NEW YORK-When it comes to smart cards, potential consumer demand is the proverbial tail wagging the dog of available supply, according to Avi Zahavi, chairman of the Smart Card Forum's telephony work group.Right behind secure storage of their medical insurance and health information, consumers...
The wireless industry currently uses many different customer-retention strategies and retention campaigns, including win-back teams, welcome calls, competitive rate plans and loyalty programs. However, even with these comprehensive programs in place, churn continues to plague the wireless industry and today remains a critical business...
SKOKIE, Ill.-Cellular Wholesalers Inc. said it partnered with wireless accessories manufacturer Direct Power Plus to sell and market batteries and cigarette lighter adaptors under the ProCell brand name.The products will be marketed to retailers as an alternative to original equipment manufacturer products along with...
WASHINGTON-It is becoming quite obvious that the key word on antenna-siting disputes is cooperation. In two situations last week, cooperation led to successful results for three wireless companies.In Fairfax County, Va., a circuit court judge told Bell Atlantic Mobile and AT&T Wireless Services Inc....
Qualcomm Inc. said it expects to distribute common shares of Leap Wireless International Inc.-Qualcomm's spun-off wireless communications carrier-Sept. 23 after the close of marketing trading.The Securities and Exchange Commission indicated it has no further comments to the registration statement filed by Leap Wireless. Regular...
The man credited with helping Craig McCaw build a nationwide cellular network has retired from AT&T Wireless Services Inc."I actually had in mind for some time, and they kept asking me to stay," said Nick Kauser, former executive president and chief technology officer...
In preparation for PCS '98, RCR sat down last month with Jay Kitchen, president of the Personal Communications Industry Association to talk about the trade show, the wireless industry in general, and PCIA specifically. The following is a transcript of that interview: RCR: What is going...
SPOKANE, Wash.-Itron Inc. said a class-action lawsuit filed against the company in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, Spokane county, was dismissed with prejudice following an earlier granting of the company's motion to dismiss the complaint.The lawsuit named automatic meter-reading equipment provider...
Investors are nervous when it comes to pricing competition in the mobile industry.
Just look at the effects of a Wall Street Journal article in April that described the competitive Jacksonville, Fla., mobile phone market. That article, in addition to AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s introduction...
CHICAGO-Ameritech Cellular Services and IBM Corp. announced they have agreed that IBM will offer Ameritech's wireless data communications as part of IBM customers' systems integration projects.Under terms of the agreement, IBM will market Ameritech's Cellular Digital Packet Data service through its Global Services organization....
ATLANTA-Preferred Networks Inc. announced it gave its Network Services Division a new name-PNI Access Services-effective immediately."The name change ... better reflects the broader scope of our service offering," said PNI Access Services President Gary Park.The division provides network services to about 1,800 companies that...
UltraTek, a Torrance, Calif.-based telecommunications equipment research company, has filed patent applications for a global wireless telecommunications system that would turn commercial airplanes into flying cell sites.The company has proposed a system that initially would make use of airplanes flying between North America and...
BEDFORD, Mass.-PinPoint Corp. unveiled 3D-iD, its real-time wireless asset-tracking and personnel-management system using location techniques similar to those used by the global positioning system satellite network.PinPoint's 3D-iD network is a local positioning system combining both hardware and software that leverages the customer's existing computer...
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The SuperSession on the second day of the Personal Communications Showcase '98, "Connect to Competition, the Business of Success," will feature keynote speaker David Golden, managing director and co-director of investment banking at Hambrecht & Quist.Golden will discuss the guidelines investment bankers and...
CAMPBELL, Calif.-P-Com Inc. announced a cost-cutting restructuring program that eliminates about 10 percent of its global work force, affecting approximately 120 full-time employees. In addition, members of senior management will take a 10-percent salary reduction, said P-Com.P-Com makes network access systems for the wireless...
DALLAS-PageMart Wireless Inc. has created a Telemetry Strategic Business Unit as part of its strategy to extend in-progress ReFLEX 25 narrowband personal communications services network to more "off-the-hip" applications and customers.The new unit already has entered into an exclusive strategic alliance with Interactive Technologies...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week announced 54 bidders are qualified for the auction of licenses in the 220 MHz (220-222 MHz) band set to begin tomorrow. The 220 MHz service auction is considered Phase II of the FCC's licensing plan for this band....
WASHINGTON-The House is set to begin debate this week on legislation to allow more highly skilled foreign workers into the United States, an initiative opposed by the White House and organized labor that would help the wireless industry to fill many key positions left...
SAN CARLOS, Calif.-CellNet Data Systems Inc. announced it brought the 1.5-millionth device online in its networks. The devices are primarily monitoring metered energy usage for six U.S. utilities, although CellNet said it expects to monitor a growing variety of devices in the future.Xerox business...
The Federal Communications Commission late Friday extended the compliance deadline for implementation of the digital wiretap act until June 30, 2000. Without the extension, telecommunications carriers were subject to possible fines of as much as $10,000 per day come Oct. 25.The extension was not...
The latest rage in the wireless industry has been the rush to purchase and build towers and facilities and lease them to wireless carriers. This accumulation of vertical real estate has launched a cottage industry referred to as "build to suit."A multitude of companies...
Wireless operators seem to be reacting to AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s Digital One Rate plan, but have fallen short of offering plans that mimic AT&T's.As reported by RCR Aug. 31, Bell Atlantic Mobile announced last week single rate plans. Only one pricing plan-which offers...
Today's volatile wireless telecommunications market compares to a Roman sports arena with every service provider in hand-to-hand combat-fate hanging in the balance. It doesn't take a despotic emperor to know who gets the "thumbs up" or the "thumbs down."The winners will be those who...
