Verizon Communications, AT&T and more than 20 other operator groups from around the globe have signed on to a new GSMA initiative to help wireless subscribers avoid unexpected data roaming charges. Measures set to be rolled out by the end of this year include text message notifications about data roaming charges and spending limits on data roaming. Other operators participating in the program include Bharti Airtel, China Mobile and Deutsche Telekom.
Russell Investments has added two companies in the wireless space to its indexes. Antenna maker PCTEL is now trading on the Russel 3000 Index, the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index. Vringo was added to the Russel Microcap Index. Both appointments became effective after market close on Friday and will remain in place for one year.
Ethernet backhaul company CENX has landed $9.5 million in investment financing from Verizon Investments, Mesirow Financial Private Equity and existing investors DCM, Highland Capital Partners and Wasatch. CENX will put the money toward new resources for its systems, engineering and support services as it works to meet demands of wireless and wireline customers.
Japan’s KDDI is offering its customers global Wi-Fi data roaming through an agreement with iPass, which says it operates the world’s largest commercial Wi-Fi network. “Seamless access to a reliable Wi-Fi service beyond Japan is important to our globally mobile customers and iPass provides the leading Wi-Fi network worldwide that supports our carrier-grade Wi-Fi roaming needs,” Tadashi Egawa, head of KDDI’s service development and Wi-Fi business strategy department, said in a statement.