Deals

SPOTLIGHT: Sprint expands partnership with Google

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:52 -0400

Sprint announced a partnership with Google that promises to more deeply integrate the web services giant's applications into the mobile user experience. Read more on the Google Sprint deal here.

Rogers to roll out iPhone this year

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

After more than a year of waiting, Rogers Wireless is finally gearing up to rollout Apple's iPhones. The carrier said it would offer the handset to its subscribers some time this year. Rogers is the only GSM provider in Canada, so the partnership was more or less a shoe-in and comes as little surprise. Rogers' COO Nadir Mohamed hinted at the partnership in early 2007 shortly after Apple unveiled the handset: "I'm not saying whether we have agreements or anything [with Apple], but given the iPhone was launched on GSM, we're in good position to reinforce that we're the first and have the best-feature devices."

For more on Rogers' iPhone:
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)

Interview: Microsoft on the enterprise iPhone

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:59:54 -0400

FierceWireless' sister publication CIO:TechWatch recently sat down with Adam Glick, Technical Product Manager for Microsoft's Exchange group, to discuss Microsoft's deal with Apple for licensing its Exchange email server for the iPhone.

TechWatch: How did the partnership between Apple and Microsoft come about?

Adam Glick: From our standpoint it was always a partnership--it was really the two companies coming together, asking 'Does this partnership make sense for us?'" Really they're the ultimate player to sign on in terms of smartphone manufacturers and this really highlights that this is the premiere messaging solution for enterprises. We started working with them a while ago and eventually, we both found the right partnership. We're thrilled that this is finally being announced.

TW: Why did Apple choose to bring Exchange support to the iPhone now? It seems like iPhone users have been asking for Exchange compatibility since day one? More...

ADI completes $350M wireless biz sale

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) has completed its $350 million cash sale of its mobile phone chip business to MediaTek. The sales includes ADI's Othello and SoftFone chipset businesses, which accounted for about $230 million in revenue for ADI in 2006. MediaTek gains a global team of about 400 employees in the deal.

For more on the ADI deal:
- read this article from the AP

Aruba to buy Airwave for $37M

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:57 -0500

Aruba Networks, a Top 10 FierceVoIP Leader, plans to acquire Airwave Wireless, a leading provider of specialized tools to centrally manage large, multi-vendor wireless LAN, mesh and WiMAX networks, for $37 million in stock and cash. The acquisition places Aruba, an enterprise WiFi network provider, in the multi-vendor network management business.

Aruba is preparing for the reality that 802.11n equipment will run alongside legacy WiFi equipment. The vendor says the Airwave platform eases technology transitions by extending the life of existing capital investments and enabling multi-vendor solutions to be run from a common, centralized network management system. Plus Aruba appears to be looking to usurp competitors such as Cisco by being able to manage their proprietary solutions.

To learn more about Aruba's acquisition of Airwave:
- check out this release

Related articles:
Aruba jumps on 802.11n bandwagon Article
Aruba moving on up in enterprise WiFi Article

Leap's impressive Q4: adds 152K net subs

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Leap Wireless added an impressive 152,000 net new customers during the fourth quarter of last year. The carrier finished out the year with some 2.86 million customers and a quarterly churn rate of 4.2 percent. The metrics beat out expectations for Leap, which said it expected additions between 70,000 and 130,000 subscribers in December and a churn rate of between 4.5 percent and 4.7 percent.

"We are pleased with the company's end-of-year performance in adding new customers and reducing churn," said CEO Doug Hutcheson. "Strong customer uptake during the conclusion of the holiday buying season helped deliver results ahead of our expectations on these two metrics, demonstrating the strength of our business as we head into the new year."

For more on Leap's better than expected Q4:
- read this press release

Related Articles:
Leap sues T-Mobile USA Article
Leap maps out partnership with Google Article
Leap changes board of directors Article
Leap rejects unsolicited proposal from MetroPCS Article

Will Leap do the MetroPCS deal after all?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, some of Leap Wireless' shareholders are not happy with how the carrier rebuffed MetroPCS' $5 billion acquisition offer. Leap said that MetroPCS' offer was too low at the time, but the proposed deal actually priced Leap at $75.05 a share: Back then Leap's share price was around $72.50. Leap's shares hit $34.14 last week. MetroPCS' offer is looking like a good deal right about now.

The report claims that the chances of a deal between the two carriers are still very high, but because of FCC auction rules, MetroPCS and Leap cannot discuss a deal again until after the 700 MHz auction comes to a conclusion sometime before next summer.

For more on the likelihood of a deal between Leap and MetroPCS:
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)Ã‚Â

Cisco closes in on Navini acquisition

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:59:56 -0500

Cisco Systems, which announced in October its intent to acquire WiMAX technology developer Navini for $330 million, should complete the acquisition in a number of days, according to a report from ComputerWorld. Cisco originally aimed to leverage Navini's assets to bring wireless broadband to emerging markets. The deal will still help Cisco target those markets, but executives at the company recently said they may also market to the U.S. WiMAX service providers, like Sprint and Clearwire.

"We'll go where the business is," said Brett Galloway, general manager of wireless networking at Cisco.

For more on the deal:
- read this article from ComputerWorld

What would a dissected Motorola look like?

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:59:55 -0500

In the wake of key executives departing Motorola, The Wall Street Journal's blog Deal Journal takes a look at what the company would look like if it were split up into a few separate businesses, which is what activist investor Carl Icahn has suggested Motorola's board should do. The three businesses would be mobile devices, home and networks mobile and enterprise mobility solutions.

Mobile Devices. In the third quarter, Motorola's mobile device business accounted for 51 percent of the company's sales. Deal Journal believes this business could make for a strong standalone company.

Home and Networks Mobility. This business includes Motorola's wireless equipment sales and cable television equipment, which combined accounted for 27 percent of Motorola's sales in the third quarter. Since this sector has seen a lot of M&A recently, it's likely that this piece of Motorola would be quickly scooped up by a rival.

Enterprise Mobility Solutions. This unit of Motorola sells communications equipment to both public and private clients and accounted for 22 percent of the company's sales in Q3 and is also likely to be acquired given recent M&A activity.

For more on what a dissected Motorola would like:
- read the rest of the Deal Journal article

AT&T and Verizon Wireless swap assets, spectrum

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

AT&T has inked a deal with Verizon Wireless to trade licenses, network assets and subscribers from the two companies'' recent rural carrier acquisitions. AT&T will acquire some of those assets from Verizon Wireless once the company completes its acquisition of Rural Cellular. In turn, Verizon Wireless will acquire some of those assets from AT&T's acquisition of Dobson Communications. Verizon Wireless will also get 10 megahertz of PCS spectrum from AT&T and some cash.

Separately, AT&T has agreed to sell the Cellular One brand to Trilogy Partners.

For more on the deal:
- read this article from Thompson

ALSO: AT&T acquires Edge Wireless. Article