Nextel told the FCC the assumptions of a Motorola filing that outlined technical advances for avoiding 800 MHz public safety interference didn’t “withstand scrutiny.” Motorola recently updated the Commission on potential technical solutions for interference from low-site commercial base stations to public safety receivers at 800 MHz (CD May 8 p4). Nextel, private wireless groups and public safety organizations are backing an 800 MHz reconfiguration proposal that would realign incumbents at 700, 800, 900 MHz and 1.2 GHz, with Nextel pledging $850 million toward relocation. In its latest filing, Motorola said increased signal strength for public safety systems, best practices and better receiver technology could resolve some interference problems caused by commercial wireless operators. Nextel told the FCC Fri. the technical and other fixes suggested by Motorola could help “address the small amount of potential interference that will remain after realignment of the 800 MHz band” as proposed in the plan crafted by Nextel and others. “Without realignment, however, such measures are not a viable option for remedying the serious levels of CMRS-public safety interference at 800 MHz.” Nextel criticized a Motorola assumption that less than 3% of public safety systems was experiencing interference, opening the door for more interference management on a case- by-case basis. “Motorola significantly understates the extent of public safety interference experienced and reported during the past few years,” Nextel said. It also criticized what it said was an assumption by Motorola that the realignment plan by Nextel and others marked an agreement by public safety to boost on-street public safety signal strength. Increasing public safety signal strength would allow certain enhancements in receiver performance, it said. The plan doesn’t include such an agreement, Nextel told the FCC, and presuming an increase in public safety signal strength would impose “enormous costs” on public safety. “Even assuming increased public safety signal strength, the proposed receiver advances are themselves preliminary, and at best potentially solve only half the problem,” Nextel said. Motorola’s proposed receiver advances are meant to reduce intermodulation interference in public safety receivers, but wouldn’t reduce interference by commercial mobile radio service out-of-band emissions, Nextel said. Such out-of-band emissions are cited in 50% of 800 MHz interference incidents, it said. They thus can be addressed only by realignment, the carrier said. Nextel also took issue with what it called Motorola’s heavy reliance on best practices. “This reactive ‘fixed point’ approach attempts to resolve interference at specific sites rather than eliminating its causes, thereby putting at risk the lives and safety of our nation’s first responders,” Nextel said. Despite an agreed-upon best practices guide addressing public safety interference given to the FCC in 2001, interference has continued to increase, it said. Thirteen public safety agencies had interference in 2000, 46 in 2001, 74 in 2002 and 51 through April 30 of this year, Nextel said.
Predicted influx this 4th quarter of fairly low-cost DVD/PVR combos appears to have hit roadblock over inclusion of electronic programming guides (EPGs). Which type of EPG and at what cost are among issues hardware manufacturers are grappling with, according to software company PlanetWeb, which supplies enabling technology for DVD/PVR combos. “Our software is ready to go,” said Jeff Blanc, PlanetWeb vp-strategic planning: “The sticking point is the OEMs. They're still struggling with the patent issues.”
A workshop of Caribbean telecom regulators next week in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, that will focus on policy issues at the upcoming World Radio Conference, could win even more support for common proposals of the Inter-American Telecom Commission (CITEL), CITEL Exec. Dir. Clovis Baptista said Mon. Inter- American Proposals (IAPs) for the conference June 9-July 4 will be vetted among policymakers from 15 Caribbean administrations, Baptista told us. “IAP common proposals could receive strong support from other countries,” he said. IAPs are finalized if they are supported by at least 6 administrations and when there is opposition, if it’s less than or equal to 50% of the number of countries that support a proposal. The scope of the agenda for this year’s WRC is a concern, particularly for developing nations with limited resources, Baptista said. This year’s agenda has 44 items, compared with 11 in 1997. “It’s a concern of everybody’s because the huge amount of items to be addressed is unbelievable,” he said. He said CITEL as well as other regional organizations, in response to this agenda’s size, “did a much better job of anticipating coordination with other participants.” IAP common proposals were finalized in Feb. at a meeting in Orlando. Baptista said that the large number of agenda items posed particular challenges for developing countries that had difficulty putting resources into the WRC preparatory process in each region. Caribbean nations often have very few people working exclusively on telecom and spectrum policy issues, which makes WRC preparations a challenge, he said. Next week’s workshop, to be held in conjunction with the ITU-Development sector, is important in part because it could receive more support for CITEL IAPs that already have backing from a significant number of that group’s 34 administrations, Baptista said. CITEL said IAP drafts that didn’t receive clear-cut support at the Feb. meeting included a proposal on agenda item 1.24. That proposal would have the conference review usage of 13.75-14 GHz in line with developments at WRC 2000, when nongeostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service earth station transmitters in the band created a potential sharing issue with the space research service. Some satellite companies are interested in easing antenna size for broader deployment of broadband applications without causing interference to military radar. CITEL said one reason a common IAP didn’t emerge on that item was because there were 2 opposing proposals. CITEL members agreed to continue to circulate preliminary proposals on that and a 2nd agenda item, 1.38, for which similar competing proposals were making the rounds. Agenda item 1.38 would consider providing up to 6 MHz to the earth exploration satellite service in the 420- 470 MHz band.
U.K.’s Game Group retail chain -- formerly EB UK -- reported strong preliminary results for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31. Company reported that its pretax income before goodwill amortization increased 26% to record ?33.1 million ($55.47 million at $1 = ?0.645) from ?26.3 million ($44.07 million) year ago as sales increased 23% to ?560 million ($938.42 million) from ?454 million ($760.79 million). Game Group also said earnings per share increased 32% to 4.4 pence from 3.33 pence. Chmn. Peter Lewis said company’s strong results were achieved despite “difficult year for U.K. retailers… Our response to the intense competition during Christmas 2002 was successful in maintaining our clear market leadership [while] delivering record profits.” On additional upbeat note, he said: “The current year has begun well with further gains in market share.” Company said that in 2002 its rebranding from Electronics Boutique to Game was completed at its U.K. stores and “we expect to accelerate our store-opening” plans this year. Game Group admitted that one sour note for company recently was losing appeal in long legal battle with EB. Game Group had sued EB in March 2002 in Chancery Div. of High Court of Justice of England. It had sought ruling that because of alleged change of control at EB affiliate EB Services, it was entitled to terminate services agreement with EB that had been in effect since 1995 and that wasn’t scheduled to expire until at least 2006. But judge ruled against Game Group in Oct. and it lost appeal earlier this year (CED March 3 p9). As result, Game Group said last week “we continue to pay EB 1% of our U.K. turnover.” Looking ahead, Game Group said last week: “The challenge of Christmas 2002 demanded a swift response by [company] management which was both forthcoming and effective.” Since then, it said: “Management has built on these experiences and adapted our business model to suit these new conditions. In 2003 and beyond, much greater emphasis is being given to our competitive advantages which taken together represent a unique selling proposition. These include the loyalty data base (now 3.9 million customers), our preowned program, multi-buy product offers, unrivaled range of products, our all-round superior in- store service and local price competitiveness.” Company said it “believes that by harnessing these competitive advantages together with our philosophy of empowering store management to respond to local trading conditions, Game will benefit from further advances in the games market predicted for this year.”
Amazon.com is managing and operating HMV.com’s e-commerce Web site under HMV brand in Canada as part of deal HMV N. America signed with Seattle e-tailer. Deal, terms not disclosed, makes U.K.-based HMV Group latest bricks-and-mortar retailer turn to Amazon to run its online business following similar deals with retailers including Borders and Toys “R” Us. Amazon’s Canadian Web site -- Amazon.ca -- now features HMV store. HMV no longer runs Web site in U.S., where company has moved to reduce its presence in last year, and it was unclear whether it planned to find partner for U.S. as well. HMV also said it was “confident that the Group will announce profits” for fiscal year ending April 26 “at the top end of market expectations… despite the more difficult trading conditions we have been seeing in the U.K. since the end of January.” Company said its “Group performance continues to benefit from the HMV new store rollout program in the U.K., where 20 stores have been added in the financial year just ended. During the new financial year, HMV U.K. anticipates adding a further 15 stores, and sites have already been secured at Birmingham Bullring, the Whiteleys Shopping Centre, Bayswater in London and Beckton.” Meanwhile, company said, “exposure to the U.S. has been reduced through the closure of 2 further stores since January, leaving a total of 7, down from 12 a year ago.” HMV said it would make preliminary announcement of its fiscal year results July 1.
Boeing said its 3-month trial with Lufthansa for its Connexion by Boeing service was a success. The test ended April 18, it said. Both companies will analyze the data and incorporate results into continuing the service, Boeing said. Preliminary results showed that 50-80 passengers used the service simultaneously and 95% of respondents were “very or extremely satisfied,” it said. In a separate announcement, IONA said Connexion would use its Orbix and Orbix/E technologies to control and monitor the satellite communication link facilitating the service.
3DO plans special shareholders meeting May 20 at its Redwood City, Cal., hq, for vote on whether to issue 1.76 million shares to CEO William (Trip) Hawkins and warrant for another 441,176 shares in cancellation of $3 million in company debt he holds, company said SEC proxy statement filed Mon. Filing said 3DO board believed proposal was “the most effective means” to avoid delisting of its shares by Nasdaq. 3DO received Nasdaq letter in Feb. warning that company failed to meet $10 million minimum stockholders equity required for continued listing. Filing said issuance of common stock and warrants that would allow 3DO to meet minimum requirement must be completed by May 23, Nasdaq told 3DO in followup letter. If proposal isn’t approved, 3DO said, “we may attempt to increase our stockholders’ equity in other ways” but if it’s “unsuccessful, we may be delisted” from Nasdaq. Company said it “expects to announce preliminary voting results shortly after completion of the meeting” and then announce final voting results via 8-K SEC filing. It said proposal “must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of common stock” for approval.
Largest individual beneficial owners of Macrovision common shares as of April 1 were Matthew Christiano, company’s former chief technology officer, and his wife, Sallie Calhoun, a former Macrovision employee, company said in preliminary proxy statement filed with SEC. Christiano and Calhoun owned 4,935,653 shares (10.2% of those outstanding), while Chmn. John Ryan held 1,326,590 shares (2.7%) and CEO William Krepick, 605,987 (1.3%), filing said. Christiano, founder and former CEO of Globetrotter Software before its acquisition by Macrovision, resigned as chief technology officer July 1 and has remained consultant, for which he’s being paid annual $180,000 fee under agreement that expires Aug. 31, 2003, filing said. Krepick drew 2002 salary of $250,000 plus $55,000 bonus and had stock options for 80,000 shares vs. year earlier when he had options for 170,000 and was paid same salary but no bonus, filing said. Amendments to 1996 employee stock purchase plan, including increasing reserve by 1.5 million shares and extending term additional 2 years, are among proposals on agenda for annual shareholder meeting May 27 at Macrovision’s Santa Clara hq, filing said.
BellSouth said it won an injunction Wed. in U.S. Dist. Court, Atlanta, against Access Integrated Networks (AIN) for sales practices that confused small businesses into thinking they were dealing with BellSouth. “AIN repeatedly used BellSouth’s name and reputation to its own benefit and misrepresented its relationship with BellSouth” to get customers to switch their phone service to AIN, BellSouth charged. Granting BS’s motion for a preliminary injunction, the court said such activity was “widespread” among AIN sales staff and it was “in the public’s interest to restrain AIN from creating further confusion.” The injunction prohibits AIN from saying it’s an affiliate of BellSouth, that AIN’s products are those of BellSouth or that a customer’s telephone service will remain with BellSouth if the customer accepts an AIN offer of service. BellSouth met with members of the FCC Enforcement Bureau Wed. to outline its concerns about the AIN issue but a bureau spokesman wouldn’t comment other than to confirm the meeting.
D&M Holdings, which announced Wed. it had won bankruptcy court auction bid to acquire ReplayTV and Rio assets from SonicBlue for $36.2 million, believes it’s “not a party” in copyright infringement suit pending against ReplayTV and former owner SonicBlue by major entertainment companies, D&M CEO Merle Gilmour told Consumer Electronics Daily.