RCR Wireless News articles from September 2006

RCR Wireless News archives from September 2006

Late News.
September 4, 2006... Sprint Nextel triumphs in VoIP patent case Sprint Nextel Corp. settled a patent-infringement lawsuit against two Voice Over Internet Protocol providers that have now entered into licensing agreements with Sprint Nextel. Sprint Nextel...

Yamaha offers musician-friendly app.(News)
September 4, 2006... Yamaha Corp. of America released an application designed to allow musicians to use their mobile phones to tune instruments. The offering, dubbed "The Musician's Companion,'' features a pitch pipe, metronome and library of more than 1,000...

Hudson partners with The Orchard to offer Delicious Vinyl mobile content.(News)
September 4, 2006... Hudson Entertainment said it has partnered with The Orchard in a publishing deal that aims to offer mobile content from Delicious Vinyl to mobile phones. The companies said the agreement includes the rights to master ringtones for artists...

Unwieldy, unwinding prospects.(Opinion)
September 4, 2006... Byline: Jeffrey Silva Agents of change are at work. Some are obvious and tangible, like Sprint Nextel Corp.'s questionable decision to sack bygone chief operating officer Len Lauer for sad financial results at a company whose chief...

Andrew aims to bolster share price via buyback.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE Since ditching merger negotiations and a takeover bid a few weeks ago, Andrew Corp. has been busy buying back 2.4 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $9.10 per share. "We believe the share...

Brightstar expands credit facility.(News)
September 4, 2006... Mobile-phone distributor Brightstar Corp. said it has completed expansion of a $250 million credit facility. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. led syndication of the credit facility; other investors included HSBC, USBank, Fifth Third Bank,...

In-Stat study: Long-form mobile television to hit its stride in 2008.(News)
September 4, 2006... The market for long-form mobile video will begin to gain traction in 2008, according to new figures from In-Stat. The market research firm said that while long-form wireless TV-video content of more than 30 minutes-is still in an...

Greenpeace gives Nokia nod, Moto black eye.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: PHIL CARSON Greenpeace International has weighed in on mobile handset vendors' friendliness to the environment, based on their use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing and their e-waste policies such as take backs and recycling. ...

Sprint Nextel streamlines enterprise offerings.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: KELLY HILL Sprint Nextel Corp. last week launched a new program for enterprise customers, hoping to be a "one-stop shop'' for a range of needs from fleet dispatch management to mobile device management, with additional aspects to...

Wireless data adoption stagnating from price worries.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: KELLY HILL More than one-third of wireless customers have some sort of data plan as part of their wireless subscription, according to research by The NPD Group. However, the retail and consumer information company concluded that...

T-Mobile USA hacker sentenced to home detention.(News)
September 4, 2006... A 23-year-old hacker who gained access to T-Mobile USA Inc.'s network and accessed the personal information of about 400 customers has been sentenced to a year of home detention, the Associated Press reported. Nicholas Lee Jacobsen also...

Beyond Wireless adds distribution points.(News)
September 4, 2006... Mobile virtual network operator Beyond Wireless Inc. announced new distribution points for its Jolt Mobile and Jolt PCS products. The Jolt service includes GSM service using an unnamed carrier and CDMA-based services using Sprint Nextel...

Sierra Wireless unveils Rev. A/HSDPA card plans.(News)
September 4, 2006... Sierra Wireless Inc. says it expects to begin shipping wireless wide area network cards supporting CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A networks during the first quarter of 2007. The company added that WWAN cards supporting HSDPA technology should be...

15,000+ expected to converge at I.T. show.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: KRISTEN BECKMAN More than 15,000 people are expected to converge on Los Angeles as CTIA kicks off its Wireless I.T. & Entertainment show next week. The show takes place Sept. 12-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. CTIA...

Sprint Nextel expands streaming radio, upgrades music store.(News)
September 4, 2006... Sprint Nextel Corp. continues to pursue mobile music lovers with a new streaming multimedia service offering more than 50 channels of content. Sprint Radio features music, music videos, news, weather, sports and financial information from...

Lenovo launches ThinkPad supporting Cingular's 3G network.(News)
September 4, 2006... PC maker Lenovo is selling a laptop computer that has built-in support for Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s EDGE- and UMTS/HSDPA-based networks. The laptop is selling online for around $1,900. "ThinkPad users can now enjoy wireless broadband...

Qwest adding Katana to lineup.(News)
September 4, 2006... Qwest Communications International Inc. said it plans to launch Sanyo Electronics Co. Ltd.'s Katana handset to its customers nationwide. The Katana, or model 6600, is a thin, clamshell phone that more than nods at Motorola Inc.'s Razr....

Rhino rolls out classic mobile content.(News)
September 4, 2006... Rhino Entertainment is targeting Generation X wireless users with content from classic children's television shows from the 1970s and `80s. The division of Warner Music Group unveiled Krofft Mobile, a suite of ringtones, ringback tones,...

OnStar to make nav instructions standard.(News)
September 4, 2006... A new driving-directions option from General Motors' OnStar telematics service will be standard for one year on more than 2 million GM vehicles starting with the 2007 model year. After the first year, customers can renew the Turn-by-Turn...

Sprint Nextel, Novatel announce Rev. A card.(News)
September 4, 2006... Sprint Nextel Corp. and Novatel Wireless Inc. announced the first CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A card for use on the carrier's soon-to-launch network. Sprint Nextel noted the card will support "a mobile DSL experience'' with higher uplink and...

Wi-Fi Alliance to pre-certify .11n product.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE In a break from its tradition of certifying products only after a standard has been approved, the Wi-Fi Alliance says it plans to "pre-certify'' the interoperability of pre-802.11n products beginning in the first half of...

SiGe attracts $19.5 million in financing.(News)
September 4, 2006... SiGe Semiconductor raised $19.5 million in an expansion round of financing led by venture-capital and private-equity firms, the company announced. SiGe Semiconductor makes radio frequency modules that are integrated into GSM-, GPRS- and...

Correction.(Correction notice)
September 4, 2006... In the Aug. 21 article "Philadelphia loses chief of Wi-Fi push to consulting firm linked to muni network,'' Dianah Neff was not fully named as Philadelphia's departing Chief Information Officer.

Cingular launches Samsung HSDPA handset.(News)
September 4, 2006... Samsung Electronics Co. and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. announced the handset vendor's first HSDPA phone for Cingular's 3G network-in-progress. The Samsung SGH-zx20, an exclusive for Cingular, is a silver-and-black, clamshell-style handset...

Azaire snares another $21M in funding.(News)
September 4, 2006... Fixed-mobile convergence technology developer Azaire Networks Inc. picked up $21 million during a third round of funding led by Investor Growth Capital and new investors in the company. Existing investors Convergence Partners, Rustic Canyon...

Software upgrade aimed at bringing Q up to par.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: PHIL CARSON Motorola Inc. is quietly offering users of its Moto Q smart phone a free software upgrade intended to strengthen the device's e-mail and security functions, increase its appeal to business and productivity-oriented...

Yahoo Go for Mobile expanding to Windows OS.(News)
September 4, 2006... Yahoo Inc. launched an expanded Go for Mobile service, extending its software to devices running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile operating system. According to a company spokesman, the Go for Mobile software had previously been available...

MSS players exert force amid renewed interest from public safety, DBS; Valuable spectrum.
September 4, 2006... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA The unsuccessful proxy fight lodged by Highland Capital Management L.P. against Motient Corp. has given way to another nasty skirmish over proposed ownership changes in mobile satellite assets whose value may have...

Leap sells 6.4M shares of stock.(News)
September 4, 2006... Leap Wireless International Inc. said it completed a public offering of 6.4 million shares of common stock for $42 per share. The sale included 840,000 shares of common stock sold as part of an over-allotment option granted to the...

FCC nears decision on truth-in-billing challenge.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA The Federal Communications Commission is moving closer to deciding whether to seek a rehearing or possibly a Supreme Court review of a federal appeals court's rejection of rules that pre-empt states from regulating...

A tale of two cities; Public safety in NYC and D.C five years after Sept. 11.(Focus)
September 4, 2006... Byline: HEATHER FORSGREN WEAVER Five years ago no one used the term homeland security. Five years ago, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 had yet to happen. Five years ago, Katrina was just a girl's name-not a deadly hurricane. ...

EAS reforms plod along.(Focus)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA Creating the homeland security regime in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks also prompted a long, overdue re-examination of the nation's emergency alert system. The warning system was created more...

ZTE earnings sink 47 percent.(News)
September 4, 2006... ZTE Corp.'s profits fell 47 percent during the first half of 2006 due to a slowdown in sales within its home turf along with stiff competition from other vendors in international markets. The company posted net income of $43.5 million,...

Hedgehogging.(Briefs)
September 4, 2006... hedge*hog*ging v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube Here's what got us talking in the RCR Wireless News editorial department last week: Throwing caution, and perhaps good...

The market of one.(Opinion)
September 4, 2006... Byline: Tracy Ford Two briefings. Two telecom execs. One conclusion: The market of one is the future-and companies that successfully navigate that space will profit from this small audience. Today, carriers have segmented their...

Messy moves; Relocation, re-banding efforts often complex.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA Government spectrum managers are being challenged like no time before in efforts to clear the way for next-generation mobile phone and wireless broadband services-as well as rectify serious interference...

Calif. gov't outlaws driving and dialing.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA The California legislature last week passed wireless-related bills that prohibit driver use of handheld cell phones in the nation's most populous state, enhance Wi-Fi security and allow consumers to contest...

SiBEAM nets $21M in Series B round.(News)
September 4, 2006... Mobile technology startup SiBEAM said it snared $21 million in Series B venture funding. Foundation Capital led the round, which included follow-on investments from New Enterprise Associates and U.S. Venture Partners. SiBEAM, which designs...

Deficiencies of premium SMS targeted by various mobile payment players.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Valista Ltd. is vying for more space on the mobile payments playground with a hosted, WAP-based offering for carriers in the United States and Europe. The Dublin, Ireland-based developer this week plans to unveil a...

Space Data scores 'credibility boost' with Air Force contract.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE Space Data Corp. landed a $49 million contract to supply the U.S. Air Force with a communication system that sends radio-equipped industrial balloons filled with hydrogen or helium to between 12 miles and 62 miles above...

Etc.
September 4, 2006... 292 is the magic number for Finland's Lassi Etelatalo, who threw a Nokia cell phone 292 feet to win the World Mobile Phone Throwing Championships. The event's organizers said about 100 people participated in the 7th annual contest, which was...

Infrastructure Awards.(Metrics)
September 4, 2006... Following are infrastructure contracts announced in August: Alcatel Poland: With Netia SA to deploy a WiMAX end-to-end solution covering 20 Polish cities. Value: Undisclosed Ericsson Brazil: With Vivo to provide its...

DoCoMo flips the switch on HSDPA.(News)
September 4, 2006... Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it launched HSDPA service in Tokyo, and plans to cover all major Japanese cities with the technology by the end of October. The carrier is selling its new HSDPA-capable phone, the N902iX, to support the...

KDDI gives Rev. A thumbs up.(News)
September 4, 2006... KDDI Corp. said it plans to invest $1.73 billion over the next three years to upgrade its network to CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A technology. Japan's second-largest carrier said the upgrade should boost network speeds roughly tenfold,...

Atheros launches .11n chips, processors, targets holidays.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE Atheros Communications Inc. isn't wasting any time getting its pre-802.11n Wi-Fi technology on the market, having launched its new pre-n chips and networking processors last week. The company says its launch of pre-n...

Wireless History; Seven years ago this month...(Metrics)
September 4, 2006... After months of denying rumors, Qualcomm Inc. confirmed publicly that it intended to sell off its CDMA handsets unit. Kyocera Corp. was the eventual buyer, signing a deal to buy the business in December 1999.

Mobile ESPN adding live college football games.(News)
September 4, 2006... Mobile ESPN L.L.C. reported plans to offer college football fans the chance to watch up to 25 live games each month during the season from their Mobile ESPN wireless phones. The mobile virtual network operator announced that it will offer...

Court dismisses Broadcom's antitrust claim against Qualcomm.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Qualcomm Inc. declared victory after a U.S. district court dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by fellow chipmaker Broadcom Corp. Broadcom's complaint, which was filed in July 2005, accused Qualcomm of violating...

Alcatel snaps up Nortel's UMTS assets.(Company overview)
September 4, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE As news of the deal struck between Alcatel Inc. and Nortel Network Ltd. sank in, analysts seemed pretty much at ease with the $320 million agreement that likely will see Nortel's UMTS radio access business transferred to...

Brightpoint not just distribution going forward.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Brightpoint Inc. handled roughly 42 million mobile phones last year and may handle 60 million or more this year. But whatever you do, don't call the company a distributor. "If anything, we are a customized logistics...

Companies rush to mobile marketing's potential.
September 4, 2006... Byline: COLIN GIBBS If you're seeking evidence that mobile marketing is truly-and finally-gaining ground, look no further than Third Screen Media's bottom line. The Boston-based firm claims it saw more revenue in July than during the...

Sprint-Cable JV building broad footprint with AWS spectrum.(News)
September 4, 2006... Byline: KELLY HILL The third week of the advanced wireless spectrum auction showed significant slowing in bidding action. Nevertheless, it appears the Sprint Nextel Corp.-cable joint venture is aiming to build a broad footprint of...

BMI fetes artist for ringtone at Urban Awards.(News)
September 4, 2006... Hip-hop music producer Jazze Pha took home Broadcast Music Inc.'s Urban Ringtone Award for his song "1, 2 Step.'' BMI, a performing rights organization, handed out awards to R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 6th...

Fast Fact.(Metrics)
September 4, 2006... More than 565 million high-frequency RFID tag ICs were shipped in 2005, which was a 104-percent year-over-year increase. The growth was attributed in part to contactless payment cards and personal identification documents. Source: ABI...

Stock Watch: August 24-August 31.(Metrics)
September 4, 2006... table: Stock Watch: August 24-August 31 * 3 graphs: Market Diary * Indices * RCR Index: see print copy

RCRNews.com.(News)
September 4, 2006... Stay up to date on the CTIA I.T. show floor. Did you know you can access www.RCRNews.com on your cell phone? Just type www.RCRNews.com into your WAP browser--and get all of the day's most important headlines.

In next week's issue.(News)
September 4, 2006... RCR Wireless News keeps you up to date on the latest in machine-to-machine wireless applications, as well as any news set to break at CTIA? fall show.

RCRNews.com.(News)
September 11, 2006... Overwhelmed by CTIA Wireless I.T.? We've got you covered. Visit www.RCRNews.com for up-to-the-minute headlines from the show.

13 years ago this week...(Metrics)
September 11, 2006... Nextel Communications Inc. turned on its enhanced specialized mobile radio network-based cellular offering in Los Angeles, adding a third wireless operator to the market. The initial launch included 500 customers and provided coverage in parts...

Fast Fact.(Metrics)
September 11, 2006... Mobile phone sales surged 18 percent year-over-year worldwide during the second quarter with 229 million total units shipped this year. The second quarter growth was also a 24-percent increase compared with the first three months of the year....

Stock Watch: August 31-September 7.(Metrics)
September 11, 2006... table: Stock Watch: August 31-September 7 * 3 graphs: Market Diary * Indices * RCR Index: see print copy.

Powerwave modifies details of Filtronic purchase.(News)
September 11, 2006... Powerwave Technologies Inc. reworked its $336 million acquisition agreement with Filtronic plc, paring the deal down to $185 million in cash along with 17.7 million in shares of Powerwave common stock. In June, the two companies struck an...

Google introduces mobile ads service.(News)
September 11, 2006... Google Inc. has joined the mobile marketing playground with a wireless version of its AdWords service. The Internet giant quietly launched the offering that allows AdWords customers to place marketing messages-including clickable links-in...

Alcatel/Lucent combo receives shareholder approval.(News)
September 11, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE The infrastructure industry's merger of the season looks to be a done deal, as Lucent Technologies Inc. and Alcatel Inc. announced that their shareholders approved Alcatel's $10.7 billion proposal to acquire Lucent in...

InterDigital nets $134M from Samsung.(News)
September 11, 2006... InterDigital Communications Corp. has been awarded $134 million in past royalties, plus interest, from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. on Samsung's sales of GSM and GPRS/EDGE phones from 2003 to 2005, according to an international arbitration...

Sprint Nextel to offer pay-per-view movies.(News)
September 11, 2006... Sprint Nextel Corp. launched a branded, pay-per-view movie service that offers nearly four dozen classic films and recent releases. Sprint Movies, which is powered by mSpot, allows users to watch films in their entirety or view chapters...

Bango teams with MTV for content.(News)
September 11, 2006... Bango announced it has partnered with MTV Networks U.K. & Ireland to provide its browse-and-buy technology for MTV's new WAP site. The MTV WAP site is designed to promote and sell digital content to users. Bango's technology streamlines...

Mobileplay launches ad-supported offerings.(News)
September 11, 2006... Mobileplay Inc. said it launched an advertising-supported service that provides free access to news, games, lifestyle content and location-based services on wireless devices. The service supports personal digital assistants, smart phones,...

Nokia updates L'Amour portfolio for Europe.(News)
September 11, 2006... Nokia Corp. this week announced the pending launch of three new handsets in its L'Amour Collection line of fashion phones aimed at the European market. The new handset models are 7390, 7373 and 7360; they are expected in European stores this...

TIA taps Seiffert to succeed Flanigan.(News)
September 11, 2006... Byline: HEATHER FORSGREN WEAVER The Telecommunications Industry Association looked inside and chose Grant Seiffert to succeed Matthew Flanigan as president beginning Jan.1. Seiffert has worked his way up the TIA organization ladder...

M2M module market to grow.(Focus)
September 11, 2006... Byline: PHIL CARSON Shipments of machine-to-machine modules are projected to more than triple by the end of the decade, particularly those modules that connect to a network of nodes via short-range wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi or...

Products.
September 11, 2006... Navteq Navteq, which provides digital map data and vehicle navigation solutions, said it has partnered with ACSI to provide campsite information for Navteq's digital maps. ACSI provides international camping guide information. The...

Rhino to supply music for HBO Mobile.(News)
September 11, 2006... Warner Music Group Corp. subsidiary Rhino Entertainment said it will provide music-based content for HBO Mobile. Rhino, which develops and promotes content from WMG's catalog, plans to deliver ringtones and ring-back tones to support HBO's...

CellCity to offer WooWorld content.(News)
September 11, 2006... Mobile storefront operator CellCity Pte Ltd. said it has inked a deal to offer content from Asian aggregator WooWorld Pte Ltd. CellCity offers a vast portfolio of content and applications for businesses and consumers through its Web site...

T-Mobile inching closer to 3G network; AWS bidding slows, but end not yet in sight.(News)
September 11, 2006... Byline: KELLY HILL Bidding slowed last week in the advanced wireless services spectrum auction, but the competition could be far from wrapping up as companies could bid up prices for competitors and make a few last attempts to capture...

NYT goes mobile.(News)
September 11, 2006... The New York Times finally went wireless with a mobile site delivering news, sports, business information and other content to users with Web-enabled devices. The company, which has drawn criticism for its efforts to capitalize on new...

Minneapolis, Silicon Valley forge ahead with muni wi-fi.(News)
September 11, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE Minnetonka, Minn.-based US Internet beat out more than 80 other companies for the city of Minneapolis' contract to build a 54-square-mile citywide Wi-Fi network, beating out notable EarthLink Inc. and its suppliers...

Italians love soccer, mobile.(Metrics)
September 11, 2006... Italy not only won the recent FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament, but were also the most voracious consumers of mobile content from the event, according to a report from Telephia. The report, which was part of Telephia's third-quarter...

Small vendors bank on 4G in battle with Big 3 of 3G.(News)
September 11, 2006... Byline: JONI MORSE While the world of wireless infrastructure vendors looks set to be dominated by three all-powerful giants, small player Tellabs Inc. quietly reminds the industry that it's doing a lot of business with Cingular Wireless...

Verizon joins opponents of IPR proposal for broadcasters.(News)
September 11, 2006... Verizon Communications Inc. is one of three dozen technology companies that have joined forces to oppose a plan to give broadcasters new intellectual property rights to audiovisual material. Verizon, AT&T Corp., Dell Inc., Intel Corp., TiVo...

Sprint Nextel begins to wade into mobile marketing waters.
September 11, 2006... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Sprint Nextel Corp. is expected to become the first Tier 1 carrier to officially step onto the mobile marketing playground this week, tapping Enpocket in an effort to generate revenues by delivering advertising messages...

Nokia in the U.S.A. Phone maker's strategy to regain market share includes $150-plus devices.
September 11, 2006... Byline: PHIL CARSON Nokia Corp.'s strategy to regain a dominant market share in the United States will be driven by forthcoming product launches that will strengthen its hand against its arch-rival Motorola Inc., according to Tim...

Palm promises pending products will boost sales.(News)
September 11, 2006... Palm Inc. said it expects revenues to fall short of its previous guidance for the first quarter of next year due to slower sales of its Treo device with carriers. The company now expects revenues for the quarter, which ended Sept. 1, to be...

Clear Channel broadcasts mobile radio offering.(News)
September 11, 2006... Clear Channel Radio said it launched its mobile radio programming initiative nationwide, with Cingular Wireless L.L.C. as a partner. The launch featured New York's WHTZ-FM Z100 music station streaming live radio directly to Cingular...