News

• SoftBank gets state approval for Sprint acquisition

  SoftBank has received all the necessary state approvals for the Japanese mobile carrier to acquire a majority stake in Sprint Nextel for US$20 billion, the companies announced.

• T-Mobile drops challenge to FCC's net neutrality rules

  T-Mobile USA has dropped a pending challenge to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules.

• North Korea close to 2 million 3G subscribers

  North Korea's sole 3G network operator has managed to double its subscriber base in a little over a year and is about to hit 2 million users.

• US DOT: Auto makers should disable in-dash electronics when cars are moving

  Automobile makers should prevent drivers from using their in-vehicle electronic devices to browse the Internet and send text messages while their vehicles are moving, the U.S. Department of Transportation has recommended.

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  Optus partners with Suretek for 4G security

  Optus has inked a $60 million contract with security and surveillance provider Suretek for fixed network and 3G and 4G mobile services.

• Vodafone lags behind Telstra and Optus on network performance: report

  Network performance has narrowed between Telstra and Vodafone Hutchison Australia this year, according to a report by J.D. Power and Associates.

• Wandera eyes enterprise data roaming costs

  Eyeing the sometimes considerable data roaming bills that companies receive, a startup called Wandera launched a service Wednesday that promises to cut down on roaming data use.

• Vodafone, Ericsson test feature to make rural mobile coverage cheaper

  Ericsson and Vodafone in Egypt have successfully tested a new way to build more energy-efficient networks in rural areas, and make it possible to build networks where they previously could not be built, according to the vendor.

• Optus exec leaves Australia for Austria

  Optus has lost its managing director of networks, Günther Ottendorfer, to Telekom Austria group.

• Sierra Wireless connects M2M applications with new gateway

  Sierra Wireless has launched the AirLink LS300 gateway, which can be used to connect things as varied as trucks or soda machines to a wireless network.

• North Korea halts 3G mobile Internet service to foreign tourists

  North Korea has abruptly stopped offering 3G mobile Internet access to tourists entering the country, just three weeks after the service was launched, according to a travel company.

• Hiccups possible as Vodafone upgrades South Coast

  Vodafone has warned South Coast customers to expect service disruptions next week as the telco upgrades the network.

• Bills would require police to get warrants for mobile phone location

  A group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation that would require law enforcement agencies to get court-ordered search warrants before obtaining a suspect's mobile phone location or GPS data, instead of using prosecution-issued subpoenas.

• Australian startup snapshot: Ollo Mobile

  Brisbane startup Ollo Mobile is building toward global release of a wearable 3G telehealth device designed to protect seniors and young children.

• LTE handsets in favor as China prepares to issue 4G licenses

  As China prepares to launch its 4G networks, a steady stream of LTE enabled devices will begin entering the country next year, with close to 25 percent of all smartphone shipments designed for the next generation service, according to research firm IDC.