Verizon's TV service inks carriage deal with Sinclair
Verizon Communications has reached a deal to carry three Sinclair Broadcast Group stations on its new FiOS TV system. The deal suggests that Verizon plans to expand its service in 2006 to Tampa, Fla., and Baltimore. American City Business Journals/Baltimore Business Journal (12/29), The Washington Post (12/30), TVWeek.com (12/29)  
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Vodafone beefs up product development
Vodafone Group is going through the final steps of setting up six centers as part of its Future Products Unit, a business division aimed at increasing product innovation. Each unit will have a different specialization, as well as a team of scouts responsible for seeking out promising products. Financial Times (free content) (12/29)
Intel wants to "leap ahead" with new logo
In a bid to grow its brand, Intel has replaced its longtime "dropped e" logo and "Intel Inside" slogan. The company, considered the fifth-most valued brand in the world by Interbrand, is now using a swirled circle around its name with the tagline "Leap ahead." San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (12/30), CNET/Reuters (12/30), The New York Times (12/30), BusinessWeek (12/30), The Wall Street Journal (12/30)
Rural telecom in dispute with hedge fund manager
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based Warwick Valley Telephone Co. has found itself in a spat with hedge fund manager Larry Goldstein about wireless wholesaler Orange County-Poughkeepsie. The dispute, which centers around Goldstein's efforts to have Warwick to pay a higher dividend or spin off O-P, reflects a broader conflict between some capital-focused telecoms and major investors over how much money should be returned shareholders. The Wall Street Journal (12/30)
India's BSNL pins future on wireless, broadband
State-run Indian telecom BSNL is pushing aggressively into the wireless and broadband businesses to offset stagnating growth in its fixed-line business. In the past two years, the company has doubled its wireless revenue to 10% and projects that number to hit 14% in the 2005-06 fiscal year. As for broadband, BSNL has signed up 310,000 customers in the past year, giving it more subscribers than rival Bharti. Financial Times (free content) (12/29)
Best wishes for a safe and happy New Year from USTelecom
USTelecom reflects and advances the extraordinary progress taking place at the leading edge of communications and entertainment. Thank you for your support and participation in 2005, and we look forward to an even more successful 2006 starting with TelecomNEXT, March 19 to 23, 2006, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Microsoft believes gamers want to compete online
Will buyers of the new Xbox 360 console want to compete against each other online? That's the hope of Microsoft, which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop the game system's online service, Xbox Live. The Wall Street Journal (12/30)
Chile's RedVoiss launches free VoIP service
RedVoiss of Chile has unveiled SippyPhone, a free VoIP service using standard initiation protocol. RedVoiss CEO Alberto Mordojovich said he thinks the technology soon will compete with Skype Technologies' proprietary protocol. TMC Internet Telephony (12/2005)
Cell Wireless buys ezTEL
VoIP provider and telephone minutes reseller Cell Wireless has struck a deal to acquire ezTEL, a Mississippi-based VoIP and wireless broadband company, for an undisclosed price. American City Business Journals/The Business Journal of Phoenix (12/29)
NTP gets extension to file patent defense
NTP received an additional 30 days from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to file a response to rulings that struck down certain NTP patents related to mobile e-mail. The patents are considered crucial to NTP's legal dispute with Research In Motion, which could be forced to shut down its BlackBerry service in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal (12/30)
Time Warner Cable loses municipal fiber case
A three judge panel in Missouri has upheld a previous ruling that allowed the city of North Kansas City, Mo., to offer high-speed Internet access to residents. Time Warner Cable's lawsuit against the initiative had alleged the city was angling to also provide cable TV service, but the panel rejected that argument. Telephony Online (12/30)
The dailyLead will not publish Monday
In observance of the New Year's holiday, the dailyLead will not be published Monday, Jan. 2. Publication will resume Tuesday.
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