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...
Cartoon Network New Media sounds like a fun place to work. Take Ross Cox's word for it. The network's senior director of entertainment products said it often feels like he's working at a toy store. That analogy came through when RCR Wireless News had...
Editor's Note: The following are the stories that had the biggest impact on the wireless industry in 2007, as chosen by the RCR Wireless News editorial staff.1. Jan. 15 issueApple Inc. introduces the iPhone.2. Feb. 19 issueAT&T Mobility announces plans to use Qualcomm Inc.'s...
While we won't know for a couple of weeks how specific wireless carriers did during the holiday season, it is safe to assume as a whole they did pretty well. It was rare to pass a carrier-branded wireless store and not see hordes of...
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...
MVNO Helio L.L.C. continues to roll out devices in the face of financial challenges, offering a new Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. slider handset sporting haptic feedback on exterior keys.The Mysto is available for $149 with contract to subscribers of "Helio powered by SK Telecom,"...
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...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. said it deployed a product from Telespree Communications that automates the mobile virtual network operator's handset programming process via over-the-air technology."With Telespree, we focused on the device programming process, eliminating manual entry and any associated errors, creating an even simpler...
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....
A class-action law firm has begun an investigation into mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile USA Inc. to determine if it bears any civil liability under federal securities laws to its shareholders.Kahn Gauthier Swick L.L.C. alleges that the MVNO may have withheld actual losses...
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. named a telecom and customer service veteran as VP of its customer management team.Ted Vagelos will oversee Virgin Mobile USA's 4.8 million wireless customers, and the company said his primary objective will be "integrating the company's established service offerings with...
As Virgin Mobile USA Inc. has endured, even thrived, over its five-year life, it has seen its customer base transition from a play for the 18- to 34-year-old crowd to a substantial proportion (nearly 50%) of over-35 subscribers.The mobile virtual network operator itself has...
Following the failure of its U.S. mobile virtual network operator business, the Walt Disney Co. is now turning its attention to the east with plans to launch an MVNO service in Japan. We can just hear the Disney Mobile execs explaining things: "Hey, 'Hello...
After a trial involving 5,000 users, regional wireless carrier Revol has decided to go forward with a full launch of a mobile advertising service that the company said has achieved engagement rates of close to 50%. The company will begin marketing the service, Revol...
After shutting down two mobile virtual network operations in the United States, Walt Disney Co. is hoping the third time is the charm; the company is restarting its "Disney Mobile" offering, this time in Japan.The company said it will work with Japanese mobile operator...
EarthLink Inc. posted a third-quarter loss driven by restructuring costs and its investment in mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C., but promised that it was in the midst of a turnaround.EarthLink's loss for the quarter was $79.4 million on revenues of nearly $300 million....
Hello! And welcome to our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. There's a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRNews.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....
Virgin Mobile USA Inc. is offering its subscribers the chance to create their own wallpapers and ringtones-and reap the benefits if someone else downloads their handiwork.The new service, called Studio V, allows customers to upload and edit graphics content such as photographs, designs and...
Sprint Nextel Corp. is expanding the reach of its Boost Mobile L.L.C. unlimited calling offer to an additional 10 states.The carrier said that, based on the offer's success in trial markets in California and Texas, Unlimited by Boost will now be extended to participating...
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, tween-focused mobile virtual network operator kajeet Inc. announced a new line-up of handsets as well as an expanded retail effort. The MVNO's new handsets include the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. m300, an $80 phone available in...
What's Google Inc. up to in mobile? You might as well ask what Rupert Murdoch is doing in media.Because the answer is, just about everything.The Internet colossus first dipped its toe in the mobile waters in 2000 with a search service for Web-enabled phones,...
Helio L.L.C., which has made a point of maintaining its handset pricing, is offering a limited-time, online-only promotion with at least $50 off each of the three currently available handsets. The discounts include $50 off the dual-slider Pantech Corp. Ocean handset, reducing its price...
With the content-centered, postpaid mobile virtual network operator market in decline, analysts have already begun talking about the next evolution of the MVNO model. Apple Inc.'s iPhone is one example. So is recently launched Sonopia.Juha Christensen, CEO of Sonopia, compares his company to credit...
Mobile advertising recently got a boost from two announcements: the launch of advertising-subsidized mobile access to MySpace.com, and the advent of a U.K. mobile virtual network operator offering free wireless calls in exchange for viewing ads.Both developments offer new avenues for brands seeking to...
