Mobile and Wireless Industry Reports

Podcasts and video ads have dropped off in the mobile advertising space, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 brand marketers and agencies. The “Wave Eight” survey, conducted by market research firm Advertiser Perceptions, asked marketers representing consumer …

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Handset and infrastructure vendors –Goldman Sachs lowered its estimates on Motorola Inc. due to indications of softened capital spending early this …

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs today unveiled a modest suite of new software applications for the iPhone during his much-anticipated keynote address at Macworld 2008 in San Francisco, perhaps disappointing those who sought news of a 3G upgrade for the …

Regional wireless operator U.S. Cellular Corp. tapped Alcatel-Lucent for a five-year contract to provide infrastructure equipment to increase coverage and capacity of the carrier’s CDMA network. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.Per the agreement, the infrastructure vendor will …

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said today that its telecom division is booming, shoring up weakness in its semiconductor division. Fourth-quarter handset shipments reached 46.3 million units, up a healthy 41% year-on-year, while operating margins for 2007 increased by 1% year-on-year …

The Federal Communications Commission launched a rulemaking to determine whether mobile phone text messages and short codes are covered by non-discrimination provisions of the telecom act.Public interest and consumer groups asked the FCC in December to rule that the law …

The Federal Communications Commission said 214 applicants qualified to bid in the 700 MHz auction set to begin Jan. 24. Internet search engine giant Google Inc. joins a mix of leading mobile-phone carriers, cable and satellite TV operators and rural …

Alltel Corp. unveiled a service that will allow customers to remotely synch their mobile phones with home digital music libraries. The offering, which is powered by Celltop and uses mSpot’s Remix player, provides access to non-DRM protected songs on PCs. …

Photobucket is moving squarely into the mobile space with a new WAP site optimized for mobile users. The Fox Interactive Media company is launching Photobucket Mobile today and is hoping a large share of its 58 million users will extend …

Citing “long-term competitiveness,” Nokia Corp. said today it would close a handset factory in Bochum, Germany, and sell automotive and research-and-development sites in the same locale. Nokia will move its handset production from Bochum to more “cost-competitive” sites in Europe, …

Clearwire Corp. said it will offer Google Inc. applications including Gmail, Calendar and Google Talk to its subscribers.Craig McCaw’s WiMAX startup said the Internet services will be available to customers in the first half of this year, and the company …

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ 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 the …

Market research firms seem to be falling over themselves in an effort to cram the most zeroes into their projections for mobile advertising revenues. But for traditional advertisers – you know, the ones with really big budgets – 2008 will …

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 …

Sprint Nextel Corp. is reportedly planning to lay off several thousand employees, according to an article citing anonymous sources in The Wall Street Journal. Sprint Nextel declined to comment on the story. “We don’t comment on rumor or speculation,” a …

Venture-backed wireless companies often depend on deals with carriers and telecom equipment manufacturers for their success. For a startup, trying to land a deal with a major wireless carrier is a lot like elephant hunting: There is the chance for …

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 Jupiter Research’s …

Google Inc. kicked things off at the Macworld Show in San Francisco by unveiling a streamlined version of its iPhone interface.The interface, which was launched last month, serves as a single access point for Google services including Gmail, Reader, calendar …

Alltel Corp. announced it is expanding its “My Circle” feature to be included in more calling plans. The feature, which allows customers to call wireless subscribers from any carrier of their choice without pulling from their monthly bucket of minutes, …

Aptilo Networks announced it is acquiring Airpath Wireless Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Aptilo said the acquisition would double its presence and revenue stream in the United States by expanding its position as a provider of integrated solutions for WiMAX, …

A high-tech group urged the broadcast industry to stop mischaracterizing government testing of unlicensed wireless devices. The testing, which is set to enter a second round, is being conducted to determine whether portable wireless gadgets can operate in vacant television …

Digital music revenues in the United States will grow steadily over the next few years, but mobile network operators aren’t likely to see much of that money, according to a report from Yankee Group.The market research firm said online music …

Motricity continued to streamline its business, spinning off its retail electronic book business to eBook seller Fictionwise Inc. for an undisclosed amount.The eReader business was a division of PowerByHand, a Tennessee startup that merged with North Carolina’s PinPoint Networks four …

Private Media Group Inc. launched a direct-to-consumer mobile storefront for its adult content wares.The site, www.private.mobi, allows consumers to use a credit card to access a variety of images and video clips. The offering is powered by Mobile Streams, a …

Vivendi Mobile Entertainment announced that Sandrine Dufour will take over as chairwoman of the company. She will take over for Robert de Metz who recently left Vivendi. The business unit’s zaOza service will continue to be led by Cedric Ponsot, …