BROWSING: Mobile and Wireless Industry Reports

Nokia Corp. is once again finding that the direct-to-consumer path is a treacherous one.The world's No. 1 handset maker postponed the launch of its long-awaited gaming platform, according to Reuters, citing software problems. N-Gage, which was unveiled in August and slated for release this...

Rebtel, a Voice over Internet Protocol firm that offers low-cost international calling on mobile phones, said Verizon Wireless, Alltel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. rejected requests for short codes for creating local numbers by text message."We believe Verizon's rejection of our short-code campaign is...

The mobile gaming playground remains a tumultuous space, according to new earnings reports from three of the industry's biggest players. Shares of Glu Mobile Inc. plunged after the publisher issued fourth-quarter guidance that fell short of analysts' expectations. Glu narrowed its quarterly loss significantly-reporting...

AT&T Mobility announced a new international service plan for the Apple Inc. iPhone, an announcement that comes on the heels of efforts by software hackers to unlock the device.Unlocking software allows iPhone users to install Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards from other operators, thereby...

Verizon Wireless is offering Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry Pearl online accompanied by a new pricing scheme for BlackBerry e-mail and Web access. Verizon Wireless retail stores and their stores in Circuit City will offer the device beginning Nov. 8.The move takes advantage of...

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he has serious concerns with Verizon Wireless' $2.67 billion purchase of Rural Cellular Corp., telling Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin the transaction should not go forward unless the No. 2 mobile-phone carrier agrees to what appears to be...

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 below for news about...

Alltel Corp. announced a management shuffle that will kick in after private-equity firms TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners complete their acquisition of the carrier, a deal which is expected to close Nov. 16.Scott Ford will remain president and CEO, while Alltel's group president...

MetroPCS Communications Inc. announced it dropped its proposal to merge with Leap Wireless International Inc., following Leap's disinterest in the deal."MetroPCS has not been able to engage Leap in meaningful negotiations regarding MetroPCS' merger proposal," Metro said. "As a result, MetroPCS today announced that...

Sprint Nextel Corp.'s quarterly profits plunged as the carrier bled postpaid iDEN and prepaid Boost Mobile L.L.C. subscribers, posting a net loss of 60,000 subscribers for the quarter. The company's net income fell from $279 million in the third quarter of 2006 to $64...

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 us the wrong way....

Starent Networks Corp. said it plans to net $88.2 million in a secondary public offering of its common shares.The Boston-area mobile infrastructure provider said it will sell 8 million shares at $24 each: The company will sell 3.88 million shares, and "certain selling stockholders"...

Location-based services technology provider Omnilink Systems unveiled a GPS-based offering designed to allow law enforcement to track the location of suspects in real-time using both satellites and ground-based cellular networks.The service combines Omnilink's FocalPoint software and a tracking device housing both a GPS antenna...

The last member of the management team at Motorola Inc.'s cellphone division that rode the original Razr to success is leaving the company.Ray Roman's departure was announced internally at Motorola today and confirmed to Crain's Chicago Business by the company. Crain's Chicago Business is...

NBC Universal took a minority stake in 4INFO and partnered with the San Mateo, Calif.-based startup to power its text message-based services.The broadcasting behemoth invested an undisclosed amount in 4INFO via Peacock Equity, a joint venture between NBC Universal and GE Commercial Finance's Media,...

The Federal Communications Commission called for an end to delays in porting telephone numbers from one carrier to another, an action responding to complaints from some wireless operators about the lengthy, bureaucratic process of transferring wireline numbers to mobile-phone service providers. "I . support the...

The ad-subsidized mobile gaming space gained another backer as Vivendi Games Mobile said it will offer 10 of its titles free through Greystripe.The mobile division of Paris-based Vivendi Games said games such as "After Dark Flying Toaster," "Amy's Hangman" and several Garfield products would...

Holding company TMT Capital Corp. said this week that its subsidiary Freedom Wireless has a mobile virtual network agreement that allows it to sell GSM voice, data and messaging services in the U.S. "across the largest GSM cellular network footprint in the continental U.S."-presumably...

Alcatel-Lucent lost more than $373 million during the past quarter the company reported as it announced it would be replacing its chief financial officer. Wall Street appeared relatively pleased with the results, which mostly fell in line with the company's revised outlook. Alcatel-Lucent's stock...

Verizon Wireless tweaked its prepaid calling plans to add access to its music, navigation and other data services starting tomorrow. The carrier will offer three varieties of its INpulse plans. The INpulse Core plan looks much like a continuation of Verizon Wireless' basic prepaid...

Wi-Fi hot spot provider Boingo Wireless Inc. said it acquired Wi-Fi networks at seven airports from Sprint Nextel Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The purchase includes a roaming component that will allow Sprint Nextel customers to gain access to Boingo's hot spot...

Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) introduced legislation to ban the sale of cellphone numbers by third parties without the consent of wireless subscribers, a measure that appears targeted at Bellevue, Wash.-based information-commerce firm Intelius Inc."This legislation is not just about protecting the privacy of your...

Personal navigation device maker Garmin Ltd. said it will offer $3.3 billion for Tele Atlas N.V. in a move likely to spur a bidding war for the digital mapping company.Tele Atlas in July accepted a bid of $2.8 billion from TomTom NV, a Dutch...

Taiwanese smartphone vendor HTC Corp. and Brightpoint, Inc., the distribution powerhouse, signed a global distribution agreement that may help the smartphone maker realize its ambitions of establishing a globally recognized brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. HTC Americas, the United States subsidiary...