The Federal Communications Commission's International Bureau granted low-earth-orbit licenses to four companies, authorizing them to operate non-voice, non-geostationary mobile satellite systems, also known as little LEOs.E-Sat Inc., Final Analysis Communications Services Inc., Orbital Communications Corp. and Volunteers in Technical Assistance each received little LEO...
SAN JOSE, Calif.-LGC Wireless received patent approval for its LGCell distributed antenna system, which allows cellular and personal communications services carriers to provide in-building services."We have been notified that all 30 claims under our patent were issued," said David Cutrer, vice president of engineering....
NEW YORK-The communications industry took the lead in the domestic mergers and acquisitions market during the first quarter, with $26.1 billion in transactions announced, a huge leap from the $1.5 billion announced during the first three months of 1997.Communications companies posted 56 mergers and...
NORMAN, Okla.-The University of Oklahoma's EMC Center reported recent findings indicate that interaction may occur between a small number of wireless phones and some implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).ICDs are electronic devices inserted within a patient's body to monitor and correct abnormally fast heart rhythms....
DALLAS-BearCom Inc., a wireless equipment dealer and distributor, announced it has acquired Condor Communications. BearCom said the acquisition is part of its strategy to provide a worldwide sales and support network.Condor has offices in Caracas, Venezuela, and Prague, in the Czech Republic, with customers...
WASHINGTON-The Indonesian government agreed last week to privatize state-owned telecommunications as part of a new, $43 billion rescue package negotiated with the International Monetary Fund.Last week's accord, the third attempt in six months to help the fourth-largest nation avoid total financial collapse, could create...
BERKSHIRE, England-Vodafone Group plc announced its parent company, Vodafone Europe Holdings BV, acquired 8.5 percent of CV Gemeenschappelijk Bezit Libertel from ING Bank Corporate Investments BV.The transaction gives Vodafone a 70-percent stake in Libertel, while ING will keep the remaining 30 percent. Libertel controls...
VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Sierra Wireless Inc. announced the private placement of $15 million in preferred shares with institutional investors including Scotia Merchant Capital, Tera Capital and BCI Holdings.Sierra plans to use the new financing for working capital and strategic investments to promote the company's growth....
DALLAS-PageMart Wireless Inc. announced it is repositioning its strategic alliances business unit to better prepare for a second-quarter launch of its ReFLEX 25 narrowband personal communications services network. As part of the change, the unit has been renamed the Carrier Services Division.The Carrier Services...
NEW YORK-Aliant Communications Inc. said it will use part of the proceeds of a recently completed public debt issue to pay for its purchase of a 50-percent stake in Omaha Cellular General Partnership, which it will then own completely.Aliant, formerly known as Lincoln Telecommunications...
SAN FRANCISCO-AirTouch Communications Inc. and MediaOne Group, formerly U S West Media Group, completed merging MediaOne's U.S. cellular and personal communications services interests into AirTouch, said the carrier. The merger, valued at $5.9 billion, became effective last week.AirTouch acquired MediaOne's stake in PCS provider...
The CDMA Development Group said wideband cdmaOne technology is ready to be submitted to the International Telecommunications Union after gaining approval from groups within the Telecommunications Industry Association.The CDG said the TIA TR 45 Committee, the TIA Wireless Communications Division, the TIA Ad Hoc...
MALVERN, Pa.-Triton PCS Inc. and Triton Cellular Partners selected National Telemanagement Corp.'s SmartPay Wireless prepaid billing system for its cellular and personal communications services networks, said the company.Under the agreement, Triton Cellular will offer customers a prepaid billing option starting in May, and Triton...
Ameritech Cellular confirmed the company settled a lawsuit with Chicago-area dealers DCI Integrated Computer Systems and Infinity Wireless Communications Inc.Neither party would disclose details of the settlement.The lawsuit claimed Ameritech encouraged dealers to open dealerships and expand their business and then forced them out...
BOSTON-Sprint Spectrum L.P. said it launched Code Division Multiple Access personal communications services in Washington, D.C./Baltimore alongside the company's Global System for Mobile communications network.Customers can trade in their existing GSM handsets for $25 credit toward a CDMA handset, said Sprint PCS. The company...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Sprint Spectrum L.P., which operates a personal communications services network under the Sprint PCS brand name, said it plans to open a new customer-care center in Rio Rancho, N.M.The Rio Rancho facility will expand on the customer-care functions already provided at a...
The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau struck another blow against specialized mobile radio station owner Marc Sobel when it opposed his Revised Request for Inquiry and Investigation that is pending with the Federal Communications Commission.Sobel is asking the FCC to initiate a full investigation into...
SnapTrack Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is attracting attention from some industry heavyweights with its Global Positioning System-based method for providing location-based services, including enhanced 911 service.Seven Code Division Multiple Access carriers are taking a serious look at what SnapTrack has to offer....
NEW YORK-Moody's Investors Service Inc. confirmed the speculative grade rating of Ba1 on $1.8 billion in outstanding debt of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., including Samsung Electronics America Inc. and other subsidiaries guaranteed by the parent company.However, the New York rating agency also said it...
Responding to concerns by radio astronomers that its transmission signals will overpower those from the distant celestial objects they track, Iridium L.L.C. has moved forward with a series of compromise agreements that it hopes will resolve the issue.A small portion of spectrum Iridium's satellite...
MINNEAPOLIS-ADC Telecommunications Inc. opened a $26 million, 284,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Shakopee, Minn., near its Minneapolis headquarters.ADC's Broadband Connectivity Group is housed in the new facility. The BCG makes broadband connectivity products for wireless, twisted pair copper, fiber-optic and coaxial networks.To keep workers...
BOSTON-In terms of dollars and labor, wireless number portability will cost wireless carriers more than any other single issue, according to the Yankee Group in its recently released report, Wireless Number Portability: A Bowl of Cherries for Competition ... but Just the Pits for Everyone...
Two wireless enhanced 911 services vendors last week announced their systems were live in time for the Federal Communications Commission's Phase I deadline, which calls for carriers to be able to transmit a call-back number and the location of the cell site receiving the...
NEW YORK-A fire storm has erupted among corporations and legislators over Internal Revenue Service proposals released last month aimed at curtailing overseas transactions the agency believes are designed primarily to avoid U.S. taxes.In its latest salvo, the IRS has set its sights on hybrid...
