ericsson said they have upgraded three of Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s UMTS networks with higher-speed HSDPA capabilities. Lucent said it installed the upgrades on Cingular's network in Seattle and Phoenix, while Ericsson said it performed the enhancements in the Dallas/Fort...
DALLAS-Samsung Telecommunications America reported a new relationship with Alltel Corp. to bring Samsung's line-up of handsets to Alltel's network. The initial device launched as part of the deal will be Samsung's SCH-n330 handset, which is already available from Verizon Wireless. In addition to Alltel...
DALLAS-Samsung Telecommunications America reported a new relationship with Alltel Corp. to bring Samsung's line-up of handsets to Alltel's network. The initial device launched as part of the deal will be Samsung's SCH-n330 handset, which is already available from Verizon Wireless.In addition to Alltel now...
WASHINGTON-Alltel Corp. said it will not meet the Dec. 31 enhanced-911 handset deadline and asked the Federal Communications Commission for a year-and-a-half extension. "Alltel has initiated numerous marketing and communications campaigns encouraging consumers to upgrade their handsets, including eliminating fees, reducing prices for handsets,...
Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA Inc. again outranked the competition in a J.D. Power and Associates consumer survey, this time posting the highest retail sales satisfaction among the wireless industry's six largest operators. The study was based on experiences reported by 6,144 wireless users...
Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA Inc. provide the highest retail sales satisfaction among the wireless industry's six largest operators, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Wireless Retail Sales Satisfaction Study. The study was based on the experiences reported by 6,144 wireless users...
Midwest Wireless is the latest regional wireless operator to look at potential strategic alternatives for its operations. The privately held carrier serves more than 420,000 customers on its CDMA-based network in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Midwest Wireless Chief Operating Officer Scott Bergs...
