BROWSING: Dwango

The overwhelming popularity of ringtones and ring backs has given birth to an unprecedented cottage industry: mobile music labels that deal directly with artists to create content for wireless phones. INgrooves became the latest entrant in the developing space last week. The digital record...

SAN FRANCISCO-Yet another mobile music label was launched Tuesday as digital record company INgrooves announced its effort to create music exclusively for wireless devices. INgrooves Mobile Music will produce custom ringtones and other content, distributing the tunes through mobile storefronts such as 9 Squared,...

Mobile content provider ThumbPlay announced a new strip-poker-style game where players face off against a series of virtual female models who change clothes during the game.Popular in Europe, the Java-based networked game features a "cheat" button that allows players to buy garments from their...

NEW YORK-Several popular music artists received an early Christmas present in the form of wireless content agreements as music continues its expansion into the wireless industry in the midst of declining CD sales. Dwango Wireless, a wireless entertainment and content provider, announced an exclusive...

Digital music service provider Napster announced plans Thursday to offer ringtones to mobile users in the United States and Canada. Napster Mobile, which will launch next year, will allow users to download ringtones from the company's digital music catalog via a mobile version of...

Having spent much of the year tapping mobile markets around the globe, the bunny is coming to North America. Playboy Enterprises Inc. announced a deal Thursday to offer adult games, images, video clips and ringtones to U.S. and Canadian wireless subscribers. The venerable men's...

Mobile ringtone provider and game publisher Dwango North America reported record revenues but a nearly $2.8 million loss for the third quarter of 2004.The company earned $545,000 during the period, more than doubling its revenues in the second quarter. Raising $3 million through a...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched Motorola Inc.'s V710 handset, which includes a 1.2-megapixel camera and flash, video recorder, MP3 player and Bluetooth wireless technology. The handset also supports Alltel's Axcess Picture Messaging application and BREW-based Axcess Mobile Web 2.0 service.The handset, which was initially...

SEATTLE-Dwango Wireless announced an exclusive Rolling Stone-branded mobile music and entertainment trivia game called Rolling Stone 20 Questions.The game tests users' pop culture knowledge with hundreds of questions each month. The application also includes a multiplayer option, an online leader board and a variety...

SAN FRANCISCO-Billboard magazine and Consect, a mobile market analysis firm, announced the Billboard Hot Ringtones chart, an aggregated chart of U.S. polyphonic ringtone sales, which will premiere in the Nov. 6 issue of Billboard in the debut of the magazine's new Digital Entertainment special...

SEATTLE-Nextel Communications Inc. subsidiary Boost Mobile will offer mobile entertainment from developer and publisher Dwango Wireless, the companies announced Friday.Dwango will provide downloadable Java-based titles featuring racing, blackjack, roulette and slots for $4.99 per game to subscribers through Boost Live, its mobile entertainment catalog....

SAN FRANCISCO-Billboard magazine and Consect, a mobile market analysis firm, announced the Billboard Hot Ringtones chart, an aggregated chart of U.S. polyphonic ring-tone sales, which will premiere in the Nov. 6 issue of Billboard in the debut of the magazine's new Digital Entertainment special...

BRISTOL, Conn.-ESPN has teamed with BASS, the world's largest fishing organization, to offer a new mobile fishing game.Developed by Dwango North America, Bassmaster Legendary Lunkers features real-time weather conditions and a "cast and wait" system allowing players to cast a line and leave their...

LA JOLLA, Calif.-Mobile entertainment publisher Dwango Wireless has tapped M7 Networks, a wireless platform hosting company, to deliver short message service "wake-up" functionality to Dwango games.M7's SMS will alert gamers to developments, including initiating a chat session during a game or re-starting a multi-player...

LA JOLLA, Calif.-Mobile entertainment publisher Dwango Wireless has tapped M7 Networks, a wireless platform hosting company, to deliver short message service "wake-up" functionality to Dwango games.M7's SMS will alert gamers to developments, including initiating a chat session during a game or re-starting a multi-player...

Mobile entertainment provider Dwango North America has raised $3 million in institutional funding from Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments. The announcement comes on the heels of an earlier round that saw Dwango secure more than $5 million from Alexandria Investment Management. "This most recent...

SEATTLE-Mobile entertainment provider Dwango North America has raised $3 million in institutional funding from Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments, the company announced Tuesday.The announcement comes on the heels of an earlier round that saw Dwango secure more than $5 million from Alexandria Investment Management."Mobile...

As China continues to grow as the world's biggest wireless market, virtually all segments of the industry have been attracted to the country's prospects. Handset makers, infrastructure vendors and technology companies have all worked to cash in on the Chinese potential-and wireless content and...

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Activity continues in the wireless content and application market, with Verizon Wireless, Twentieth Century Fox and others making new announcements.Verizon Wireless announced new Get It Now applications from Dwango Wireless and Vindigo Studios, further fleshing out its BREW application download service. Dwango's new...

ATLANTA-Several wireless-related companies started the New Year with reports of new funding.c DoOnGo technologies Inc., provider of over-the-air mobile device software management, announced it closed $18 million in venture capital funding, which it plans to use for product development, business expansion in the United...

Several wireless software firms said this week they have garnered new funding.DoOnGo technologies Inc., provider of over-the-air mobile device software management, announced it has closed $18 million in venture capital funding, which it plans to use for product development, business expansion in the United...

I've owned multiple Nintendo game consoles. I beat the new "Enter the Matrix" game for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox in less than four days. I once played a Super Mario game for 15 straight hours. I consider myself a competent and informed video gamer.And I...

BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless and Ztango announced that Verizon customers can now download polyphonic ring tones and monotonic ring tones using the operator's TXT messaging. Verizon said Ztango's offering is the first premium content available to its TXT customers and offers downloadable ring tones,...

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. said it scored another carrier deal for its BREW application download service, with Telefonica Moviles Peru planning to offer BREW services in the country by the end of the year.In other BREW news, application company Dwango North America Inc. said it...