2007

Nokia Corp. unveiled four handsets along with its “Ovi” Internet-based content services in what appears to be an early example of how the Finnish company will dovetail its hardware business with a future-facing Internet services business model. The handsets appear …

EarthLink Inc. has fired 900 employees and closed offices in Orlando, Fla.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Harrisburg, Pa.; and San Francisco. The company said it will also substantially reduce its presence in Pasadena, Calif., and Atlanta. Billed as a “corporate restructuring,” the …

Diebold Inc., maker of self-service and security systems including automatic teller machines and electronic voting machines, said that it has been granted five U.S. patents over the past 18 months that cover applications allowing mobile devices to interact with bank …

Nokia Corp. outlined a surprisingly aggressive direct-to-consumer strategy comprising music, games, maps and social-networking offerings across both PCs and mobile phones.The manufacturer introduced Ovi-which means “door” in the Finnish company’s native tongue-at its Nokia Go Play event in London this …

The following list includes venture capital and other investments into wireless companies announced during the past week. The value of the investment is included when available.–Bluepulse: VantagePoint Venture Partners invested $6 million into mobile social networking company Bluepulse–MocoSpace: General Catalyst …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier –Standard & Poor’s assigned it’s A rating to AT&T Inc.‘s $2 billion of global notes due 2037 and affirmed the …

AT&T Inc. is reviewing its advertising strategy, and has put its estimated $3.345 billion media-buying and -planning account up for grabs. The nation’s No. 1 wireless carrier said the review is expected to be completed by the end of the …

The California Assembly overwhelming voted to take all wireless devices out of the hands of drivers under the age of 18, a measure that builds on the state’s existing across-the-board ban on handheld phone use while behind the wheel.The bill, …

Enterprise search company Fast Search & Transfer and Rakuten, a Japan-based Internet service provider, announced they have formed a joint venture to develop and provide mobile search and advertising service in Japan.The new entity will be called Rakuten FAST Mobile …

A new survey focused on smartphone operating systems by iGR found that more than half of all respondents use a Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry device, while the majority of the remaining respondents use a Windows Mobile device. At least …

A pair of Motorola Inc. subsidiaries filed a lawsuit against Aruba Networks Inc. alleging patent infringement related to wireless local area network communication technologies. Motorola’s Symbol Technologies Inc. and Wireless Valley Communications Inc. filed the lawsuit yesterday in the U.S. …

Redback Wireless Corp. said it entered a joint venture agreement with digital advertising agency NextLevel.com.NextLevel, which has designed more than 75 Internet sites for customers including Sony Corp., Warner Bros. and World Championship Wrestling, will handle client accounts and sales …

Mobile software developer iLoop Mobile appointed former Volantis Systems chief Matthew Harris as president and CEO.A San Jose, Calif.-based startup, iLoop produces technology for interactive text marketing campaigns and mobile content distribution. Harris replaces interim CEO Jorgen Larsen, who will …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect …

Like a first-year student struggling with the violin, carriers have hit a lot of wrong notes with their music offerings.But that may finally be changing.Verizon Wireless last week garnered headlines by teaming with MTV Networks and RealNetworks on a new, …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to Yay or Nay, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week we’ll review a new wireless application or service from the user’s point of view, with the goal …

Google Inc. offered a glimpse into the operations of its free, municipal Wi-Fi effort, which the company launched earlier this year in its home base of Mountain View, Calif. Google reported that the network now covers 12 square miles and …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to Reality Check, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. We’ve gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile content industry to give their insights into the marketplace. …

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–Uganda: Hits Telecom Uganda signed Alcatel-Lucent …

Sprint Nextel Corp. awarded the build-out contract of its biggest WiMAX market yet to Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.The carrier confirmed this morning that it has awarded the equipment contract for the New York City metropolitan area to Samsung. The coverage …

China’s Sina Corp. launched five mobile games connected to Nokia Corp.’s SNAP Mobile gaming platform.The online media company is distributing the titles 3D Pool Hall, Jellypop, Sudoku and new versions of Link Up and Stone Park to Chinese users through …

Yahoo Inc. updated its e-mail service, adding a feature that enables users to send text messages to mobile phones. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company incorporated instant messaging components into its Yahoo Mail service, allowing users to send real-time messages to wireless …

Andrew Corp. won a major upgrade contract to modify the Mass Transit Railway Corp.’s territorywide network in Hong Kong.As part of the project, Andrew will upgrade infrastructure in stations, tunnels, and other buildings to migrate the railway’s radio system from …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly 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 Current Analysis’ …

China should surpass 500 million cellular connections during the third quarter, according to Wireless Intelligence, a joint venture of Ovum and the GSM Association.The firm said China adds about 19 million connections per quarter, representing a quarterly growth rate of …