In another move indicative of the music industry's increasing frailty, two of its largest players are trying some new twists: Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group last week announced a new format they're calling the "ringle."Each ringle will contain one ringtone bundled...
Verizon Wireless launched the LG VX8350, the heir apparent to the VX8300, the second-hottest selling handset in the United States, according to Strategy Analytics data.The phone trailed only Motorola Inc.'s Razr in terms of popularity. In keeping with LG Electronics Co. Ltd.'s stated strategy...
In a digital netherworld in which Internet-based blog sites begin to look like the most legitimate aspect of the terrain, word has spread that two iPhone unlocking procedures are making the rounds. The first-iPhoneSimFree-is "proprietary" and costs a curious $99 at iPhone "resellers." The...
Nokia Corp.'s 6555, a clamshell model with dedicated keys to access content, launched at AT&T Mobility for $50 after a $50 rebate, with two-year contract. The device supports the carrier's W-CDMA network.The 6555 appears to be the third 6000-series flip phone from the Finnish...
Venture capitalists haven't completely abandoned mobile virtual network operators-at least, not if the MVNO is tween-focused kajeet Inc. Kajeet announced today that it has raised $36.8 million in series B venture funding, with the round led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson Growth Fund and including...
Days after juicing its retail channels with a price reduction, enraging Apple-ites and then apologizing, Apple Inc. announced today it had sold 1 million iPhones since the device debuted June 29. The announcement underscored that Apple's price cut last week indeed was aimed at...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our Monday 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' Avi Greengart, iGR's Iain...
In a typical reaction, analyst Iain Gillott of iGR good-naturedly called last week's price cut on Apple Inc.'s iPhone the "iShaft."Of course, that was before Apple quickly offered its fanboys a $100 credit to assuage the latter's sense of betrayal.Legions had purchased the device...
With music and imaging an increasing aspect of mobile phones' feature sets-the engines driving network operators' ARPU growth-more than 50% of this year's $32 billion in worldwide accessory revenue will come from multimedia-related memory cards, headsets and data connection kits, according to data from...
Regional wireless carrier Cellular South said it will roll out an m-commerce initiative early next year across all its markets following a successful three-month trial of mobile transaction technology.The carrier, which offers service in four southeastern states, partnered with Bank of America and others...
In a letter posted on the company's Web site, Apple's Steve Jobs offered essentially a $100 apology to the hundreds of thousands of users who purchased Apple's iPhone during the two months before the company slashed the price of the device.The letter is notable...
Apple Inc. slashed the price of its 8GB iPhone by one-third and, separately, the company launched a Wi-Fi storefront hawking full-track tunes and albums for the device.The company said it lowered the price of the 8 GB iPhone from $600 to $400, and discontinued...
"I strongly believe that next year, in 2008, about 90% of people who walk anywhere in any store to buy wireless will have done their research online before. This changes the game," said Delly Tamer, founder and CEO of online retailer LetsTalk.com. Indeed, Tamer...
Mobile search provider Medio Systems Inc. and m-commerce technology company mPoria Inc. announced a strategic partnership to help retailers reach wireless users on their phones.Medio, which powers Verizon Wireless' Get It Now search offering, said it will provide mobile advertising campaigns to mPoria's retail...
Mobile phone distributor Brightstar Corp. said it will make a $5 million equity investment in InPhonic Inc., the Washington-based online retailer of wireless products and services.Brightstar will purchase about 2.5% of InPhonic's outstanding shares and acquire the retailer's distribution, inventory and fulfillment assets under...
Perhaps banking on a sense that only someone over 65 would know what a "coupe" is, Verizon Wireless launched a handset by that name along with a rate plan aimed at the older crowd's yearning for simplicity, safety and economy.The Coupe handset will sell...
Mobile users in Australia and the United Kingdom can get Jason Bourne on the phone just by pressing a few buttons.Universal Pictures International is running print ads pushing "The Bourne Ultimatum" in both markets, encouraging fans to snap a photo of the ad and...
Nokia Corp. unveiled four handsets along with its "Ovi" Internet-based content services in what appears to be an early example of how the Finnish company will dovetail its hardware business with a future-facing Internet services business model. The handsets appear targeted at the European...
Nokia Corp. outlined a surprisingly aggressive direct-to-consumer strategy comprising music, games, maps and social-networking offerings across both PCs and mobile phones.The manufacturer introduced Ovi-which means "door" in the Finnish company's native tongue-at its Nokia Go Play event in London this morning. The portal will...
Verizon Wireless needed a refreshed portfolio of converged devices that could deliver revenue-generating services into consumers' hands. Motorola Inc. needed to boost its smartphone offerings, its margins and its overall fortunes.The two parties' interests thus dovetailed over the new Q Music 9m-a version of...
Mobile virtual network operator Working Assets Wireless announced it will begin offering a solar-powered cellphone charger for free for a limited time. The company said the offering is part of its effort to help subscribers "connect to progressive causes.""If we want to reverse the...
Customer satisfaction in the prepaid sector has increased considerably since last year, driven by new pricing options and services, according to the latest survey by J.D. Power and Associates. Overall satisfaction got a boost of 10 points on the company's 1,000-point scale, with cost...
Looking to recoup its fortunes, in part, with a high-tier smartphone, Motorola Inc. launched its updated Q-the Q Music 9m-at Verizon Wireless. For Verizon Wireless, the launch updates its single smartphone offering from Motorola. The Q Music 9m will sell in tandem with the...
Tracy,I saw your article on RCRNews.com (Mobile Content & Culture Aug. 14) and wanted to offer a different point of view. I founded one successful mobile developer, Vindigo, and recently started another, Skydeck. I testified to Congress in favor of open access and together...
