With the announcement of a joint CDMA handset venture between Sanyo Electronics Co. Ltd. and Nokia Corp., U.S. CDMA carriers could benefit from increased competition among vendors, and mobile virtual network operators might have a new option as they seek exclusive handsets to attract...
BARCELONA, Spain—Walt Disney Co. licensing partner Dmobo launched a limited-edition Mickey Mouse-themed mobile phone. The M900 phone, produced by Korea’s NewGen Telecom Co., is a tri-band GSM device that includes a 1.3-megapixel camera. It comes in three colors and includes a charm strap in...
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—The Walt Disney Internet Group has set up a pre-launch Web site for its planned mobile virtual network operator service, Disney Mobile.The site allows interested consumers to sign up for information about the cellular service and indicates a launch date of this...
The hype surrounding mobile virtual network operators has created a new segment of the mobile industry with MVNO enablement, and a myriad of companies are eager to tell would-be operators the best way to plunge into the MVNO space. Last week, DBS Communications launched...
Steve Jobs may have just taken one step closer to wireless. The head of Apple Computer Inc. landed a spot on the board of The Walt Disney Co. last week under the terms of Disney's $7.4 billion buyout of computer animation studio Pixar. While...
Crown Castle International Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. are placing huge bets on mobile TV, spending a combined $1.3 billion to build networks dedicated almost entirely to one-way wireless video. Traditional TV networks and film studios are hastily establishing divisions to produce content for "the...
With the first few mobile virtual network operators out of the starting gate and more marching to the post, 2006 looks to be the year of the launch. After 2005, during which several MVNOs spent gearing up for and touting their upcoming launches, the...
Editor's note: At the end of each year, the RCR Wireless News editorial staff looks back on the news events that made headlines and decides which were the most significant, industry-impacting stories during the past 12 months. While our list does not include the...
Editor's note: At the end of each year, the RCR Wireless News editorial staff looks back on the news events that made headlines and decides which were the most significant, industry-impacting stories during the past 12 months. While our list does not include the...
Cingular Wireless L.L.C. announced plans to launch a streaming video service, CingularVideo, in January, featuring two channels of content from premium cable channel HBO. HBO Mobile and HBO Family Mobile plan to include clips and select episodes from HBO cartoon and sports programs, as...
For the past few years, the strategy for U.S. carriers looking to retain customers was simple: offer subscribers a slick new handset at no charge. But in today's transitory market-where profit margins from voice services continue to thin as data revenues just begin to...
SAN FRANCISCO-When it comes to wireless content, there isn't much Disney isn't going to try. As the company gears up to launch its much-hyped MVNO next year, the House of Mouse is aggressively expanding its wireless content operations. In addition to developing content based...
Amp'd Mobile Inc. and Disney both offered details this week about their upcoming mobile virtual network operator services. Amp'd Mobile said it's on track for a pre-holiday service launch of its MVNO service that will target the increasingly attractive youth/young adult market and rely...
ESPN Inc. today announced it will unveil its first mobile phone and limited service later this year, teaming with Japanese handset maker Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. to offer a high-resolution EV-DO-capable multimedia handset that offers users real-time access to sports content such as...
Carriers and content providers increasingly are targeting younger users in a scramble to push revenue-generating content and applications into one of the few remaining growth market segments. But marketing to teens, "tweens" and even grade-schoolers can be a perilous endeavor. Last week, a group...
A group of consumer and children's advocates sent letters to key members of Congress Tuesday, urging the legislators to look into the marketing of wireless phones to children. Citing recent efforts by Firefly Mobile, Wherify and others-as well as the planned mobile virtual network...
WiMAX technology plugged along toward its goal of a standard protocol, announcing demonstrations in Canada and the start of the certification process in Spain. Application demos for Xbox wireless console gaming over WiMAX-to-WiMAX-based streaming media took place at the WiMAX Forum's quarterly meeting in...
As wireless consumers begin to wholeheartedly embrace data applications, be they ringtones, wallpapers, video apps or games, industry needs to step up its plans to implement parental controls to ensure that end users have the proper experiences. And it's better to come up with...
WASHINGTON-The Walt Disney Co. defended its decision to reverse a policy to stay out of the wireless business until mobile phones are proven to have no health risks. "There certainly is a lot more information available today than back then. The FDA has...
The big mouse is finally loose in the wireless house as the Walt Disney Co. announced plans to launch a family-oriented mobile virtual network operator wireless service using Sprint Corp.'s nationwide network. The decision has been expected for some time and follows a similar...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Following months of speculation, the Walt Disney Co. finally announced plans to launch a family-oriented wireless service using Sprint Corp.’s nationwide network.The Walt Disney Internet Group, which will oversee the newly formed Disney Mobile service, said it plans to offer wireless voice...
The coming surge of mobile virtual network operators will target virtually every demographic, from ethnic groups to sports fans to rural users. But no group of consumers is being courted as much as America's youth. As wireless enters the multimedia era, the market of...
SANTA MONICA, Calif.-Intel Capital and Japanese TV production company Yoshimoto Kogyo are among those backing Bellrock Media Inc., a new company that will develop, produce and deliver content over mobile and broadband platforms. Hiroshi Nakata, who founded content provider Fandango Inc., will serve as...
SANTA MONICA, Calif.-Intel Capital and Japanese TV production company Yoshimoto Kogyo are among those backing Bellrock Media Inc., a new company that will develop, produce and deliver content over mobile and broadband platforms. Hiroshi Nakata, who founded content provider Fandango Inc., will serve as...
