Virgin Mobile

Welcome to Hedgehogging, the editorial staff’s weekly column about wireless-related stories that got us talking this week. Is it just us, or are a lot of people who work in the wireless industry checking to see what the high bids …

Nokia Corp. is buying its way onto the mobile music playground, agreeing to acquire distributor Loudeye Corp. for $60 million. But the key to success in mobile music still lies in the devices. The world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones …

BOSTON—The U.S. mobile virtual network operator market continues to take hits from naysayers who believe the segment isn’t living up to its hype. The latest blow comes from research firm Strategy Analytics, which predicts the majority of MVNOs will fail …

Fear not, Mike Dano-ranting fans, your leader has not disappeared, but is only resting so as to return stronger with your beloved ravings about all things wrong in wireless. In the meantime, I have been tapped by the all-powerful-foaming-from-the-mouth-one to …

ESPOO, Finland—Nokia Corp. is buying its way onto the mobile music playground, agreeing to acquire distributor Loudeye Corp. for about $60 million. The handset manufacturer said it will pay $4.50 per share in cash to shareholders of Loudeye, which operates …

WARREN, N.J.-Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. is expanding it customers’ ability to earn free airtime by launching a prepaid Visa debit card that will be linked to Virgin Mobile USA phones. The “Stash” prepaid debit card will be issued by Inter …

DENVER—Qwest Communications International Inc. has quietly launched Sprint Nextel Corp.’s full-track music download service for Qwest wireless customers. The mobile virtual network operator is carrying the Sprint Music Store, which allows users to download songs to a mobile phone or …

WARREN, N.J.—Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. is expanding it customers’ ability to earn free airtime by launching a prepaid Visa debit card that will be linked to Virgin Mobile USA phones. The “Stash” prepaid debit card will be issued by Inter …

Not all subscribers are equal. While big-spending, low-churning direct subscriber adds are often best, there are only so many of them to go around. As such, the value of indirect subscribers is evolving as some operators begin to depend more …

The mobile virtual network operator bandwagon, cruising along smoothly a few months ago, appears to be suffering from a case of backlash. Recent MVNO news and rumors haven’t been particularly pretty. The Wall Street Journal recently ran a scathing assessment …

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-Two mobile virtual network operators will soon be adding additional phones to their handset repertoires. MVNO Disney Mobile is planning to add a third handset to its line-up, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, and …

Inspired by the U.K.’s renowned V Festival, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who will headline a U.S. concert for Virgin Mobile USA. VirginFest, an all-day music festival, is set for Sept. 23 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. …

WASHINGTON—Online wireless retailer InPhonic Inc. signed a distribution agreement to add mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C.’s pay-as-you-go product to its lineup of postpaid offerings. InPhonic offers service from multiple carriers and MVNOs, including the four national wireless …

   NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Two mobile virtual network operators will soon be adding additional phones to their handset repertoires. MVNO Disney Mobile is planning to add a third handset to its line-up, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, …

Upoc Networks announced it is providing mobile chat and community functions to Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. customers. The service allows customers to access thousands of existing messaging groups or create their own personal messaging groups. The service is available on …

NEW YORK—The Yankee Group once again pulled together a quality list of speakers for its Wireless Leadership Summit, including executives from Sprint Nextel Corp., Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Verizon Wireless, as well as representatives from a handful infrastructure vendors and …

NEW YORK—Upoc Networks announced it is providing mobile chat and community functions to Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. customers. The service allows customers to access thousands of existing messaging groups or create their own personal messaging groups. The service is available …

NEW YORK—MTV Networks said it is in no hurry to join the mobile virtual network operator ranks in the near term, and instead it is looking to continue supplying access to its vast array of content to as many network …

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Cellfire Inc. is the latest to get into the mobile-couponing game, partnering with retailers including T.G.I. Friday’s and Hollywood Video to deliver discount offers to wireless phones. The startup today launched a downloadable application that delivers coupons from …

Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. revamped its pricing and messaging plans and added options that look much more like postpaid offerings than its traditional prepaid route. The mobile virtual network operator has replaced its old Month2Month plans with five monthly, no-contract …

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. continues to make strides on the mobile retail front, expanding its agreement with Verizon Wireless to include postpaid plans and high-end multimedia phones. The chain, which not long ago stocked only prepaid offerings, will offer two Vcast …

Disney Mobile may be causing a spate of copy-catting of its family-oriented services, but the mobile virtual network operator is far from bucking industry trends when it comes to its newly unveiled calling plans and packages. In general, the MVNO’s …

Alltel Corp. selected Oz Communications Inc.’s mobile instant messaging solution to power its new Axcess Instant Messaging service. The BREW-based solution gives Alltel customers access to AOL’s instant messaging service and Yahoo Inc.’s Messenger service in a mobile format that …

LOS ANGELES—Xero Mobile has yet to launch its advertising-based mobile virtual network operator service in the United States, but that isn’t keeping the company from offering up its business model for partnerships with telecom companies abroad. “While our focus remains …

MONTREAL—Alltel Corp. selected Oz Communications Inc.’s mobile instant messaging solution to power its new Axcess Instant Messaging service. The BREW-based solution gives Alltel customers access to AOL’s instant messaging service and Yahoo Inc.’s Messenger service in a mobile format that …