2006

Two years after Cingular Wireless L.L.C. acquired AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and drove Verizon Wireless out of its spot as the largest U.S. wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless’ performance has allowed the carrier to reintroduce some superlatives. Verizon Wireless is touting …

For mobile content players, these are either the best of times or the worst of times. Or, in some cases, both. Investment money continues to flow into wireless content and marketing. Thumbplay Inc., a direct-to-consumer aggregator, hauled in $10 million …

Digital networking company Plaxo Inc. stepped onto the wireless playground last week, inking a deal to allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to update contact information on their handsets over the air. The software developer unveiled Plaxo Mobile Plus, a service that …

THORNTON, Colo.—Western U.S. retailer Ultimate Electronics has dropped T-Mobile USA Inc. in favor of Verizon Wireless. The consumer electronics chain said it will offer Verizon Wireless’ wares in 29 of its 32 stores in Colorado, Arizona, Kansas and several other …

In these early days of mobile data, the wireless industry is scrambling for timely, accurate data about consumer behavior. But it’s finding that such information can be difficult to come by. Mobile content measurement firm Telephia last week clarified a …

LONDON—Carriers looking to cash in on mobile video should take a cue from the television and film industries, according to a study from Informa Telecoms & Media. Wireless TV will see impressive growth in the next few years, the market …

WASHINGTON-The debate is officially on. And the clock is ticking. Six months after receiving Cyren Call Communications Inc.’s plan for a public-safety wireless broadband network the private sector would build and share with first responders, the Federal Communications Commission is …

Boost Mobile L.L.C. is bringing its pay-as-you-go service to rural areas, after traditionally concentrating on urban strongholds. Boost, which is a division of Sprint Nextel Corp. and runs on the carrier’s iDEN network, will begin to offer service in areas …

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission rejected Cyren Call Communications Inc.’s broadband public-safety plan only days after putting it out for public comment. The move stands as a setback for Cyren Call, but Morgan O’Brien, the company’s chairman, said it won’t stop …

In this election season, the wireless industry stands as an Independent. Indeed, CTIA has been run successfully over recent years by Steve Largent, a Republican, and Tom Wheeler, a staunch Democrat. Wireless crosses party lines. As such, regardless of whether …

As a consensus of forecasts converge on the magical billion mark for handset shipments this year-although with some dissenters-attention has focused on several dynamics at play. The upshot? Watch the market for replacement handsets in emerging markets, the mobile handset …

Pssst … if you’re looking for that elusive quarry-mobile handset consumers-you’ll find them in abundance online. They’re not only researching purchases in cyberspace, but increasingly making them over the Internet as well. Carriers take note: your brick-and-mortar stores may serve …

Mobile data software developer Volantis is targeting carriers with an application that delivers updated, personalized Internet information to mobile phones. The company plans to unveil BuzzCast, a white-label offering that allows users to create a profile and build a “home …

While Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp. lumber around the nascent mobile music playground looking to “own the customer,” Cingular Wireless L.L.C. hopes to attract music lovers by playing nice. The nation’s largest wireless operator last week finally joined the …

There’s much discussion here and overseas-especially overseas-about Internet governance, a succinctly ambiguous description apt to be at the core of controversy for years to come. The Internet governance issue has played out on a number of fronts. There is the …

The Palms Hotel and Casino is now accepting live wagers on mobile betting devices, according to Progressive Gaming International Corp., which developed the system. The Rapid Bet Live Wireless technology was tested during last week’s Monday Night Football game between …

WALL, N.J.—Centennial Communications Corp. introduced an unlimited local calling option for its customers in Puerto Rico. For $50 per month, Puerto Rico wireless customers will get unlimited inbound and outbound local calling and have the option to add companions or …

WARREN, N.J.-Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. announced two new services that incorporate audio and messaging. “Txt Tones” will allow users to link musical tones to text messages instead of rings. The three- to five-second sound clips can be used as an …

If aliens were to land on our planet, the first thing they would probably notice is our addiction to Wi-Fi networks. Indeed, a new report from ABI Research indicates that in 2006, the number of commercial Wi-Fi hotspots will reach …

Motorola Inc. reiterated its concern over a proliferation of counterfeit accessories, particularly Bluetooth headsets, purported to be made by Motorola and reaching consumers in the United States. Motorola warned that the counterfeits are cheap fakes, won’t perform as advertised and …

SAN FRANCISCO—Wireless video company Veeker is encouraging young users to record and submit content with their phones during tomorrow’s elections. The firm is teaming with YouthNoise.com, a nonpartisan Web site, to allow users to share wireless video clips recorded on …

Editor’s Note: Welcome our Monday feature, Analyst Angle. We’ve collected a group of the industry’s leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Strategy Analytics’ Chris …

SARASOTA, Fla.—Global Signal Inc. reduced its losses but still ended up in the red for the third quarter. The company reported a net loss of $11.3 million, which is about $4 million less than the $15.4 million loss that Global …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.—High Tech Computer Corp. has tapped Brightpoint Inc. to serve as the exclusive North American distributor for its Microsoft Corp. Windows Mobile-based GSM devices and accessories. The 9-year-old manufacturer said Brightpoint will distribute HTC’s products to carriers, mobile virtual …

LONDON—Vodafone Group plc will narrow its terminal platforms to three standards—Symbian Series 60, Linux and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile—to be more efficient at device support, the network operator announced. The operator also announced a deal with Microsoft to develop software …