Finally, the rapid collapse of an MVNO gets blamed on venture-capitalist firms placing unrealistic goals on those left managing the day-to-day operations. That's what happened in the case of recently bankrupt mobile virtual network operator Movida Communications Inc., APC Wireless CEO Paul Greene told...
Microsoft Corp. subsidiary TellMe said it added a GPS location feature to its voice portal to give BlackBerry users information about businesses, movies, traffic, weather, maps and driving directions. The "voice in, visual out" way of receiving information is useful to people who are...
APC Wireless announced it closed a deal late last week to purchase the recently bankrupt MVNO Movida Communications Inc. for an undisclosed sum.Movida, which targeted the Hispanic market, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court earlier this month, blaming a "costly and...
Editor's Note: Welcome to Yay or Nay, a feature for RCR Wireless News' weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week we'll review a new wireless application or service from the user's point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and...
If MVNOs had a theme song, it would probably be "Another One Bites the Dust." Movida Communications Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week in a Delaware court, blaming a "costly and restrictive" mobile virtual network operator agreement with Sprint Nextel Corp. for...
The "old hippie" is headin' to Mars. Or, perhaps more accurately, Richard Branson - fearless leader of the ubiquitous Virgin brand - is hatching a plan with Google Inc.'s founders to send volunteers to the Red Planet to establish a city.There is a catch,...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. stock dropped more than 53% from its closing price after it reported a $14.7 million loss in the fourth quarter. The mobile virtual network operator did, however, report net income of $4.2 million for the full year, making 2007 the...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. stock dropped more than 53% from its closing price yesterday after it reported a $14.7 million loss in the fourth quarter. The mobile virtual network operator (MNVO) did, however, report net income of $4.2 million for the full year, making...
SK Telecom and Citi hope to push the mobile-banking envelope with a new, San Francisco-based joint venture. The companies unveiled Mobile Money Ventures, a joint venture that aims to develop a platform that "encompasses all key mobile banking value propositions" as it bridges the...
ROK Entertainment Group Inc. said it has broken off negotiations to acquire fledgling mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Xero Mobile Inc.ROK, a U.K.-based mobile media firm, provides live and on-demand video to wireless users around the world. The company in September began talks with...
Qwest Communications International Inc. could take its 824,000 wireless subscribers from Sprint Nextel Corp.'s network to CDMA rival Verizon Wireless next year when its current mobile virtual network operator agreement expires, according to media reports. Such a move would give both Qwest and Verizon...
Qwest Communications International Inc. ended 2007 with 824,000 wireless customers, up 2.9% from the 801,000 subscribers it counted at the close of 2006. The carrier offers mobile service through a mobile virtual network operator agreement with Sprint Nextel Corp.The company reported $138 million in...
EarthLink Inc. has officially shut down all operations related to its municipal Wi-Fi projects that hit the skids last summer. Making good on earlier promises, the company is looking for potential buyers after writing down a $20.7 million charge on discontinued operations related to...
Sprint Nextel Corp.'s subsidiary Boost Mobile and mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. tweaked their unlimited voice, data and messaging plans.Boost Mobile introduced a new $1 per day voice plan for pay-as-you-go customers, which includes unlimited nights, unlimited mobile-to-mobile and a daytime rate of...
Sprint Nextel Corp. is continuing its battle to right a listing ship. The nation's No. 3 carrier announced it would cut 4,000 jobs and close 8% of its stores after losing 683,000 postpaid subscribers and 202,000 prepaid users during the fourth quarter of last...
A Pennsylvania law firm slapped Virgin Mobile USA Inc. with a lawsuit claiming the operator misrepresented financial information in advance of its October initial public offering.The class action suit, which was filed by the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, claim that Virgin Mobile...
Sprint Nextel Corp. is continuing its battle to right a listing ship. The nation's No. 3 carrier announced it would cut 4,000 jobs and close 8% of its stores after losing 683,000 postpaid subscribers and 202,000 prepaid users during the fourth quarter of last...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. announced that it has promoted Bob Stohrer to chief marketing officer of the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Stohrer, who served as VP of brand and integrated marketing, will replace Howard Handler, who's leaving the company after serving as CMO...
The biggest upset of this football season may have been Appalachian State University's victory over Michigan. But for the mobile-marketing industry, it came the day ESPN had more visits to the NFL content on its mobile Web site than it did to the same...
SPRINT NEXTEL CORP. HAS TAKEN THE HEAD of its wireline spinoff back into the wireless fold, tapping Embarq Corp. Chairman, President and CEO Dan Hesse to become the wireless operator's new president and CEO.Hesse, 54, has served as the leader of Embarq since Sprint...
Below are RCR Wireless News' 10 biggest stories of the year. These are the stories that rocked the industry in 2007, and set the groundwork for the future of wireless.
1. iCANDY
iPhone looks tempting, but users have to wait until June to see if it...
Sprint Nextel Corp. has taken the head of its wireline spin-off back into the wireless fold, tapping Embarq Corp. Chairman, President and CEO Dan Hesse to become the wireless operator's new president and CEO, effective immediately. Hesse, 54, has served as the leader of...
The latest casualty in the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) space is XE Mobile, which targeted college-age youth and marketed itself as a hip, provocative alternative to traditional carriers with an affinity program and cheap long-distance calling.According to a message on the pay-as-you-go MVNO's...
Word has it that German mobile virtual network operator Debitel is offering to rebate almost $900 to people who want to buy an unlocked iPhone (retail price about $1,500) in an attempt to try to take away T-Mobile's current exclusivity in offering the device....
