Text Messaging

  LAS VEGAS-With fog, fireworks and a helping hand from Mickey Mouse, Disney Mobile announced the launch of its cellular service at CTIA. Steve Wadsworth, president of the Disney Internet Group, joked that the towering on-stage model of the silver …

LAS VEGAS—With fog, fireworks and a helping hand from Mickey Mouse, Disney Mobile announced the launch of its cellular service at yesterday’s CTIA keynote. Steve Wadsworth, president of the Disney Internet Group, joked that the towering on-stage model of the …

British wireless subscribers can send and receive text messages at bargain-basement rates thanks to an IP-based messaging service released last week. But-unlike Voice over IP-analysts say the new offering poses little threat to mobile operators in the United States. Hotxt, …

BRISTOL, Conn.-ESPN announced an international push for its ESPN-branded mobile content. The company said the new initiatives target wireless customers in Canada, Europe and Latin America and covers a variety of content including sports news and information, video, ringtones, wallpaper, …

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Starwave Mobile said it signed a mobile licensing agreement with Artificial Life Inc. to bring the company’s virtual girlfriend and virtual boyfriend games to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The V-girl and V-boy applications are …

WASHINGTON—The Oklahoma Senate has passed legislation forbidding teen drivers with learner’s permits from using cell phones while behind the wheel. “We’ve seen recent studies that discuss the high incidence of accidents by young drivers and the high correlation to the …

BRISTOL, Conn.—ESPN announced an international push for its ESPN-branded mobile content. The company said the new initiatives target wireless customers in Canada, Europe and Latin America and covers a variety of content including sports news and information, video, ringtones, wallpaper, …

Mobile advertising has come a long way since the early days of “American Idol.” The hit show is credited with catalyzing text messaging in North America, generating more than 13 million messages during the 2004 season from fans voting via …

Head honchos from soon-to-launch mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. have been talking up their MVNO the past few weeks, speaking to groups at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter’s Wireless Forum and Jefferies Wireless Conference last week and also making an …

NEW YORK—Ogo device vendor IXI Mobile Inc. said it is merging with Israel Technology Acquisition Corporation, the firms announced. IXI Mobile is expected to become a wholly owned subsidiary of ITAC when the deal closes, which is expected in the third …

BARCELONA, Spain—The GSM Association said it has started interoperability trials for video services in Europe, Asia and the United States that would allow wireless users to share live video clips across networks. The trials include more than twenty mobile operators …

WASHINGTON-A new Department of Defense report says the military will depend on broadband and wireless technologies in future warfare, a policy direction that could create added business opportunities for telecom and high-tech industry sectors. The Quadrennial Defense Review Report, the …

NEW YORK-Comverse Technology Inc. hopes to boost already booming text messaging usage with a series of new personalized services and short cuts. The company said the services include an offering that allows members to insert a predetermined signature at the …

By Alice Z. Cuneo BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.-Madison Avenue needs to figure out emerging media-fast-or lose billions of dollars to someone who will, warned one of the nation’s top marketing executives today.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-The packed mobile search playground got even more crowded as digital marketing company iCrossing Inc. unveiled a new business unit. The company launched mCrossing, which it said will use text messaging and wireless search results to deliver advertising campaigns …

NEW YORK-Comverse Technology Inc. hopes to boost text messaging with a series of new personalized services. The services include an offering that allows members to insert a predetermined signature at the end of messages, and a “private network” wherein members …

WASHINGTON-Public-safety, communications and special-interest group representatives came together last month to tell the Federal Communications Commission what worked and what didn’t during last year’s hurricane season-specifically Hurricane Katrina, which devasted the Gulf Coast. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin welcomed the group, …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched a new iteration of its prepaid phone service, dubbed “U.” Users of the U prepaid service can pay by the minute, day or month. Pay-per-minute customers are charged 15 cents per minute for weekday, night, …

This is a somewhat official update on the other war: the war on spam. Like the other war, this one is global and asymmetrical in nature and involves spying. Just for the record, we’re winning this one, too! Whoopee! “We’re …

WASHINGTON-Securities industry regulator NASD is warning investors to be cautious about text messages they receive on their mobile phones that claim to provide hot stock tips. A new version of a “pump-and-dump” scheme has emerged in the mobile environment, the …

LONDON-Staellium U.K. Ltd. launched a text messaging product sure to please all those amateur spies out there. The company’s StealthText service allows users to send text messages that “self destruct,” or automatically erase themselves after 40 seconds. The service is …

LOS ANGELES-Supporters of a death-row inmate in California are using text messaging to urge Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute his death sentence. Stanley “Tookie” Williams is scheduled to be executed Dec. 13. He has been on death row for nearly …

WASHINGTON-Colorado authorities last week were expected to limit charges to a misdemeanor against a teenage driver who investigators said was text messaging on his cell phone when he crossed over into a bicycle lane, where his car struck a cyclist …

When it comes to using their phones to vote, U.S. wireless subscribers are generally limited to American Idol contestants like Ruben Studdard or Clay Aiken. But that may be changing. SMS has become a vital campaign tool for grass-roots organizations, …

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association tapped VeriSign Inc. to power its text messaging service. The industry association, which represents 10 carriers, will use Metcalf Inter-Carrier Messaging, a joint offering from VeriSign and WiderThan Americas, to deliver text messages among its …