Los Angeles - U.S. consumers purchased about 525,000 of Apple's iPhone device between Friday and Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry. [more..]

New York - In a bid to gain leverage with Apple on more flexible song pricing, major record label Universal Music Group has told the company it will not renew a long-term contract to provide its artists' songs for sale on the iTunes Store, The New York Times reported, citing "executives briefed on the matter." [more..]

Moscow - Russian music download store AllofMP3.com, which the U.S. music industry has been trying to shut down for years for selling unauthorized tracks at discounted prices, appears to have been taken offline for good, the Moscow Times reported. [more..]

Tokyo - Nintendo's Wii video game console outsold rival Sony's PlayStation 3 by a 6-to-1 margin in Japan in June, Reuters reported, citing sales data compiled by Japan's Enterbrain magazine. [more..]

London - Richard Branson's Virgin Media, which provides bundled cable TV, landline, mobile and broadband services in the U.K., announced on Monday that it has received a bid to acquire the company from an unnamed group. [more..]

Foster City, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America announced on Monday that it has partnered with ratings provider The Nielsen Company to develop a measurement system for game network advertising. [more..]

Seattle - Online retailer Amazon.com announced on Monday that it has partnered with Microsoft on a project that will offer independent films for sale on-demand on next-generation HD DVD discs. [more..]

San Francisco - PlanetOut, a publisher of print and online media for the gay community, including The Advocate and Gay.com, announced on Monday that it has raised $26.2 million in financing through a private placement of its shares. [more..]

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Scott Karp blogs about how Apple will do to the wireless carriers and other cell phone makers what they did to the music industry and makers of digital music players. [more..]

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Rohit Bhargava lists a few key changes that are needed before marketers can maximize what they get out of mobile marketing. [more..]

Culver City, Calif. - Sony Pictures Television said on Monday that it has made 23 episodes of "The Larry Sanders Show," the HBO comedy series starring Garry Shandling, available for purchase and download from Apple's iTunes Store. [more..]

London - U.S. concert promotion giant Live Nation announced on Monday that it has extended offerings on its U.S. site to its U.K. website, such as pre-sale tickets for registered ticket club members, and access to premium seats. [more..]

San Diego - Verance, a developer of digital watermarking technology, announced on Monday that its audio watermark technology for Blu-ray and HD DVD players and components is now available for licensing. [more..]

San Diego - Latin digital music retailer MisRolas.com announced on Monday that it has struck a deal with Ideas Telcel to sell master recording ringtones through the portal for Mexico's largest wireless carrier. [more..]

Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo of America said on Monday that it plans to release "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" for its DS handheld on Oct. 1. [more..]

Shanghai, China - Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment said on Monday that it has acquired the exclusive rights from Japanese game developer Tecmo, to operate the firm's "DOA Online" in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. [more..]

San Mateo, Calif. - Mobile game publisher Glu Mobile on Monday announced the release of "World Series of Poker Pro Challenge," which is licensed by Harrah's, the casino host of the World Series of Poker. [more..]