Don't be fooled by the flow of VC funding or the fact that Google Inc. and MySpace are in on it. The truth is, mobile social networking is not as cool as its fixed Internet brethren. An obsession with user-generated content, coupled with the...
Mention mobile commerce in North America, and the common response is a roll of the eyes. It's not hard to guess why. Back in the heady days of the Internet dot-com bubble, mobile commerce was one of the many buzz words connected with e-commerce...
In the small world of mobile gaming, Trip Hawkins looms large. Hawkins designed his own major in applied game theory at Harvard University, and in 1982 founded Electronic Arts Inc., which continues to dominate console- and computer-gaming spaces. He launched Digital Chocolate Inc., a...
Sprint Nextel Corp. faces a new class action lawsuit alleging the No. 3 mobile phone carrier misled consumers by improperly charging roaming fees in connection with two "fair and flexible" plans. "All roaming fees assessed to Johnson were wrongful because defendant...
AT&T Inc., parent company of the largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, said it completed the $2.5 billion purchase of Aloha Partners L.P."AT&T is committed to connecting our customers to their worlds," said Forrest Miller, group president of corporate strategy and development. "The addition of...
Jamba said it will be the first digital retailer to offer music unencumbered by digital rights management (DRM) software under a deal with record label EMI.A joint venture between News Corp. and VeriSign Inc., Jamba said it will distribute an undisclosed number of DRM-free...
CellCast Technologies said its wireless emergency alert solution will be deployed throughout Missouri, beginning with the sheriff's department in Camden County. "Knowing about the impending danger is one thing, but then also having the correct information about what to do in your specific area...
TerreStar Corp. said it received $300 million in investor commitments through the launch of its hybrid mobile satellite, with the transaction also giving the company access to additional frequencies to improve North American coverage.The funding will be provided by EchoStar Corp., Harbinger Capital Partners...
Sprint Nextel Corp. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the No. 3 mobile phone carrier is defrauding wireless consumers. The lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court."Defendants have misled and deceived consumers by extending consumers' contracts for up to two years...
The hype cycle offers fertile ground for startups. Consider modu, a private company based in Israel, which today provided that familiar, heady mix of grandiose claims, intriguing technology, long launch window and big-name backers that often ignites press speculation.Less than a week before the...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Current Analysis' Peter Jarich, NPD Group's...
Microsoft Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Yahoo Inc. may be centered on Internet search, but the takeover - if consummated - could make huge waves in the world of wireless.The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant offered $44.6 billion in cash and stock for Yahoo, marking a...
The Federal Communications Commission took another step toward reform of the universal service fund, while further leaving in limbo a highly controversial effort by Chairman Kevin Martin to order a temporary cap on government subsidies largely tapped for deployment of wireless services in rural...
Nokia Corp. said it would purchase Trolltech ASA, a Norwegian software company, for about $153 million, subject to approval by Trolltech's stockholders. Nokia appeared eager for the deal and Trolltech seemed amenable as the Finnish handset giant offered a 60% premium above Trolltech's closing...
Sony Ericsson said it has secured deals with 10 music labels, adding 5 million new tracks to its mobile music service.The company, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and L.M. Ericsson, announced agreements with Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, EMI, The Orchard and six...
An arbitrator has certified a huge class action against Verizon Wireless that potentially could cost the No. 2 mobile phone carrier close to $1 billion in refunds of early termination fees."I find the claimants have complied with the criteria for class certification," wrote Eugene...
The New York Times launched a service that delivers news, features and columns to mobile phones via text message.The free service allows users to send a text to the short code 698698 (NYTNYT)with one of dozens of keywords -- the word "Latest" will result...
Nokia Corp. today displayed the results of a well-oiled, money-making machine with 34% and 44% jumps in revenue and profit, respectively, for the fourth quarter compared to the year-ago quarter.
Handset volumes reached 133.5 million units in the fourth quarter, up 27% year-on-year, enough...
The first two handset vendors to report fourth-quarter and full 2007 earnings last week both forecast 10% growth for their sector in 2008, on top of healthy unit volume growth last year. That seemed to reassure industry analysts that macro-economic trends now capturing headlines...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In the coming weeks look for columns from Current Analysis' Peter Jarich and more.In...
A National Research Council report calls for more research into the potential health effects of long-term exposure to radiation emitted by cellphones and other wireless devices, with U.S. scientists anxious to gather more data on any risks posed to children, pregnant women and fetuses...
When it comes to sponsoring content, the 30-second commercial is no longer enough.Marketers these days talk about being tied to programming in new ways that provide more options for consumers to remember who is bringing them their favorite shows.Many of these deals involve sponsoring...
Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna has begun shopping a bill in the legislature that would ban third-party marketing of cellphone numbers without consent of wireless subscribers, precisely the kind of law flagged by Bellvue-based Intelius Inc. in a planned $143.7 million public offering.The...
Podcasts and video ads have dropped off in the mobile advertising space, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 brand marketers and agencies.The "Wave Eight" survey, conducted by market research firm Advertiser Perceptions, asked marketers representing consumer package goods, automotives, retail and...
