sprint

Sprint Nextel said Monday that CEO Gary Forsee has stepped down as chairman and chief executive officer effective immediately.

Forsee's departure comes as investors, upset over the company's poor performance, have put pressure on the board of directors to make a change at the top.

The company said Chief Financial Officer Paul Saleh will become acting CEO until the board is able to find a replacement for Forsee. And board member James Hance, Jr., will assume the role as a non-executive chairman of the board, the company said.

Board member Irvine Hockaday said the company is focusing its … Read more

Internet telephony provider Vonage said Monday that is has settled its patent dispute with Sprint Nextel.

The two companies have entered into a licensing arrangement that allows Vonage to use patents for voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, technology that are held by Sprint.

Vonage has agreed to pay Sprint a total of $80 million, according to the company. This includes $35 million for past use of the license, $40 million for a fully paid future license and $5 million in prepayment for services.

In September, a Kansas jury found that Vonage had infringed six Sprint patents. And it ordered … Read more

It looks like Sprint Nextel's CEO Gary Forsee will soon get the boot, which could spell trouble for the company's WiMax network.

According to a story published by The Wall Street Journal late Thursday, the company's board of directors is fed up with Sprint's poor performance and they're laying the blame on Forsee and company.

The story didn't identify sources by name, but referred to "informed people" who said the board of directors had already launched a search for a new CEO in August. Several high-profile candidates have been approached for the … Read more

Activist investor Ralph Whitworth is continuing to put pressure on Sprint Nextel CEO Gary Forsee, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Whitworth, who owns about 2 percent of Sprint's outstanding stock, told the WSJ that he has lost confidence in Forsee. While he stopped short of asking for Forsee's resignation, he said he'd like to see the company's board of directors make some management changes to get the company back on track.

Whitworth is most concerned about Sprint's investment in WiMax, a wireless-broadband technology that would greatly increase data speeds. The company has committed itself … Read more

Everyone say it with me now, "It's about friggin' time." Today, Research in Motion officially introduced the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 to the world, the CDMA version of the original, GSM RIM BlackBerry Pearl, which debuted over a year ago. Though there are no specific carrier announcements (or pricing details) at this time, Sprint has already confirmed that the BlackBerry 8130 is on its Q4 hit list, and just this morning, Engadget Mobile had a report that Verizon Wireless is also on tap to get this sleek, sexy smart phone, so everyone should be happy.

The Pearl … Read more

Well, it wasn't a complete secret, but today, Palm and Sprint officially took the wraps off the Palm Centro at the Digital Life event in New York. It's the first non-Treo, as well as the smallest and lightest, smart phone from Palm, and the company hopes it will attract a new customer base of those ready to make the jump from cell phone to smart phone. Measuring 4.2 inches long by 2.1 inches wide and 0.7 inch deep and 4.2 ounces, the Centro has more of a cell-phone-like form factor but still has … Read more

Internet telephony player Vonage was dealt another serious legal blow Tuesday when a federal jury found the company had infringed on six patents held by Sprint Nextel.

The jury ordered Vonage to pay Sprint $69.5 million in damages.

Sprint sued Vonage in 2005, claiming the company was infringing on seven Sprint patents that dealt with connecting Internet phone calls. Vonage denied the claims and argued that Sprint's patents shouldn't have been approved in the first place.

Vonage said in a statement that it will appeal the federal court's verdict. Vonage also said it will develop technological … Read more