Qwest agrees to provide Vonage E-911 access 

By Donny Jackson

Qwest Communications will give Vonage access to its E-911 interconnection trunks, which will allow the leading consumer VoIP provider to provide E-911 services in Qwest’s region, according to letters Vonage filed with the FCC this week...

RELM unveils field command radio  

RELM Wireless has introduced the GPH-CMD Command Radio, an enhanced portable built on the company’s BK Radio platform and designed for field command and coordination activities....

Texas public safety taps EFJohnson radios  

EFJohnson said it has received an order totaling $850,000 from the Texas Department of Public Safety for P25 radios and accessories...

Kentucky agency upgrades two-way radio system  

The Kentucky Department of Vehicle Enforcement (KVE) is replacing its current two-way radio system (originally installed in the 1950s) by utilizing the Kentucky State Police (KSP) statewide two-way radio system....

Georgia chooses Sprint for wireless contract 

Sprint yesterday announced that the state of Georgia has awarded it with a one-year contract to provide wireless voice and data services to state and local agencies...

Motorola, other vendors reveal replacement-radio strategies 

By Donny Jackson

Some radio vendors at IWCE in Las Vegas last week announced that they plan to manufacture new radios with outdated features that will qualify as replacement radios under the terms of the FCC’s 800 MHz rebanding order...

FreeLinc introduces wireless accessories for two-way radios 

FreeLinc last week at IWCE in Las Vegas debuted wireless accessory products that leverage magnetic-induction technology to let two-way radio users communicate hands-free without introducing security risks, according to company officials...

IWCE: Utilities still eager to share public-safety radio systems 

By Glenn Bischoff

LAS VEGAS--A prominent attorney representing the interests of the nation’s public utilities said during an educational session at IWCE 2005 here that utilities are still eager to share public-safety communications and that there is no reason for first responders to fear such an arrangement...

APCO opposes NRIC report on wireless E-911 

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers (APCO) this week voted in opposition to the National Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) VII focus group’s recommendations to the FCC regarding wireless E-911...

BlackBerry handheld combines P2T, GPS and Bluetooth  

Canada’s Telus Mobility today unveiled the BlackBerry 7250, which offers push-to-talk voice services over the carrier’s iDEN network, Global Positioning System capabilities, full HTML Web browsing and fast data access via the carrier’s 1xPCS network and Bluetooth support for headsets and car kits...

Cobra Electronics unveils compact CB radio  

Cobra Electronics introduced the 19DX IV, a compact citizens band radio...

SBC nixes notion of Vonage E-911 trial 

By Donny Jackson

SBC Communications this week declined an offer from Vonage to participate in an E-911 trial designed to address VoIP provider’s emergency-service shortcomings that have been highlighted by events during the last two months...

Iridium unveils P2T plans 

Iridium Satellite last week announced it plans to offer push-to-talk service to the Department of Defense by the end of the year and to other customers during 2006...

Texas AG files 911 suit against Vonage 

By Donny Jackson

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott yesterday filed a lawsuit against Vonage, claiming the leading voice-over-IP provider deceives customers by failing to communicate that its voice service does not include access to the E-911 system associated with traditional telephone service...

Level 3 withdraws VoIP petition 

By Donny Jackson

Telecom carrier Level 3, which connects calls from VoIP providers such as Vonage to the PSTN, on Monday withdrew its forbearance petition that asked the FCC to rule that VoIP calls are not subject to interstate or intrastate access charges...