Oceanic to launch 4G mobile service

Oceanic Time Warner Cable will introduce its wireless, high-speed 4G Road Runner Mobile service in Honolulu and on Maui early next year.

Designed for use with an adapter plugged into laptops and increasingly popular Netbooks, the service will offer subscribers WiMAX 4G speeds of 4 to 6 megabits per second, versus 3G speeds of 1.5 to 3 megabits per second, said Kiman Wong, general manager of Road Runner Mobile.

A 4G nationwide option will be available for frequent travelers, said Alan Pollock, Oceanic vice president of marketing.

For mobile phone users, Sprint will implement 4G service in Honolulu and on Maui this year.

$1.2M developer award affirmed

The $1.2 million arbitration award, plus attorney fees, granted to Texas-based Hughes Development LP in May has been upheld by U.S. District Judge David Ezra.

“;He granted our motion in its entirety,”; said Hughes' attorney, Jeffrey Portnoy. The state's Aloha Tower Development Corp. has the option to appeal but Portnoy said that “;I hope they don't waste anymore taxpayer dollars.”; The state's attorney could not be reached.

Zippy's cutting menu prices today

Zippy's Restaurants is reducing menu prices today at 17 dine-in restaurants on Oahu and one on Maui.

The chain said prices will be cut for most of its daily plates, specials, breakfasts and salad items. Most entree prices will be reduced by 25 cents to 80 cents while breakfast prices will be lowered by more than $1. The cost of complete meal options will decrease by 18 percent to 27 percent.

Zippy's said it is aggressively trying to improve the affordability of its restaurant menu items that will have a direct impact on its customers.

Starbucks will spare 30 stores

NEW YORK » Coffee-shop heavyweight Starbucks Corp. said yesterday it is scrapping plans to close 30 locations.

The stores were among 800 U.S. sites scheduled to be shut as part of a massive effort to close underperforming stores and shave costs companywide. But, speaking at an investor conference, Chief Financial Officer Troy Alstead said 30 company-owned locations have become more profitable and were re-evaluated.

Starbucks hasn't yet said where the 30 stores are located, but said it will release a list by the end of today. The chain has either closed or is in the process of closing 10 Hawaii stores since last summer.

Recycled cooking oil program debuts

Pacific Biodiesel is launching its Restaurants for Renewables awareness program this month in which restaurants that contribute used cooking oil for recycling will receive a special decal for display to signify their participation.

As the largest local contributor of cooking oil for recycling, Oahu's McDonald's restaurants will be the first to receive the decals, which they will display in their front windows.

By The Numbers

Prudential Locations has hired the following:

» Andrea Lehman as real estate broker. Her experience includes new project sales administration, financial loan representation, escrow coordination and office management.

» Pamela Stanfield as real estate agent. Her experience includes project management and certified kitchen and interior designs, and previous experience as a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.

» Rick Doyle as real estate agent. He previously was a real estate agent at Ocean Lane Realty and also worked at Prudential California Realty, Coldwell Banker and San Diego Homes and Finance.