• ABI Research reports that nearly 2 billion Bluetooth chipsets are forecast to ship in 2014 alone. More than half will be found in wireless handsets. In 2014, Bluetooth will be found in 70 percent of all handsets and 83 percent of all netbooks. In the same year, almost 1.5 billion Wi-Fi chipsets are expected to ship and again, more than one-third of that total will be used in handsets.
• PlasmaTech has acquired more than 80 copyrights from RF Wireless for $120 million. The intellectual property portfolio includes 46 copyrights to various software and hardware related to the RF Wireless' Diamond Sentry product line, 26 copyrights to software and hardware related to long-range Bluetooth products and nine copyrights related to TCP/IP products.
• Blindspot Wireless has launched a network designed to deal with texting while driving. Its software application electronically forces the driver of a vehicle to stop the vehicle in order to send or read text or e-mail messages. Currently, Blindspot Wireless' software works on the BlackBerry, Android and Symbian wireless operating systems. The wireless phone must have a GPS chip to use the software.
• Vantrix has launched version 8.0 of its Media Broadcaster, which optimizes video content to a variety of end devices including handsets, computers and television. The newest version includes Dynamic Bit Rate Adaptation (DBRA) for the Apple iPhone.
• Freescale Semiconductor says it has reduced its carbon footprint by 42 percent, saved more than 40 million kilowatts of energy and conserved of more than 170 million gallons of water. The conservation effort is part of the company's Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) initiative that began in 2001. By 2015, Freescale wants to achieve a zero workplace injury and illness rate, recycle 90 percent of its waste, reduce its water usage by another 50 percent and cut its carbon footprint in half.
• Sybase 365 announced a strategic partnership with the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) to deploy SMS messaging services through NY-ALERT, the State's All-Hazards Alert and Notification System. The Web-based portal allows state agencies, county and local governments, emergency service agencies and institutions of higher learning to provide emergency alerting information and private notifications to a defined audience through SMS alerts.
• Satellite communications company ICO Global Communications appointed former Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff as chairman of the board effective immediately and CEO effective Dec. 31. Michael Corkery, the company's acting CEO and CFO, resigned to pursue another career opportunity. Wolff is expected to serve as the CEO on an interim basis while the company searches for a permanent CEO. Wolff continues to serve as co-founder and co-chairman of Clearwire.
• As part of its previously announced rights offering, Clearwire has set a record date of Dec. 17 for the event. Under the terms of the rights offering, Clearwire will distribute at no charge to the holders of its Class A common stock as of the close of business on the record date one transferable right for each share of Class A common stock then owned. Each right will be exercisable to purchase 0.4336 shares at an exercise price of $7.33 per share. Clearwire anticipates launching the rights offering on or about Dec. 21 and intends to keep the rights offering open for a period of six months thereafter.
• Cricket Communications has selected Vesta Corporation to manage non-cash customer transactions when the carrier's customers pay their phone bill. Vesta's payment service is set to launch in the spring of 2010. Customers will be able to manage their bill payments over the phone, Web and in Cricket's retail stores. Later on, Vesta expects to introduce features such as text-to-pay and SMS solutions.
• Verizon Wireless promoted Rich Bulger to director of sales operations and marketing for the Carolinas/Tennessee region. In his new position, Bulger will oversee the systems, inventory and merchandising operations and regional marketing strategy of the company in the three-state region.
• Finnish-based mobile technology company Conmio has provided the software platform, design and audio services for the new mobile platform of NPR that was launched today. Enhancements include a new station search feature and better audio.