1994December Alain Rossman forms Libris Inc., hires two engineers to develop what eventually becomes the backbone for WAP.1995March Libris completes software prototype.1996June Libris changed to Unwired Planet. Commercial release of first generation UP.Link Server and UP.Browser software.1997June Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet agree...
REDWOOD|CITY-Sometimes the greatest inventions aren't inventions at all, but the successful application of an idea common in one industry to a problem faced by another.Alain Rossman did exactly this when he created an application environment enabling Internet applications to run on wireless networks using...
In a move seen as strengthening their respective weaknesses in the wireless industry, L.M. Ericsson and Microsoft Corp. said they plan to create a joint venture designed to develop and market end-to-end solutions for wireless Internet services.In addition, Microsoft introduced its long-awaited dual-mode microbrowser,...
A U.S. bankruptcy court has given ICO Global Communications final approval for $500 million in financing from an investor group led by Craig McCaw and Indian media magnate Subhash Chandra, who had challenged McCaw with a competing financing bid.Under the agreement, McCaw will provide...
Microsoft Corp. introduced its long-awaited dual-mode microbrowser last week, which allows wireless phones to access Internet content written in both Wireless Application Protocol language and traditional Hypertext Markup Language.Kevin Dallas, group product manager for Microsoft's Wireless Telephony unit, said the Mobile Internet Explorer browser...
OWINGS MILLS, Md.-Aether Systems Inc. released an upgraded version of the Aether Intelligent Messaging platform, version 2.0, with support for Java and Microsoft Component Object Model environments.AIM is a wireless messaging software and development platform designed to allow corporate enterprises and content providers to...
SANTA CLARA, Calif.-The Bluetooth Special Interest Group announced several new company members, including 3Com Corp., Lucent Technologies Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Motorola Inc.These industry powerhouses have joined founders L.M. Ericsson, IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Nokia and Toshiba Corp. in a new group effort called...
SAN FRANCISCO-In line with the wireless data focus that has engulfed the industry throughout 1999, the four keynote speakers on the opening day of the 1999 CDMA Americas Congress represented Internet heavy-hitters.Executives from Microsoft Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc., Cisco Systems and Yahoo! Inc. gave...
Forgive Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates for feeling a bit paranoid these days, what with the feds being on his case about trying to snuff out competition so he can monopolize the digital planet-including the evolving wireless one. Can you imagine?Just last week-Tuesday to...
At long last, a wireless carrier has announced its intention to launch the Revolv service from Wireless Knowledge L.L.C., the joint venture Qualcomm Inc. and Microsoft Corp. formed more than a year ago.AT&T Wireless Services Inc. said it plans to include the service as...
NEW YORK-Even if it fails to acquire the radio-frequency licenses of NextWave Telecom Inc., Nextel Communications Inc. already owns sufficient spectrum to fulfill its 10-year business plan, according to its chief executive.Timothy M. Donahue, Nextel president and chief executive officer, told attendees last week...
Cue Corp., Irvine, Calif., has entered into an agreement with STMicroelectronics Inc. to develop an AM/FM decoder chip for Cue's new SkySpeed.com network for mobile Internet applications for automotive and consumer products."We expect that within a year the SkySpeed network will cover 90 percent...
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...
Enhanced specialized mobile radio operators are poised to lead the country in rolling out Wireless Application Protocol services next year.Today, no U.S. wireless provider offers full WAP services. But SMR operators Nextel Communications Inc. and Southern Linc both have embraced pre-WAP services, with an...
As the wireless industry continues its journey toward the convergence of wireless and Internet, many have kept a wary eye on Microsoft Corp. to determine where wireless concerns can fit in a paradigm held by computer interests.After all, competing in the same space as...
VIENNA, Va.-Teligent Inc. said it raised $500 million in new capital through an investor group led by Microsoft Corp. and private equity firm Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc.Other investors include Chase Capital Partners, DB Capital partners and Olympus Partners.Both Microsoft and Hicks Muse...
SINGAPORE-Mobile data is quickly taking off in many parts of Asia, with growth rates in the region comparing favorably to take-up rates in Europe and the United States, say analysts.Although overall percentages of Asian wireless subscribers that use data services are not available, Steven...
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...
Microsoft Corp. said it plans to deliver mobile data services in Japan by creating a joint venture company with NTT Mobile Communication Network Inc. called Mobimagic Company Ltd.The purpose of the equally held joint venture will be to develop and market mobile data services...
Perhaps the greatest indicator of how the wireless data industry has matured is the almost giddy buzz of excitement generated by this week's Wireless I.T. show in Santa Clara, Calif., sponsored by the Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association.In the fall of 1997, some 56 companies...
Nextel Communications Inc. announced customer additions of 458,000 in the third quarter, ending the three-month period with 4.05 million customers."The third quarter was our best ever, with both domestic and international operations setting new records and reaching new milestones," said Nextel President and Chief...
Last week heralded a slew of fairly positive announcements from the still-struggling paging industry, with PageMart Wireless Inc., Paging Network Inc., SkyTel and TSR Wireless L.L.C. announcing significant partnerships.PageMartPageMart announced a strategic agreement with the MSN.com Mobile Service to provide customized personal information services...
SANTA CLARA, Calif.-ThinAirApps.com introduced its ThinAir Secure Server application that, when installed inside a private corporate network, allows employees to access corporate database information and services from wirelessly enabled devices.Devices supported include the Palm VII, III and V connected organizers, Research In Motion Ltd....
British Telecommunications plc and Microsoft Corp. announced they have agreed to work together in developing mobile Internet and multimedia applications and equipment.Specifically, the two said they intend to develop handheld interactive wireless devices based on Microsoft's Windows CE platform, create a mobile multimedia service...
