Mobile and Wireless Industry Reports

Sprint Nextel Corp. is producing its own made-for-mobile video content.The carrier launched the Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE) network, an in-house effort set to deliver more than 150 on-demand programs each week. The two-minute video clips will focus on sports, music …

Verizon Wireless landed the exclusive rights to distribute Led Zeppelin’s songs over-the-air, with ringtones, ringback tones, alert tones and wallpapers available immediately and full-song downloads available starting Nov. 13. Users with Vcast Music-enabled phones can text ZEP to 8901 for …

Want one of those “.mobi” suffixes for your wireless Web site? Get out your checkbook.The company behind the mobile-only top-level domain closed its first online auction earlier this month, raking in more than $850,000 as it hawked 100 mobile Web …

After a one-year hiatus when the show visited Los Angeles, the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment event is back in the city by the Bay for 2007. The move is minor considering the wireless trade association’s larger spring show has …

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

Online wireless retailer InPhonic Inc. said that its third-quarter results will fall significantly below previous guidance, an announcement that coincides with the company’s plans to consider business options including a possible sale.The company said it chose Lazard Middle Market to …

Verizon Wireless is requiring customers to opt out of allowing the carrier to share their customer proprietary network information (CPNI), a new policy that could spark protest from the carrier’s customers.CPNI comprises users’ calling records and includes the numbers of …

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. reported $2.39 billion in earnings for the third quarter, an increase of 1% from the same period last year, due largely to growth in its cellphone and chip-making businesses.The world’s No. 2 handset manufacturer brought in …

The Weather Channel launched a new weather application optimized for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPod touch. Indeed, being that the iPhone doesn’t support third-party downloads, the new offering is less an application and more of a Web site optimized to …

The House telecom subcommittee passed bills to improve enhanced 911 service for Voice over Internet Protocol subscribers and to require a comprehensive census of broadband availability in the United States.“The E-911 legislation is designed to ensure that a consumer calling …

Two House panels approved an anti-terrorist wiretap bill that lacks liability protection for telecom carriers, setting up a showdown with the Bush administration.“Americans are willing to make sacrifices to meet true national security imperatives, but they should not give up …

Motorola Inc. said it will expand its W-Series line of affordable handsets, adding seven new models in advance of the holiday season.Two of the new models will be available in the United States: the W175, a candybar-style phone with one-click …

Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C.’s stock began trading publicly as the company completed an initial public offering with share prices at the low end of its expected range. Virgin Mobile USA had planned to price its shares between $15 and $17 …

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications earned $380 million in its most-recent quarter, reflecting the first results of its recent push on low and mid-tier priced devices. The handset manufacturer shipped 25.9 million devices, up 1 million from the previous quarter and …

After 42 years at AT&T Inc., Stan Sigman announced his retirement as president and CEO of the company’s wireless unit. The company said that Ralph de la Vega, group president for regional telecom and entertainment, will immediately take over Sigman’s …

Lucy Hood has stepped down as CEO of Jamba and president of Fox Mobile Entertainment after 10 years with News Corp.“It’s been extremely exciting and rewarding for me to help build News Corporation’s mobile business over the past few years,” …

Hello! And welcome to our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRNews.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs …

The Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corp. filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission seeking to become the licensee that partners with the winning bidder of the commercial-first responder broadband wireless license in next year’s 700 MHz auction.“The PSST is …

Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. announced it is in negotiations to sell its cellphone business to fellow Japanese electronics maker Kyocera Wireless Corp. If the deal is completed, it would further consolidate the world’s hotly contested mobile phone business, as well …

Mozilla Corp. is looking to jump onto the mobile browser playground with a version of its popular open-source Firefox offering.The Mountain View, Calif.-based developer is stepping up its wireless efforts, expanding its team of developers and building an application that …

Southeastern wireless provider Cellular South has introduced a new flat-rate plan that includes unlimited calls and data services.The carrier’s True Unlimited Plan costs $80 per month for phones and $100 per month for PDA devices or smartphones. The offering includes …

Former ringtone purveyor Zingy is shuttering its mobile personalization business and will reorganize under the resuscitated Vindigo brand.Zingy, a longtime player in the mobile content space, merged two years ago with Vindigo, which offers consumer applications such as MapQuest Mobile …

Google Inc. continued its head-long charge into mobile with the acquisition of Finnish start-up Jaiku. Jaiku, like rival Twitter and a handful of other “microblogging” companies, allows users to post short messages about what they’re doing from PCs or mobile …

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.–Catalyst Mobile: Sofinnova Ventures led a $10 million Series B funding round into Catalyst Mobile, …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier –Morgan Stanley cut its EPS estimate on Sprint Nextel to 82 cents for 2008 to reflect weak current operating results …