The second quarter is over in a week and will end with a bang or a whimper, depending on how "opening weekend" goes for Apple Inc.'s iPhone. Hard numbers from the vendors themselves are due in mid-July and the leading market analysis firms...
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's campaign said it launched a new text messaging initiative to expand its grassroots network and organize volunteers for events. "This campaign is about the people across the country who are taking organizing into their own hands...
Editor's Note: Welcome to the first edition of Reality Check, a feature for RCR Wireless News' new weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile content industry to give their insights into the marketplace....
It's no secret that a stroll through the offerings on carrier decks is enough to give you carpal tunnel syndrome. A recent study of four U.S. wireless services providers by Strategy Analytics found that a simple music download from a carrier portal required anywhere...
Starting in July, The Nielsen Co. will weigh in on the behavior of mobile subscribers through a new measurement service called Nielsen Wireless, which will examine how many people access the mobile Internet, mobile video and other content. Nielsen Wireless' first product, Mobile Vector,...
Clear Channel Communications Inc. launched a suite of text-based applications that allow radio listeners to make song requests and participate in contests with their mobile phones.The company rolled out the offerings with five New York radio stations and said it plans to launch similar...
Few music companies have pursued mobile as aggressively as The Orchard Enterprises Inc. The New York-based company serves as a kind of digital music aggregator, distributing content from dozens of independent record labels and more than 14.000 artists from Bing Crosby to Bloc Party....
Alltel Corp. added "The Wafer"-a new, thin, bar-style handset from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.-to its portfolio. The handset is $50 with a mail-in rebate and two-year contract, and is available to existing Alltel customers whose rate plan allows them to upgrade their handset.The Wafer...
InfoSpace Inc. got some good news-a rarity lately-as AT&T Inc. said the buffeted company will continue to power the carrier's MEdia Net service.The agreement renews a pact struck in 2003, when InfoSpace began offering mobile e-mail access, messaging, games, ringtones and other content to...
The guilds representing the creative talent that captivates wireless audiences as they enjoy mobile films, television and music are focused on securing fair compensation for their artists in future contracts and licenses. The Screen Actors Guild has its sights on contract negotiations scheduled for...
The U.S. ringtone market will dip 8 percent this year as the novelty fades and users learn to create their own mobile music clips, according to Broadcast Music Inc.BMI predicted that ringtones will generate $550 million in retail sales in 2007, down $50 million...
Google and Yahoo have done a bang-up job optimizing search tools on the wired Internet, and the companies are moving aggressively into the mobile space. But they are going to face fierce competition from white-label companies that are partnering with wireless carriers. I know;...
The turbulent world of mobile content was highlighted once again last week as one well-known firm filled its coffers and another continued to fight for its life.CellFish Media raked in another $10 million in venture funding, topping off a first round that saw the...
If the cellular phone continues to mimic the Internet, then social networking will be the next big application on wireless phones. In fact, a number of new media research firms predict that social media is likely to be the tipping point for mobile video...
Nothing gets people's attention like the possibility of a prize dangled in front of them.Indeed, the Sony Ericsson Open and Starbucks have partnered for just such an event. The two have joined forces on a new promotion that will offer tennis fans in Florida...
ORLANDO, Fla.-In a first for a major, mobile-centered national advertising campaign, The Hershey Co. plans to soon offer one-in-three chances to win a sing-it-yourself ringtone for customers who purchase their Ice Breakers Sours Gum. The Karaoke Tones promotion comes in partnership with Interop Technologies,...
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 RCR Wireless News to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the...
World Wrestling Entertainment will provide about 100 video clips each month to AT&T Inc.'s Cingular Wireless customers under a new content deal between the two parties.The partnerships calls for WWE to provide an Internet portal to mobile phones for WWE content that will include...
The mobile-phone industry has jumped into a major Internet music rate case in a New York federal court. The outcome could determine whether cellular carriers, and thus subscribers could be forced to pay more-actually twice-for downloading ringtones. It's not a rinky-dink matter. Ringtones,...
Mobile Melo shoots, scoresCarmelo Anthony, star of the Denver Nuggets basketball team, has launched a mobile portal called Melo Mobile. The portal is powered by Konami Corp.'s mobile division. The Melo Mobile application will set users back $2 per month for news, statistics, updates...
MonsterMob Group plc booted its three top executives after Spanish content aggregator LaNetro Zed took a 52-percent stake in the ringtone provider.Zed, an 11-year-old Spanish firm, will spend $66.8 million for the majority stake in MonsterMob, which operates ringtone businesses around the world. Chinese...
Bring on the cast from Foster's Home for Imaginary FriendsCartoon Network New Media announced the development of CallToons, a mobile application that allows cellphone users to select their favorite Cartoon Network or Adult Swim character to essentially replace the general theme of their device.CallToons,...
c In the article "One-stop ad shops" in the Jan. 29 issue of RCR Wireless News, The Hyperfactory should have been named as having Proctor & Gamble, Adidas, Coca-Cola and Nike as its clients. Millennial has not disclosed any customer deals.c The chart titled...
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 RCR Wireless News to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the...
