Handsets

TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo said it will begin selling handsets compatible with its planned third-generation (3G) FOMA network beginning 1 October at 260 stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the day the …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—Current lithium battery technology used to power cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) is reaching its limits, according to researchers. To drive the power-hungry third-generation (3G) handsets …

SAN DIEGO—Qualcomm Inc. said it has a mobile station modem chipset and software solution for third-generation cdma2000 1x voice and short message service handsets for prepaid subscribers. “Leveraging existing MSM5105 …

WASHINGTON—Cingular Wireless L.L.C., which has committed to completing the initial deployment of enhanced 911 Phase II by the end of 2002, received the support on Thursday of the Communications for …

IRVINE, Calif.—Toshiba America Electronic Components said it has developed a family of 64 megabit Pseudo Static Random Access Memories for higher-density memory in the next generation of wireless devices.The company …

MOSCOW—Sonic Duo, which has the third GSM license in Moscow, finally launched a test operation of its network in the Russian capital. After several delays caused by the absence of …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—By the end of 2003, Chris Gent, the chief executive officer of Vodafone, expects 3G handsets to be available that will enable its customers to seamlessly roam between …

RALEIGH, N.C.—High Speed Net Solutions Inc. (d/b/a Summus) announced its BlueFuel Image media module for Qualcomm’s BREW platform is now available. According to Summus, BlueFuel is a SuperFast-SuperThin media module …

BEIJING, China-China’s state Development Planning Commission said it has approved 19 firms to make CDMA handsets to cater to part of its 120.6 million cellular phone subscribers. Some of the …

BEIJING—China has imposed a one-year sales ban on Panasonic-brand phones made by Japan’s Matsushita Communication Industrial, because the phone’s software referred to Taiwan as an independent country. The government in …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—Despite evidence that cell-phone users are two-and-a-half times more likely to suffer from a temporal brain tumor, medical researchers in Sweden claim that several more years of fact …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—Kurt Hellstrom, Ericsson CEO, has given a downbeat view on the cell-phone market claiming there are no clear signs of a recovery. The company, which holds a dominant …

CARROLLTON, Texas-CellStar Corp., a provider of value-added logistics for wireless products, has registered to exchange half of its outstanding stock plus $20 million in cash to retire up to $150 …

BEIJING, China-Amid slowing subscriber growth worldwide, China still shows a healthy increase in mobile-phone users. The country’s two mobile-phone operators are each offering new services-one General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), …

TORONTO-Canadian wireless carriers are bracing for tougher times as they gear up for faster 2.5-generation (2.5G) services. The four national carriers-Bell Mobility, Microcell, Rogers AT&T Wireless and Telus Mobility-posted disappointing …

HONG KONG-On the face of it, Hutchison Whampoa is a great success story. The company is among the leading international wireless operators and part of the giant Cheung Kong (Holdings), …

KIEV, Ukraine-Ukraine has witnessed a wireless market boom during the past 18 months, with the number of subscribers jumping from 300,000 to 1.35 million and GSM taking a firm lead …

TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo, the largest mobile carrier in Japan, is accelerating preparations for the launch of its commercial-based 3G service Oct. 1. NTT DoCoMo initiated an experimental 3G service last 30 …

A U.S. federal appeals court rejected a Federal Communications Commission filing asking that it not be required to return personal communications services licenses to bankrupt carrier NextWave Telecom Inc. NextWave, …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—The joint cell phone venture between Ericsson and Sony could, according to the executives of the Swedish telecoms giant, see the Ericsson brand name fade from prominence. Sony …

PLANO, Texas—Mobile Internet consultancy and SmartTrust partner AU-System today said it will offer a gateway technology to carriers, which the company said will speed up time-to-market for deploying mobile products …

BEIJING, China—China’s state Development Planning Commission said it has approved 19 firms to make CDMA handsets to cater to part of its 120.6 million cellular phone subscribers.Some of the approved …

TOKYO—On Aug. 21, NEC Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial and Matsushita Communication Industrial, announced plans to combine forces in the third-generation (3G) mobile handset business. Based on the agreement, NEC and …

TOKYO—KDDI Corp. and five other firms will jointly perform Japan’s largest field test for mobile commerce in November. Unlike other conventional mobile commerce services, their system will provide settlement services …

MOSCOW—The Russian Security Council allowed the rebel Republic of Chechnya to restore wireless communications to a limited extent. The military fears that remaining armed Chechen separatists may use mobile communications …