Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 July 2008
For a locally compact group G, let B(G) denote its Fourier–Stieltjes algebra. Any continuous, piecewise affine map α: Y ⊂ H → G induces a completely bounded algebra homomorphism jα: B(G) → B(H) [14, 15] and we prove that jα is w* – w* continuous if and only if α is an open map. This extends one of the main results in [3], due to M.B. Bekka, E. Kaniuth, A.T. Lau and G. Schlichting. Several classical theorems regarding isomorphisms and extensions of homomorphisms on group algebras of abelian groups are extended to the setting of Fourier–Stieltjes algebras of amenable groups. As applications, when G is amenable we provide complete characterizations of those maps between Fourier–Stieltjes algebras that are either associated to a piecewise affine mapping, or are completely bounded and w* – w* continuous.