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Excerpt - A federal agency on Thursday barred the import of new models of cell phones that contain semiconductors made by Qualcomm Inc., because the chips violate a patent held by a rival, Broadcom Corp. The U.S. International Trade Commission's decision represents a compromise between a ban on all phones with Qualcomm chips, as Broadcom requested, and a ban only on the chips themselves, as recommended by an ITC administrative law judge late last year. ~ snip ~

(CBS4) BOSTON -- Picking a cell phone service can be pretty confusing. They all offer deep discounts and big promises but which one will really work when you need it? Consumer Reports just tested the biggest cell phone service. It's an ongoing battle. Cell companies are going head to head claiming to be the best. Rosalind Tordesillas says a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center shows one in four people are looking to change their cell service providers. The survey asked almost 43,000 subscribers in 20 major cities about the five major carriers. "Poor phone service, like...

Up until now, parents had to deal with a separate company or buy special equipment to track their children through their cell phones. Sprint Nextel Corp. becomes the first U.S. wireless provider to sell its own product when the Family Locator Service rolls out Thursday. Using the Global Positioning System, the service allows parents to track up to four cell phones over the Internet or on their own wireless device. Parents can periodically ask the service to find the child's phone, displaying the location on a road map. Parents can also set alerts, automatically warning the parent if the child...

I've been carrying the same cell phone from the same service provider (Sprint) for over 6 years. People are starting to give me funny looks because my phone looks like a small black brick. I've had the money to replace it ... it just hasn't been that important. Now I'm ready to get a new phone and contacted Sprint. The best they can do is give me a lousy $150 rebate on a new phone! I've been with them for 6 years and the best they can offer is $150?! Since I can own my number now I'm planning on...

Excerpt - WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Three major U.S. telephone companies cooperated with the National Security Agency's wiretapping program without court warrants, USA Today reports. Executives who asked not to be named told the newspaper AT&T, MCI and Sprint granted access to their systems without warrants or court orders, and acted on the basis of oral requests from senior government officials. [snip]

I would appreciate any input--Thanks in advance!

AL QAIM, Iraq (Nov. 22, 2005) -- When faced with challenges, Marines are renowned for their ability to adapt and overcome. Staff Sgt. David A. Beaty, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369’s day crew maintenance controller in Al Qaim, has overcome countless maintenance and logistical challenges for more than two months. While tackling these challenges, he has kept the Marines’ morale high and continuously ensured the squadron’s AH-1 Cobras and UH-1 Hueys are in the air supporting the Marines on the ground. “I love being out here,” said Beaty, a Picket County, Tenn., native. “It’s a smaller detachment, our unit...

SBC and Verizon both win merger clearance By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington Published: October 31 2005 23:16 | Last updated: October 31 2005 23:16 SBC and Verizon on Monday successfully concluded their campaigns to win regulatory clearance for their two multi-billion dollar telecommunications deals. The Federal Communications Commission approved both companies’ merger plans without onerous conditions. The FCC, which has for months been evenly split between two Democratic and two Republican commissioners because of a Republican vacancy at the agency, voted unanimously to approve SBC’s $16bn takeover or AT&T and Verizon’s $8.5bn takeover of MCI following a weekend of internal...

LOUDON, N.H. – As brightly painted race cars charged around the track here on a July Sunday afternoon before a crowd of several hundred thousand fans, Nextel's trademark yellow and black colors were everywhere. And why not? The telecommunications provider paid a reported $700 million two years ago to secure a 10-year sponsorship of the season-long series that includes the Granite State race. But to gauge the true significance of stock car racing to Nextel and its new corporate spouse, Sprint, you had to leave the New Hampshire woods and head last week to the concrete canyons of Lower Manhattan....

The Walt Disney Company's Internet Group, in partnership with Sprint, plans to establish a nationwide wireless phone service, dubbed Disney Mobile, in the United States, the company announced Wednesday. Using Sprint's PCS network, the service--which specifically targets families--is due to begin operations next year. Simultaneously, Disney is planning to develop exclusive handsets and entertainment content aimed at families, the company said in a press release. "We'll be in investment mode for the next several years, but expect that over the long run this initiative will generate solid financial returns for the company," Steve Wadsworth, president of Walt Disney Internet Group...

Sprint presents live TV on phone One channel now, more later By DAVID HAYES The Kansas City Star Sprint Corp. is bringing live TV to the smallest of screens. In a first for the wireless telephone industry, Sprint is broadcasting Bill O'Reilly, Neil Cavuto and the rest of the Fox News Channel live on Sprint phones. The service, which is being rolled out this morning, allows Sprint PCS customers to view the same Fox News broadcasts on their wireless phones that they would at home on cable television — commercials and all. It's the first time a live television broadcast...

My wife spent 40 minutes on the phone with a Sprint service rep the other day clearing up $70 worth of charges for calls we didn't make. We were charged for roaming and it took a lot of convincing that nothing was wrong with our phones, that we don't use the roaming feature, etc, before the representative finally removed the charges. Turns out that our local paper has a story that others had the same happen to them. And they had to go through the same ordeal to have the charges removed. Too bad that Sprint thinks so little of...

THE DEAL: Sprint Corp. is buying Nextel Communications Inc. for $35 billion in stock and cash. THE COMPANIES: Sprint had $27 billion in revenue for the 12 months ending in September, Nextel had $13 billion. Nextel was an attractive acquisition target because its subscribers are more likely to be big-spending business customers. SUBSCRIBERS: The combined company will have 35.4 million subscribers; 20.1 million from Sprint and 15.3 million from Nextel. THE COMPETITION: No. 1 Cingular Wireless has 46 million subscribers while No. 2 Verizon Wireless has 42.1 million.

Wall Street was abuzz Friday over a potential merger between Sprint and Nextel, though the companies declined to comment on a slew of news reports that they are negotiating to combine to create a celluar provider that would almost rival Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless in size. Numerous research analysts issued positive assessments of the potential combination of the nation's third and fifth largest cellular carriers, reports of which first sprang up on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday afternoon that Sprint Corp. (FON) and Nextel Communications Inc. (NXTL) have tentatively agreed to a deal in which Nextel shareholders...

A Wall Street Journal report Friday afternoon citing sources on both sides indicated No. 3 Sprint Corp. and No. 5 Nextel Communications Inc. had reached a tentative agreement on an all-stock $36 billion deal. According to the report, Sprint would pay around 1.3 shares for each Nextel share plus a small cash consideration that would value the deal at more than $36 billion. Sprint Chief Executive Officer Gary Forsee would become CEO of the new operation with current Nextel CEO Tim Donahue assuming the chairman position. Both companies would also share board positions. Analysts noted that Nextel, which is the...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Sprint Corp., the telecommunications giant, said Friday it will cut 700 jobs in its business solutions division as it stops selling business long distance services outside of package deals. The cuts represent 7.8 percent of the division's work force. The Overland Park-based company also said it will record a pre-tax charge against earnings in its third quarter to reflect a decline in value of its long-distance assets. The company said a majority of the job cuts will come from sales and support. The business solutions division was reduced by 1,100 jobs this summer; Sprint has cut...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Sprint Corp. will extend health insurance and other employee benefits to domestic partners beginning in 2005. The Overland Park, Kan.-based telecommunications company, with 61,000 employees nationwide, disclosed the program to employees this week as part of a regular review of changes to benefits for next year. The expanded coverage would take effect Jan. 1. Sprint spokeswoman Jennifer Bosshardt said the move was not connected to criticism the company received earlier this month from the Human Rights Campaign. The gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group ridiculed Sprint for providing insurance to employees' pets but not domestic partners....

I am calling up Spint to inform them of my intentions to cancel my cell phone with them. I refuse to give my money to a company who then gives their money to CBS...and ESPECIALLY on 60 Minutes II. Call Sprint and voice your displeasure with their sponsorship of 60 Minutes II. If you have an account with Sprint, think very carefully about who you are giving your money to.

Pets, not partners, favored, group says By SUZANNE KING The Kansas City Star Sprint Corp. was one of four Fortune 500 companies under fire Wednesday for offering health insurance for employees' pets but not domestic partners. Human Rights Campaign, a gay-rights group in Washington, issued a news release condemning Sprint, Home Depot, Waste Management and Ecolab for their policies. “It was immediately evident to us that it was out of kilter that a company would do this,” said Kim Mills, the group's education director. Sprint has a relationship with a pet insurance company that allows employees to buy that insurance...