BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) is to acquire multimedia content partner Chalk Media for CAD23.1 million (US$18.5 million) in an all-cash deal.

China has confirmed it will award 3G licenses to the country's three mobile operators early next year, reports the Financial Times.

Alcatel-Lucent's new CEO Ben Verwaayen today unveiled the company's high-profile strategic review, aimed at cutting costs and halting losses.

Cellular News notes that EMS Technologies is to acquire Formation, a provider of airborne wireless network products that enable in-flight passenger communications with terrestrial and satellite networks, for US$40 million.

BusinessWeek notes that on January 8 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Palm is due to unveil its long-awaited operating system - code-named Nova - as well as the first of a family of products that will run on it.

TeleGeography reports that Vodafone Espana is to offer a limited selection of its business customers the chance to join a pilot scheme of its new Access Gateway product, manufactured by Huawei.

TeleGeography notes that 3G rollout in Moscow is facing delays due to the Russian military failing to free up UMTS frequencies.