The Week in Review

Welcome to our Friday feature, Week in Review. Every Friday, RCR Wireless News will run through the major events of the past week, outlining what happened and speculating on what to look for in the coming weeks. Check below for news about carriers, handset makers, content companies, infrastructure vendors and more.
Carriers
–AT&T Mobility dropped its “fewest dropped calls” ad claims in favor of the “more bars in more places” tagline. The news could serve to push other carriers to rethink their own advertising campaigns.
Handsets
–Apple Inc. dropped the price of its 8 GB iPhone by a third, from $600 to $400, and said it would discontinue the 4 GB model. The company’s move apparently caused such an uproar among iPhone owners who paid $600 for the device that Apple’s Steve Jobs posted a letter to the company’s Web site offering a $100 store credit to current iPhone owners. The move could spark similar PR stunts by other handset manufacturers.
–Palm Inc. announced it killed its high-end, laptop-style Foleo device shortly before its scheduled launch, a move that will cost the company around $10 million. The news highlights the rapidly changing nature of the handset market, and puts further pressure on Palm, which has been criticized for an over-reliance on its aging line of Treo smartphones.
Content
Carriers in the United Kingdom launched PayForIt, a consistent user interface for mobile transactions of roughly $20 or less regardless of carrier. If successful, the offering eventually could move into the U.S. market.
Other
–Two U.S. senators introduced a wireless consumer protection bill that stands directly against the wireless industry’s wishes. The battle over consumer issues could reach new heights due to the bill.
–Verizon Wireless settled a Missouri tax lawsuit for $30 million, a move that could pave the way for additional such settlements. The issue could spread to other states as well.
COMING IN MONDAY’S ISSUE OF RCR WIRELESS NEWS
–Multimedia experiences are driving accessory sales, whether in brick-and-mortar stores or online. Reporter Phil Carson explores the accessories market.
–L.A. Reporter Matt Kapko tours EA Mobile’s facilities to get a feel for nation’s largest cellphone game maker.
–What does the iPhone’s price cut mean? We take a detailed look.