RealNetworks Inc. expanded its mobile entertainment business with the $9 million acquisition of Sony NetServices.A joint venture between Sony DADC and Sony Europe, Sony NetServices targets carriers in eight European markets with white-label music services. The company's technology powers on-demand music and video offerings...
As wireless companies and banks seek to move into mobile banking and payments, many are eyeing the global remittance market as a potential source of new revenue. However, some may find that space a bit crowded by remittance giant Western Union Holdings Inc.The company...
Sanef announced that it has acquired location-services firm Webraska for an undisclosed sum. The European telecom infrastructure management company said the move will help it gain a foothold in the satellite navigation and geospatial technologies markets.Webraska's properties include GPS-based navigation applications that support maps,...
The Mobile Marketing Association is going global with a new chapter for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new chapter comprises more than 150 brands, agencies and other players under Chairman Richard Saggers, who oversees Vodafone Group plc's mobile advertising business. Current national...
Research In Motion Ltd. announced a "World Edition" BlackBerry for international travelers that combines CDMA and GSM technology and will be sold by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp.The two-carrier deal covers the two CDMA operators in the United States, an arrangement that may...
The mobile payment space continued to gain steam as Nokia Corp. and 10 network operators joined an effort by the GSM Association to allow consumers to pay with their phones at retail outlets.European and Asian network operators KPN, O2, Orange, SingTel, Vodafone Group plc...
The following list details this week's infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available. CellularChina: Alcatel-Lucent and Datang Mobile won contracts with China...
Alcatel-Lucent and Datang Mobile scored big wins as China Mobile tapped the companies for a TD-SCDMA trial network expansion program.Datang and Alcatel Shanghai Bell will provide technology for expansion of the 3G network in the cities of Shangai and Guangzhou. Datang is a leading...
Editor's Note: Lowell McAdam took over as president and CEO of Verizon Wireless in December, as Denny Strigl moved on to head Verizon Communications Inc.
If checking out the Internet on a PC can be called surfing, browsing the wireless Web is more akin to hunting snipe in a briar patch: it's arduous, painful, and sure to leave you disappointed.The fixed-line Internet has evolved to offer a remarkably standardized...
Openwave Systems Inc. has put up the 'for sale' sign. The question is, who wants it?The Redwood City, Calif.-based developer last week announced the resignation of CEO David Peterschmidt and said it has retained Merrill Lynch as a financial adviser to explore strategic alternatives...
Caribbean carrier Digicel has been snapping up properties and is introducing dual-technology roaming for its customers as it expands its network reach and potential revenue streams. The carrier is coming up on its sixth birthday in April, after launching its first and flagship market...
IF NOKIA CORP. HAS TO REFRESH its efforts in the United States to solidify carrier relationships, as it said last week, two Chinese handset vendors entering the market may similarly have to gird for the long haul-though ambition is a good place to start.The...
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 M:Metrics' Seamus McAteer, Ovum's Roger Entner...
"Consolidation" is a well-worn phrase in business circles because it politely masks the fact that someone probably is going to get it in the neck.Typically, that means workers get hurt, though the game of executive heave-ho remains popular, particularly after a difficult quarter or...
Digital payment technology company Valista Ltd. named a new CEO, promoting former Vice President of International Sales Arlene Adams.The Dublin, Ireland-based firm said founder and current CEO Raomal Perera will become executive chairman and continue to play an "active, day-to-day role" at Valista. Adams,...
Visto Corp. added to its already impressive coffers earlier this month, raising another $35 million in what the mobile e-mail service provider said is its final round of funding. But this time it's the investor-not the amount of cash-that's raising eyebrows.The Redwood City, Calif.-based...
Nothing wrecks a trip to Europe like work. And last week I was lucky enough to travel to Barcelona to cover the 3GSM World Congress. While the show is too big for its own good-not CES big, but more than double the size of...
International operator Vodafone Group plc has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Indian mobile operator Hutchison Essar Ltd. for $11.1 billion-however, whether a major shareholder will cooperate is unclear.Vodafone said it had reached the multibillion-dollar deal to acquire companies that control a 67-percent...
Wireless e-mail company Visto Corp. announced it raised another $35 million in venture-capital funding, this time scoring money from Altitude Capital Partners L.L.C. The news means that Visto has now raised close to $300 million in VC financing over the course of its nine-year...
BARCELONA, Spain-Adding to the somewhat surreal nature of this year's 3GSM World Congress was the presence of Sprint Nextel Corp.'s CTO Barry West, who headlined a panel discussion on WiMAX technology. (Nothing against West or Sprint Nextel, but the only wireless technology the carrier...
BARCELONA, Spain-A trio of executives from operators counting more than 400 million subscribers made for an entertaining opening keynote at this year's 3GSM World Congress.As has been the case for several years, Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin led off the keynote proceedings at 3GSM, this...
International operator Vodafone Group plc has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Indian mobile operator Hutchison Essar Ltd. for $11.1 billion.Vodafone will acquire companies that control a 67-percent interest in Hutch Essar via company subsidiary Vodafone International Holdings B.V. Vodafone said that it...
Vodafone Group plc became the latest carrier to partner with MySpace.com, agreeing to allow subscribers to edit profiles, message friends and post photos from their wireless phones.The operator said it will preload MySpace Mobile on selected handsets as well as offering a downloadable application...
