January 2007

Texas Instruments Inc. reported modest gains in the fourth quarter-revenue up 4 percent, profit up 2 percent over the year-ago quarter-but it will cut 500 jobs as it prepares to hunker down for a period of weak chip demand by …

WASHINGTON-A British mobile phone radiation expert and the country’s health agency reportedly plan to study the long-term health effects of mobile phone use.Dr. Lawrie Challis, a physics professor and chairman of the independent Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research program, told …

Openwave Systems Inc.’s proxy battle continued after the company failed to reach a settlement with its second-largest shareholder.The wireless software developer said Harbinger Capital Partners rejected an offer that included a three-year board appointment for a Harbinger nominee in exchange …

SilverBirch Inc. is jumping into the mobile marketing arena with the acquisition of mobile marketing firm Jambo Mobile Solutions Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Both companies are based in Toronto.Jambo’s proprietary Ignition technology powers mobile marketing services for customers including …

Mobidia Inc., a Canadian mobile service management company, has received a fresh infusion of $3.2 million from DBC Venture Capital, bringing the company’s total funding to around $6 million.Mobidia said its “wave” products give wireless carriers and content providers the …

Music publisher EMI Entertainment World Inc. has slapped InfoSpace Inc. with a $100 million lawsuit, claiming the buffeted mobile content company has been underpaying royalties and selling ringtones without proper licensing rights.The suit, filed Jan. 12 in U.S. District Court …

Alltel Corp. wireless customers who just can’t get enough of personalizing their wireless phones now have a new option: ringback tones. The carrier introduced a ringback tone service, and will charge $1 per month for the offering. The fee includes …

Big opportunities come with big risks, particularly in chasing the future of the mobile handset business.One opportunity, pursued by the market’s two giants and their challengers, is to deliver ultra low-cost handsets into the hands of low-income subscribers in developing …

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-Verizon Wireless plans to join its compatriots in raising the price of per-message texting, bumping the rate for sending and receiving messages from 10 cents apiece to 15 cents.Sprint Nextel Corp. made similar changes to its messaging rates …

Mobile video is still very much in its infancy, but Third Screen Media claims it is reaching consumers by delivering a click-to-play wireless TV commercial.The Boston-based mobile marketing company this week will tout its first click-to-video effort, a WAP-based campaign …

WASHINGTON-Mobile-phone carriers’ tax lawsuit against Kentucky is back on track, giving center stage to a federal pre-emption argument that’s also at the heart of industry efforts to prevent states from meddling in line-item billing and early termination fees.Cingular Wireless L.L.C., …

WASHINGTON-The Bush administration’s top two telecom officials said wireless issues will have high priority this year, with policymakers anxious to see wireless networks evolve into a competitive alternative to the telephone-cable TV broadband duopoly and to examine avenues for making …

THE DEMOCRATIC TAKE-OVER of Congress and the early push for ethics reform on Capitol Hill is creating a new lobbying landscape for wireless, telecom and high-tech sectors, one with indirect policy implications for telecom reform. Lobbying is big business for …

High average royalty rates for W-CDMA technology are one among several elements dragging on the uptake of 3G handsets and service, according to a study by ABI Research. These high royalty rates are particularly irksome to the more lucrative handset …

NTT DoCoMo Inc. is incorporating features that appeal to the senses in its latest handset offering. One of the carrier’s phones features a touch screen that allow users to input data by using a stylus or their finger. Another phone …

An odd thing is going on in Washington policymaking circles. Folks are beginning to talk again about the budget, specifically about erasing the deficit and how the situation could woefully worsen if lawmakers stay the course.President Bush, who entered office …

I have bought into the WiMAX hype. I’m a true believer.When Nortel, Motorola, Alvarion and other WiMAX vendors gush over all the great things WiMAX will do-level the playing field for carriers, speed up data rates and, most importantly, lower …

Hedge*hog*ing v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube. Awesome factoid of the week: A consumer survey last week from comScore showed that 37 percent of wireless customers didn’t have or …

Like a tag-team partner vaulting over the ropes to get at an opponent, Total Nonstop Action has joined the mobile battleground.The upstart wrestling franchise last week outlined a comprehensive wireless initiative, unveiling plans to launch TNA-branded ringtones, wallpapers, text alerts …

An innovation volley between Alltel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. in recent months has been going something like this: Alltel introduces myCircle, a calling plan which allows users to pick 10 numbers regardless of network for unlimited calling.T-Mobile USA later …

THE MOBILE HANDSET BUSINESS plays out in a dynamic and sometimes cruel landscape. Opportunities abound, yet conditions can be harsh. Giants may rule, or be humbled by ambition and prevailing winds. Nimble competitors with practical prowess can seize the day. …

The Fox network has opted for a new dance partner to handle its wildly successful “American Idol” text-message voting campaign, according to sources familiar with the deal.The News Corp. subsidiary will no longer use Mobliss Corp. but has tapped VeriSign …

Three of the national U.S. carriers are no longer differentiating on price points for service plans, instead relying on the details of the plans and add-on services to appeal to customers-along with handsets, of course.Sprint Nextel Corp., Verizon Wireless and …

With a fresh year just under way, many wireless carriers are re-evaluating their marketing strategies-in some cases putting their accounts up for review. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. last week began a nationwide re-branding campaign to wrap all of its customers under …