BRIEFS
Verizon alleges corporate espionage
Verizon Wireless has sued Nextel Communications in federal district court over allegations that Nextel gained illicit access to two prototype Verizon walkie-talkie-capable handsets and confidential performance-related information that Nextel leaked to damage Verizon’s pre-release press.
Verizon plans to offer national push-to-talk service later this year that it believes will offer wider coverage than Nextel.
Verizon alleges that Nextel violated state and federal laws protecting trade secrets by testing the handsets and researching performance data related to voice quality, latency, geographic interoperability and sound quality.
Nextel could use the research to compete unfairly with Verizon, the suit alleges.
Verizon also alleges that Nextel violated federal and state computer crime statutes by accessing Verizon’s push-to-talk network during the testing.
Verizon asked the court to force Nextel to return the handsets and prevent Nextel from disclosing any confidential-information.
Verizon seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages as well.
Nextel issued a statement saying it is “baffled” by Verizon’s complaint.
“We are still in the process of reviewing the filing, but we believe it is entirely without merit and we will defend Nextel vigorously,” the statement read.
Wulfsberg boasts groundbreaking P25
Wulfsberg Electronics plans to introduce a digital tactical FM radio with a color LCD display, which the company says is the world’s first.
The display, which highlights critical information in an easy-to-read format, the P-2000 is the first panel-mounted, multi-band radio offered by Wulfsberg.
Deliveries will begin in July to a federal agency, the company says, without naming the agency.
The company will showcase the Flexcomm equipment at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association annual conference July 17-19 in Wichita, Kansas.
The P-2000 panel-mounted transceiver is the newest member of the companies Flexcomm family of products. The P-2000 delivers APCO Project 25 functionality and interoperability on one or more public service bands. Principally targeted at airborne law enforcement, air medical rescue, homeland defense, and other public service operators, the P-2000 has a small Dzus rail footprint.
Company officials say that the P-2000 provides “robust performance” on the VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz bands, and is “a cost-effective solution for many public service missions that do not require 30-960 MHz RT-5000 full-band capability.”
Wulfsberg Electronics provides communications systems for the corporate aviation, military trainer, commuter airline, and helicopter markets.
Nextel wins WorldCom assets
WorldCom Inc. agreed to sell its wireless Internet assets to a division of Nextel Communications for $144 million in cash, according to a bankruptcy court document that surfaced and was widely reported this month.
WorldCom, rebranding itself as MCI, said Nextel’s offer would include some non-cash considerations but provided no specifics.
WorldCom said in May that BellSouth Wireless Cable Inc., a BellSouth Corp. unit, had made the largest offer with its $65 million bid.
Nextel Spectrum will pay BellSouth Wireless a $2 million breakup fee and reimburse the company for some of the expenses it incurred.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan has scheduled a hearing on the sale for July 8.
The offer also is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.
Rural Cellular buys more spectrum
Rural Cellular Corp. announced that RCC Minnesota, a wholly owned subsidiary of RCC, is acquiring 1900 MHz spectrum from AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. and one of its affiliates.
These licenses cover 1.9 million POPs in RCC’s Northeast region and 200,000 POPs in RCC’s Northwest region. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval.
In conjunction with the purchase of the 1900 MHz spectrum, RCC plans to overlay a substantial number of cell sites with GSM/GPRS technology and has entered into national GSM/GPRS roaming agreements with Cingular Wireless effective June 2003 through December 2007 and with AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. effective June 2003 through June 2006.
These new roaming agreements provide for certain rate step-downs at defined intervals.
RCC also plans to overlay its Midwest region with CDMA technology providing for anticipated roaming traffic.
The company is in the final stages of selecting infrastructure suppliers and expects GSM/GPRS and CDMA construction to commence during the third quarter of 2003 and to be completed by 2005.
The company expects to meet the cash needs relating to the upgrade of its networks through its cash flow from operations, cash on hand, and borrowings under its credit facility.
Richard P. Ekstrand, president and chief executive officer, commented: “This network upgrade is good for RCC as it positions us for sustained roaming revenue from our national partners. But just as importantly, it will be a platform from which to provide advanced services to our customers.”
Ekstrand added: “We view these agreements as a vote of confidence in the strength of our existing networks and our network operations team who are taking on the task of overlaying multiple technologies.”
The company is evaluating overlay options in its remaining TDMA markets.
It is likely that both CDMA and GSM/GPRS technologies may be deployed, depending on the market conditions.
