TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it will develop next-generation FOMA handsets equipped with a dual browser capable of handling both i-mode-compatible HTML and WAP 2.0-compatible XHTML by the end of this year. The move is expected to make it easier for content providers to supply...
TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it will begin selling enhanced i-mode handsets this week. The movaD504I and mova F5041 phones are expected to offer packet data transmission speeds of up to 28.8 kilobits per second, three times faster than current PDC-based i-mode handsets.DoCoMo said both...
OXFORD, United Kingdom—Finnish company First Hop claimed that a number of European cell-phone operators are conducting trials of its compression and caching technologies, which could significantly speed up the data transmission rates on General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) networks. According to Timo Laaksonen, chief...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Sprint PCS, which Reuters reported will roll out its next-generation network nationwide in August, announced it would co-brand and jointly market Novatel Wireless Inc.'s PCS 1x-compatible Connection Card beginning this summer with the launch of its 1x network. While not providing a...
By Alejandro AlfieBUENOS AIRES, Argentina—As the economic crisis in Argentina continues, the impact is being felt throughout South America’s mobile industry.“The situation in Argentina has dramatically affected the mobile penetration in the country,” said Leslie Arathoon, Latin America Manager of Pyramid Research. “This means...
HOUSTON—Crown Castle International Corp. adjusted its 2002 site rental and transmission revenue projections by $28 million to between $657 million and $682 million after ITV Digital, one of Crown Castle UK Ltd.'s customers, said it was filing for bankruptcy.Crown Castle also lowered its 2002...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—The Smartcom PCS objective is to overtake Chile's third-largest operator, BellSouth, this year in subscriber numbers and move from its last-place position to third place. To achieve the goal, Endesa in Chile is planning to invest US$80 million to improve its CDMA...
MURRAY HILL, New Jersey, United States—Lucent Technologies said it has completed what it described as the industry's first high-speed commercial Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) data call using 1900 MHz spectrum at transmission speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second."Lucent implemented a variety...
TOKYO—J-Phone, a Vodafone Group operator in Japan, announced it will postpone its third-generation (3G) service launch until December to provide "global standard service." J-Phone had previously planned to launch its 3G service on 30 June.Prior to the nationwide commercial service launch in December, J-Phone...
TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it would offer discounts to its wireless customers in celebration of its tenth anniversary. The discounts will apply to communications charges for its PDC and FOMA phones used on weekdays; PHS communications charges and FOMA short message communications charges; free...
TOKYO—KDDI, the second-largest telecom operator in Japan, on 1 April launched its third-generation (3G) service based on cdma2000 1x technology, entering the highly competitive Japanese high-speed data market.In Japan, NTT DoCoMo, the country’s leading operator, launched its 3G service under the brand name of...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—Cellular operator Telefonica Celular announced the commercial launch of its cdma2000 1x data and voice network in Brazil. The network, with equipment supplied by Lucent Technologies Inc., will initially service Telefonica customers in Rio de Janeiro, offering data transmission speeds of...
PARIS—France Telecom's international mobile and fixed networks signed a purchasing agreement with Alcatel for its local multipoint distribution service technology to provide mobile backhaul transmission within its GSM, GPRS and UMTS networks.The technology will also allow France Telecom to offer broadband access services to...
MOSCOW—Second-biggest Russian carrier Vimpelcom (BeeLine) launched its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) into commercial operation in April after several delays caused by a lack of clients.Vimpelcom, which boasts more than 2 million subscribers, was the first Russian carrier to launch free promotional operation of...
TOKYO—NTT Communications, a long-distance and international business unit of NTT Group, is going to launch wireless local area network (WLAN) service in mid-2003 using next-generation technology developed by Soma Networks, both firms announced on 3 April.According to the companies, NTT Communications is going to...
ORLANDO, Florida, United States—Lucent Technologies and Verizon Wireless will begin a Washington, D.C., area trial next month of a data-optimized, cdma2000 network.The network, also known as 1xEV-DO, will provide "select business customers with secure mobile access to corporate applications such as e-mail and intranets...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—As a result of the Argentine crisis, company Impsat Fiber Networks reached an agreement with its creditors to transfer all its shares to them in exchange for renegotiating the debt of US$990 million. Thus, Pescarmona group and British Telecom cease to be...
TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo, the leading mobile carrier in Japan, in the third quarter will launch an experiment for a fourth-generation (4G) mobile service, which will be able to provide 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) data transmission speed, DoCoMo announced on 18 March.DoCoMo is targeting to...
TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced its plans to construct an experimental system for fourth-generation packet wireless communications that will feature transmission speeds exceeding 100 mega-bits per second (Mbps) downlinks and 20Mbps uplinks.DoCoMo said the experimental system will demonstrate key technologies of the 4G wireless system...
HANOVER, Germany—More than 100 million customers across 27 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, South Africa and Israel enjoy GSM high-speed data service, including international roaming. The networks use high-speed circuit switched data."This feature enables subscribers of GSM networks to transmit and receive data at...
TORONTO—Pilots on transatlantic flights will soon be able to communicate with air controllers through instant text messaging. Nav Canada, which runs Canada's air navigation system, announced a major upgrade to its communications capabilities over the Atlantic Ocean. The changes will take pressure off the...
MANILA, The Philippines—Globe Telecom, one of the Philippines' leading mobile-phone service providers, is set to offer 24 billion Philippine pesos (US$175 million) worth of 10-year fixed rate senior notes to fund its capital expenditure requirements this year.Globe Chief Finance Officer Delfin Gonzalez Jr. said...
HANNOVER, Germany—More than 100 million customers across 27 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, South Africa and Israel enjoy GSM high-speed data service, including international roaming. The networks use high-speed circuit switched data."This feature enables subscribers of GSM networks to transmit and receive data at...
