Margins Check: Shopping at Target, a writers’ strike, Halo 3 and more

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect the wireless industry.
–A new survey from Anderson Analytics revealed the brand tastes of college students, finding, among other things, that they love Apple, shop at Target and use the online social-networking service Facebook. The findings are notable for the wireless industry since today’s college students are tomorrow’s professionals, and their brand allegiances likely will direct their disposable income.
–Members of the Writers Guild of America are heading toward a strike, a situation that could drastically affect the mobile TV and mobile video markets. Indeed, much of the mobile content industry could be thrown into disorder if the strike does indeed occur.
–Microsoft’s “Halo 3” made video-game history by racking up $170 million its first 24 hours of sales. The game, for the software giant’s Xbox 360 console, stands as a testament to the power of the video-game market. However, the success of “Halo 3” appears to have largely passed the wireless industry by, as no game-maker has been able to bring the franchise to mobile. And now, based on its success, the cost of licensing “Halo” may well be beyond most mobile game-makers’ reach.
–Yahoo introduced a new search engine as the company works to gain ground on rival Google. The move underscores the white-hot Internet search space, a contest that likely will spill into mobile as cellphones become more adept at displaying Internet content.
–Microsoft released two new versions of its Zune digital music player, as well as a social-networking site called Zune Social for the device. If Microsoft continues to pour resources into its Zune offering, a move into the mobile industry with the device may well be in Microsoft’s future.