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Wireless looks to capitalize on FIFA World Cup action

All eyes will be on Germany next week as teams from 32 nations open play in the FIFA World Cup, a four-week, 64-game tournament to determine the planet's best soccer club. And the wireless industry is hoping many of those eyes will be watching...

Universal dives deeper into wireless as Congress wrestles with DRM issues

WASHINGTON-Universal Studios is the latest mainstream media giant to go wireless in a big way, establishing a division dedicated to mobile content. Universal, which already has more than 60 licensing deals worldwide with mobile entertainment publishers, announced plans to launch 30 games as well...

Universal forms dedicated mobile division

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—Universal Studios is the latest mainstream media giant to go wireless in a big way, establishing a division dedicated to mobile content. Universal, which already has more than 60 licensing deals worldwide with mobile entertainment publishers, announced plans to launch 30 games...

FunMail acquires LBS developer Zapptrio

PLEASANTON, Calif.—Wireless entertainment company FunMail Inc. announced the acquisition of Zapptrio Inc., a developer of location-based applications for mobile phones. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Zapptrio, which had been owned by a U.S.-based subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsui & Co., produces wallpapers, ringtones and...

U.S. closing gap in data adoption

It's safe to say U.S. wireless subscribers have caught up with much of the rest of the world in terms of data consumption. But it appears American carriers still have their work cut out for them when it comes to cashing in. The United...

Google voice patent mum on mobile connection

Google Inc. was finally awarded a patent for speech-recognition technology that allows users to search the Internet by uttering a few words. But whether that's good news or bad news for a handful of wireless software developers is far from clear. Voice-activated technology-which for...

FunMail to offer MLB content

PLEASANTON, Calif.—FunMail Inc. is teaming with Major League Baseball Advanced Media to deliver images, voice tones and other content from all 30 of its teams. Images are available through Verizon Wireless, Alltel Corp., U.S. Cellular Corp. and other BREW-based carriers in the United States...

Virgin Mobile USA offering exclusive Big Boi ringtones

NEW YORK—Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. and Virgin Records are teaming with EMI to offer four exclusive ringtones from hip-hop star Big Boi. The clips are based on four tracks from a compilation album from the Outkast member released last November. Four ringtones will be...

Mobile content firms aim for sweet spot

LAS VEGAS-Mforma Group Inc. is the latest mobile-game publisher to get a makeover, dropping its name in an effort to become more consumer-friendly.The San Francisco-based developer is rebranding as Hands-On Mobile and expanding its portfolio to offer a variety of lifestyle applications in addition...

Chuck D going mobile

LAS VEGAS-When it comes to mobile, at least, Chuck D believes the hype.The driving force behind the iconic hip-hop group Public Enemy is going wireless as a mobile music aggregator, launching a distribution company to hawk ringtones, voice tones and other clips from urban...

Following Idol success, Cingular to sell unknowns’ ringtones

LAS VEGAS-Having set itself up as the text-message connection for American Idol, Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is aiming to help other musical unknowns grab a bit of the limelight.Cingular is partnering with the popular social networking Web site MySpace.com and mobile content company InfoSpace Inc....

Following American Idol success, Cingular to sell uknown’s ringtones

LAS VEGAS—Having set itself up as the text-message connection for American Idol, Cingular Wireless L.L.C. is aiming to help other musical unknowns grab a little bit of the limelight. Cingular is partnering with the popular social networking Web site MySpace.com and mobile content company...

MTV audience worships at wireless altar

LAS VEGAS—Listen to Van Toffler for a few minutes and you’ll begin to wonder if the M in MTV stands for mobile. "We’re really moving into the wireless space, and our audience is clearly our master," said MTV Networks’ president, who is set to...

Mforma becomes Hands-On Mobile, expands market reach

LAS VEGAS—Mforma Group Inc. is the latest mobile-game publisher to get a makeover, dropping its name in an effort to become more consumer-friendly. The San Francisco-based developer is rebranding as Hands-On Mobile and expanding its portfolio to offer a variety of lifestyle applications in...

Chuck D behind new mobile music effort

LAS VEGAS—When it comes to mobile, at least, Chuck D believes the hype. The driving force behind the iconic hip-hop group Public Enemy is going wireless as a mobile music aggregator, launching a distribution company to hawk ringtones, voice tones and other clips from...

VeriSign extends further into mobile marketing with m-Qube purchase

Money continued to pour into the mobile marketing space last week as VeriSign Inc. inked an agreement to shell out $250 million in cash for wireless messaging and content services provider m-Qube Inc. M-Qube powers mobile storefronts and marketing campaigns for media companies and...

Itass, Embience partner on interactive TV platform

DULUTH, Ga.—Itaas Inc. and Embience Inc. announced they have partnered on a new interactive TV platform designed to allow users to download content associated with television programs to their mobile phones. The MPTV platform allows consumers to use their remote control to select and...

Fox gets deeper into content game: Even as analysts question ringtone’s longevity

Fox Mobile Entertainment is joining the ranks of wireless aggregators, unveiling a Web site that hawks music, games and images for mobile phones. But analysts say the News Corp. subsidiary may be lumbering onto a shrinking playground.Fox last week launched Mobizzo, an Internet storefront...

Analyst downgrades VeriSign, questions future of ringtone market

SAN FRANCISCO—VeriSign Inc.’s mobile content business is "looking like a disaster," according to a report released this week by American Technology Research analyst Albert Lin. Lin downgraded VeriSign to a sell rating, citing a flattening in revenues from ringtones, which account for as much...

Music phones often sing off key

Operators are beginning to deploy full-track digital music services as a way to increase revenues, boost customer loyalty and slow churn. But if carriers are going to compete with Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes, they may want to take a hard look at the iPod....

Fox Mobile launches content aggregating site Mobizzo

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Fox Mobile Entertainment is joining the ranks of wireless aggregators, unveiling a Web site hawking music, games and images for mobile phones.The News Corp. subsidiary launched Mobizzo, an Internet storefront featuring content from Fox brands including "Family Guy," "Napoleon Dynamite" and the upcoming...

Indie music label upset by Sprint snub

SAN FRANCISCO—Independent music aggregator Digital Rights Agency lashed out at Sprint Nextel Corp., blasting the carrier’s full-track download service for its "failure to include independent record label catalogs." DRA said it sent a letter to Sprint Nextel Chief Executive Officer Gary Forsee expressing its...

Study finds revenue potential in Eastern Europe, Africa

LONDON-Increased mobile penetration in Eastern Europe and Africa is expected to drive revenue growth in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region, according to new research from the Yankee Group.The company predicts total service revenue in the region will grow from about $210 billion in 2004 to...

Vendors turn up the volume at 3GSM

BARCELONA, Spain-As the 3GSM World Congress conference kicks off, music-related announcements from the industry are humming right along. Here are some of the highlights: Motorola Inc. announced a deal to use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media platform in a new series of music phones. The...