WASHINGTON-An International Telecommunication Union task group in Beijing last week approved a carrier-crafted plan to harmonize competing U.S. and European Code Division Multiple Access technologies for Internet-friendly third-generation mobile phones, paving the way for the compromise to be translated into a new, global-roaming standard...
VERNON HILLS, Ill.-Telular Corp. and Aeris Communications Inc. introduced the Telguard DataBurst, a wireless alarm signaling system manufactured by Telular that uses MicroBurst, a small packet data messaging service provided by Aeris.MicroBurst technology uses the control channel of existing cellular networks. Alarm messages burst...
VIENNA, Va.-Teligent Inc. announced it launched its services in Seattle.Using its SmartWave technology, which integrates point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio equipment with broadband wireless technology, Teligent offers small- and mid-sized businesses local, long-distance, high-speed data and Internet-access services.
NEW YORK-Anticipating a $2 billion market in Internet-based wireless services by 2003, Motorola Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. announced June 7 they would buy the fixed-wireless assets of Bosch Telecom in Richardson, Texas, for an undisclosed amount.With the acquisition, the two companies plan to...
SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. announced its chairman and chief executive officer, Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs, has been named the 1999 recipient of the Computerworld Smithsonian Program's Ernst & Young Leadership Award for Global Integration.In 1985, Jacobs was a founder of Qualcomm and has served as...
PHOENIX-Phoenix-based AG Communications Systems, a Lucent Technologies Inc. subsidiary, announced the general availability of its ROAMEO Time Division Multiple Access wireless office telephone system. The company said U.S. Cellular Corp., Chicago, will market AG's ROAMEO wireless office system to customers in all of the...
MONTE CARLO, France-Nine global wireless communications companies formed a focus group to promote an Internet protocol-based wireless system for third-generation mobile communications technology.The group, called 3G.IP, consists of AT&T Wireless Services Inc., British Telecommunications plc, Rogers Cantel Inc., L.M. Ericsson, Lucent Technologies Inc., Nokia...
HOUSTON-Crown Castle International's board of directors named Ted Miller chairman. Miller also is the company's chief executive officer. He succeeds Carl Ferenbach as chairman.Ferenbach was named lead director, said the company.
WASHINGTON-State regulators are concerned the Federal Communications Commission this week will adopt an item suggesting calling party pays is a commercial mobile radio service exempt from state regulation.There is nothing new about state regulators not wanting to be pre-empted by the FCC. But the...
Paging resellers Your Phone Company Inc. of Portland, Ore., and Page Club USA of Seattle last week won a lawsuit against the Oregon branch of Paging Network Inc. and were awarded $66,000 and $78,000 in damages, respectively.The lawsuit by the two former PageNet resellers...
LAKE CHARLES, La.-US Unwired said Chat Pak vending machines at select Lake Charles, Westlake and Sulphur, La., Conoco/Sporty's locations now are dispensing its prepaid cellular cards.The vending machines dispense the cards in 45- and 70-minute increments, valued at $20 to $30, said US Unwired.
CALGARY, Alberta-Cell-Loc Inc. appointed company co-founder and President Michael Fattouche as its chief executive officer.Fattouche first served as president from November 1996 until June 1997, at which time he became chief technical officer to focus exclusively on developing the Cellocate technology. Fattouche resumed the...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission, in agreeing with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, denied Omnipoint Corp.'s petition for a lower interest rate for the installment payment system for C-block personal communications services licenses. A similar petition by Savannah Independent PCS Corp. also was denied.Omnipoint and Savannah...
WASHINGTON-The wireless industry has asked a federal court to grant an additional 60-day stay of a lawsuit regarding implementation of the digital wiretap act.The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the Personal Communications Industry Association and the Telecommunications Industry Association are suing the Department of Justice...
TAMPA, Fla.-BellSouth International Wireless Services announced five North American carriers, including BellSouth Mobility, converted to the BSI-WS International Settlement and Exchange Service.The BellSouth service provides international wireless roaming date-clearing. It also provides a secure Web-based reporting system, which provides immediate delivery of clearing reports...
When Congress passed Section 309(j) of the Communications Act and the government developed rules to implement this law, the goal was to increase diversity in telecommunications by providing opportunities for small businesses, women and minorities.Diversity in telecommunications is beneficial because it provides opportunities for...
NEW YORK-By July, Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. plans to launch service under the Cellular One brand in Bermuda, a tax-haven country with the third-highest per-capita income in the world and average monthly cellular phone bills of $89.The holding company, based in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin...
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Phone.com Inc. announced Hitachi Ltd. of Japan has selected its UP.Browser microbrowser to offer Internet and data features on Code Division Multiple Access phones.Hitachi's C201H phone, the first product shipped under the agreement, is a Wireless Application Protocol-compatible CDMA handset and is...
MELBOURNE, Fla.-In keeping with its strategy to focus exclusively on the worldwide communications equipment market, Harris Corp. announced it is selling its semiconductor business to a subsidiary of Sterling Holding Co. L.L.C., a Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd. investment portfolio company.Other investors include affiliates of...
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Globalstar L.P. announced its fixed telephone terminal was approved for use throughout the European Union, which the company said will speed the certification process for the phone in other countries and quicken similar approval for its mobile handsets.EU certification for the fixed...
SUNNYVALE, Calif.-General Magic Inc. registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 10 million shares of its common stock.The company said proceeds will be used for product development, capital expenditures, including costs associated with expanding its network operations center, sales and marketing and...
NEW YORK-Electric Fuel Corp. announced its Consumer Battery Division completed its preproduction phase and the company is moving ahead with plans for its automated production line. Delivery of the equipment is scheduled for September.The company also said it is reducing operating expenses by downsizing...
VENICE, Fla.-Frank Gunther, who devised some of the first radio communications devices, died last Monday. He was 91.Gunther helped create shortwave, two-way and FM systems, often working with the military and police and fire departments. In 1932, he built what is believed to be...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission received somewhat of a mixed message last week when consumer advocates, and state and local government representatives appeared at a forum discussing what the FCC should look like in the 21st century.Mike Travieso, the people's counsel for the state of...
