As the industry begins to adopt Long Term Evolution (LTE) for its broadband data needs and many mission-critical features are standardized in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) process, one area where many questions remain is LTE device-to-device (D2D) communications.

The Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., contracted with Federal Engineering to provide design and consulting services related to installation of a radio communications system at the bank’s headquarters buildings.

Verizon announced new unlimited rate plans for current and retired first responders and volunteer first responders on personal plans.

After 42 successful years in the professional land mobile two-way radio and wireless communications industry, Quality MobileCommunications will close all business operations as of Dec. 31.

A Florida district court judge denied Sprint’s request for an injunction to prevent two Florida companies from selling radio products under the Nextel brand. Because the injunction was denied, Nextel World and Retrobrands can continue to sell products under the Nextel name while a lawsuit against them moves forward.

Orion Labs’ Push to Talk iOS 5.2.8 mobile application is now First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) certified and included in the FirstNet App Catalog. First responders can use the voice communications platform with FirstNet’s priority access and pre-emption services.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council released a report specific to managing user identification for mission-critical push to talk (MCPTT). The report provides high-level recommendations on the potential use of various MCPTT data fields to manage first responder identity and recommends creating a standard governing the MCPTT ID structure.

Another Colorado jurisdiction filed a petition asking the FCC to address Long Term Evolution (LTE) interoperability among commercial carriers.

Orion Labs announced strategic public-safety alliances with ResponderXLabs and the FirstNet Association (FNA). Orion is committed to improving communications and workflows for public safety through its platform for real-time push-to-talk (PTT) and voice communications for first responders worldwide.

Sepura has delivered more than 400,000 TETRA radios to users of Germany’s public-safety TETRA network, BDBOS, in 11 German states.