U.S. network operators are losing their grip on subscribers who stroll off their decks to buy ringtones, access adult content or simply surf the wireless Web. When it comes to knowing where users are, though, carriers still hold the cards.Call it the Starbucks scenario:...
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-Disney Mobile has added a slim, silver clamshell phone from Pantech Corp. as its third handset choice for subscribers. The Bluetooth-enabled DM-P205 has a VGA camera, color interior and exterior screens and web browsing capability. It sells for $100 with a two-year...
LOS ANGELES—Forget about "Tokyo Drift," the latest sequel to "The Fast and the Furious" movie franchise. Now there’s the Helio Drift, a souped-up handset from mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. The Drift, from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., will be equipped with two new...
DALLAS—Titan Global Holdings Inc. announced it will expand its prepaid calling card business with the addition of an MVNO offering. The company targets the Spanish-speaking market with its products. Titan’s new Picante Movil, a mobile virtual network operator prepaid offering, expands on its Picante...
LOS ANGELES-Helio L.L.C., the self-proclaimed mobile virtual network operator for the young and hip, will launch additional handsets this year and next, according to Rick Heineman, the company's head of media relations. Heineman promised to give more details on the company's handsets soon. Helio...
Qwest Communications International Inc. reported a profitable third quarter with net income of $194 million, reversing a $144 million loss the company reported in the same quarter last year. Further, Qwest said the penetration rate of its service bundles increased 6 percent compared with...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Embarq Corp. plans to offer its wireless customers push-to-talk services and parental controls on a Sanyo Corp. 2400 mobile phone. Embarq, which has a mobile virtual network operator relationship with Sprint Nextel Corp. after being spun off from the larger company earlier...
DENVER—Qwest Communications International Inc. reported a profitable third quarter with net income of $194 million, a reversal of the $144 million loss the company reported in the same quarter last year. Further, Qwest said the penetration rate of its service bundles increased 6 percent...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Embarq Corp. plans to offer its wireless customers push-to-talk services and parental controls on a Sanyo Corp. 2400 mobile phone. Embarq, which has a mobile virtual network operator relationship with Sprint Nextel Corp. after being spun off from the larger company earlier...
Several weeks ago I wrote a eulogy for fallen mobile virtual network operator Mobile ESPN. In it I cited the MVNO's lofty aspirations for the wireless space, but noted that the company misjudged the market's appetite for a sports-focused operator with little pricing differentiation....
Sprint Nextel Corp. lost 188,000 postpaid customers in the third quarter as it sweated out customer credit-related issues and iDEN customer losses. But overall, Sprint Nextel came out with positive customer growth due to another strong quarterly performance from its Boost Mobile L.L.C. sub-brand....
Two wireless service providers last week began offering their customers handsets that can move between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, moves that mark the first serious attempt at commercially available converged wireless services in the United States. Such services are seen as one avenue for...
RESTON, Va.—Sprint Nextel Corp. lost 188,000 postpaid customers in the third quarter as it sweated out customer credit-related issues and iDEN customer losses. Overall though, Sprint Nextel came out with positive customer numbers due to another strong quarterly performance from its Boost Mobile L.L.C....
BELLEVUE, Wash.—Two wireless service providers have begun offering their customers handsets that can move between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, moves that mark the first serious attempt at commercially available converged wireless services in the United States. T-Mobile USA Inc. is targeting its offer to...
ATLANTA-Helio L.L.C.'s operating costs pushed parent company EarthLink Inc. into an overall loss of $3.2 million for the third quarter, the company reported. EarthLink shares plunged nearly 10 percent on the announcement as Wall Street reacted to the news. Mobile virtual network operator Helio...
BEDFORD, Mass.-Boston Communications Group Inc. said the settlement of all patent litigation brought against it by Freedom Wireless has been completed. The two companies announced a settlement in July that called for BCGI to pay $55.3 million for licensing rights to Freedom Wireless' patents....
ATLANTA—Helio L.L.C.’s operating costs pushed parent company EarthLink Inc. into an overall loss of $3.2 million for the third quarter, the company reported. EarthLink shares plunged nearly 10 percent on the announcement as Wall Street reacted to the news. Mobile virtual network operator Helio...
BEDFORD, Mass.—Boston Communications Group Inc. said the settlement of all patent litigation brought against it by Freedom Wireless has been completed. The two companies announced a settlement in July that called for BCGI to pay $55.3 million for licensing rights to Freedom Wireless’ patents....
DEL MAR, Calif.-Great Call Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced the launch of a new mobile virtual network operator called Jitterbug, named after the dance craze that originated in the 1930s and popularized by band leader Cab Calloway. The MVNO will sell phones...
DEL MAR, Calif.—Great Call Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced the launch of a new mobile virtual network operator called Jitterbug, named after the dance craze that originated in the 1930s and popularized by band leader Cab Calloway. The MVNO will sell phones...
The mobile virtual network operator space has been a-buzz lately, with a new MVNO launched, one closing shop, another sold and yet another expanding its service offering beyond handsets into laptop cards. Following is a look at five areas experts said MVNOs need to...
The wireless industry already has MyCircle, Inner Circle, Mobile-to-Anyone, and Sprint-to-Home. Add to that list "myFaves," the new offer from T-Mobile USA Inc. that allows customers to make unlimited calls to a handful of wireless or wireline numbers. The move by T-Mobile USA is...
We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of a friend, a pioneer an innovator: Mobile ESPN.First of all I want to thank all of those how showed up today, especially the true supporters of Mobile ESPN, those who actually signed up for...
SAN DIEGO—Just a few days after the Mobile ESPN flameout, an executive from the mobile virtual network operator was named chief executive of Soapbox Mobile, a mobile marketing solutions company. Vladimir Edelman has been named chief executive officer of Soapbox. He joins the company...
