Telecom briefs--Aug. 3

Hutchison picks NEC for 3G handsets

Hutchison Whampoa has chosen NEC Corp as its preferred supplier of third generation wireless devices for its 3G operations in Italy, Australia, Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The value of the contract has yet to be disclosed. The deal is the first 3G-device contract outside of Japan for NEC, which will begin delivering devices in the third quarter of next year.

Sprint fined $200,000 by California commission

The Los Angeles Times reported today that the California Public Utilities Commission fined Sprint PCS $200,000 for misleading the state concerning the number of telephone numbers it has in the 310. The commission found that the carrier had about 30,000 more numbers than it had previously reported.

Panasonic licenses Qualcomm CMX software

Matsushita Communication Industrial, which manufactures electronic devices under the Panasonic brand, will license Qualcomm’s code division multiple access (CDMA) compact media extension (CMX) software for use in wireless handsets. The CMX software supports simultaneous playback of musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) music, audio, text and graphics on wireless CDMA handsets. With this agreement, all Japanese CDMA handset manufacturers have licensed the CMX software, according to Qualcomm.

Allied Riser to take Q2 charge

Allied Riser yesterday announced it will take an unspecified charge in the second quarter 2001 and has delayed its earnings report for the quarter until Aug. 9. In a statement, Chief Financial Officer Quen Bredweg said that the company is “engaged in an extensive reassessment” of its asset valuations “in light of changing market conditions and revisions to our business model. On July 24, the company announced that it was eliminating 75% of its work force--about 290 jobs--in a cost-cutting maneuver.

Covad CFO resigns

Covad announced that its chief financial officer, Mark Perry, has resigned “to pursue other interests.” His duties will be assumed on an interim basis by a committee consisting of Thomas Chevallier, corporate controller; Christine Morris, treasurer; Mary Kay Runyan, corporate services; and Rob Stamer, financial operations.