Dec. 10, 2010 at 4:20 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer electronics,
Technology
By Reuters
Finland’s Rovio Mobile, known for its Angry Birds puzzle video game, unveiled on Friday payment software that gives mobile telecom operators a chance to win a share of booming app store business.
Mobile operators have struggled to grab a piece of the mobile applications market — worth $4.1 billion last year, according to research firm Chetan Sharma — as consumers pay with credit cards directly to Apple Inc or Google Inc.
Rovio said it would start to roll out its payment solution in early 2011 for Android phones sold by Finland’s top mobile carrier, Elisa, for purchasing additional features in Angry Birds. “This gives operators some revenue, compared to none. We are going to open it up to all other developers,” said Peter Vesterbacka, head of Rovio’s business development in North America. Get the full story »
Dec. 9, 2010 at 5:59 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Computers,
Software
By Associated Press
“The Smurfs’ Village,” a game for the iPhone and other Apple gadgets, was released a month ago and quickly became the highest-grossing application in the iTunes store. Yet it’s free to download.
So where does the money come from? Kelly Rummelhart of Gridley, Calif., has part of the answer. Her 4-year-old son was using her iPad to play the game and racked up $66.88 in charges on her credit card without knowing what he was doing. Get the full story »
Dec. 7, 2010 at 5:59 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Internet
By Associated Press
The head of Google’s Android mobile operating software says the search company “bit off a little more than we could chew” with the sale of the Nexus One, a smart phone Google began selling online early this year but then stopped offering after similar devices powered by Android hit the market. Get the full story »
By CNN
AT&T’s customer satisfaction rating tumbled this year, ranking dead last among U.S. wireless carriers, according to a Consumer Reports survey released on Monday.
The nation’s second largest wireless network received the worst possible rating in eight of the nine categories the magazine studied, including overall value, voice service, data service, phone service, staff knowledge, and resolution of issues, among others. Get the full story »
Dec. 6, 2010 at 8:42 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Telecommunications
By Associated Press
Sprint Nextel says it’s going to start phasing out the Nextel part of its network in 2013, a decision that follows near-constant subscriber losses since Sprint bought Nextel in 2005. Get the full story »
Dec. 3, 2010 at 5:07 p.m.
Filed under:
Advertising/Marketing,
Cell phones
By Reuters
The long awaited uptake of the potentially lucrative mobile advertising market by advertisers and consumers has actually started to happen, companies from Canada, Egypt and Poland said on Friday. Get the full story »
By Reuters
Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha. (PRNewsFoto/Motorola, Andy Kuno)
Shares of Motorola fell 1.5 percent after it warned its cell-phone unit would post a loss in the first quarter, when key client Verizon Wireless is seen starting sales of Apple’s iPhone.
Analysts on Thursday cut their share price targets and earnings estimates for the company, which had only recently posted its first quarterly profit in years.
Motorola’s mobile chief and Co-Chief Executive Sanjay Jha flagged the loss during an investor conference late on Wednesday saying first quarter sales would involve a higher proportion of cheaper phones as the company looks to boost sales at U.S. operators such as AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
Motorola Mobility is planning to make tablet devices in two different sizes, Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said Wednesday.
Jha has previously voiced interest in the tablet space, but offered a few more details during an investment bank conference. Motorola Mobility will make both a 7-inch and a 10-inch tablet because “we view both formats as being quite meaningful,” Jha said. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
Motorola unveiled Wednesday its board of directors for Motorola Solutions, one of the two new companies that will result from a planned split in January.
The separation is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2011. On that date, Motorola will spin off Motorola Mobility, a company led by current co-Chief Executive Sanjay Jha that will focus on mobile devices and television set-top boxes. The remaining company, headed by co-CEO Greg Brown, will become Motorola Solutions and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MSI.” Motorola Solutions will make communications equipment and software for public safety, government and industrial sectors. Get the full story »
Nov. 30, 2010 at 4:43 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Technology,
Telecommunications,
Updated
By Wailin Wong
Motorola Inc. said Tuesday it will officially split into two companies on Jan. 4, 2011.
The separation is a long time coming, as the Schaumburg-based technology company first announced the decision in March 2008. The complexity of the break-up and the global recession had slowed the process, which involved dividing up not just employees, but assets such as intellectual property and ownership of the Motorola brand. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
It won’t save you from “enhanced patdowns,” but an iPhone app from the TSA tries to ease the pain of air travel by offering guidance on prohibited items, security wait times and packing tips. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
Google Inc.’s Voice calling application has won approval to be on the iPhone after more than a year of haggling with Apple Inc.
The breakthrough announced Tuesday resolves a stand-off that triggered a Federal Communications Commission inquiry into whether Apple and AT&T Inc., the iPhone’s exclusive U.S. service provider, were trying to stifle competition by keeping the app off the popular device. Get the full story »
Nov. 16, 2010 at 8:52 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer news,
Retail
By Wailin Wong
Target has joined a list of major retailers offering discounts and perks to consumers who use a mobile app called Shopkick. The iPhone app allows users to collect points called “kickbucks” for checking into stores, scanning products and participating in special promotions. The points can be redeemed for gift cards at the retailers and other items such as music downloads. Get the full story »
Nov. 16, 2010 at 8:27 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer news,
Retail,
Wireless
By Wailin Wong
Riverwoods-based Discover Financial Services is working with a new joint venture, created by three national wireless carriers, to develop a national network for payments via mobile phones.
AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless announced the joint venture, called Isis, on Tuesday. The group named Michael Abbott, a former executive at GE Capital, as its CEO. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
Google Inc. is taking another stab at designing a game-changing mobile phone, this time by including a built-in payment system that could eventually enable the devices to replace credit cards. The new phone got a brief preview Monday when Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the stage to kick off the Web 2.0 summit, a technology conference held annually in San Francisco.
Schmidt confirmed that Google has been working on a sophisticated new computer chip and an upgrade of its Android mobile operating system that will include a payment processing tool. He showed off the new phone with the device’s name and manufacturer concealed. Get the full story »
