Helio

ANYANG, South Korea—South Korean handset vendor VK Mobile has gone under, according to news reports. The company, which entered business as a battery maker in 1997, had set its sights on becoming a global brand and had cut deals to …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.—Brightpoint Inc. added yet another wireless operator to its stable, inking a distribution deal with Boost Mobile L.L.C. The Sprint Nextel Corp.-owned service provider authorized Brightpoint to distribute Boost phones and services to its network of 2,000 retailers nationwide. …

Mobile virtual network operator Xero Mobile has yet to launch, but the company already is facing an investigation of its business by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Los Angeles-based MVNO recently announced that it had been notified by a …

T-Mobile USA Inc. again is trying to crack down on independent dealers that sell service from multiple carriers and mobile virtual network operators, allegedly threatening to pull T-Mobile USA products from distributors who want to carry products from new market …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.—Brightpoint Inc. added yet another wireless operator to its stable, inking a distribution deal with Boost Mobile L.L.C. The Sprint Nextel Corp.-owned service provider authorized Brightpoint to distribute Boost phones and services to its network of 2,000 retailers nationwide. …

Ah, the second quarter-no big holidays and the momentum from fourth quarter sales is but a distant memory. Still, it hasn’t been an idle three months for the wireless industry: several carriers have revamped sections of their pricing plans, and …

LOS ANGELES—For Helio L.L.C. users who have multiple electronic devices sitting in drawers at home, the mobile virtual network operator is offering a one-time shot to trade in those devices for cash. Helio’s Trade Up program started today, and new …

For more than a few mobile startups, MySpace has become MyObsession. The most popular of a throng of new Web sites featuring user-generated content, MySpace.com has an estimated 55 million users and reportedly accounts for 12 percent of online advertising. …

Consumer-side mobile virtual network operators that still want to get in on the game could be out of luck, but there are opportunities ahead on the business side and in serving the machine-to-machine space. John Caddell, vice president and general …

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 RCR to rant and rave about whatever rubs …

TOKYO—KDDI Corp. announced a deal allowing subscribers of its “au” service to access Google Inc.’s Internet search engine on their mobile phones. Japan’s second-largest carrier said the service, which is slated for a July launch, will provide search results for …

It seems there’s a new mobile virtual network operator for just about every interest, age and ethnic group in the United States. And each operator has a different strategy about how to reach its target. Retailing strategies were simpler when …

SAN MATEO, Calif.-Digital Chocolate Inc. scored dual MVNO agreements, announcing deals to offer its games from the decks of mobile virtual network operators Amp’d Mobile Inc. and Helio L.L.C. Each operator plans to carry about two dozen titles from the …

SAN MATEO, Calif.—Digital Chocolate Inc. scored dual MVNO agreements, announcing deals to offer its games from the decks of mobile virtual network operators Amp’d Mobile Inc. and Helio L.L.C. Each operator plans to carry about two dozen titles from the …

Helio L.L.C. made its long-awaited debut in the wireless marketplace last week with two high-end handsets linked to social networking site MySpace.com and plans to have its services available through 1,000 retail locations by the end of the month. Helio’s …

I’m seriously thinking about launching my own MVNO. I mean, how hard can it be, really? All the mobile virtual network enablers out there keep telling me it’s quick, easy and cheap, so why not? I’d call it Mike’s Awesome …

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Helio L.L.C. made its debut in the wireless marketplace today with two high-end handsets linked to social networking site MySpace.com and plans to have its services available through 1,000 retail locations by the end of the month.    …

Post-CTIA Wireless 2006, the pundits and ponderers have plenty to chew on. With the conference showcasing the leading edge, the bleeding edge and the receding edges of the wireless industry and mobile technology, it offered a view of where the …

This year is supposed to be the Year of the Launch for the new generation of mobile virtual network operators, the time when these MVNOs get on their feet and begin to gain traction in the wireless race. With several …

Soon-to-launch mobile virtual network operator Xero Mobile plans to use 2 million free handsets and discounted talk time to jump into the wireless marketplace-the catch being that the freebies are in exchange for allowing mobile advertising on the handset. The …

SUNNYVALE, Calif.—Yahoo Inc. scored another wireless win, inking a deal to deliver search and information services for subscribers of soon-to-launch mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. The MVNO, a joint venture by SK Telecom and Earthlink Inc. slated to launch …

LAS VEGAS-Sprint Nextel Corp. doesn’t expect to add many new mobile virtual network operators to its network and plans to take time to digest the ones it already has and see how they do, company officials said at CTIA Wireless …

LAS VEGAS—Sprint Nextel Corp. doesn’t expect to add many new mobile virtual network operators to its network, and plans to take time to digest the ones it already has and see how they do, company officials said during a roundtable …

The squeeze is on, the stakes are high and the options few. Second-tier handset makers-their exact numbers globally are unclear, but there may be more than 100 players-are scrambling to survive, let alone thrive, as the top six vendors increased …

PLAINFIELD, Ind.-Handset distribution company Brightpoint Inc. announced it will provide soon-to-launch mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. with wireless device distribution services, including inventory procurement and management, and custom packaging. Helio, a joint venture between Internet provider EarthLink Inc. and …