In what is traditionally a quiet period for the wireless industry, T-Mobile USA Inc. reported robust third-quarter results that trailed only Verizon Wireless in customer growth and further separated the two operators as the fastest-growing among their peers. The two companies combined to account...
The rash of consolidation and spectrum deals that have recently swept through the wireless industry could have a substantial impact on the Federal Communications Commission's Auction 58 set for late January, as the carriers with a history of being the most aggressive bidders have...
WaveMarket Inc. plans to launch a new location-based social application this week, unveiling the industry's latest effort to prod users to create social networks through wireless networks. Dubbed "Crunkie," the product combines the community-creating features of Internet-based services like Friendster and Meetup.com with location-based...
Though often regarded as the most important quarter of the year for wireless customer acquisitions and thus the most highly competitive, this year's fourth quarter is expected to be particularly heated as carriers aggressively target customers disenchanted or confused by Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s acquisition...
After months of suggesting wireless customers switch from their current operators to Verizon Wireless, the nation's second-largest carrier has launched a new advertising campaign in the Northeast specifically targeting AT&T Wireless Services Inc.The campaign, which began this week in The New York Times and...
Although wireless device vendor Sierra Wireless Inc. continues to ride a wave of positivity on Wall Street, at least one firm believes the company is in for a quick fall in the not-too-distant future. "We recommend investors sell SWIR (Sierra Wireless) shares because this...
L.M. Ericsson expects the global market for mobile systems to slightly top 2004 figures, reflecting the company's high spirits about its leading position in infrastructure."Confidence is back in the industry; we are seeing an increased focus on business development and revenue growth," said Carl-Henric...
SEATTLE-M-commerce software developer Qpass has acquired Altamedius, a Dublin, Ireland-based multichannel payment technology provider, the companies announced yesterday.Qpass said the acquisition will help it exploit the growing m-commerce market in Europe. It hopes to widen distribution of its Qpass Prosperity Series software to Altamedius'...
CHATSWORTH, Calif.-Wireless users gave Sanyo top marks in J.D. Power and Associates' third annual "2004 U.S. Wireless Mobile Phone Evaluation Study." The report surveyed more than 13,000 wireless users on phone features, durability, physical design, battery function and operation."Sanyo's continued success is based on...
PISCATAWAY, N.J.-Telcordia Technologies has established a Brazilian-based entity, Telcordia Technologies do Brasil Ltda, and has opened new offices in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to work closely with local carriers.The company has an existing relationship with Oi, a leading wireless carrier in Brazil.
T-Mobile USA Inc. reported 901,000 net customer additions during the third quarter of this year, which was a 34-percent increase compared with the 670,000 subscribers the carrier added during the third quarter of 2003 and in line with analysts' estimates. T-Mobile USA noted that...
TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo Inc. Thursday detailed its plans to buy back some of its shares. The Japanese carrier plans to buy back 142,000 shares of common stock at the closing price of its common stock on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Thursday, which was $1,650.Results of...
CARROLLTON, Texas-Wireless phone distribution company CellStar Corp. announced it hired Zhang Yue, a former China Mobile Communications executive, as its senior vice president of Asia-Pacific operations. The move is notable as CellStar recently canceled its initial public offering in China and exited its Singapore...
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.-Bitfone Corp., which sells over-the-air updating technology for mobile phones, announced it scored a deal to conduct a pilot project with European wireless carrier Orange. Under the agreement, Orange will test the company's firmware OTA technology on its third-generation phones from Motorola...
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Intellisync Corporation's synchronization software is available for T-Mobile USA subscribers carrying Danger's Sidekick devices, the company announced Tuesday.The software, which can be downloaded from the carrier's Web site, allows users to synchronize calendars, contacts and tasks between handsets and computers using Microsoft...
SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said it has completed its assisted global positioning system technology call on W-CDMA/GSM/GPRS networks for location-based services.The company said the call took place independently with four vendors, including Alcatel Corp., NEC Corp., Nortel Networks Ltd. and Spirent."Qualcomm has validated its gpsOne...
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Mobile software and technology developer NMS Communications will team with IT consultant firm LogicaCMG to introduce ringback tones to subscribers of Vodafone Netherlands, the companies announced Tuesday. The service, dubbed Welcome Tunes, includes rock, pop and dance tunes, as well as standards and...
Vodafone Group plc launched its UMTS-based Vodafone live! service across its operations in 13 countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In connection with the "global" launch, Vodafone also announced the availability...
ESPOO, Finland-Nokia Corp. said it signed a $15.5 million agreement with Thai wireless carrier AIS to expand its GSM network in the northern, western and southern region of Thailand. The expansion follows a $22 million deal earlier this year between the two companies. Deliveries...
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.-SmartServ Online Inc. will offer prepaid mobile phone service and handsets on Sprint PCS' nationwide network, the company announced Wednesday.SmartServ will launch the mobile virtual network operator service under the company's Uphonia brand on Sprint's network in the first quarter of 2005....
OAKLAND, Calif.-Wireless data software developer PocketThis raised $12 million in Series C financing, the company announced Wednesday. The company's third round of equity financing included two new investors, American River Ventures and Crosslink Capital, as well as existing investors Mobius Venture Capital, SeaPoint and...
MELBOURNE, Australia-Australian operator Telstra Corp. said it launched i-mode services based on technology from Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc.The content service offers Telstra customers access to a wide range of Internet services such as shopping, entertainment, banking and e-mail, Telstra said. The service includes...
Rural wireless provider Western Wireless Corp. reported $276.1 million in domestic revenues during the third quarter of this year, which was a 6-percent improvement compared with the $260.6 million the carrier posted during the third quarter of 2003. Roaming revenues dropped from $61.1 million...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission today said Mobile Satellite Ventures L.P. received the first ever authorization to operate land-based wireless systems to supplement satellite operations, a ruling that comes amid regulatory and court challenges to agency regulations allowing hybrid satellite facilities. The FCC said the...
