• Motorola has announced that German telecom NeckarCom Telekommunikation has launched its commercial VoIP service following the successful implementation earlier this year of a WiMAX network by Motorola. Deployed in the Ulm region of Germany, Motorola's WiMAX solution has enabled NeckarCom to easily integrate all of its current standard voice services across the WiMAX network and offer a new combined voice and data solution.

• Tektronix, a provider of communications network management and diagnostics solutions, is expanding its relationship with Vodafone Malta. The carrier will now be using Tektronix's Beamer monitoring solution for customer assurance to ensure quality of service for the mobile network operator's highest-value customers. Beamer, part of Tektronix' Unified Assurance solution suite, provides Vodafone Malta with an end-to-end view of the customer experience and the ability to react quickly to prevent service quality issues before they become apparent to end users. Vodafone Malta is already using Tektronix' GeoProbe network assurance solution across its entire mobile network, which provides monitoring for its GSM /GPRS and UMTS network.

• Telular Corporation, a provider of fixed wireless products and services, has announced the appointment of Joseph Beatty, its current CFO, as the new president and CEO. Beatty replaces Michael Boyle who announced his plans for retirement in November. Beatty will begin in his new role Jan. 1, 2008; he will also continue to serve as CFO until his successor as CFO is selected, announced and in position.

• Semiconductor products maker Emcore announced it will buy Intel's telecom-related portion of its optical platform division for $85 million. Emcore said it plans to use the acquisition to expand its fiber optics product portfolio. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008.

• Huawei Technologies has been selected by T-Mobile International to provide Packet Switched Core Networks (PS-CN) across five key European countries: Germany, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The contract requires Huawei to replace existing networks with its next-gen PS-CN equipment.

• Miyowa has announced that French mobile carrier Bouygues Telecom has deployed its MoveAd Mobile Instant Messaging advertising solution. Taking Miyowa's MIM solution MoveMessenger to the next level, MoveAd enables operators and brands to include dynamic advertising in their mobile instant messaging services.

• Telrad Networks, developer of carrier-grade telecommunications equipment, has released the Commatch 1000 series of VoIP customer premises equipment (CPE) as part of its offering for Voice over WiMAX. Commatch 1000 is a generic voice and data CPE, with full interoperability with the Commatch 6004 for immediate provision of all voice services through existing TDM infrastructure.

• Nokia Siemens Networks announced that it has won a contract from India's GSM service provider IDEA Cellular valued at more than $150 million to build and provide managed services for a greenfield GSM network in Bihar. The deal will last for three years and includes the supply of GSM/GPRS and short message service center (SMSC) equipment.

• SkyCross, a global wireless company providing antenna-centric radio-frequency (RF) solutions, has announced that Shanghai Simcom, a subsidiary of SIM Technology Group, is using internal SkyCross antennas for several mobile handset models. SIM Technology Group releases more than 200 mobile handset solutions annually for domestic mobile handset brands, as well as multinational handset manufacturers. Skycross is designing and manufacturing antennas for several Shanghai Simcom handset models, including multifeature phones supporting GSM, Bluetooth and FM radio.