LOS ANGELES-CBS is finally wading into wireless, inking a deal to bring TV shows to Verizon Wireless subscribers. Verizon Wireless' Vcast users can access clips from the station's hit "CSI" shows as well as "The Amazing Race," "The King of Queens," "Survivor" and "The...
A handful of public-safety organizations, led by the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the government agency to deny Sprint Nextel Corp.'s attempts to alter the start date of its 800 MHz rebanding efforts. In a...
AMSTERDAM-Europe's Gemplus International S.A. and Axalto N.V., the world's two largest smart card vendors, announced plans to merge in an all-stock transaction. If approved, the combined company would have 2005 revenues of $2.1 billion and would be called Gemalto. "This transaction is an important...
LONDON-Vodafone Group plc said it plans to launch eight new mobile TV channels including wireless versions of HBO, MTV and Twentieth Century Fox Television. The new video content will be packaged with the operator's existing Mobile TV offering in a number of Vodafone markets,...
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-VeriSign Inc. said its Jamster subsidiary is working with Melodeo Inc. to develop a digital music platform that will support full-track music downloads.Verisign noted that Jamster was reviewing Melodeo's MobilDRM digital rights management product, which has been approved by four music labels...
BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless plans to enter the location-based services market next week with a GPS-based subscription offering. The carrier is expected to launch VZ Navigator, a $10-a-month downloadable application that includes mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and information on more than 14 million restaurants, gas...
LONDON-The board of Virgin Mobile Holdings plc rejected a $1.4 billion takeover offer from U.K. cable operator NTL Inc. "The board has concluded that the potential offer materially undervalues Virgin Mobile," the company said in a statement.NTL announced that it had made the offer...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson said it has conducted a live trial of interactive mobile TV services with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. Ericsson explained that the trial demonstrated how consumers could use their phone to vote, chat and communicate with a TV presenter while watching a...
ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.C.C. introduced a new smart phone it is selling as the Cingular 2125. The device features Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and is available for $200 with a service plan. The device is notable as it is one of the...
Wireless distributor and fulfillment services provider Brightpoint Inc. is going directly to consumers with branded retail stores. The company said it plans to sell mobile phones and services from Sprint Nextel Corp., Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. and Vonage Holdings Inc. through outlets under the...
Four years after it was founded, MacroPort is finally coming to market. The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup unveiled its first offerings this week, launching a suite of wireless software designed to allow users to access and transfer content and applications on phones and PCs....
Video-game giant Electronic Arts Inc. shook the mobile gaming world last week with the announcement it would shell out $680 million to acquire publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc. EA said it would pay $27 per share for Jamdat under terms of the long-rumored deal, sending...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. said it will install Qualcomm Inc.'s uiOne technology in its new phones. The carrier also unveiled its first phone running the technology, Sanyo Corp.'s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO-capable MM-7500, which Sprint Nextel will sell for $380. Based on Qualcomm's BREW...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.CarriersRBC Capital Markets tweaked its 2006 forecasts for Sprint Nextel to account for its planned acquisition of Alamosa Holdings. The firm now estimates revenues of...
LONDON-United Kingdom-based mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile Group plc reported plans to extend its brand into South Africa through a 50/50 venture with South African GSM network operator Cell C.The Virgin Mobile-branded enterprise will operate as an independent service operator on the Cell...
OSAKA, Japan-Japanese industrial firm Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., which makes phones under the Panasonic brand name, announced a sweeping reorganization that will see the company shut down its GSM and GPRS phone-making business-as well as its Symbian OS efforts-to refocus exclusively on building...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. will forge ahead as a wireless-only business, the company announced. Alltel is spinning off its wireline business into a $9.1 billion merger with Texas-based Valor Communications Group Inc. The new wireline company will be located in central Arkansas and will...
SHENZEN, China-Wireless handset designer Cellon International said it raised an undisclosed amount in a Series D round of financing.TVG Capital Partners led the round, joining existing Cellon investors Intel Communication Fund, Softbank China, SuneVision Ventures, UTStarcom and Elcoteq Network Corp. Cellon provides design and...
BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless has forced two telemarketing firms to stop making illegal sales pitches to the wireless carrier's customers.As part of court-approved settlements, Verizon Wireless won permanent injunctions against Intelligent Alternatives of San Diego, Calif., and Resort Marketing Trends of Coral Springs, Fla., which...
SAN FRANCISCO-Akira Technologies launched its Publisher 2.0 Web-based publishing and content management tool, which the company said allows users to create interactive content for mobile devices.Akira noted the product allows customers to deliver industry-standard digital content, including video, audio, images, text, vector graphics and...
LOS ANGELES-Supporters of a death-row inmate in California are using text messaging to urge Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute his death sentence. Stanley "Tookie" Williams is scheduled to be executed Dec. 13. He has been on death row for nearly 25 years after being...
OREM, Utah-Mobile virtual network operators Ready Mobile and Mojo Mobile said they will buy phone-in-a-box kits and airtime from Q Comm International Inc., which provides prepaid transaction processing and electronic point-of-sale distribution solutions.Ready Mobile includes airtime rollover minutes and said its service is designed...
PARIS-Alcatel Corp. and KT Corp. announced that they plan to work as a team to accelerate the adoption of mobile WiMAX, beginning with the establishment of an interoperability testing center in Seoul.Alcatel said it plans to provide the radio access and core network elements...
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-Game-making giant Electronic Arts Inc. will shell out $680 million in cash to acquire mobile publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc., the companies announced after Wall Street's closing bell. EA will pay $27 per share for Jamdat under the terms of the deal. Shares...
