Covad, Verizon settle their differences
Covad Communications and Verizon Communications have agreed to work more closely together following the resolution of legal disputes. The new relationship agreements expand Covad's commercial line-sharing agreement so it can offer DSL service over Verizon lines and make Covad a preferred provider of certain services to MCI's DSL business customers. Telephony Online (12/28), The Washington Post/Associated Press (12/28), The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones (12/28)  
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Washington state regulators clear Verizon-MCI deal
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has approved the merger between Verizon Communications and MCI, eliminating the last obstacle to completing the deal. Verizon expects the merger to be fully completed in early January. SeattlePI.com/Bloomberg (12/27)
Predicting the telecom and media mergers of 2006
The crystal ball is out at BusinessWeek, with writer Steve Rosenbush predicting some possible telecom media mergers for 2006. Rosenbush thinks SBC Communications and BellSouth could merge, Qwest Communications might break up and that Verizon Communications may consider buying Alltel's wireless business. He also says Time Warner might spin off America Online and Yahoo! will mull a deal with Netflix. BusinessWeek (12/28)
South, North Korea linked via phone connections
South Korea and North Korea set up their first phone link since the countries were split 60 years ago. The service is exclusively for South Korean businesses operating in Kaesong, a North Korean city about 50 miles from Seoul. The Washington Post/Associated Press (12/28), The Korea Times (12/28)
KT wants to expand South-North link: South Korea's KT said it is interested in launching broadband and mobile phone services in Kaesong, a plan that may draw fire from the U.S. The Korea Times (12/28)
Lucent's overfunded pension plan contributes heavily to profits
A recent financial turnaround by Lucent Technologies is due in part to pension credits improving the gear maker's bottom line. Because of this, some analysts have sought out alternative ways to value the company in relation to rivals such as Ericsson, Nortel Networks and Motorola. The Wall Street Journal (12/28)
Explore the Business of Communications and Entertainment at TelecomNEXT
TelecomNEXT's exhibit hall and sessions many held on the exhibit floor - offer solutions to today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities in communications, entertainment and enterprise. This is the new industry event where the technology and business of communications and entertainment meet. Plan to be in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on March 19 to 23, 2006 for TelecomNEXT. Register today.
Review: AT&T's CallVantage stands up to the test
AT&T Corp.'s CallVantage VoIP service is easy to install and delivers an impressive array of features, according to this reviewer. Moreover, the tech support is excellent and the $30-a-month price is right. BusinessWeek (12/28)
Breakthrough technology takes home networks to next level
A new technology that converts radio frequencies into intermediate frequencies capable of traveling over wires could have a major impact on the home-networking market, as well as the quality of in-home mobile phone signals. The passive element of the technology is considered crucial to its ability to meld a host of wireless components without using any software. Telephony Online (12/28)
Mobile TV gathers steam
Nokia is betting that European consumers will get into watching TV on their mobile devices. Already, mobile users in the U.K., Italy and Australia have downloaded a collective 6 million minutes of "Big Brother," and production companies like Endemol are planning whole new interactive genres of TV for mobile. BBC (12/27)
Report: Wireless spectrum transition could cost $936M
The cost of moving the U.S. Defense Department and other agencies to new new wireless spectrum over the second half of 2006 will cost about $936 million, a new government report says. The entire transition could take four years or more, although most of it will be done within three, according to Michael Gallagher, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The FCC currently is working on guidelines for an upcoming auction of the spectrum, which is expected to draw significant interest from wireless carriers looking to add wireless broadband and other services. Reuters (12/28)
China reveals more details about 3G plans
China is planning to "finish formulating policies for the development of 3G technology and business" by the end of 2006, Minister of Information Industry Wang Xudong said yesterday. The country will use its homegrown TD-SCDMA standard for the 3G rollout, which is expected to draw heavy interest from gear makers such as Nortel Networks, Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson. TMC Internet Telephony (12/2005), The Australian (12/24), The Wall Street Journal (12/28)
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