Dec 30 2005 - 04:05 PM ET | Backpage, SMS
While South Korea is using SMS to send court indictments, pimps in India are using text messages to get new business. According to IndiaDaily: The pimps send random SMSes to corporate salary account holders of leading private banks, offering...
Dec 30 2005 - 03:59 PM ET | 3G, Backpage
The US government will host another wireless spectrum auction. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced it will be cheaper than first thought to move the government out of 1710-1755 MHz. The total cost is expected to come in...
Dec 30 2005 - 02:55 PM ET | CES, Site News
Consumer Electronics Show begins next week in Las Vegas, Nevada and it's quickly shaping up to look like a great show for mobile phones. Press events for the show start Tuesday, January 3rd and news should continue at a...
NTP won a 30-day extension to file a defense to patents disputed by Research In Motion (maker of the BlackBerry) and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). So far all of the allegedly infringed patents held by NTP...
Dec 29 2005 - 08:14 PM ET | Backpage, Data
Opera Software today announced that Google will be the default search engine for both of its mobile web browser products. This includes the widely acclaimed Opera Mobile and the new (not yet widely available) Opera Mini. The one-year deal...
Dec 29 2005 - 02:58 PM ET | Backpage
China will require mobile phone buyers to register with the government starting in 2006. The move is an attempt to cut down crimes being perpetrated with anonymous phones. Vice Minister of Information Industry Xi Guohua said earlier that according...
Dec 28 2005 - 04:05 PM ET | Backpage, Nokia
According to The Wall Stree Journal noted [sub required], InterDigital will receive $250 million from Nokia after a US federal judge backed up a prior arbitration award. The original dispute was over royalties that Nokia allegedly did not pay to...
Another day and another rumor, this time for the Samsung i830 on Verizon Wireless as soon as next month. We first mentioned the i830 back in March when the FCC gave its approval nod. The i830 is an update to...
Dec 28 2005 - 01:06 PM ET | Backpage, Nokia
CompUSA announced a partnership with Nokia today that will result in a Nokia Experience section in all of CompUSA's stores. Already about 200 stores have the section, with the rest (about 40) getting it in the first quarter of 2006....
Dec 28 2005 - 12:58 PM ET | In The News
PC World put together a list of the 50 greatest gadgets and more than a few phones made the cut. #6 - Motorola StarTAC #12 - Motorola RAZR #14 - BlackBerry 850 Wireless Handheld #20 - Handspring Treo 600 #30...
A chinese language website posted details about a new Windows Mobile smartphone said to be in the works from Lenovo. The Chinese owned Lenovo is most well known for purchasing the ThinkPad series of notebooks from PC stalwart IBM. The...
The Samsung SGH-i858 has shown up on the FCC's approval site [FCC ID A3LSGHI858]. It's a feature-packed slide style phone that probably won't make it to America, but with the FCC approval it's possible. 900/1800/1900 GSM with EDGE 2 megapixel...
All that has been officially announced about the upcoming Windows Mobile Treo's launch is that it will be soon and exclusively from Verizon Wireless. Technically not even a name has been announced, but it has been called the 700w in...
Dec 26 2005 - 11:15 AM ET | Backpage, SMS
In another sign that SMS is becoming the preferred method of communication in many parts of the world, South Korea announced that indicted will soon be served via text messages. According to Reuters the service will be opt-in, but it...
Verizon Wireless is expected to announce an update to its V Cast service that will include music downloads. The company is hosting a press conference in conjunction with Microsoft at CES on January 5th. V Cast currently consists mostly of...
Dec 24 2005 - 12:17 AM ET | Unique
We've heard of people doing a lot of strange things with cell phones, but attempting to swallow one may take the cake. A Blue Springs, Kansas woman halfway swallowed her phone (model unknown) to keep her boyfriend from having it....
Dec 22 2005 - 02:32 PM ET | Unique
Voicemail company Callwave recently introduced a new service that allows mobile phone users to screen their calls as if they are using an answering machine. Technically Callwave replaces your carrier's voicemail system and adds a few twists, including the...
Dec 22 2005 - 01:22 PM ET | Backpage, Camera
Ithica College is hosting a film festival for movies shot entirely with a mobile phone. The entries must be under 30 seconds long, which will likely be much more limiting than having to shoot it on a phone. Dean...
Research In Motion yesterday announced its quarterly results for the period ending November 26, 2005. Despite the distraction of a major legal battle with suitor NTP, RIM pulled off quite the successful quarter. Key metrics include: Revenue of $560.6...
SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog game is now available through Verizon Wireless the two companies announced today. Verizon Wireless is the first US carrier to pick up the game. The classic game first debuted 15 years ago with the SEGA Genesis...
Virgin Mobile USA today announced a new contest that will allow one lucky winner and three friends to live a life of luxury for a week on a Necker Island. Virgin's founder Richard Branson purchased Necker (part of the British...
Dec 21 2005 - 10:28 AM ET | Sprint Nextel
In another affiliate buyout deal, Sprint Nextel will buy the remaining shares of Nextel Partners for $6.5 billion. Nextel Partners provides Nextel branded service in rural areas. After the Sprint buyout of Nextel, Nextel Partners contended that its exclusivity contract...
According to documents posted by the FCC (IHDT56FX1), Sprint Nextel appears to be gearing up for a launch of the Motorola C290. While the C290 is a very basic entry-level handset, the news is notable since Sprint has not caried...
Dec 21 2005 - 10:10 AM ET | Palm
Palm CEO Ed Colligan noted during an earnings conference call yesterday that his company will announce three more Treo smartphones in 2006. That's in addition to the 700w which is on track for a January debut on Verizon Wireless. Colligan...
Sprint Nextel today received approval from the Federal Trade Commission for the proposed buyout of Alamosa Holdings. The $4.3 billion deal will close in the first quarter of next year. Alamosa is a Sprint PCS affiliate serving 1.5 million customers...
Dec 19 2005 - 02:15 PM ET | Backpage
Insight Research expects worldwide wireless telecommunications revenue to reach $600 billion in 2006. Total telecom revenue is about double that figure, with wireless becoming a higher percentage every year. The report also notes that 1.8 billion mobile phone subscribers are...
Dec 19 2005 - 12:33 PM ET | MVNO
Amp'd Mobile is fresh off a soft launch, but is already announcing new content deals. This time the company isn't licensing content but creating it. Amp'd aims to create the largest collection of original made-for-mobile content and has signed up...
The New Yorker takes on the legal battle between NTP and Research In Motion (maker of the BlackBerry). We've covered this case many times in the past, but this article focuses on what started it all--the US Patent Office pushing...
Dec 19 2005 - 12:22 PM ET | Backpage
Movie theater owners want the ability to jam cell phones according to a report from Retuers. The technology has been around for some time, but is currently illegal. There are safety and liability concerns (possible communications gap during a crisis,...
Dec 19 2005 - 12:13 PM ET | 3G, T-Mobile
T-Mobile USA may begin a 3G launch next year, according to an interview posted on BetaNews. The company hasn't officially announced much about 3G, just always noting that it will not be anytime soon. Also an unknown is the type...
Dec 16 2005 - 03:43 PM ET | Backpage
A federal appeals court has stayed an injunction against Boston Communications Group Inc. and Cingular Wireless, allowing the two companies to continue TDMA pre-paid service. Freedom Wireless recently won a lawsuit regarding patent infringement for pre-paid wireless service that used...
Sprint Nextel today announced a deal to buy affiliate Enterprise Communications, a Sprint PCS affiliate that serves 52,000 customers in Alabama and Georgia. The sale is valued at $98 million, including assumption of debt. Sprint noted the buyout should close...
Dec 16 2005 - 02:48 PM ET | Site News
Announcing MobileTracker Backpage, extended coverage of the wireless industry. Made for our readers that can't get enough wireless news, the Backpage will house all the news that isn't big enough for front page posting. To access the Backpage, use the...
In what's becoming almost routine, the US Patent Office has ruled once again that a patent held by NTP isn't valid. This is the second review of the patent and the verdict has been the same both times. However, NTP...
Sprint Nextel has agreed to buy Velocita Wireless. Velocita provides service to 400,000 business and governmental customers. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. After completion of the transaction, Sprint Nextel will utilize a portion of Velocita's spectrum assets...
Dec 16 2005 - 03:18 AM ET | Data
Google just announced that its Gmail webmail service is now available in a mobile phone friendly format. As long as Gmail Mobile doesn't break any patents, it should be welcome to Gmailer's looking to escape the desktop. To use Gmail...
Dec 15 2005 - 07:08 PM ET | MVNO
After months of speculation and hype (not to mention tons of venture capital dollars), Amp'd Mobile has officially launched. The company is a mobile virtual network operator using Verizon Wireless' network that is targeting young people. Amp'd is will eventually...
Dec 15 2005 - 04:37 PM ET | 3G, Cingular
Cingular today announced a 3G video service aimed to compete with Verizon's V Cast. Cingular Video allows subscribers with 3G phones to view exclusive video clips from HBO. The catch is right now Cingular has no 3G handsets, only a...
Dec 15 2005 - 01:17 PM ET | Data
Fresh off its patent licensing pact with NTP, Visto filed suit against Microsoft for patent infringement. This is nothing new for Microsoft--the company typically has 30 ongoing patent infringement lawsuits going on at any given time--but is notable because it's...
T-Mobile USA launched the Motorola PEBL today, shortly after putting it up on the online store as "coming soon". The PEBL is a smoothly designed clamshell that was fashioned after pebbles found in streams (seriously). Feature wise, the PEBL stacks...
Dec 14 2005 - 03:28 PM ET | Data
Wireless email upstart Visto today announced a patent licensing deal with NTP. NTP is of course in a viscous patent lawsuit with wireless email leader Research In Motion. Terms of the deal were not announced, but Visto will not be...
Dec 14 2005 - 02:32 PM ET | MVNO
Amp'd Mobile has announced content deals this week with MTV, CBS and UPN. MTV's addition is especially important considering the company also controls Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, MTV2, mtvU, TV Land, Spike TV, Logo and iFILM. CBS will bring clips...
Dec 14 2005 - 02:18 PM ET | Accessories
In another sign that the Korean mobile phone industry is just showing off (as if satellite TV wasn't enough), the three major operators have decided to standardize sync and charge ports for every phone. That means one phone's charger will...
Dec 13 2005 - 04:27 PM ET | Cingular, Nokia
Cingular launched its second Nokia flip phone today, the 6061. While the global leader in terms of market share, the vast majority of Nokia handsets are candybar style. The Nokia 6061 is an entry level phone with fairly standard features:...
Dec 13 2005 - 12:29 AM ET | Cingular
The HTC Faraday has been launched by Cingular under the name "Cingular 2125". The 2125 is a feature packed Windows Mobile handset that's an update to the popular SMT 5600. The Cingular 2125 sports: Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone edition Quadband...
The Samsung t809 has officially been launched by T-Mobile. The thin slide-style handset it Samsung's answer to the RAZR, but packs a feature set that holds its own with the upcoming V3i. Features of the handest include: .58" thick (that's...
The ugly legal battle between Research In Motion and NTP concerning some patents continues to provide angst to investors, there's news today of yet another rejected settlement offer. Forbes is reporting that NTP will settle for 5.7% of RIM's revenue...
Dec 09 2005 - 12:40 PM ET | In The News
Regional carrier ALLTEL today announced plans to spin-off of its wireline business with existing wireline provider VALOR Communications Group. This will allow the company to focus on its wireless service and become a more attractive target for acquisition. A few...
Dec 08 2005 - 06:34 PM ET | In The News
Mobile phone game maker Jamdat Mobile will be acquired by game giant Electronic Arts for $680 million. That is a 19% premium over the last closing price for shares of Jamdat. Some of Jamdat's more popular titles include: Tetris, Bejeweled,...
The Motorola Q has been confirmed to be picked up by Verizon Wireless. There have been rumors of such a deal since shortly after the device was announced, but a unit displayed at a Microsoft summit clearly featured the Verizon...
Sprint Nextel today launched the Sanyo MM-7500. It's the first handset from Sprint to use Qualcomm's uiOne technology for themes. Thanks to uiOne almost every aspect of the UI can be changed. An expanded selection of themes will be for...
Dec 08 2005 - 02:33 PM ET | Motorola
Motorola today announced a special limited edition version of the RAZR V3i that sports a shiny gold exterior. Dolce & Gabbana is the exclusive retail partner for the phone and there will only be 1000 units made. Features of the...
Dec 07 2005 - 05:39 PM ET | MVNO
Amp'd Mobile will begin a soft launch on December 15. The highly anticipated MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) has captured lots of buzz thanks to its high profile financing and upper-tier phone technology. Before launching the company secured $67 million...
Verizon Wireless has launched the Motorola V325, an entry-level handset that's similar to the V265 that Verizon already carried. Even though the handsets are very similar, the V265 doesn't appear to be discontinued. Features fo the V325 include: 176 ×...
Verizon Wireless just announced the Motorola RAZR V3c this week and it's already on sale, WireFly.com is featuring the handset for $99 after rebate. That's half the price as direct from Verizon Wireless and all orders should begin shipping on...
Dec 06 2005 - 06:06 PM ET | 3G, Cingular
After intense speculation, Cingular has finally launched their HSDPA 3G network which is being marketed as BroadbandConnect. Though the US is not typically a leader in 3G mobile technology, Cingular's network is the first HSDPA in the world. 16 cities...
Verizon Wireless today announced availability of the Motorola RAZR V3c, the CDMA version of Motorola's flagship phone. Feature wise, the V3c is more similar to the V3i than the original V3. EV-DO high-speed data 1.3 megapixel camera 30MB memory Bluetooth...
Dec 05 2005 - 04:19 AM ET | Virgin Mobile
UK cable company NTL has made an offer to buy Virgin Mobile for $1.4 billion. Information surrounding the offer leaked over the weekend and was officially confirmed this morning by NTL. The company wants to provide TV and wireless service...
Verizon Wireless launched the LG Migo (also known as the LG VX1000), a dumbed down handset aimed at young kids. Cingular recently launched a similar handset from upstart Firefly. Features of the LG Migo are few and far between, but...
Cingular Wireless launched the LG F7200 today and it's the first phone from the carrier to support push-to-talk (which was also announced today). The F7200 is a slider style mid-range handset. Features of the device include: PTT compatible with included...
The FCC has posted details for Nokia's first handset with EV-DO, the 6305i. Thanks mostly to bad blood with rival Qualcomm, Nokia has thus stayed away from EV-DO. The 6305i isn't a smartphone and thus isn't loaded up with features,...
Cingular today launched push-to-talk service. Both Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless already have had push-to-talk features for quite some time (it originated with Nextel). Unlimited use of PTT on Cingular costs $9.99 per month or double that for family plans....
Dec 02 2005 - 03:00 AM ET | SMS
As part of an update to its alerts feature, Yahoo added a feature that allows users to get RSS results via SMS. The free service will send a message to your phone with every new item posted to an RSS...
Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm yesterday announced an agreement that will bring live US TV content to Verizon Wireless subscribers. Qualcomm's $800 million MediaFLO network will be used for distribution. The network is expected to launch late next year and will...
Dec 01 2005 - 10:24 AM ET |
The Nokia 6233 was announced today at an annual investor meeting. The business oriented phone sports a clean look and a long feature list. WCDMA 2100 / GSM 900/1800/1900 Bluetooth 2 megapixel camera 320 × 240 QVGA color screen microSD...
Dec 01 2005 - 10:17 AM ET | Nokia
The Nokia 6282 is a 3G phone designed to work with UMTS 1900MHz which should launch in the US soon. Despite the long feature set, the 6282 is not a S60 handset. Features of the Nokia 6282 include: 320×240 QVGA...
