RoW Update

Craig Wireless withdraws case against Look CommunicationsCraig Wireless International Inc. has withdrawn a lawsuit it filed as part of its ongoing ownership battle for Look Communications Inc. that was derailed by an agreement with UBS Wireless Services Inc. Craig, which filed the suit earlier this summer (RoW, Aug. 26/03), wanted the court to undo transactions made in the months leading up to and during Look’s annual general meeting on May 14. Boyd Craig, president and CEO of Craig Wireless, told Report on Wireless in August that the lawsuit is part of the company’s intention to acquire voting control of Look, and a Look/UBS agreement threw a wrench into its plans. Documents filed with the court on October 17 indicate Craig has discontinued the action. “The plaintiff wholly discontinues this action without any costs to any of the parties,” reads the Notice of Discontinuance. Manitoba’s Court of Queen’s Bench had previously set December 19 as the day it would begin hearing arguments on Craig Wireless’ statement of claim against Look. Craig Wireless was battling Unique Broadband Systems Inc. subsidiary UBS Wireless Services for control of the eastern-based MDS operator. The court set the date on October 20. On that date, the court was to hear a motion from Look seeking an order to either set aside the statement of claim or stay the proceedings. The company also wants costs associated with defending the case and further relief as deemed appropriate by the court. Look claims, among other things, that Ontario is a more appropriate venue for the action and there is no connection between the Manitoba court and the alleged cause of action. But four days after the court set the hearing date, the CRTC conditionally granted UBS Wireless on October 23 the right to increase its ownership stake in Look from 29.9% to 51.06%. A summary of actions taken in this case can be found on the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench web site at http://www.jus.gov.mb.ca/registry/index.htm. To find the information, conduct a name search under Craig Wireless International and then click on the file # CI03-01-34005.Sirius Satellite Radio throws wrench into Canadian Satellite Radio’s plansU.S.-based Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. appears to have launched a salvo at plans by rival XM Satellite Radio Inc. and its Canadian partner John Bitove to introduce Canada’s first satellite radio service. Sirius has received a trademark from Industry Canada for the phrase “Canadian Satellite Radio,” the moniker that XM and Bitove are using for their prospective venture. The trademark is for use in Canada. It was reported earlier this summer that Bitove and XM were going to file an application with the CRTC to offer satellite radio, but that application has yet to be made public.Industry Canada has also granted Sirius the trademark for its name, Sirius Satellite Radio, for use in Canada.Industry Canada releases FAQs for 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum auctionIndustry Canada has now posted frequently asked questions concerning the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum auction on its web site. The questions deal with issues ranging from eligibility requirements and the size of the spectrum blocks to information pertaining to U.S. satellite radio and the auction’s impact on existing licensees.NSA purchases licensing rights to Certicom’s cryptography technologyThe U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has purchased the licensing rights to Certicom Corp.’s MQV-based Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) intellectual property. The agreement gives the NSA a non-exclusive worldwide licence to the technology, but also gives it the right to sublicense the cryptographic methodology in a limited field of use. Certicom will maintain the rights to the MQV-based ECC technology for all other uses. The company will continue to make its intellectual property available to those wishing to implement ECC on a non-discriminatory basis.Rogers Wireless offers ringtones and graphics for HalloweenRogers Wireless Inc. is bringing the spirit of Halloween into the wireless world by offering ringtones and graphics to wireless trick-and-treaters of all ages. Ringtones based on popular tunes include: Ghostbusters by Ray Parker JR, Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne, Ding Dong the Witch is Dead from The Wizard of Oz, and others. Images of bats, a ghost, fangs, a vampire and others are also available for download. Ringtones will start at $1.50 each, while graphics start at $1 each. The company is also offering some inventive text messages that subscribers can send and share with each other. Here is a sampling: DUDE, CHK OUT MY RNG 2N! (Dude, check out my ring tune!)PTY@MY PLC. CSTMS 1LY. BYO CNDY. (Party at my place. Costumes only. Bring your own candy.)2 MNY KIDS! PLS PU +CNDY. (Too many kids! Please pick up more candy.)Telus introduces camera phone and picture messagingTelus Mobility has unveiled a new camera phone and unique picture messaging service designed to make taking, storing and sharing photos fast and easy. According to an October 23 news release, the company states that this is the first phone that allows subscribers to share their pictures instantly. It even allows them to attach voice or text messages to the photos. In an exclusive interview with Report on Wireless earlier this year, Telus Mobility president and CEO George Cope said he was bullish on camera phones (RoW, Aug. 26/03). “If you look out over a 24-month period this product has the opportunity to do something that’s significant. If you think about it, in a way everybody will be carrying access to video with them and the amount of use of that will be phenomenal,” he told RoW.Infowave closes Sproqit acquisitionVancouver-based Infowave Software Inc. has closed its acquisition of Sproqit Technologies Inc., announced earlier this month (RoW, Oct. 7/03). Sproqit offers a mobile application platform that enables users to obtain email and other data via wireless PDAs and smartphones powered by a variety of mobile operating systems.Microelectronics Forum set for November 3 and 4The Strategic Microelectronics Council (SMC) is hosting the 9th Annual Forum on Microelectronics at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa on November 3 and 4. The SMC is part of the Information Technology Association of Canada. The event is in partnership with the U.S.-based Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA). Keynotes from Michael Krause, COO of Atsana Semiconductor, and Jodi Shelton, executive director of the FSA, among others will highlight the conference. Day 2 will feature a panel discussion titled, Overcoming Impediments to the Growth of the Canadian Microelectronics Industry, featuring Denzil Doyle, chair of Capital Alliance Ventures; Lance Greggain, formerly with Pixelworks; Jim Roche, president and CEO of Tundra Semiconductor Corp.; and Dan Trepanier, president and CEO of Quake Technologies Inc.INTERNATIONAL NEWSCTIA launches common short code initiativeThe U.S. Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) has launched a common short code initiative similar to the one introduced by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association earlier this year (RoW, March 31/03). The CTIA will be the administrator of the program, while NeuStar Inc. will register short codes on behalf of the U.S. wireless industry. Initial carrier participants are: ALLTEL, AT&T Wireless Services, Cingular Wireless, Cricket Communications, Dobson Cellular Systems, Nextel Communications, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile USA, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile USA, and Western Wireless. Available beginning on October 21, common short codes are available for three-, six- and 12-month terms. Randomly assigned short codes will cost US$500/month and specific codes will cost US$1,000/month.T-Mobile turns up the heat on its competition with bigger minutes bucketT-Mobile USA Inc. has launched a major attack on its competitors by adding another day to its weekend calling plan. The company is now offering an unlimited weekend call plan that begins on Friday at 12:00 a.m. that essentially turns the plan into a three-day affair. Under traditional plans, weekend calling doesn’t begin until Saturday at 12:00 a.m. T-Mobile is offering the new weekend plan for $39.99 and includes 600 anytime minutes. The plan is available to both new and existing customers. Observers postulate the move is aimed at minimizing churn resulting from wireless number portability, which takes effect on November 24.Wireless email a boon to all players involvedNew research from the Radicati Group indicates that enterprise wireless email vendors will generate nearly US$230 million in revenue this year. That number is expected to more than triple by the end of 2007, topping the US$812-million mark. Not only will there be a revenue surge, employee productivity is expected to increase dramatically over the same time period. Radicati suggests that employees will achieve 55 minutes extra work per day this year from wireless email usage. That level will increase to 80 minutes a day in 2007.

RoW Update

News | October 27, 2003

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News | October 27, 2003

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ISED spends $73 million on two fibre projects in New Brunswick

CRTC says wholesale access is having ‘positive impacts’ amidst job losses, spending cuts in telecoms sector

FCM calls for greater cell and internet coverage in north

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