Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
American Idol sets text message records
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. announced it recorded a total of 13.5 million text message votes cast during the past season of reality TV show “American Idol.” The carrier said the number is up from last season’s total of 7.5 million text message votes-a sign that U.S. users are keen on text messaging services. “Our sponsorship of ‘American Idol’ is the seminal event that got mainstream America text messaging,” said Andre Dahan, president of the carrier’s Mobile Multimedia Services. “Over the past year, more and more television shows have incorporated an element of text messaging into their programming-and the entertainment industry isn’t alone in its desire to capitalize on this growing trend. Our success with ‘American Idol’ underscores our goal of making texting as common as talking on wireless phones.” AT&T Wireless said more than 40 percent of all “Idol” voting participants had never even sent a text message before … Read more
Getting a taste of Qualcomm’s BREW
Although Qualcomm Inc.’s BREW application download system commands a smaller market than that of rival Sun Microsystems Inc.’s Java, the company continues to rack up new BREW handsets, applications and carrier customers-and Qualcomm and its partners continue to offer new innovations for the platform. “The secret is out-there’s money to be made on BREW right now,” said Aaron Bernstein, Qualcomm’s product manager for BREW games. “The BREW marketplace is very healthy.” Indeed, Qualcomm is gearing up for its fourth annual BREW Developer’s Conference June 7-9 in the company’s hometown of San Diego. The event in past years has run as a sort of technology pep rally, and this year again likely will be the scene of new technologies, applications and enthusiasm. Qualcomm said it expects 1,400 attendees at the conference-a significant showing for a platform devoted solely to the wireless industry. … Read more
Nokia expands R&D presence in China
Nokia Corp. announced it will expand its research-and-development efforts in China, a move that comes amid doubts about Nokia’s ability to maintain its grip on the market as well as moves by the company’s rivals to capture Nokia’s dwindling share. “China is definitely a strategic part of Nokia’s global R&D network,” said Jorma Ollila, Nokia’s chairman and chief executive officer. “With increasing depth in China’s talent base and an improving regulatory environment for R&D, we see excellent opportunities to expand our collaboration with leading domestic institutions. This cooperation will boost technology innovation and localization, enabling us to strengthen our R&D in key areas and respond to Chinese customer needs.” … Read more
Talk about your unlimited offers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-A non-stop talking contest initiated in Albuquerque, N.M., by Leap Wireless International Inc.’s Cricket Communications Inc. subsidiary was still going strong after 72 hours as two contestants continued in a Motor Mouth Marathon for the chance to win a 2004 Mini Cooper, a Cricket phone, a free year of Cricket Unlimited service and a $5,000 donation in their name to the Albuquerque Ronald McDonald House. The competition was being held at a local McDonald’s restaurant with the contestants, Kathy Jackson and Trudy Abeyta, being provided with mobile phones, food and Leap’s trademark green couches. The rules for the event included no sleeping, reading, singing, and no lulls in the conversation for more than 10 seconds with participants being monitored by a judge on a three-way call to ensure they continue to talk back and forth for 55 minutes of every hour. … Read more
And the winner is …
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-After 96 hours of talking, Kathy Jackson and Trudy Abeyta were both announced as official winners of Cricket Communications Inc.’s Motor Mouth Marathon contest that began at 4 p.m. May 21 in front of a McDonald’s restaurant and was finally ended last Tuesday. Both winners were awarded grand prizes of 2004 Mini Coopers, Cricket phones, a free year of Cricket Unlimited service and $2,500 donations made in their names to the local Albuquerque Ronald McDonald House. … Read more
DoCoMo sells stake in U.K.’s Hutchison
TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo sold its 20-percent stake in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd. to Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. for $220 million in a transaction that has been expected by market watchers. DoCoMo has been looking to unwind its involvement in the U.K. third-generation operator for months, and the deal marks the second shareholder that has left the company, leaving only Hutchison in the venture, which once included KPN Telecom as well. The U.K. UMTS provider has offered its service for more than a year, but has added subscribers at a much slower pace than it originally forecast … Read more
We’re done here
ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and T-Mobile USA Inc. reported plans to end their network-sharing arrangement, which currently provides Cingular access to T-Mobile USA’s network in New York City in exchange for T-Mobile USA gaining access to Cingular’s network in California and Nevada, pending the acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. by Cingular scheduled to close early next year. As part of the agreement, T-Mobile USA said it would acquire 100 percent ownership of the shared network in California and Nevada for $2.5 billion, which would be offset by a $200 million fee for unwinding the venture resulting in a total payment of approximately $2.3 billion to Cingular. After gaining control of the GSM network, T-Mobile USA will provide wholesale network services to Cingular until the carrier is able to transfer its customers to AWS’ network following the acquisition. T-Mobile USA noted the wholesale agreement would guarantee the carrier $1.2 billion in revenue during the next four years based on network usage. … Read more
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