Nextel Communications Inc

Antitrust authorities are investigating the market for walkie-talkie-type telephone service dominated by Nextel Communications Inc., a source familiar with the probe said. The Justice Department has requested documents from some telecommunications companies regarding competition in the "push-to-talk" business, one source said. Nextel spokeswoman Audrey Schaefer confirmed that the Reston, Va.-based company had received a request for information from Justice, but would not provide details.

Struggling telecommunications equipment maker Lucent Technologies Inc. said it has been selected to supply high-capacity gateway switches for Nextel Communications Inc.'s digital wireless network. No financial details were released. Under the agreement, the first between the two companies, Lucent will deploy at least 10 5ESS Wireless Gateway switches for Nextel's iDEN network, with installations expected to be completed by the end of this year, Lucent said.

Nextel Communications Inc. today will launch a wireless service that allows international travelers to use one phone number and one phone for mobile communications in the United States and in 65 other countries--and sets a flat per-minute rate for international calls. The service, called Nextel Worldwide, is aimed at the growing legion of world travelers who find international calling both difficult and expensive.

Sprint Corp. moved closer to an agreement to buy Nextel Communications Inc. for more than $36 billion in a mostly stock deal, sources familiar with the situation said Friday. The companies, which have held on-again, off-again talks in the last year, renewed negotiations in recent days for a merger that would create a wireless giant with 39 million customers.

Nextel Communications Inc. on Thursday launched a digital wireless communications service in California, a first step in the company's ambitious plan to create a nationwide system to compete with traditional cellular phones. Aimed initially at businesses, Nextel's phone is larger than a typical cellular phone, but can be used for a range of communications including paging and two-way radio dispatch. The Rutherford, N.J.-based firm, backed by Motorola Inc.

In a decision that could pave the way for wireless carrier Nextel Communications Inc. to acquire valuable licenses to offer service in such areas as Los Angeles, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York reversed a Bankruptcy Court ruling that had favored Nextel competitor NextWave Telecom Inc. The appeals court sent the case back to the Bankruptcy Court, which is presiding over the reorganization of NextWave, a Hawthorne, N.Y., wireless carrier. NextWave had bid $4.

Employees of Nextel Communications Inc. accused the wireless company of widespread racial, sexual and age discrimination. In a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, lawyers for 302 current and former Nextel employees from 11 states, including California, also asked permission to file a separate, civil rights class-action lawsuit seeking millions of dollars from the company. "This company is run like a plantation," said attorney Jeffrey K. Brown of Carle Place, N.Y.

Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications Inc. said Tuesday that they had resolved disputes over U.S. airwaves and trademark names, ending a 15-month legal battle between the mobile phone service providers. Verizon Wireless, the second-largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, said it wouldn't challenge a government decision to allow Nextel to swap airwaves worth as much as $4.86 billion. In return, Reston, Va.

A consumer group sued Nextel Communications Inc. on Tuesday, alleging that the mobile phone company's new statements hide details on calls to avoid billing disputes and boost revenue. The lawsuit by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights claims that Nextel's new billing statements, mailed this month, discourage customers from learning about charges for calls or messages they didn't make or deleted without reading -- unless they pay $2.50 a month for the details.

Furthering the consolidation of the wireless industry, Sprint Corp. on Wednesday unveiled plans to acquire rival Nextel Communications Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth $33.8 billion. Sprint would remain the country's No. 3 cellular provider, but Nextel's 15.3 million high-revenue subscribers would make the combined company a stronger competitor in a winnowing field. The new company -- to be called Sprint Nextel -- would have 38.5 million customers, compared with Cingular Wireless' 47.