Warren, N.J. - Virgin Mobile USA, the wireless telecom services provider, has signed a deal to acquire Helio, a wireless services joint venture between EarthLink (NASD: ELNK) and SK Telecom, for about $39 million in Virgin Mobile stock. Helio has about 170,000 existing subscribers with an average revenue per user of about $80, and a handset inventory of about 85,000 units with a book value of about $17 million.

Shanghai, China - South Korean wireless carrier SK Telecom has paid $7.8 million for a 30% stake in Magic Tech Network, a unit of Chinese online game company Magicgrids Networks, Pacific Epoch reported.

Atlanta - According to published reports on Wednesday, South Korea-based SK Telecom and Virgin Mobile USA are in strategic negotiations regarding Helio, SK's wireless services joint venture with EarthLink, as well as other business assets in the U.S.

New York - Fix8, a division of Mobinex that provides 3D avatar animation technology, announced on Thursday that it has raised an additional $2 million in its first round of financing, from South Korean wireless network operator SK Telecom.

San Francisco - RealNetworks, a provider of media delivery technology and content subscription services, on Tuesday announced the launch of a new 3G mobile feature, Multimedia Ringback Services, which lets users incorporate audio, images and video into what callers experience before they are connected. The service has already been deployed in Korea on SK Telecom's 3G network. Real said its mobile services are currently available through 77 carriers in 37 countries.

Atlanta - EarthLink, one of the largest ISPs in the U.S., on Friday confirmed that Korea's SK Telecom will invest up to $270 million in Helio, the companies' wireless voice and data services joint venture.

Atlanta - EarthLink announced that it will invest up to $100 million of additional funds in its wireless voice and data services joint venture, Helio.

Englewood, Colo. - Satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications announced on Wednesday that its Asian subsidiary has made a $40 million investment in South Korea's TU Media Corp., the operator of a satellite-based mobile TV service.

Los Angeles - Helio, a wireless network venture between Earthlink and South Korea's SK Telecom, on Tuesday for the first time revealed subscriber figures, stating that it expects to pass 100,000 subscribers early in the second quarter of 2007. The company added that its average revenue per user (APRU) is over $100 per month, above industry averages. Los Angeles-based Helio also announced the launch of a new mobile music service, which will deliver $1.99 tracks from all four major labels over-the-air to mobile phones. The company will also soon launch a direct-to-PC download option, costing 99 cents per track.

San Mateo, Calif. - Nayio Media on Wednesday launched its melody-based music search tool, which can identify tunes consumers hum into a computer's microphone.