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. In the coming weeks...
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--Paraguay: L.M. Ericsson said it has been chosen by Personal...
Editor's Note: Welcome to Yay or Nay, a feature for RCR Wireless News' 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 of highlighting what works and...
The European Commission has formally adopted Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) technology as the standard for mobile television throughout the European Union's 27 member states.The move was entirely expected despite objections from three of the EU's most powerful members, some of whom where calling...
Microsoft Corp. said it will embed Adobe Systmes Inc.'s Flash Lite on Windows Mobile devices alongside its own streaming video technology.The software giant licensed Flash Lite, a stripped-down version of the popular Internet technology, as well as its Reader software for viewing PDF documents....
A class action lawsuit filed against Sprint Nextel Corp. claims the struggling No. 3 mobile-phone operator violated federal anti-racketeering laws by failing to adequately inform consumers about data fees accompanying picture mail service subscriptions."The purpose and intent of these deceptive, false, fraudulent and misleading...
The Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz auction took on a more heated feel today as the agency increased the number of rounds per day from 10 to 14. A similar move during the advanced wireless services auction in 2006 brought about an almost immediate...
Sprint Nextel is bringing out its big guns in an attempt to reinvigorate its reputation, which has taken a beating over the past year. The carrier announced plans for new television commercials staring its recently installed CEO Dan Hesse touting the carrier's new Simply...
Mobile content vendor Handango Inc. announced it landed a major distribution deal with The Carphone Warehouse, the largest independent mobile-phone dealer in Europe.Calling the partnership the first of its kind for mobile content distribution, Handango CEO Bill Stone said the company will be expanding...
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' Peter Jarich, IDC's Shiv...
Add Austria and Ireland to the list of countries in which the iPhone is legitimately available.The iPhone retail price at T-Mobile Austria, and in Ireland, at O2, will be ?399 ($623) for the 8 GB version and ?499 ($779) for the 16 GB version,...
Napster bagged yet another carrier customer for its mobile offering, inking a deal to bring its catalog to the U.K. carrier O2.The deal gives O2 subscribers access to more than five million full tracks through a dual-download service for $2 each or four songs...
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.--Altierre: The Galleon Group led a $22 million Series C funding round into San Jose, Calif.-based Altierre Corp., which...
The Federal Communications Commission put the brakes on the September 2008 deadline for mobile-phone carriers to comply with new enhanced 911 location accuracy guidelines, but the action is unlikely to make court challenges go away.Last September, the FCC clarified that cellular carriers must meet...
AOL is the latest Internet giant to buy its way onto the online and mobile social networking field.The Time Warner Inc. subsidiary said it will shell out $850 million to acquire Bebo, a U.K.-based outfit that boasts more than 40 million users worldwide. Bebo...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. stock dropped more than 53% from its closing price yesterday after it reported a $14.7 million loss in the fourth quarter. The mobile virtual network operator (MNVO) did, however, report net income of $4.2 million for the full year, making...
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 RCRWirelessNews.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way. We...
It appears bidders were not frightened off by passing the 200-round milestone in the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz spectrum auction as new bids continue to trickle in at a slow but steady rate. New bids fluctuated between four and six for each of...
BARCELONA, Spain - Martin Cooper, widely recognized as one of the lead inventors of the modern cellphone, believes that the "next step of the revolution" is just around the corner.
"Digital was supposed to . change our lives, but it really hasn't happened yet," he...
NextWave Wireless Inc. has tapped Alcatel-Lucent to develop WiMAX broadcast solutions that the company plans to integrate with its recently announced MXtv technology.NextWave plans to use the technology to give WiMAX operators the ability to deliver multimedia services like mobile TV and digital audio...
FunMobility Inc. said it acquired fellow mobile social startup Moblastic Corp. for an undisclosed amount in an effort to expand its off-deck business.Moblastic's site encourages users to "Flirt and trade cell phone pics with hotties, free." The Seattle-based company also claims proprietary technology that...
Bidding remained slow during the last half of day 33 and the beginning of day 34 of the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz spectrum auction, with the previous 10 rounds of bidding attracting between five and six new bids per round. Click here for...
ROK Entertainment Group said it acquired a 51% stake in the Finnish mobile software developer Geniem for an undisclosed sum.Geniem develops on-device portals, white-label social networking applications and Bluetooth marketing services for partners including Nokia Corp., Volvo, Pepsi and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. ROK,...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier--Lehman Brothers adjusted its estimates on Leap Wireless to a loss of $1.14 from a loss of $1.09 for this year and a loss of...
