LAS VEGAS—Verizon Wireless celebrated its sixth anniversary this week with a blizzard of announcements, from devices and alliances to location-based services.
First up, Verizon Wireless announced an alliance with Adobe Systems Inc. to initiate a mobile ecosystem built around Flash technology, allowing applications developers to create interactive mobile content for its customers in Flash-enabled handsets that will enable them to customize the content available on their handsets.
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Flash technology is used widely on the Internet to display pictures and animation. Flash on mobile phones has caught on in Japan but has yet to make inroads in the rest of the world. Adobe recently acquired Flash vendor Macromedia.
The companies did not offer information on any potential launch dates for Flash offerings, although Verizon said it believes it will become the first wireless operator in North America to introduce Flash-enabled handsets that use the technology to give subscribers a customized experience.
Separately, Verizon introduced LG Electronics Co. Ltd. Style-I, which is designed to allow Verizon Wireless customers to step away from their phones, while still making and receiving calls. The Style-i is equipped with caller-ID display, keypad, last-number redial, 3-way calling, call waiting and Bluetooth. The Style-i is priced at $130.
The carrier also expanded its VZ Navigator service to including LG’s The V, an all-in-one device. With this combination, Verizon Wireless said customers can access location-based services including mapping, audio turn-by-turn navigation and find more than 14 million points of interest. The VZ Navigator launched on Motorola Inc.’s V325 device earlier this year. The V is available for $150 (after a $50 mail-in rebate), with a two-year service contract.
In a somewhat related announcement, Verizon Wireless also said it selected Navteq as its preferred map data supplier. Navteq fields a team of more than 550 field researchers to drive roads and otherwise update information supplied by the service.
Despite the fact that more than 70 percent of its customers prefer self-service options for account information, Verizon Wireless announced a short-cut to reach a live service representative. Customers can dial *611 from their Verizon Wireless device or, or 1-800-922-0204 from any other phone, then dial 0, 0, or 0, 4.
