January 2007

The major U.S. carriers are rushing to cash in on the mobile marketing craze by selling ad space on their WAP decks. But consumers aren’t thrilled about using the third screen as a billboard.Sprint Nextel Corp. was the first tier-one …

WASHINGTON-Wireless carriers are renewing their fight for relief from new regulations and taxes levied by cities and states, while manufacturers find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a dispute headed for Capitol Hill between the mobile-phone industry and public-safety community …

Cellphones are everywhere! They rule! Indeed, the new James Bond remake, Casino Royale, (seen over the holidays) should have listed the cellphone as a character because the storyline revolved around the phone with at least three major plot points center …

Amp’d Mobile Inc. is racking up deals to offer its unique content and user interface abroad, and reap the benefits of revenue sharing without the effort and expense of expanding its mobile virtual network operator business. Two international partnerships are …

The keypad on the mobile handset is due for an extreme makeover. Like the television program, fashion-that age-old tyrant-and the need to update it is one fundamental driver of change. After all, the current paradigm for input technologies-think wireline, touch-tone …

As the wireless industry rings in 2007 at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we’ll likely see some hot new looks from the nation’s top wireless players. You might also notice RCR Wireless News got a new look …

Pump up the mobile motivationPeople who made a get-fit new year’s resolution this year can find motivation to stick with their goals on their cellphones. PumpOne, a company that provides visual personal training programs for handheld devices like iPods, is …

Colors, materials and finishes-aka CMF-have returned to center stage as a conveyor of value, product differentiator and sales clincher. Focused efforts to use CMF to give a handset legs in the market began with face plates nearly a decade ago. …

WIRELESS IS EXPECTED to be the heart of the newly merged AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corp., bundling multiple services with cellular and allowing advertisers to reach multiple media platforms through one company. And that wireless heart will be the nation’s …

WASHINGTON-Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he would cooperate with Congress if it pursues legislation to increase the supply of public-safety spectrum. Chertoff acknowledged federal, state and local first responders must not only be able to talk with one other …

As New Year beginnings go, this one has an especially odd, mixed feel.President Ford’s funeral-beginning stately in the District of Columbia and ending solemnly in Grand Rapids, Mich., was sad and touching. The gathering of Republicans and Democrats to honor …

MTV Networks’ Mika Salmi will oversee a new executive team charged with directing the company’s digital efforts across platforms.The Viacom subsidiary said the group will “provide strategic guidance to the company’s portfolio of multiplatform brands” as well as sharing best …

Six months after unveiling plans to build a WiMAX network in the United States, Sprint Nextel Corp. announced Nokia Corp. will be a key infrastructure and device provider for that upgrade.Other than naming it a “major supplier” to Sprint Nextel’s …

The USB Implementers Forum has announced the completion of the Micro-USB specification, a new and improved technology expected to replace many of the Mini-series plugs and receivers currently used in mobile phones and other wireless devices. The specification was developed …

WASHINGTON-The new, Democrat-led Congress got off to a fast start, with lawmakers introducing wireless and Internet tax moratorium bills, a universal service measure aimed at protecting rural states, and legislation to speed up federal funding for 911 upgrades.Sens. John McCain …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms. Carrier RW Baird discontinued coverage on BellSouth Corp. after the company completed its merger with AT&T Corp.Handset and infrastructure vendors …

The following list details this week’s infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available. Cellular Japan: L.M. Ericsson and …

Openwave Systems Inc. said it expects to report revenues of between $83 million and $84 million for its fiscal second quarter, which ended Dec. 31., a number that falls short of analyst estimates of $88.8 million.The company said it recorded …

It’s official-the fourth quarter was financially rough for Motorola Inc., as a handful of financial analysts had warned in mid-December. The disappointing results came despite a prodigious leap in the company’s unit sales over the year-ago quarter.The company’s stock price …

Cingular Wireless L.L.C. plans to launch a live, one-way video sharing service that will work during a voice call. The carrier said it plans to demonstrate the offering at the AT&T Inc. booth next week at the CES in Las …

ROK Entertainment Group announced the U.S. launch of ANSA, a new question-and-answer text messaging service that costs $1 per answer.A white-label offering ROK is selling to wireless carriers, ANSA (ansanow.com) delivers answers to mobile phone users via text messages for …

Google Inc. and China Mobile finally unveiled a pact to deliver mobile search services.China’s largest carrier said its Monternet WAP portal will use Google technology to allow users to search for mobile content and other Internet-based offerings. The service will …

Kodiak Networks announced a global licensing agreement with Research In Motion Ltd. to include mobile applications-including push-to-talk functionality-on BlackBerry handsets. Kodiak’s applications already are available on the BlackBerry Pearl at Cingular Wireless L.L.C. The agreement allows RIM to integrate a …

Sprint Nextel Corp. and its WiMAX infrastructure vendors said they will demonstrate devices and applications using the technology, including mobile TV, during the Consumer Electronics Show next week. According to a company statement, the demonstrations will include “true mobile WiMAX …

Paramount Pictures is the latest mainstream media giant to target consumers on the wireless Web.The Viacom subsidiary launched a mobile portal designed to serve as both a storefront for content and a platform for promotional efforts. Users can text the …