CommunicationsDirect NewsCommunicationsDirect is a free news and information service for global telecommunications professionals. CommunicationsDirect offers frequent updates onbusiness, policy, and technology issues. CommunicationsDirect also offers free daily and weekly newsletters.Vodafone Wins US$3.5-bil. U.K. Tax Battle- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Vodafone has won its multi-billion dollar battle with the United Kingdom government over the 1999 acquisition of Germany's Mannesmann. The U.K. High Court ruled on Friday (4 July) that the Revenue & Customs department could not demand the tax from Vodafone because it breached European Union (EU) rules. Vodafone had estimated...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31508?199 In the Spotlight: Azuki co-founder Cheng Wu- (Found July 8, 2008 ) One month after emerging from stealth mode with a new mobile tool kit to enable personalized and interactive rich-media services, Azuki Systems has been quickly learning the ins and outs of the mobile media services market. The company was co-founded by serial entrepreneur Cheng Wu, who previously started three ventures, ArrowPoint...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31490?199 Nokia Settles Dispute over German Plant Closure- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Nokia announced an agreement to settle its dispute with the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Bochum over the companys plans to close its handset manufacturing plant. When Nokia announced plans to close the Bochum plant in January, the state asked the company to repay the subsidies it had received for...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31492?199 Vendors Queue Up for Indian Deals- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Indian mobile operator Shyam Telelink Ltd. has kicked off a new round of mobile infrastructure contract awards by handing deals to three vendors -- Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. , and ZTE Corp. -- that will help build out its nationwide mobile network. The contract awards come as Shyam, which received licenses...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/31495?199 Bell Canada Heads for Pre-Christmas Sale- (Found July 8, 2008 ) The end is in sight. Following a hotly-contested legal process that eventually went to Canada's Supreme Court in June this year, BCE Inc. (Bell Canada) has agreed final terms to be acquired on or before December 11 in a deal valued at C$51.7 billion (US$50.8 billion). A group of investors, including Teachers' Private...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31498?199 Taking On the iPhone- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Apples iPhone is far from and probably never will be the mobile market leader in unit sales. Nor does it have the industrys most impressive raw specifications, the lowest price or the widest carrier availability. In the latest version, iPhone 3G, users still cant cut-and-paste. Yet everywhere you look, people...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31500?199 A Mobile Phone You Design Yourself- (Found July 8, 2008 ) With the seemingly endless variety of mobile phones now on the market, it would seem easy enough for anyone to find a model that precisely matches his or her communications needs. But a company called zzzPhone thinks there's a market for low cost mobile phones that customers can design themselves. The firm delivers...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/31502?199 Nine Companies Show Interest in New Wireless Licence in Romania- (Found July 8, 2008 ) ANRCTI, the Romanian regulator, has said on its website that nine companies have shown an interest in the tender of a new wireless licence for the bands 410-415420-425 MHz by buying the specifying documents. The companies in question are Postelecom Network, RCS, Romtelecom, Cobalt IT, Tactical Networks, NetPoint, DIGI Tavkoslesi Es ...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/31504?199 3 UK Bans Mobile Downloads While Abroad- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Hutchison Whampoa's 3 UK unit has banned its customers from using their U.K. mobile broadband accounts while abroad according to the Sunday Times. The paper reports that the operator is eager to prevent its customers from returning home with giant bills and the subsequent bad press which such news generates. Customers will have...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/31506?199 VoIP Management Toolbox Integrates With Visio- (Found July 8, 2008 ) Codima's upgrade to its VoIP Management Toolbox "visualizes" the topology of VoIP networks directly in Microsoft Office Visio, creating a kit that supports VoIP testing, monitoring and troubleshooting before and after a VoIP deployment. The company, whose forte is VoIP quality-assessment tools for service providers...http://www.communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/31488?199 |