Stories by George A. Chidi Jr

Nortel unveils new metro optical Ethernet gear

Nortel Networks Inc. revealed a new class of optical switches for the ever-more-attractive metropolitan area network market on Monday. Nortel touted the switches' power to cut carriers' costs.

IBM teams with Nextel for CRM, mobile e-business

Wireless service provider Nextel Communications plans to work with IBM Corp. to develop e-business applications for mobile devices, and will also outsource its customer care center operation to an IBM subcontractor in a US$1.2 billion outsourcing deal, the companies announced in a joint statement Friday.

Sprint lowers revenue estimates for Q4

Long-distance carrier and wireless service provider Sprint Corp. lowered its guidance for its long-distance business unit's fourth-quarter performance on Tuesday.

Motorola slashes jobs in Texas, Japan

Motorola provided details on Thursday about its plan to lay off 9,400 employees this year, announcing that 1,200 to 1,300 manufacturing jobs in Austin, Texas, and Sendai, Japan, will be lost when the chip and communication-equipment maker closes facilities to consolidate manufacturing.

Motorola announces executive layoffs, faces court costs

Heads continue to roll at Motorola Inc., with the network and telecommunication equipment maker reporting a 20 percent reduction in its high-level executive staff -- about 120 managers -- in an announcement preceding its annual earnings statement set for Jan. 22.

Old hand named new Lucent CEO

Lucent Technologies Inc. named Patricia F. Russo to be the company's new president and chief executive officer (CEO) Monday. Russo started work at Lucent in 1981 while it was still part of AT&T Corp., but left nine months ago to become president and chief operating officer of Eastman Kodak Co.

Vivendi in US$1.5B interactive TV deal with Echostar

Vivendi Universal SA Friday announced it would make a US$1.5 billion equity investment in satellite television provider EchoStar Communications Corp., purchasing about 10 percent of the company in return for a deal to distribute Vivendi content and to use the interactive TV middleware produced by a Vivendi subsidiary.

AT&T finishes moving Excite@Home customers

AT&T's broadband unit announced Friday it has finished transferring 850,000 of its Internet service customers to its own network, six days after Internet service provider Excite@Home cut off their high-speed connections.

NextWave deal runs into Senate friction

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee intends to oppose the US$16 billion settlement deal made over disputed spectrum licenses between wireless carriers, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and NextWave Telecom Inc., the senator announced in a statement Thursday.

AT&T drops Excite bid; service to end in 90 days

Bankrupt Excite@Home Inc. will cease operations in 90 days, with the expiration of stopgap funding agreements made Monday to keep the Internet service going, the company confirmed Tuesday evening.

Excite@Home service could end Friday

If Excite@Home Inc. creditors have their way, the high-speed cable Internet service will shut down Friday to keep the network from burning any more cash while debt holders negotiate with AT&T Corp. and other cable operators for better financial terms in a reorganization or buyout.

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