Breaking Mobile Industry News

Nokia Inks Promotional Deal With Universal Music, Rihanna

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 5, 2009 - 1:26pm.
Los Angeles - Nokia (NYSE: NOK) on Thursday announced a promotional partnership with Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Music Group International, which will exclusively premiere tracks from Rihanna's forthcoming album with Nokia. The deal includes an exclusive, live streamed concert on Nokia websites. Additionally, Comes With Music customers will receive a version of the album with a bonus track and other additional content, while the Ovi Store will offer a Rihanna application with exclusive content.

Apple: App Store Counts 100,000 Apps, Hits 2 Billion Downloads

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 4, 2009 - 12:32pm.
Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) said on Wednesday that there are now more than 100,000 applications available for download by iPhone and iPod touch owners at its App Store. The company said that users from 77 countries have downloaded more than 2 billion apps since the store's inception.

Report: Apple Stores to Utilize iPod Touch as Checkout Scanner

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 4, 2009 - 12:31pm.
Los Angeles - Apple (NASD: AAPL) plans to switch from using Microsoft Windows-based computers to register customers' checkout transactions in its retail stores to using its own iPod touch, Apple Insider reported. The device will be used to scan barcodes and swipe credit cards, while customers will sign for credit card purchases right on the iPod touch's screen, using the Pogo stylus accessory.

Peek Launches TwitterPeek Dedicated Twitter Mobile Device

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 3, 2009 - 10:35am.
New York - Consumer electronics firm Peek on Tuesday introduced the TwitterPeek, a mobile device designed exclusively for the purpose of accessing the Twitter microblogging service. The device, which features a QWERTY keyboard, is available for $199 with lifetime unlimited nationwide service, or $99 with a six-month service contract. The TweetPeek lets users send tweets, replies, retweets and direct messages, and also allows users to view pictures on TwitPics.

Sony Ericsson Introduces First Android Smartphone

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 3, 2009 - 10:30am.
London - Sony Ericsson on Tuesday introduced the Xperia X10, its first Google (NASD: GOOG) Android-powered smartphone, which is expected to ship in the first half of 2010. The X10 will feature a 4-inch touchscreen; 8.1-megapixel camera with autofocus and 16x zoom; video recording; and a number of pre-loaded Google applications from the Android Marketplace.  

Apple Sells 5,000 iPhones in China Debut

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 3, 2009 - 8:52am.
Hong Kong - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has sold just 5,000 iPhones in China since its launch there last week with carrier partner China Unicom, Bloomberg reported, citing comments from China Unicom president Lu Yimin.

AuroraFeint Lands Funding for iPhone Game Platform

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 2, 2009 - 7:13am.
Burlingame, Calif. - AuroraFeint, the provider of a game development platform for Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone, has received a multi-million dollar investment from Japanese mobile service provider DeNA, VentureBeat reported.
tags: Games | Deals | Mobile | VC | Apple | iPhone | AuroraFeint | DeNA |

China Unicom Begins Selling iPhone Sans Wi-Fi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 9:52am.
Beijing - China Unicom has begun selling Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone in China -- albeit without the key feature of Wi-Fi connectivity, Reuters reported. The iPhone is now available from 2,000 Unicom retail stores; the company hopes to sell 5 million in three years, according to Chinese news reports cited by Reuters. A company spokesman told Reuters the company expects its next batch of iPhones to include Wi-Fi.

Apple Breaks Palm Pre Sync with iTunes for Third Time

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 9:50am.
San Francisco - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has broken the Palm (NASD: PALM) Pre's ability to sync directly with iTunes, as if it were an iPhone, for the third time. The new 9.0.2 iTunes software update removes the feature. Palm had complained to the USB Implementers Forum that Apple was misusing the technology to lock out competitors back in August, but the standards body ruled in Apple's favor, and said that Palm may in fact be in violation of its terms.

tags: Mobile | Music | Apple | iTunes | Palm | Palm Pre |

Nokia to Shutter N-Gage Mobile Games Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 7:23am.
Helsinki - After failing to gain market traction, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) plans to shutter its N-Gage mobile gaming service next year, Reuters reported.
tags: Games | Mobile | Nokia | N-Gage | Ovi Store |

Mobile Ringtones Firm LiveWire Cutting 20 Jobs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 6:58am.
Littleton, Mass. - LiveWire Mobile (NASD: LVWR), a provider of ringtones, full track downloads and other mobile applications, announced that it is eliminating about 20 jobs as part of a plan to reduce expenses.

Bling Nation Lands $20 Million for Mobile Payments

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 6:29am.
Palo Alto, Calif. - Bling Nation, a provider of mobile payments technology, has raised $20 million in its second round of venture capital financing from Balderton Capital, TechCrunch reported.

NBA Releases Live Mobile Video Streaming Application

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 29, 2009 - 9:34am.
Los Angeles - The National Basketball Association (NBA) has released a new live mobile video application, for platforms including Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone and the Google (NASD: GOOG) Android Marketplace, which will cost $40 per year.

Motorola, Verizon to Sell Droid Smartphone for $199

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2009 - 11:55am.
Libertyville, Ill. - Motorola (NYSE: MOT)and mobile network partner Verizon (NYSE: VZ) on Wednesday introduced the Droid, a new Google (NASD: GOOG) Android-powered smartphone that will run on Verizon's 3G network. The touch-screen device features a 5-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi, and will sell for $199 with a two-year contract when it goes on sale Nov. 6. The Droid will also be the first smartphone capable of running Google Maps Navigation, the company's new turn-by-turn navigation application.

Google Offers Turn-by-Turn GPS Directions for Android Phones

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2009 - 10:49am.
Mountain View, Calif. - Google (NASD: GOOG) on Wednesday announced the release of Google Maps Navigation for Android mobile phones, an update to its popular mapping application that provides turn-by-turn directions, as well as voice-powered search and other features.

MPower Mobile Raising $5 Million for Mobile Payments

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2009 - 7:04am.
Austin, Texas - MPower Mobile, a provider of mobile payments technology is closing on a $5 million, second round of funding led by Maples Investments.

Layar Raises $1 Million for 'Augmented Reality' Platform

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2009 - 6:55am.
Amsterdam - Layar, a Dutch developer of "augmented reality" technology, is near closing a $1 million round of funding from European investors, VentureBeat reported.

Google Offers Speech-to-Text Voicemail Translation Feature

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 27, 2009 - 11:29am.
Mountain View, Calif. - Google (NASD: GOOG) has extended the voicemail text translation feature of its Google Voice service to mobile phone users who wish to keep their existing numbers.

Samsung, Handmark to Fund Mobile Game Development

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 27, 2009 - 9:45am.
Kansas City, Mo. - Handmark, a distributor of mobile applications and services, announced on Tuesday that Korea's Samsung Electronics has launched a new Global Venture Fund, which will invest in companies and individuals "with innovative, market-changing game ideas for next generation Samsung mobile phones."

Palm to Release $99 Pixi Smartphone on Nov. 15

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 26, 2009 - 12:19pm.
Sunnyvale, Calif. - Smartphone maker Palm (NASD: PALM) announced on Monday that it will release its Pixi smartphone via Sprint (NYSE: S) on Nov. 15 with a price tag of $99, after rebates and a two-year service commitment. The device will sell at Sprint, Best Buy, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart stores.

tags: Mobile | Sprint | Retail | Palm | Palm Pixi |