RCR Wireless News back issues from October 2006:
AskMeNow begins TV advertising push.(Focus)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Mobile search vendor AskMeNow said it launched a national TV advertising campaign to promote its search service. The company's ad campaign includes 30-second spots that demonstrate the service. The spots will appear on channels including Comedy Central, VH1, ESPN and Fox News, said the ...
Amp'd lands in Circuit City.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Amp'd Mobile added another distribution partner, inking a deal to stock its handsets through more than 600 Circuit City Stores Inc. outlets beginning next month. The deal marks a concession of sorts for Amp'd, which had hoped to keep its brick-and-mortar distribution at a ...
EBay shoppers get shot at CDMA/iDEN phone.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Where should cell-phone enthusiasts go for the latest in handset technology? EBay, it appears. An eBay shopper recently purchased a dual-mode CDMA/iDEN phone from Motorola Inc. for $300. Sold by "Rager4208,'' the phone is dubbed the "Sprint Nextel Hybrid ic502'' and offers ...
BenQ Mobile funding dries up, threatens bankruptcy.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Enough already-that's the decision handed down from BenQ Corp. amid heavy losses at its mobile venture, BenQ Mobile. The company announced that it won't pour any more money into its German-based mobile-phone subsidiary. As a result, BenQ said its handset subsidiary may file for ...
Cascada, Crisp join mobile marketing gold rush.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... The race to join the mobile marketing playground continued to heat up with separate announcements from Cascada Mobile and Crisp Wireless. Crisp Wireless said it will team with VML, a Kansas City, Mo.-based marketing technology firm to develop and market mobile advertising ...
IDC expects Nokia, Motorola to give RIM run for the money.(Metrics)
Oct 02, 2006 ... IDC said there is tremendous growth potential in the market for business-focused phones, and predicted that Microsoft Corp's involvement with Motorola Inc., Palm Inc., and others, as well as Nokia Corp.'s commitment to an end-to-end strategy, threatens to weaken Research in Motion Ltd.'s ...
OMA attacks game specs with working group.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... The Open Mobile Alliance Ltd. (OMA) will lead a consortium of companies looking to create an open gaming specification for high-end wireless games. The OMA said the members of the mobile gaming initiative-which was launched early this year-will join the OMA's Game Services ...
Upscale Voce advises grandpa, sends soup, makes reservations.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: KELLY HILL Here's a sampling of the recent customer requests handled by service reps for Voce, the luxury mobile virtual network operator that apparently can do just about anything its subscribers ask of it. Ten customers wanted reservations at Wolfgang Puck's ...
Etc.(Briefs)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Alltel Corp. went guerilla with its new advertising campaign promoting its My Circle calling plans. The company released a press release last week saying several of its new My Circle billboards had been "vandalized,'' purportedly by four men wearing pink, yellow, red and orange polo ...
Speakerphone software upgrade available for Chocolate phones.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Chocolate phone users are able to get a software upgrade that will add speakerphone capabilities to their handsets. Users will be able to visit Verizon Wireless retail outlets to get the free software upgrade. Verizon recently introduced its music-focused Chocolate phone, which ...
Verizon going K-razy with Krzr.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Verizon Wireless flexed its handset muscle with the launch of Motorola Inc.'s Krzr K1m phone, a music and video-playing handset similar to Motorola's Razr. Motorola gave the wireless industry its first peek at the Krzr in July, but Verizon Wireless is the first carrier to offer ...
House suspends MobileAccess license amid lobbying scandal.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA The House suspended an in-building wireless license to MobileAccess Networks, a move that comes two weeks after Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) admitted in a plea agreement with U.S. officials to backing the bid of MobileAccess-the client of convicted lobbyist Jack ...
Mobile ESPN throws in towel.
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: KELLY HILL Mobile ESPN seemed to have all the qualities of a successful MVNO: a highly successful brand and recognized brand, a unique user interface, slick handsets and content that would appeal to its sports-enthusiast demographic. But after eight months on ...
Senators urge WiMAX divestiture as condition to AT&T-BellSouth tie-up.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA Two key Senate lawmakers suggested the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commissions consider imposing conditions-including the divestiture of WiMAX spectrum-on the proposed $67 billion merger of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corp. to prevent any ...
After the break-up, ADC, Andrew restructure.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JONI MORSE Just as the dust settled on ADC Telecommunications Inc.'s failed attempt to merge with Andrew Corp., ADC announced plans to lay off about 225 of its 8,200 employees as part of a restructuring effort. Interestingly, the news came on the heels of Andrew's own ...
RF Micro to divest Jazz Semiconductor stake.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... RF Micro Devices Inc. said it plans to sell its equity interest in Jazz Semiconductor for between $24 million and $27 million in cash. The company is divesting its interest in Jazz due to the pending merger of ...
Dada launches mobile social networking service.(Focus)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Dada USA Inc. launched its social networking and entertainment community for the U.S. market. The company's Web site allows users to subscribe to a variety of services and content including personal blogging, profile matching, text messaging, ringtones, mobile gaming and ...
Nokia unveils more music phones.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Nokia Corp. debuted three handsets targeting mobile music lovers at its Nokia Theater in Times Square. The phones are set to be available in select markets within weeks, but Nokia did not name the markets. The company also did not name any carriers that would potentially sell the devices. ...
Bluetooth SIG charges Chinese vendor with trademark infringement.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JONI MORSE The Bluetooth Special Interest Group isn't going to take it anymore-a at least that's the message heard around the world as the group announced it orchestrated a successful raid in a Shenzhen, China, factory suspected of infringing on the Bluetooth SIG's ...
Air2Web garners $25M in VC funds.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Air2Web said it snared $25 million in a financing round led by The Carlyle Group. The wireless software company said it will use the new funds to further its work in mobile marketing as well as expanding into other geographic markets. Existing investors Vantage Point, UPS and ...
.mobi opens for public.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Those waiting anxiously for a .mobi domain needn't wait any longer. The company behind the controversial, mobile-exclusive top-level domain opened registration, allowing the general public to register wireless Internet sites with the suffix. Mobile Top Level Domain Ltd., which ...
Digital Orchid picks up Blue Tech.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Digital Orchid is looking to expand its portfolio and global footprint with the acquisition of mobile game publisher Blue Tech. Blue Tech is a 2-year-old vendor based in Madrid, Spain, and is the parent company of Java developer Kato Studios. Digital Orchid provides content such ...
Veeker buys ThumbJive.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Mobile video upstart Veeker said it has acquired ThumbJive, a developer of youth-focused wireless applications. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Veeker, which has been operating in stealth mode, hopes to gain traction with technology that allows users ...
You say you want a revolution...(Opinion)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: Tracy Ford "We all want to change the world,'' to quote John Lennon. Perhaps the biggest change taking place in society today is the growing popularity of social sites like MySpace.com and YouTube.com, virtual communities that have drawn millions. The ...
UTStarcom to get CDMA phones from South Korean vendor.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... South Korea's Pantech & Curitel Communications Inc. will provide its portfolio of CDMA-based handsets to UTStarcom Inc. for sale in North America under a three-year agreement, the company announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pantech already is a leading ...
Nokia makes New York splash with multimedia devices.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON Nokia Corp. announced five new GSM phones-the company insists the devices are "multimedia computers''-for the United States, but did not announce any accompanying carrier deals. Three of the devices-the N70, N73 and N91-are optimized for music. ...
McDonald's connects customers with content over cell phones.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: KATE MACARTHUR McDonald's franchisees John and Karen O'Keefe watched sales flatline for most of the year at their store in Chicago's suburban Woodfield Mall while other restaurants in the fast-food chain's system pulled in gains of 2 percent or better. But ...
Visto rakes in another $51M in funding, adds ex-AOL chief to board.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Visto Corp. will have no trouble paying its lawyer fees. The mobile e-mail service provider raked in another $51 million this week in a funding round led by Oak Investment Partners. The haul follows a $70 million round that closed last November; ...
Separate studies come to same conclusion: LBS set for growth.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JONI MORSE Two research firms say the future looks bright for location-based services running on Global Positioning System technology. ABI Research's latest study on the subject suggests that subscribers of GPS-enabled, location-based services will reach 315 ...
Kajeet: A 'life stage' MVNO.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: KELLY HILL Fatherhood was the inspiration for creating and naming mobile virtual network operator Kajeet Inc., and the market will test whether those fathers really do know best when it comes to offering a wireless service that will appeal to kids. Daniel ...
Infrastructure Awards.(Metrics)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Following are infrastructure contracts announced in September: Alcatel China: With Shanxi Mobile Communication Company Ltd. to expand the carrier's GPRS network. Value: Undisclosed Ericsson Bangladesh: With TM International ...
Hedgehogging.(Briefs)
Oct 02, 2006 ... hedge*hog*ging v. Interrupting conversations in an office environment by poking your head over the top of the cube Here's what got the RCR Wireless News editorial staff talking at the water cooler last week: Mobile ESPN is out of the game. Who knew ESPN stood for ...
Public-safety, security bureau formed.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: HEATHER FORSGREN WEAVER The Federal Communications Commission officially launched its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, naming Ken Moran as its acting chief. The agency has been in the process of creating the new bureau for about a year; FCC Chairman Kevin ...
HTC: Heading toward smart (phone) trends.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON HTC Corp. is looking to capitalize on trends-and possibly buck them-as it works to deliver smart phones in the United States and around the world. With 80 percent of the global Windows Mobile business, the Taiwanese smart-phone vendor has grown ...
Carphone Warehouse teams with Best Buy.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Best Buy International will team with U.K. wireless retail giant Carphone Warehouse Group to open stand-alone cell phone stores in the United States. In a prepared statement, the firms said a trial of Best Buy Mobile stores in New York "is about to commence;'' the companies ...
Jamster to sell Disney content in North America.(Focus)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Jamster International bulked up its content portfolio in North America with a deal to offer ringtones, graphics and mobile games from the Walt Disney Internet Group. Disney and its third-party content licensing arm Starwave Mobile already use VeriSign Inc.'s mobile content ...
AWS results could impact DE suit.
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA Designated entities accounted for a historically low percentage of the government's multibillion-dollar take in the recently completed advanced wireless services auction, even though they made up more than half of the winning bidders. Indeed, an ...
New MVNO to focus on Chinese-Americans.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: KELLY HILL A new mobile virtual network operator targeting Chinese-Americans officially launched, offering cheap international calls to Asia and a Razr phone with menus in Chinese. Red Pocket Mobile soft-launched about two weeks ago, according to Max ...
Q&A with Mike Foley from the Bluetooth SIG.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG, answered a few questions for RCR Wireless News via e-mail regarding the factory raid in China. RCR: To what degree is this raid an ongoing effort on behalf of the Bluetooth SIG? Is the group targeting other factories, ...
Actors guild.(Opinion)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: Jeffrey Silva The great Washington wireless mystery continues. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission officially launched its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Kenneth Moran was named acting chief of a new unit that has been in the works in ...
B&B buys Advanced Embedded Systems.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... B&B Electronics, which provides automation and communications products, said it acquired Advanced Embedded Systems, a Phoenix-based company that develops industrial-focused wireless products. AES is expected to become part of B&B ...
Intel to use Nokia HSDPA module.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Nokia Corp. said it has developed an HSDPA connectivity module for notebook computers. The module will be included with Intel Corp.'s next-generation Centrino Duo mobile technology platform, said Nokia. "This collaboration is good news for notebook users as cellular ...
Mobile ESPN is free agent.
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Those performing autopsies on Mobile ESPN will find plenty of causes of death. But mobile advertising revenues could have offered a lifeline to the doomed mobile virtual network operator. Analysts agree that the sports network's ambitious wireless ...
Late News.
Oct 02, 2006 ... Xero Mobile sold to Advanced Mobile Xero Mobile Inc. found a buyer, inking a deal to sell "substantially all of its assets and liabilities'' to little-known Advanced Mobile Communications Inc. The mobile virtual network operator-which has yet to launch service-said ...
H-P scandal dislodges anti-pretexting bill.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: HEATHER FORSGREN WEAVER Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) chairman of the House Commerce Committee, shocked, surprised and pleased lawmakers during two days of hearings on pretexting by announcing that a long-stalled bill to make the sale of telephone records illegal could come ...
T-Mobile rumored to soon bust a move; UMA dual-mode network in the works.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON One of the worst-kept secrets in the wireless industry today is T-Mobile USA Inc.'s much-discussed-by everyone but them, that is-plan to launch services that allow subscribers with dual-mode handsets to move seamlessly between cellular and Wi-Fi networks. ...
Samsung shores up presence at T-Mobile USA.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... With the quiet addition of its new t719 flip phone, which offers BlackBerry Connect service and an e-mail-friendly keypad, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. now supplies just over one-third of T-Mobile USA Inc.'s handset portfolio. The t719 uses the same SureType keypad-a QWERTY ...
FCC: Wireless is competitive; Copps dissents on methodology.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... The Federal Communications Commission told Congress that there is effective competition in the wireless industry, noting a penetration rate of 71 percent and that nearly everyone between the ages of 20 to 49 has a mobile phone. Nevertheless, one commissioner signing off on the ...
Entertainment revenues mere fraction of data ARPU.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Wireless data revenues are surging for U.S. carriers, but whether network operators can cash in on mobile entertainment is far from certain. It's no secret that network operators are wagering vast sums on wireless data to offset ever-slimming ...
CTIA loses siting challenge in court.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: HEATHER FORSGREN WEAVER A federal appeals court has ruled that the Federal Communications Commission has the authority to require wireless carriers and tower owners to abide by the National Historic Preservation Act, including accepting the definition of eligible ...
Inmarsat enters handheld business, eyes mobile TV, ATC apps; Sukawaty at helm of MSS carrier.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON With a non-compete clause now expired, Inmarsat plc has partnered with ACeS International Ltd. to offer satellite-based, handheld voice service around the globe-a growth area the London-based, mobile satellite services company is moving rapidly to exploit. ...
U.S. Chamber accuses China of not keeping WTO promises.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: JEFFREY SILVA The top U.S. business lobbying group accused China of backsliding on its World Trade Organization commitments, pointing to Beijing efforts favoring home-grown wireless standards in the mobile phone, wireless broadband and radio-frequency identification ...
Seven years ago this month...(Metrics)
Oct 02, 2006 ... MCI WorldCom Inc. and Sprint Corp. agreed to a definitive merger that combined the second- and third-largest U.S. long-distance carriers and gave MCI WorldCom a ...
RIM calms investors with stellar quarter, bright outlook.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Research In Motion Ltd.'s stock rose sharply in trading after the company reported strong quarterly results and offered optimistic guidance. The firm's stock was up almost 20 percent in trading to about $102.87 per share, a two-year high for the company. RIM also announced it ...
Newspapers, magazines read the writing on the handset; Print publishers jump to wireless platform with mixed success.(News)
Oct 02, 2006 ... Byline: COLIN GIBBS Old-school print media companies are moving to mobile, but there's much work to be done before they can cash in on the brave new world of wireless. The Washington Post Co. is the latest major print outlet to step onto the wireless playground, ...
Stock Watch: September 21-September 28.(Metrics)
Oct 02, 2006 ... table: Stock Watch: September 21-September 28 * 3 ...
Lightbridge loses Sprint Nextel, drops TDS biz.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Lightbridge Inc. said it will quit its Telecom Decisioning Services business after losing Sprint Nextel Corp.'s business. The nation's No. 3 carrier was Lightbridge's largest TDS customer. Sprint Nextel's TDS contract is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Lightbridge ...
Dobson's subscriber adds on the increase.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Dobson Communications Corp. said its subscriber additions improved significantly during the third quarter. In a preliminary quarterly report, the company said it added about 23,500 net subscribers, including 11,300 postpaid customers and 14,500 prepaid customers. During the ...
BelAir boosted by $21.4M funding round.(Finance)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Wireless broadband service provider BelAir Networks hopes to build on its municipal Wi-Fi business after scoring $21.4 million in a Series D financing round. Ventures West Management Inc. led the round; other investors included Trilogy Equity Partners, Comcast Interactive ...
SunCom faces delisting from NYSE.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... SunCom Wireless Holdings Inc. has fallen below the minimum requirements to continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the company said it intends to submit a plan to the exchange on how it expects to boost its market capitalization to meet the necessary minimum. ...
iRadio leaking new music.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Motorola Inc.'s iRadio service is the latest to woo music lovers with unreleased content, with the vendor inking a deal with Sony BMG to allow subscribers to access "leaked'' albums before they hit the shelves. The music company has created a channel at the top of iRadio's ...
BenQ offloads German operation, local ruckus ensues.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON It may have been a blip on the radar screen of the global handset industry, but the screams were heard around the world. When BenQ Corp. announced recently that it would no longer inject money into its BenQ-Siemens handset business, headquartered ...
Carriers lining up to boast Krzr launches; Moto's Razr follow-on hits CDMA first.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Byline: PHIL CARSON Who's got the hottest handset on the market? I do! I do! On the heels of the Motorola Inc. Razr's phenomenal success, carriers may play it cool, but there's a sense in the industry that hot handsets drive subscriber numbers and, therefore, you'd ...
Nokia's Wibree protocol takes stab at Bluetooth.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... Nokia Corp. introduced a new short-range radio technology called Wibree that the company said transfers data at speeds of 10 megabits per second and uses only a fraction of the power needed for Bluetooth. Nokia is touting Wibree as an alternative to Bluetooth-which was primarily ...
Schwarzenegger terminates billing legislation.(News)
Oct 09, 2006 ... GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation to allow California wireless and wireline telecom subscribers to contest unauthorized billing charges, including those arising from the theft or loss of mobile phones. Schwarzenegger's veto is a big victory for the mobile-phone ...