Carriers

Sierra Wireless Inc. announced it will abandon its attempt at the smart-phone business after a miserable outing with its first product, the Voq Professional Phone. Sierra said it will either …

MONROVIA, Liberia-Nortel Networks Ltd. deployed the first phase of a national GSM/GPRS network for Liberian operator Cellcom Telecommunications Inc., bringing wireless services to parts of the country for the first …

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia-Delta Telecom, a 450 MHz mobile operator in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, selected Lucent Technologies Inc. to expand and add 1x EV-DO support to Delta’s Sky …

WASHINGTON-The rate wireless carriers pay incumbent local exchange carriers to carry traffic from base stations to mobile switching centers will not be reduced, as hoped, without action by the Federal …

For the second consecutive year, T-Mobile USA Inc. showed that size isn’t everything when it comes to customer service as the carrier topped consumer research firm J.D. Power and Associates …

CHICAGO-Alcatel Corp. this week announced an Unlicensed Mobile Access solution that provides access to GSM and GPRS mobile services over Bluetooth and 802.11 unlicensed spectrum technologies. UMA technology allows subscribers …

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti-Digicel Group, which operates several wireless networks in the Caribbean, said it was awarded Haiti’s first GSM license through a tender process entered jointly with OneFone, a wholly owned …

U.S. Cellular’s 5 million subscribers can send photos and other content from their handsets to users on Verizon Wireless’ network, the carrier said Wednesday. The Chicago-based operator announced it has …

After months of speculation, Siemens announced Taiwanese electronics manufacturer BenQ Group will take over its ailing mobile-phone business. Siemens will pay BenQ $307 million for “ongoing support” and will buy …

BellSouth Corp. is not letting its minority stake in wireless operator Cingular Wireless L.L.C. deter its own wireless efforts as the regional telecommunications provider announced a pair of wireless initiatives. …

CHICAGO-Lucent Technologies Inc. announced enhancements to its Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem equipment. The vendor introduced new “blended lifestyle” services that combine voice, video and data capabilities that can be delivered …

ESPOO, Finland-Finnish mobile virtual network operator Saunalahti selected Nokia to provide equipment for converged networks that will allow Saunalahti to offer services like Voice over Internet Protocol and multimedia to …

TEWKSBURY, Mass.-Venezuelan operator Movilnet has chosen Starent Networks to provide its ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway for data service access on Movilnet’s CDMA2000 1x and 1x EV-DO network. The ST16 acts …

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-724 Solutions announced a new mobile virtual network operator bundle based on its X-treme Mobility Suite. The network-independent bundle includes an intermediation proxy, service logic and activity management, …

LOS ANGELES-AG Interactive has teamed with Def Jam Enterprises to offer urban-themed content and services through North American wireless operators supporting the BREW platform. AG Interactive, a subsidiary of American …

OSLO, Norway-Telenor Mobile introduced a filter designed to limit mobile users’ access to child pornography Internet sites. The child-porn filter expands on an offering the wireless and fixed-network operator launched …

CHICAGO-Lucent Technologies Inc. said it will deploy Voice over Internet Protocol technology from its Accelerate Next-Generation Communications Solutions to upgrade rural wireless operator Midwest Wireless’ network. Lucent noted the VoIP …

Despite increasing competition and spectrum concerns, T-Mobile USA Inc. said it expects to continue posting around 1 million net customer additions per quarter through the rest of 2005, and with …

HONDURAS Motorola Inc. sold its entire equity stake in Honduran wireless carrier Celtel. Millicom International Cellular said it acquired part of the stake from Motorola, bringing Millicom’s ownership to two-thirds …

DALLAS-Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is using Texas Instruments’ OMAP multimedia processor chip in its mobile TV phones. Samsung is currently selling phones in South Korea that work on the Digital …

Users in the youth and young adult segment showed strong interest in using wireless entertainment and multimedia services, according to a new market research report by The Management Network Group …

Electronics manufacturers and distributors say wireless carriers are beginning to cautiously embrace third-party signal amplifiers they once kept at arm’s length. Inconsistent service has long plagued the cell-phone industry, as …

Carrier consolidation among the wireless industry’s top players has had a similar effect on smaller operators, which are being forced to cooperate more closely to provide advanced services that larger …

The wireless industry’s drive for cost efficiencies has seen marked improvements during the past several years as many carriers have begun posting operating profits after years of racking up huge …

DES MOINES, Iowa-Qwest Communications International Inc. expanded its nationwide wireless service to residential and small-business customers in Keokuk and Mason City, Iowa. Rate plans for the service begin at $40 …