Virgin Mobile

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Nextel Corp. will sell Mobile ESPN L.L.C. service in hundreds of its retail stores, a move that adds weight to the sports-focused MVNO’s distribution network. Sprint Nextel originally committed to provide Mobile ESPN space in at least …

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 …

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Sprint Nextel Corp. will sell Mobile ESPN L.L.C. service in hundreds of its retail stores, a move that adds weight to the sports-focused MVNO’s distribution network. According to the two companies, Sprint Nextel had originally committed to provide …

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 …

MONTREAL—OZ Communications Inc.’s Mobile Email Solution is now available to Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. customers who have Kyocera Wireless Corp. Switch Back and Slider Sonic handsets, according to the companies. The solution allows customers to access AOL L.L.C.’s e-mail and …

WARREN, N.J.—Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. wants its users to have a sugar mama who will help them earn free airtime—and advertisers are stepping up to fill that parental role. The youth-oriented prepaid brand is forging ahead where other service providers …

Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. wants its users to have a sugar mama who will help them earn free airtime-and advertisers are stepping up to fill that parental role. The youth-oriented prepaid brand is forging ahead where other service providers thus …

During the past several years, the four national U.S. carriers have whittled away the number of price plans they offer to consumers, dropped low-end plans and largely come into lock-step with each other on service plan price points. On the …

WAKEFIELD, N.H.-Prepaid reseller Freedom Phone Services introduced a new prepaid phone plan that starts at $10 per month. Customers must pay ahead of time and essentially have a month-to-month arrangement; they have a month to use their allotted minutes and …

WAKEFIELD, N.H.—Prepaid reseller Freedom Phone Services introduced a new prepaid phone plan that starts at $10 per month. Customers must pay ahead of time and essentially have a month-to-month arrangement; they have a month to use their allotted minutes and …

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 …

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 …

DURHAM, N.C.-Motricity is looking to expand its content business after raking in $40 million in venture capital. Advanced Equities Inc. led Motricity’s most recent round; fellow existing investors New Enterprise Associates and Technology Crossover Ventures also participated. Motricity has raised …

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 …

Google Inc. was finally awarded a patent for speech-recognition technology that allows users to search the Internet by uttering a few words. But whether that’s good news or bad news for a handful of wireless software developers is far from …

DURHAM, N.C.—Motricity is looking to expand its content business after raking in $40 million in venture capital. Advanced Equities Inc. led Motricity’s most recent round; fellow existing investors New Enterprise Associates and Technology Crossover Ventures also participated. The announcement follows …

Alltel Corp. launched a new service offering that allows customers to select up to 10 phone numbers-wireless, landline, home or office-that they can call for free at any time of day. The My Circle program is available to Alltel subscribers …

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Alltel Corp. has launched a new service offering that allows customers to select up to 10 phone numbers—wireless, landline, home or office—that they can call for free at any time of day. The My Circle program is available …

NEW YORK—Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. and Virgin Records are teaming with EMI to offer four exclusive ringtones from hip-hop star Big Boi. The clips are based on four tracks from a compilation album from the Outkast member released last November. …

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 …

LAS VEGAS—Recently launched sports-oriented mobile virtual network operator Mobile ESPN L.L.C. reported a deal with network partner Sprint Nextel Corp. to expand the distribution of Mobile ESPN phones and services to at least 500 Sprint Nextel retail locations in the …

LONDON—United Kingdom cable operator NTL said it reached a deal to acquire Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc for $1.68 billion. The news ends months-long negotiations between the two companies. Virgin initially turned down an offer from NTL in early December, …

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 …