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 those sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Playing 3G games on old phones is a drag
Less than two years ago, carriers were blaming publishers for stifling mobile gaming by churning out a surfeit of high-profile, licensed games that made for a rotten user experience. Now it’s the game makers’ that are pointing fingers. Handsets are quickly evolving into mini-videogame consoles, with 3-D graphics capabilities, bigger screens, stereo sound and impressive memory capabilities. But mobile publishers say they’re forced to build titles for run-of-the-mill phones built to do nothing but make voice calls. The result, some claim, is a market that stifles innovation and rewards developers based on the number of handsets they can support-not the quality of games they produce. Porting-generally defined as customizing content for a variety of handsets across carriers, in different languages and on varying platforms-has always been a massive headache for game publishers. Operators generally require games to be playable on at least two-thirds of their devices in order to garner deck placement, and often require games to support more than 90 percent of their phones. That problem is being magnified, publishers say, as the gap between older, mass-market phones and high-tech 3G models widens. A game that looks like a cutting-edge arcade title on one handset, then, can be nearly unplayable on older phones. … Read more
Anticipating a mobile TV boom …
NEW YORK-Roughly 4 million U.S. consumers will subscribe to mobile broadcasts from dedicated, multimedia networks such as Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFlo by the end of next year, according to new figures from ABI Research. The market research firm predicted that carriers will increasingly look to dedicated networks to offload traffic for data-heavy applications such as streaming audio and video. The worldwide market for mobile television services will grow to 514 million subscribers by 2011, ABI said, 460 million of which will use broadcast services from non-cellular networks. “The presence of as few as five users simultaneously receiving unicast content from a single cellular base station carrier band can seriously degrade data access for those subscribers,” according to Ken Hyers, a senior analyst for ABI Research. “This is further confirmation that broadcast is the only way to get mass-market uptake of these services.” … Read more
…or bust?
LOS ANGELES–Skepticism about the potential of mobile television is rampant within the wireless industry, according to a recent survey of executives conducted by Mercer Management Consulting. However, a panel of executives during a breakout session at last week’s CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment show on the status of the mobile entertainment marketplace expressed optimism about media adoption, but voiced concerns about packing too many capabilities into increasingly smaller handsets and aiding customers in discovering those new capabilities and content. Mercer’s survey set the tone for the CTIA session on mobile TV. The firm surveyed about 300 industry executives about mobile TV and video services, and doubt abounded–particularly on how much mobile TV could boost average revenues per user. Seven out of 10 executives believed that video would result in an additional $5 of ARPU or less per month, and nine out of 10 saw little or no chance that a majority of users would adopt the technology within three years. However, the session wasn’t all doom and gloom. Frank Boulben, executive vice president of brand and consumer marketing for European operator Orange, said that mobile TV users there often spend between six to 10 euros per month to watch videos, typically viewing 30 to 40 minutes on their handset per month. … Read more
Watch clips from The Office on mobile!
LOS ANGELES—NBC Universal and mobile entertainment company I-play are offering on-demand scenes from the NBC comedy series “The Office” on mobile platforms. The agreement with NBC’s Universal Mobile Entertainment makes one- and two-minute scenes from “The Office” available in North America later this year. Costs for the service have not been set yet, although it may allow for a pay-per-download model or a monthly subscription. Any 3G-capable handset should be able to access the offering. “Offering select video clips from popular television series like ‘The Office’ is one way that NBC Universal is looking to extend our audiences’ experience with the brand,” said Jeremy Laws, an executive with Universal Mobile Entertainment. “We look forward to working with I-play, who has been a key strategic partner for us as we address consumers’ growing appetite for mobile video content.” The news follows last week’s announcement that the London-based publisher will team with Universal to offer clips of movies including “Animal House” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” to wireless users. I-play said it is looking to leverage its technology and carrier relationships to move beyond wireless games and market a diverse line of offerings customized for mobile use. … Read more
BlackBerry Pearl sees strong demand
NEW YORK—Demand is strong at T-Mobile USA Inc. retail stores for the recently launched Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry Pearl, according to a national channel check by UBS analyst Maynard Um. The device, announced Sept. 7, combines productivity functions with multimedia and consumer-oriented style. The Pearl represents RIM’s efforts to grow its user base beyond enterprise and government to the vast consumer market already targeted by competitors, including the Motorola Inc. Q, the Nokia Corp. E62 and other devices. The Pearl has been available at T-Mobile USA since Sept. 12. Um wrote in a note to investors that strong demand for the Pearl was in evidence both in metropolitan areas as well as less urban areas. According to Um, RIM’s stock has appreciated recently with news of more carrier launches and an expected new device. Speculation on Web sites has focused on GSM-based operator Cingular Wireless L.L.C. as the next to offer the Pearl. Um also said he expects news on RIM’s strategy for growing its presence in the small- to medium-sized business space. … Read more
UK ahead of the game in mobile music
SEATTLE–The United Kingdom is on the cutting edge of mobile music, with 3 percent of British wireless consumers using their mobile phones as a music player, according to new figures from M:Metrics. The measurement firm found that British subscribers are leading five Western markets when it comes to listening to tunes on their handsets, outpacing their counterparts in Spain (2.8 percent), Germany (1.4 percent), the United States (.7 percent) and France (.6 percent). … Read more
Sprint Nextel preps for CDMA Rev. A play
LOS ANGELES-Sprint Nextel Corp. unveiled a pair of CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A laptop cards this week—including one that consumers can get for free after rebate—and has more device and network announcements in the works, according to company officials. The two PC cards included the PX-500 from Pantech, and the AirCard 595 from Sierra Wireless. The carrier already had announced the availability of the Merlin S720 Rev. A card from Novatel Wireless. The Pantech card has a retail price of $200, but is available for free after a mail-in rebate, so long as the customer signs a two-year subscriber agreement. The Sierra Wireless card will be available later this year for $250, or $100 with a two-year agreement; the Novatel Wireless card has the same price structure. Sprint Nextel recently announced its plans to begin implementing Rev. A across its network in the fourth quarter and plans to launch a high-speed data network using WiMAX technology over its extensive 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings by 2009. Barry Tishgart, director of marketing for Sprint Business Solutions, added that in light of Verizon Wireless’ announcement that it will begin upgrading its network to Rev. A in the first quarter of 2007, his company has a chance to gain a network advantage. “It does show that we have a window of opportunity,” Tishgart said. … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News Archives for more stories from the past.
