For several years, it seems there has been little good news to report about the mobile satellite industry. It is one that has been marked by marginal peaks and inconceivable valleys. Losses in this industry are talked about in terms of billions of dollars,...
WASHINGTON-The Bush administration came under pressure from key Senate Democrats last week to require the Department of Defense to surrender spectrum sought by mobile-phone firms for third-generation wireless systems, a development with heavy political overtones and a sense of urgency that could further isolate...
The bad news for Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. continues to mount following the filing of a second complaint by Ericsson Inc. against the mobile satellite communications provider, claiming Globalstar failed to buy the number of phones from Ericsson agreed to under contract.In May, Ericsson accused...
LEESBURG, Va.-Iridium Satellite L.L.C. began shipping last week an order of 1,000 phones pursuant to a contract signed with the Defense Information Systems Agency last December. The 1,000 phones also include a secure sleeve, which will allow for encrypted communications when both parties on...
WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association late Friday petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate spectrum assigned to struggling mobile satellite firms to cellular phone carriers struggling to capture additional frequencies for third-generation wireless systems.The anticipated move by the mobile-phone industry comes in response...
WASHINGTON-In an unexpected twist pitting billionaire Craig McCaw against a mobile-phone industry he once towered over, sources say the Federal Communications Commission may propose making some mobile satellite service spectrum-including that held by McCaw's New ICO and other struggling satellite firms-available for third-generation wireless...
New ICO Global Communications Holdings Ltd. has hand-delivered a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell, asking the commission to allow mobile satellite service operators to use MSS spectrum for terrestrial-based services, citing the past failure of Iridium L.L.C. and the present...
Globalstar L.P. reported revenues for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31 of $1.1 million and $3.7 million, respectively, however the company continues to see minimal growth in voice traffic and said in its annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it...
The resurrection of Iridium came full circle last week with the announcement that the company's Tempe, Ariz., gateway is fully operational and voice service now will be available via its 66-satellite network to remote customers all over the world.Iridium Satellite L.L.C. plans to offer...
WASHINGTON-Law firm Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll P.L.L.C. filed a lawsuit against Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. and Loral Space & Communications Ltd. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of securities of Globalstar during the period...
Dennis Roberson is sitting at a large, round conference table talking about the mandate he was given three years ago to "fix" Motorola Inc.'s storied research lab.As the conversation progresses, he reaches inside his breast pocket and pulls out a cell phone made with...
Motorola Inc.'s miserable journey into the realm of mobile satellite communications with Iridium L.L.C. worsened last week when a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in New York ruled that creditors of Iridium could proceed with plans to sue Motorola for $2 billion in damages.Creditors contend...
NEW YORK-Although some satellite companies, like Globalstar L.P. and Iridium, have stumbled badly while chasing mobile telephony, provision of broadband communications remains a meaningful business opportunity for these extraterrestrial carriers, even in the United States.The inability of land-based wireline and wireless connectivity alternatives to...
GENEVA-With just a few months to go until the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2000) on 8 May-2 June in Istanbul, Turkey, tensions are already running high as rival national delegations jostle to secure a bigger slice of the radio frequency spectrum to support...
MELBOURNE, Australia-In a part of the world that still relies on word of mouth as a means to keep in touch, cellular communications-both digital and analog-is continuing to spread through the Pacific Islands as greater numbers of people in the region adjust to using...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-Globalstar could be the last hope for global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS) survival in Africa. During a heated debate at the Satcom Africa '99 conference held recently in Midrand, South Africa, many participants concluded that after the setbacks experienced by...
NEW YORK-Although the technology-laden Nasdaq posted its strongest one-day gain ever in response to the Federal Reserve Board's surprise rate cut Jan. 3, the market remains poised for gradual shakeout of accumulated excesses.The transition to more rational corporate valuations and expenditures will be uncomfortable,...
At the end of each year, the RCR Wireless News editorial staff looks back on the new events that made RCR headlines and decides which were the most significant, industry-impacting stories of the past 12 months. Here are our picks for 2000 in chronological...
In the story "Nokia to ship Lutris Enhydra 3.5 with mobile developer tools," (Dec. 18, page 6), the headline and copy should have stated that Lutris Technologies Inc. will ship with its Enhydra 3.5 Java XML/Source application server Nokia Corp.'s suite of mobile developer...
After months of uncertainty peppered with glimpses of hope, Iridium L.L.C. officially settled into its new home last week as a mobile satellite service provider for government and remote commercial operations.Now called Iridium Satellite L.L.C. and headquartered in Leesburg, Va., the company was purchased...
WASHINGTON-The Iridium satellite network has found a home, in part, at the Pentagon, which agreed to pay $36 million a year to Iridium Satellite L.L.C. for unlimited use by the Department of Defense. The contract is good for one year, and the Pentagon can...
A new venture backed by veteran airline executive Dan Colussy is reported to be buying the assets of Iridium L.L.C., Motorola Inc.'s financial drain and the center of controversy since it first began operation of its 66 low-earth-orbit satellites in 1998, for about $25...
The satellite-based telecommunications market made headlines again last week as Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. released disappointing financial results and bankrupt provider Iridium L.L.C. endorsed a $25 million buyout bid from former airline executive Dan Colussy.Globalstar's results were based on what it called "unacceptably slow" subscriber...
The satellite-based telecommunications market made headlines again as Globalstar Telecommunications released disappointing financial results and bankrupt provider Iridium endorsed a US$25 million buyout bid from former airline executive Dan Colussy.Globalstar's results were based on what it called "unacceptably slow" subscriber growth and use. At...
