NEW YORK-Mobile ESPN seemed to have all the qualities of a successful MVNO: a highly successful brand and recognized brand, a unique user interface, slick handsets and content that would appeal to its sports-enthusiast demographic. But after eight months on the market, the mobile...
WASHINGTON-The House suspended an in-building wireless license to MobileAccess Networks, a move that comes two weeks after Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) admitted in a plea agreement with U.S. officials to backing the bid of MobileAccess-the client of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff-after accepting free trips,...
BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-Verizon Wireless flexed its handset muscle with the launch of Motorola Inc.'s Krzr K1m phone, a music and video-playing handset similar to Motorola's Razr. Motorola gave the wireless industry its first peek at the Krzr in July, but Verizon Wireless is the...
DALLAS-The Open Mobile Alliance Ltd. (OMA) will lead a consortium of companies looking to create an open gaming specification for high-end wireless games. The OMA said the members of the mobile gaming initiative-which was launched early this year-will join the OMA's Game Services Working...
NEW YORK-The race to join the mobile marketing playground continued to heat up with separate announcements from Cascada Mobile and Crisp Wireless. Crisp Wireless said it will team with VML, a Kansas City, Mo.-based marketing technology firm to develop and market mobile advertising offerings...
TAIPEI, Taiwan-Enough already-that's the decision handed down from BenQ Corp. amid heavy losses at its mobile venture, BenQ Mobile. The company announced that it won't pour any more money into its German-based mobile-phone subsidiary. As a result, BenQ said its handset subsidiary may file...
Wireless data revenues are surging for U.S. carriers, but whether network operators can cash in on mobile entertainment is far from certain. It's no secret that network operators are wagering vast sums on wireless data to offset ever-slimming margins from voice, and those bets...
WASHINGTON-Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) chairman of the House Commerce Committee, shocked, surprised and pleased lawmakers during two days of hearings on pretexting by announcing that a long-stalled bill to make the sale of telephone records illegal could come up for a vote at any...
Those performing autopsies on Mobile ESPN will find plenty of causes of death. But mobile advertising revenues could have offered a lifeline to the doomed mobile virtual network operator. Analysts agree that the sports network's ambitious wireless effort failed on several fronts. The company...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission officially launched its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, naming Ken Moran as its acting chief. The agency has been in the process of creating the new bureau for about a year; FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced his intent to...
"We all want to change the world," to quote John Lennon. Perhaps the biggest change taking place in society today is the growing popularity of social sites like MySpace.com and YouTube.com, virtual communities that have drawn millions.The wireless industry has a fantastic chance to...
SAN FRANCISCO-Mobile video upstart Veeker said it has acquired ThumbJive, a developer of youth-focused wireless applications. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.Veeker, which has been operating in stealth mode, hopes to gain traction with technology that allows users to communicate instantly over...
NEW YORK-Dada USA Inc. launched its social networking and entertainment community for the U.S. market. The company's Web site allows users to subscribe to a variety of services and content including personal blogging, profile matching, text messaging, ringtones, mobile gaming and wallpapers.Dada was founded...
BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-Chocolate phone users are able to get a software upgrade that will add speakerphone capabilities to their handsets. Users will be able to visit Verizon Wireless retail outlets to get the free software upgrade. Verizon recently introduced its music-focused Chocolate phone, which...
Alltel Corp. went guerilla with its new advertising campaign promoting its My Circle calling plans. The company released a press release last week saying several of its new My Circle billboards had been "vandalized," purportedly by four men wearing pink, yellow, red and orange...
NEW YORK-Here's a sampling of the recent customer requests handled by service reps for Voce, the luxury mobile virtual network operator that apparently can do just about anything its subscribers ask of it. Ten customers wanted reservations at Wolfgang Puck's new steakhouse in Los...
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-IDC said there is tremendous growth potential in the market for business-focused phones, and predicted that Microsoft Corp's involvement with Motorola Inc., Palm Inc., and others, as well as Nokia Corp.'s commitment to an end-to-end strategy, threatens to weaken Research in Motion Ltd.'s...
DENVER-Where should cell-phone enthusiasts go for the latest in handset technology? EBay, it appears. An eBay shopper recently purchased a dual-mode CDMA/iDEN phone from Motorola Inc. for $300. Sold by "Rager4208," the phone is dubbed the "Sprint Nextel Hybrid ic502" and offers "Walkie-Talkie, Off...
LOS ANGELES-Amp'd Mobile added another distribution partner, inking a deal to stock its handsets through more than 600 Circuit City Stores Inc. outlets beginning next month. The deal marks a concession of sorts for Amp'd, which had hoped to keep its brick-and-mortar distribution at...
IRVINE, Calif.-Mobile search vendor AskMeNow said it launched a national TV advertising campaign to promote its search service. The company's ad campaign includes 30-second spots that demonstrate the service. The spots will appear on channels including Comedy Central, VH1, ESPN and Fox News, said...
WASHINGTON—A long-stalled bill to make the sale of telephone records illegal could come up for a vote today in the House as lawmakers race to get out of town for upcoming mid-term elections. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said,...
WATERLOO, Ontario—Research In Motion Ltd.’s stock rose sharply in trading after the company reported strong quarterly results and offered optimistic guidance. The firm’s stock was up almost 20 percent in trading to about $102.87 per share, a two-year high for the company. RIM also...
BEDFORD, Mass.—Boston Communications Group Inc. said it probably will have to restate its finances due to its review of its stock-option grants and stock-option practices. The company said it continues to review its stock-options practices, but its preliminary conclusions show that the company did...
LOS ANGELES—Xero Mobile Inc. found a buyer, inking a deal to sell "substantially all of its assets and liabilities" to newly formed Advanced Mobile Communications Inc. The mobile virtual network operator—which has yet to launch service—said it will receive an undisclosed amount of newly issued...
