nethub.org

I purchased a PalmOne Treo 650 a few days back and I must say I am very impressed. I am posting this from the Treo. The interface is great and the availability of free software is great. The web browser is pretty impressive - it renders graphics with surprising accuracy and clarity. I look forward to continuing to use this device when I’m out and about, or just too lazy to get up out of my recliner. Good job PalmOne.

Verizon Wireless has decided to settle the class-action lawsuit against them about the Motorola V710 and how Verizon crippled the Bluetooth functionality of the phone. Basically what it boils down to is if you have a V710, you can keep your phone and get a $25 credit on your bill. If you have a V710 and want to turn it back in, you can get a refund for the phone and any accessories, and even cancel your contract with no penalty if you choose to do so. One catch: you had to activate on or before January 31, 2005. Since this is a court in California, I’m not sure if it applies anywhere other than California. If it does, I’d sure take up their offer to get a refund and get a new phone. You really can’t lose - there are newer, better phones out now.

Business Week has a good article on the current problems with the allocation of radio waves and the regulation thereof. A good read for anyone interested in Wireless technologies.

BREAKING NEWS: Sprint and Nextel have tentatively agreed to terms that would allow the two to combine in a merger of equals

More to follow…

T-Mobile USA puts UMTS on hold due to lack of spectrum
By Dan Meyer

Citing current spectrum constraints, T-Mobile USA Inc. said it does not expect to launch UMTS-based services for at least two years and will instead rely on its ongoing deployment of EDGE technology on its network, which the carrier plans to begin offering commercially next year.

“I don’t see [the deployment of UMTS] happening in the next two years,” said Robert Dotson, chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA, speaking at Credit Suisse First Boston’s 2004 Media and Telecom Week conference.

Dotson said the carrier would delay the buildout of UMTS technology until it had enough spectrum to support the service. T-Mobile USA currently controls on average less than 30 megahertz of spectrum in most of its markets, with UMTS requiring at least 10 megahertz of clean spectrum to launch service.

The delay in launching UMTS-based services is expected to place T-Mobile USA well behind its larger competitors in providing a high-speed component to its service. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. recently announced that it plans to begin deploying UMTS technology next year with near-network wide availability by the end of 2006. CDMA operators Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS have said they plan to provide EV-DO technology across most of their networks’ by the end of 2005.

Dotson did note that T-Mobile USA has an approximate $1.3 billion budget to purchase additional spectrum, with the upcoming Federal Communications Commission’s Auction 58 scheduled for January as the most likely source of additional spectrum. Analysts have also noted that T-Mobile USA could make strategic acquisitions to bolster its network and spectrum position.

Sprint, Nextel consider merger, says report
By Dan Meyer

Less than two months after Cingular Wireless L.L.C. garnered governmental approval for its $41 billion acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc., creating the nation’s largest wireless operator, a Wall Street Journal article today indicated another big deal could be in the works between No. 3 Sprint Corp. and No. 5 Nextel Communications Inc.

The report cited speculation on Wall Street that a possible deal between the two carriers was becoming increasingly likely, though neither Sprint nor Nextel would comment on the report.

Analysts have speculated about a possible combination between Sprint and Nextel for some time, noting such a deal would create a third “mega-carrier” with more than 38 million subscribers that could compete more effectively against the recently strengthened Cingular and No. 2 Verizon Wireless. Many have also noted that following Cingular’s acquisition of AWS, government regulators would likely approve only one additional merger between the country’s nationwide operators, which would bring the number of large carriers down from six to four.

Further fueling merger rumors is Nextel’s pending decision on its next-generation technology path. Analysts noted that if Nextel decides to install a CDMA-based network using the 1.9 GHz spectrum it’s likely to acquire from the Federal Communications Commission as part of a re-banding effort designed to reduce interference in the 800 MHz spectrum band, Nextel could set itself up for a possible deal with either Sprint or Verizon Wireless.

On the other hand, analysts noted that if Nextel decides to implement a non-traditional technology similar to Flarion Technologies’ Flash-OFDM system, which Nextel has installed in parts of North Carolina, the carrier could be readying to remain a standalone entity.

Another potential tie-in between Nextel and Sprint is that both companies control significant spectrum holdings in the 2.5 GHz spectrum band, which both carriers have previously said they could use for next-generation services.

Standard & Poor’s Equity Research reiterated its “strong buy” on Nextel’s shares, noting a combination with Sprint would provide an even stronger leadership position in the wireless business market. Nextel is currently seen as a strong player in the business market led by its Direct Connect walkie-talkie service, while Sprint has recently reorganized its business operations to provide a better focus on lucrative business customers.

Alamosa to Buy Fellow Affiliate AirGate PCS for $630 Million, Including Assumed Debt

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Alamosa Holdings Inc., the largest mobile phone affiliate of Sprint PCS Group, said Wednesday it has agreed to purchase fellow affiliate AirGate PCS Inc. for $630 million, including about $238 million of assumed debt.

Alamosa said both companies’ boards have approved the transaction, in which AirGate shareholders will receive 2.87 Alamosa shares for every share of AirGate common stock held. Based on Alamosa’s closing share price on Dec. 7, the acquisition if valued at $33 per AirGate share.

In addition, AirGate shareholders will have the option to receive cash instead of Alamosa stock — up to $100 million — with the per share cash price based on the Alamosa’s average closing price in the 10 trading days prior to the completion of the transaction, multiplied by 2.87.

Alamosa said the merger will create a Sprint PCS affiliate with about 1.25 million subscribers.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2005, subject to regulatory review, approval by Sprint and approval of the shareholders of AirGate and Alamosa.

Sprint To Spend $3 Billion On Wireless Network Over 3 Yrs

OVERLAND PARK -(Dow Jones)- Sprint Corp. (FON) plans to invest about $3 billion in its wireless network over the next three years, awarding contracts to Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU), Motorola Inc. (MOT) and Nortel Networks (NT).

In a press release Tuesday, the phone company said it earmarked about $1 billion of the $3 billion to upgrade its network to “Evolution, Data Optimized,” or EV-DO, technology which it says will increase mobile device data speeds by a factor of ten.

In a separate statement Tuesday, Lucent said its share of the total included a three-year contract renewal likely to exceed $1.5 billion.

Lucent will upgrade base stations that it previously supplied to Sprint, adding radio frequency carriers, where needed, so the stations can support EV-DO service.

The Murray Hill, N.J., telecommunications equipment company said it will also provide key elements of its IP Multimedia Subsystem product which will allow Sprint to introduce new voice over IP, or VoIP, and multimedia services over mobile wireline and converged networks.