2007

Digtial video broadcast-handheld technology appears to be securing its place as the No. 1 broadcast mobile television technology. The technology has scored at least 47 trials in 22 countries, according to the DVB Project.Twelve of those trials have been completed, …

With penetration rates pushing higher, the senior population, including 76 million baby boomers, are starting to look a little sexier.There are few tailored offering for seniors from wireless operators-and according to a recent study by iGR Inc., a substantial chunk …

VERIZON WIRELESS IS SIMPLIFYING its weather offerings by dumping several content providers off its deck in favor of WeatherBug.The nation’s second-largest carrier said WeatherBug will be the only source for weather information from its wireless home page, marketed as Mobile …

According to a popular if crass bumper sticker, “stuff” happens.In the case of outages or slowdowns for Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry service, stuff happens pretty rarely.But a days-long outage this spring and a day-long outage and slowdown in e-mail …

CLEARWIRE CORP. AND ICO GLOBAL Communications Ltd. are trying something new with broadcast mobile TV. The two Craig McCaw-backed companies are collaborating on a new mobile TV trial that will use satellites to broadcast directly to mobile devices.The trial marks …

Broadcasters-having invested hundreds of millions of dollars transitioning to digital technology and now bracing for a government ruling on whether to allow Wi-Fi service in unoccupied television guardbands known as white spaces-turned up the volume of its opposition by launching …

Editor’s Note: In this monthly feature, RCR Wireless News talks to retail managers across the country to get a first-hand view of what’s hot in wireless. Search for “wireless phones” on Google, and Letstalk.com is one of the first sites …

YOU CAN’T HAVE A HOLIDAY PARTY without a potent punch bowl for all comers.The news from last week: Some of the latest models of 3G handsets will indeed appear in the United States in time for the retail party just …

In another move indicative of the music industry’s increasing frailty, two of its largest players are trying some new twists: Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group last week announced a new format they’re calling the “ringle.”Each ringle will …

Motorola Inc. is shifting its long-term, 3G-chip business away from Qualcomm Inc. in favor of Texas Instruments Inc., leading one analyst last week to downgrade his short-term rating on Qualcomm from “buy” to “neutral.”A Motorola spokeswoman confirmed that the company …

“I think I feel a change in the winds,” said Mr. Gibbs to Captain Jack Sparrow.Ditto for the wireless industry.Wireless carriers and their lobbying organization, CTIA, have a steep challenge ahead of them as sentiment for the status quo in …

NTP Inc. is at it again.The Virginia-based patent-holding company last week filed patent-infringement lawsuits against all four tier-one U.S. carriers, claiming the operators are violating eight patents for mobile e-mail services. Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp. declined to comment …

At this point, it’s shamefully laughable. It’s past the confusion, frustration and anger endured by journalists, lobbyists, lawyers or anybody else who ever ventured a view of a Federal Communications Commission meeting under Chairman Kevin Martin. The bizarre, chaotic delays …

It’s been fun following the story/non-story about Apple’s possible interest in participating in the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction. Sure, Apple, like Google, which has expressed interest in the auction, has all the money in the world and could easily …

Ad-subsidized mobile games are a sure-fire catalyst for an industry sorely in need of a kick in the pants.Either that, or they’re the quickest way to sabotage the space in its infancy.Hands-On Mobile last week became the first major mobile …

Welcome to our Friday feature, Week in Review. Every Friday, RCR Wireless News will run through the major events of the past week, outlining what happened and speculating on what to look for in the coming weeks. Check below for …

Mobile social networking site itsmy.com added a music offering to its service, enabling users to personalize their pages with polyphonic ringtone-like tracks from more than 2,000 sound clips.Gofresh, which operates the popular site, introduced a library of tunes produced by …

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed into law legislation banning teen drivers from using all electronic devices-including cellphones, pagers, personal digital assistants and laptop computers-while behind the wheel.“The simple fact is that teenage drivers are more easily distracted. They are …

Verizon Wireless put its Bob Marley content back online after a spokesman for the late reggae star’s estate blasted the carrier publicly.Marley’s family last month said it would sue the carrier and Universal Music Group for using Marley’s likeness and …

Global Tower Partners acquired 549 communications towers from AT&T Inc., the company announced. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.The sale includes towers in 27 states.“The acquisition of these AT&T towers marks another major milestone in the growth of …

Verizon Wireless launched the LG VX8350, the heir apparent to the VX8300, the second-hottest selling handset in the United States, according to Strategy Analytics data.The phone trailed only Motorola Inc.’s Razr in terms of popularity. In keeping with LG Electronics …

Verizon Wireless challenged in federal appeals court the Federal Communications Commission’s 700 MHz open-access rules, the opening salvo in what could evolve into a messy legal battle. The move puts a cloud of uncertainty over the upcoming auction of more …

M2Z Networks Inc. made good on its threat to take the Federal Communications Commission to court, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to overturn the agency’s dismissal of its nationwide wireless broadband plan.M2Z, a …

San Francisco has formally walked away from a deal to build a Wi-Fi network throughout the city. The effort was already largely considered dead late last month when EarthLink Inc. rescinded its proposal-which included a teaming with Google Inc.-to cover …