November 2005
SBC to Take over AT&T as Early as Next Week
AT&T has announced plans to pay its shareholders a special one-time dividend of $1.30 a share as soon as its merger with SBC Communications is finalized, which could happen as early as next Friday.
Canadian Wireless Providers Plan Mobile Payment Service
Three of Canada’s top wireless providers have recently come to an agreement this week on a joint venture that will allow customers to make payments via their mobile phones.
Google and Yahoo Plan Further Wireless Web Expansion
Google and Yahoo are both currently making plans to further expand into mobile communication markets, by extending a number of their internet based services to cell phone users.
Fixed Line Long Distance Revenue Continues to Decline
The nation’s biggest telecommunications provider, Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) has announced a 13% decline in revenue from long distance phone service during the third quarter of 2005.
Telus Complaints on the Rise
As a result of ongoing labour action by unionized Telus workers, the number of complaints about the company’s customer service has risen dramatically.
October 2005
Nokia Targets New Phones to Emerging Markets
This Wednesday saw the release of four new Nokia handsets, two of which will be targeted at emerging markets, including Latin America, and parts of Asia.
RIM Gets Unexpected Help from Palm
Since last month’s intense optimism among Research in Motion executives, the company has run into a number of difficult obstacles in recent weeks. But the Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM has now struck a deal with their main hardware rival, Palm.
September 2005
US Broadband Subscription Growth Slowing Down
After impressive growth over the past several years, the rate at which subscribers are moving to broadband internet technology has finally started to slow down.
UK Start-Up to Launch Internet Telephony Service
The British telecommunications start-up, Timico is planning to launch a Skype-style internet telephony service, for business users.
Rogers and Bell Team Up to Bring Wireless Broadband to Canada
Rogers Communications and Bell Canada, major competitors for cable and telephone customers in Canada, are planning to build a wireless broadband network across the country, with the help of Kirkland-based Clearwire.
BroadSoft Acquires Australian Software Company
US-based BroadSoft, a developer of VoIP software applications has recently acquired the Australian multimedia and software firm, Carbon Twelve.
Opportunity for Advertising on Mobile Phones?
The research firm In-Stat has just released a study, which suggests that some cell phone users may be receptive to mobile advertising, if it were properly executed.
US Robotics to Enter VoIP Market
As of next month, US Robotics will enter the VoIP hardware market with the release of their first USB internet phone. The new phone will work with Skype and other instant messaging services that support voice communication.
UK RailNet to Undergo Major Technological Improvements
RailNet, the UK rail industry’s biggest telecommunications network, serving over 230 private branch offices across that country, is about to undergo a major technological upgrade.
The New iPhone Falls Short of Revolutionary
Although Apple and Motorola’s new iTunes cell phone is a great concept, and probably one that has significant potential, the recently reduced ROKR has, in many ways, failed to live up to the anticipation surrounding its release.
eBay Finalizes Skype Acquisition
eBay has announced this morning that it plans to acquire Luxembourg-based VoIP telephony company Skype Technologies.
Striking Telus Workers Ordered to Stop Harassment
Among rising tensions in the increasing ugly labour dispute between Telus and the Telecommunications Workers Union, British Columbia’s supreme court has passed judgement ordering striking union members to stop “molesting, assaulting, intimidating, obstructing, threatening, or interfering with” those employees who are reporting to work.
China Telecom Bans Skype Services
China Telecom has struck a major blow to the advancement of technology in that country, as it moves to block citizens’ access to SkypeOut, Skype’s popular PC-to-Phone telephony service.
eBay to Buy Skype?
Shares of eBay Inc. tumbled almost 4% today due to reports that the online auction company was considering purchasing Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies.
Siemens Gets Approval to Sell Mobile Phone Company
European Union regulators have approved Siemens AG’s plans to sell its unprofitable mobile phone business to Taiwan’s BenQ Corp.
iPhone to Hit Stores This Weekend
As expected, Apple has now officially announced the release of its new iTunes Phone. The phone, which can hold up to 100 songs, will be fully available in stores starting this weekend.
Apple Shares Up 5% with iPhone Anticipation
Shares in Apple (AAPL) were up $2.58 today (or 5%), closing at an impressive $48.80. Trading was almost twice the average volume, and took the company's share price into record terriroty.
August 2005
Microsoft Buys VoIP Startup
Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Teleco Inc., a small San Francisco company that distributes VoIP software, which allows users to make phone calls from computers to traditional telephones.
3Com and Ingate Announce VoIP Partnership
Ingate Systems and 3Com Corporation announced this week that they are planning a partnership to offer enterprise class VoIP telephony solutions to workers on the go.
Appeal of CRTC Decision Threatens Canadian Satellite Radio
Canadian Satellite Radio, one of two companies that were licensed by the CRTC to operate subscription based satellite programming is now facing a major threat.
