WASHINGTON-The Virginia state legislature last week passed a bill creating what is believed to be the first statewide communications flat tax in the nation, but Gov. Tim Kaine (D ) did not immediately indicate whether he would sign the measure. The 5-percent tax would...
WASHINGTON-Spectrum being reclaimed from broadcasters as part of the digital TV transition should be auctioned in smaller chunks than is contemplated today, Sen. Conrad Burns told Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin in a letter. "I am convinced of the importance to rural America...
ATLANTA—AT&T Inc. announced Sunday that it will merge with Baby Bell BellSouth Corp. in a $67.1 billion, all-stock transaction that, if approved by regulators, would give Cingular Wireless L.L.C. a single parent company. The transaction also would replace the Cingular brand with the very...
WASHINGTON-The mobile-phone industry said the Federal Communications Commission is misguided in proposing to limit small-business bidding benefits to top carriers at this June's advanced wireless services auction. CTIA, the mobile-phone carrier association, said the FCC proposal discriminates against large in-region wireless operators and small-...
BONN, Germany—Vodafone Group plc shares surged more than 9 percent on the London Stock Exchange Friday after the company confirmed reports that it is in talks to sell its Japanese operations to broadband Internet provider Softbank. "Vodafone has been struggling with its Japanese unit...
NEW YORK—Ogo device vendor IXI Mobile Inc. said it is merging with Israel Technology Acquisition Corporation, the firms announced. IXI Mobile is expected to become a wholly owned subsidiary of ITAC when the deal closes, which is expected in the third quarter of this year....
WASHINGTON—Spectrum being reclaimed from broadcasters as part of the digital TV transition should be auctioned in smaller chunks than is currently contemplated, Sen. Conrad Burns told Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin in a letter. "I am convinced of the importance to rural America...
WASHINGTON-The long-awaited advanced wireless services auction, with its high-rolling bidders expected to account for much of the $10 billion to $15 billion in anticipated license sales, could occur largely in the dark. The Federal Communications Commission, acknowledging the auction's high stakes and concerned about...
A pair of highly anticipated mobile virtual network operators began shedding light on their planned service offerings last week as they gear up for their respective launches in the coming months. The MVNOs will join a market already crowded with the likes of Mobile...
LOS ANGELES—Mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. revealed two components of its upcoming service launch: a partnership with popular social networking Web site MySpace.com and two high-end handsets based on phones from South Korea. Helio is a joint venture of Internet service provider Earthlink...
The Federal Communications Commission's planned auction of so-called "advanced wireless services" spectrum scheduled for June could spell a windfall for government coffers, though analysts are mixed on the amount of said windfall. The government has said it expects to generate $25 billion during the...
Cincinnati Bell Inc. reported that it added 15,000 postpaid wireless customers in the fourth quarter of 2005-the company's best wireless performance since the fourth quarter of 2001. However, the company's overall earnings slipped from $18.3 million, or 7 cents per share, a year ago...
WASHINGTON-The Bush administration last week proposed setting user fees on un-auctioned spectrum regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, but the agency refused to disclose which wireless services would be subject to new government taxes. The user fee proposal, included in a new White House...
BARCELONA, Spain-As the 3GSM World Congress conference kicks off, music-related announcements from the industry are humming right along. Here are some of the highlights: Motorola Inc. announced a deal to use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media platform in a new series of music phones. The...
CINCINNATI-Cincinnati Bell Inc. reported that it added 15,000 postpaid wireless customers in the fourth quarter of 2005-the company's best wireless performance since the fourth quarter of 2001. However, the company's overall earnings slipped from $18.3 million, or 7 cents per share, a year ago...
ATLANTA, Ga.-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. said it completed network enhancements in Connecticut and Mississippi.In Connecticut, the carrier completed $45 million of work last year, including integrating its network with that of the former AT&T Wireless Services Inc. The operator incorporated 292 cell sites from the...
Alltel Corp. officials emphasized plans to continue their conservative path during a company analyst day in New York last week, even though they said they remain optimistic going forward. "We've never been `let's swing for the fences' and bet everything on a roll of...
TORONTO-Nortel Networks Corp. announced plans to re-enter the broadband access market, unveiling a teaming with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. to develop access offerings for service providers around the world. The companies said they plan to establish a joint venture that would sell products to...
CHICAGO-Prepaid wireless services provider DBS Communications Inc. launched its mobile virtual network enablement offering Versent Mobile, which the company said provides the tools necessary for companies to launch mobile virtual network operator-based services. DBS said Versent provides MVNOs with provisioning, billing, retail and customer...
FREMONT, Ca.-Verizon Wireless is shutting down its low-speed CDPD wireless data network, according to mobile resource management company @Road. "Based on recent communications with Verizon Wireless and observations of service availability on the Verizon Wireless CDPD network, the company believes that Verizon Wireless is...
TORONTO-Nortel Networks Corp. announced plans to re-enter the broadband access market, unveiling a teaming with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. to develop access offerings for service providers around the world.The companies said they plan to establish a joint venture that would sell products to converge...
Steve Jobs may have just taken one step closer to wireless. The head of Apple Computer Inc. landed a spot on the board of The Walt Disney Co. last week under the terms of Disney's $7.4 billion buyout of computer animation studio Pixar. While...
SAN MATEO, Calif.-Wireless trailblazer Craig McCaw and other high-tech heavyweights are backing a new company looking to let business users reach colleagues through mobile phones, e-mail or instant messaging. The firm, Tello Corp., emerged last week after operating for more than a year in...
The evolution of the wireless industry has had a profound effect on the players involved. Within all levels of the market, companies have had to scramble to adapt to changing demands and conditions. And the rollercoaster isn't likely to slow down-for anyone. From carriers...
