PDA technologyBlue ImpactBlue Impact, a partner of CellPoint, introduced a combined GSM/global positioning system (GPS) module for the Handspring Visor called Tellmen. The Tellmen module is compatible with CellPoint's location platform and services, allowing the Visor to access all CellPoint location services offered by...
PRAGUE, Czech Republic-During the 11 years since the fall of communism in Central Europe, the region's countries have rapidly embraced mobile telephony, including the ubiquitous GSM networks now blanketing the region. And operators are beginning to plan for next-generation mobile telephony in countries where...
AirNetUnited States. With MBO for a GPRS system.Value: UndisclosedAlcatelGambia. With Gamtel for a turnkey GSM network to be installed in the greater Banjul area.Value: UndisclosedPortugal. With TMN for a high speed mobile data service on its GPRS commercial network.Value: UndisclosedPortugal. With TMN for UMTS technology in the...
FRANKFURT-Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile International has signed two separate deals with Nokia Corp. and Nortel Networks to supply its third-generation network infrastructure in Europe.The separate agreements, valued at about $320 million each, will enable Nokia to introduce seamless multimedia services for T-Mobil in such...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Telia, the Swedish dominant mobile-phone carrier that was passed over for a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System license in Sweden earlier last month, said a technical analysis shows that it meets the Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency requirements for a UMTS license by...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Under a new three-year agreement, Ericsson will supply its third-generation UMTS radio access network equipment and services to Finnish operator Sonera.The services will run on top of the optical high-speed Internet protocol backbone network Ericsson put in for Sonera. Ericsson said this is...
VANCOUVER-Nortel Networks entered an agreement to work with Sierra Wireless Inc. to develop wireless modems based on the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System and General Packet Radio System.The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, which will make the modems commercially available...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-In a surprise announcement, the Swedish government awarded four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses on Dec. 16, dismissing a proposal from Telia, the country's current mobile leader. Sweden's other two incumbent operators, NetCom and Europolitan, won licenses through a "beauty contest," along with...
Extolling them as "wings of light," Nortel Networks hopes to illumine the wireless Internet space with four new initiatives. Basking in a 55-percent third-quarter growth, the Internet and communications company identifies the four-pronged blitz as optical infrastructure, wireless access, Internet Protocol services to create...
BRAZILADC Telecommunications Inc. announced it signed a $16 million contract to supply GVT Brazil with a broadband access bundled solution for the southern and central regions of Brazil. ADC said the solution is based on the BroadAccess Multiservice Access Platform and delivers narrow and...
BIENNE, Switzerland-The auction of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses in Switzerland ended quickly last week, with only four companies bidding on four licenses, raising $120 million for the government.Swisscom; dSpeed, the combined diAx and Sunrise Telecom; and Team 3G, a consortium including Telefonica, Sonera...
PARIS-Matsushita Communications Industrial Co., Ltd. and Nortel Networks moved to push the standards set by 3G Partnership Projects and their own products and services.Under a new agreement, the two companies plan to test the interoperability of third-generation mobile terminals and network infrastructure.The testing, which...
OSLO, Norway-The Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications announced the winners of the country's four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses, which were awarded through a beauty contest. The license winners are Broadband Mobile, an Enitel ASA and Sonera Corp. consortium; incumbent operator NetCom GSM,...
With AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s announcement that it will overlay its existing TDMA-based network with a GSM network supporting GPRS, the pressure is on other TDMA carriers, specifically the largest U.S.-based TDMA carrier Cingular Wireless, as to its future technology choice. Will the company...
MADRID, Spain-The Spanish government said it will tender two additional GSM licenses by 2002, according to international press reports. The country's four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) license winners are upset with the announcment, and Telefonica plans to ask the government for compensation, the...
London-based mobile phone giant Vodafone Group plc reported strong interim results for the six months ended Sept. 30, including a 55-percent increase in proportionate customer additions compared with the same period last year, bringing the company's proportionate customer base to 65.5 million subscribers.Proportionate earnings...
LONDON-Vodafone Group plc and France Telecom's Orange both acquired stakes in the Swiss wireless market ahead of the country's Universal Mobile Telecommunications System auction, set to begin next week.Vodafone Group acquired 25 percent of the equity of Swisscom Mobile for $2.6 billion from Swisscom....
BUCHAREST, Romania-Slovakian operator Globtel prefers a "beauty contest" process of licensing the country's third-generation (3G) licenses. Eva Forraiova-Guttlerova, the company's public relations manager, said the beauty contest system is more fair, because the monetary amount is influenced by service use.Using an auction, license fees...
VIENNA, Austria-Europe's fifth auction of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses ended after less than two days of bidding. All six participants gained licenses to operate UMTS systems in Austria, drawing about $728 million, much less than anticipated.The auction came to a halt for five...
WARSAW, Poland-The three Polish wireless operators are unhappy with the terms of the government's Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) tender and are reported to be considering boycotting the process or taking legal action if the terms are not amended.Specifically, the operators are decrying a...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-Operators in the Middle East are focusing on extending coverage and considering networks upgrades. The region offers enormous potential, considering the cellular penetration is only 3.5 percent-very low in comparison with world standards. However, penetration rates in some single markets exceed 30...
DUBLIN, Ireland-Having spent vast sums on third-generation (3G) mobile licenses, operators are hoping terminals will live up to expectations. Unlike GSM, where handsets are broadly similar in appearance, it seems likely 3G handsets will come in a number of shapes and sizes to accommodate...
BUCHAREST, Romania-Although most of the third-generation (3G) licensing attention in Europe is focused on Western Europe, Eastern European countries are also moving forward with licensing plans. The region, with lower wireless penetration rates than many Western European countries and improving economies, promises to hold...
CHICAGO, United States-One of the first commercial deployments of Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology could be in Mexico next year based on presentations and interviews at the PCIA GlobalXchange event in late September. Mexico's largest wireless carrier, Telcel, plans to roll...
