GREENSBORO, N.C.-The inspections division of the Greensboro Engineering & Inspections Department and BellSouth Mobility DCS have teamed to develop Mobile Inspector, a technology that allows inspectors to work entirely in the field, BellSouth said.Mobile Inspector combines a handheld computer with APRIL (Automated Attendant for...
Wireless carriers are gearing up for the upcoming holiday shopping season with several promotions, most of them aimed at consumer and family gift giving."We're obviously in a situation now where demand far exceeds supply, but nevertheless, this will probably be the most robust Christmas...
REDMOND, Wash.-InfoSpace.com introduced its person-to-person instant messaging service for mobile wireless devices.The company said the server-based service will allow users on different networks and devices to send instant text-messages to each other, including those on Internet networks such as America Online. Because the user's...
LAS VEGAS-OmniSky Corp., formerly OpenSky Corp., introduced its first product last week at Comdex-a wireless Internet and e-mail service solution for Palm V users that integrates hardware, software and Internet access from several partner providers.OmniSky is the venture formed in June with funding from...
ATLANTA-BellSouth Cellular Corp. and wireless-location company SigmaOne Communications Corp. announced an agreement calling for BellSouth to conduct a market trial of SigmaOne's Sigma 5000 Advanced Mobile Phone Service/Time Division Multiple Access network-based location system.SigmaOne's location technology combines time difference of arrival and angle of...
LAS VEGAS-While the growing convergence between the computer and wireless industries has made headlines in wireless industry press and generated great excitement at wireless trade shows, the issue remains somewhat of a footnote within the computer industry.At last week's fall Comdex show here, some...
Is paging dead?The wireless industry has been debating that unflattering statement for a few years now. When you look at recent statistics and stories in RCR and from around the world via our sister publication, Global Wireless, things ain't all that rosy for paging.Several...
WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration, bowing to industry pressure here and across the Atlantic, last week signaled for the first time a willingness to consider supporting global harmonization of third-generation mobile spectrum at next year's World Radiocommunication Conference in Turkey."We've started a process to reopen discussions...
In a deal loud with industry-shaking repercussions, the nation's top two paging carriers announced their intention to merge last week, raising the consolidation bar to a level as yet unseen in industry's history.Arch Communications Group Inc., the second-largest paging carrier, emerged as the victor...
CARACAS, Venezuela-Venezuelan regulatory agency Conatel expects to award an additional cellular operating license early next year, according to a Reuters report.There currently are three other cellular carriers operating in Venezuela, with two others licensed.The dominant operator is Telcel, owned 78-percent by BellSouth Corp.; the...
LOS ANGELES-Econ One Research's latest monthly survey of wireless-phone service prices showed that some carriers charge up to twice as much for the same service in one city as they charge in another.The economic research and consulting firm's October survey covered the 18 service...
TesscoTessco Technologies Inc. appointed Kevin P. Demery vice president and unit director of product and brand development. He will be responsible for electronic commerce, product management, strategic planning and all marketing communications. Demery has held senior sales and marketing positions with Ericsson Inc. and...
SANTA CLARA, Calif.-Paradigm4 unveiled SmartPartner Pager, a new wireless data service that provides law enforcement officers with the ability to access critical information from local, state and federal criminal databases via the RIM Inter@ctive Pager 950.Operating in a manner similar to mobile computers found...
NEW YORK-For strategic and financial investors, many domestic wireless carriers possess a strong desirability quotient because they own scarce spectrum in a huge and growing market.Lehman Brothers Inc. projects that wireless penetration in the United States will reach 50 percent by 2002 and 70...
While most tower companies have been focusing their attention on the domestic market, Crown Castle International Corp. has cast its net overseas.Crown, through its Crown Castle UK Ltd. subsidiary, controls 1,800 towers in the United Kingdom, including the BBC's TV and radio networks. Earlier...
SAN ANTONIO, Texas-SBC Communications Inc. said it agreed to acquire Radiofone Inc., which serves more than 200,000 wireless customers in Louisiana and Michigan.Once the transaction is completed, SBC said it will begin deploying digital wireless services in Radiofone service areas.Radiofone offers wireless service under...
Some confusion exists in the wireless industry over whether mobile-phone-component shortages are affecting the handset supply in the United States.Major handset suppliers say they aren't struggling with component shortages, but one major carrier said its lower subscriber additions in the third quarter were caused...
NEW YORK-The irony inherent in the proliferation of communications devices and technologies is the difficulty of getting them to interact with home base.Therein lies a business opportunity for MobileSys Inc., a Mountain View, Calif., start-up that provides middleware. Its mission is to serve as...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-Following guidelines laid out during the PCS auctions in Argentina, mobile phone operator Miniphone ended operations on 1 October. Its 800,000 customers were divided between operators Unif
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-Most foreign investment in the wireless market in South America has been directed at Brazil, Argentina and Chile in recent years based on their high wireless demand. However, several other countries in the region are experiencing strong wireless user numbers as well.Paraguay,...
Finland. Sonera began offering High Speed Circuit Switched Data services to its data customers 6 September, but without available handsets. Sonera said it wanted to be ready when handsets are available later this year.France. At Telecom '99 in Geneva, Alcatel, French carrier SFR/Cegetel, Phone.com...
Wireless location-based services have been talked about for years and few carriers have deployed them, but reality should begin to set in within the next few years.The Federal Communications Commission's revised enhanced 911 rules released in September have put carriers on notice that decisions...
ARMONK, N.Y.-Melard Technologies Inc. introduced the Scout HPC, a ruggedized full-screen wireless handheld computer powered by the Windows CE operating system.The Scout HPC contains two type III PC card slots for wireless modems to connect to networks owned by American Mobile Satellite Corp., BellSouth...
ATLANTA-A BellSouth Corp.-led consortium won a $26 million license to provide nationwide wireless communications service in Guatemala. BellSouth and its Panama-based partner, Multi Holding Corp., expect to begin service in Guatemala, the largest Central American nation with a population of 11 million, by mid-2000.Guatemala...
