AT&T Offers More Music Choices and Customization to Mobile Music Lovers

The ever-growing world of mobile music just got bigger. AT&T announced the immediate availability of two new music applications -- mSpot's Make-UR-Tones and Remix -- and plans to significantly expand offerings for Napster Mobile over-the-air downloads. Make-UR-Tones allows customers to customize ringtones by using their mobile phone, and the Remix application gives customers access to their PC-based music collections directly from their phone. The result for mobile music lovers is more freedom to listen to the songs they want, when they want, on their AT&T mobile phone.

"Music is one of the most personal forms of self-expression," said Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Data for AT&T's wireless unit. "We want to empower our customers to use music however they wish on their mobile phones. We're constantly looking for new opportunities to meet the wireless needs and wants of our customers. We are pleased
to offer our customers more choices and flexibility in how they experience music on the go."

UIQ Releasing New Version

UIQ Technology today announced the availability of UIQ 3.3, bringing mobile phone manufacturers even more opportunities to innovate and to diversify their product portfolios.

UIQ 3.3 based on Symbian OS v 9.3 builds on the success of the UIQ 3 family, making it possible for mobile phone manufacturers to produce different kinds of phones on the same software platform, on a single code line. UIQ 3.3 includes incremental enhancements in line with market requirements, including enhanced support for operator services and extensive customization for addressing different market segments.

"UIQ 3.3 will significantly enhance the options for creating differentiated mobile phones for different segments and different price ranges," said Mats Barvesten EVP Product Management and Ecosystems.

"Operators are also given the opportunity to promote their services through customized folders and a widget dashboard. We have integrated the Opera Mobile 9.5 web browser and added a number of new functions and possibilities that are in line with our strategy to enable phones with world class user experience."

With an aim to extend UIQ based mobile phones into the mass-market, UIQ's focus is to ensure a flexible and powerful open user interface and development platform that optimizes the options for mobile phone manufacturers to create higher volume phones for the market.

"The UIQ platform is a key enabler for several of Motorola's multimedia-centric devices -- including our new MOTO Z10 kick-slider handset, which offers users a host of features and applications for a unique mobile video experience," said Christy Wyatt, Vice President, Software Platforms & Ecosystem, Motorola. "We look forward to supporting UIQ 3.3 in future mobile devices, leveraging its new capabilities to further enhance customer experiences, and working closely with UIQ to provide the essential toolsets to our developer community."

"With UIQ 3.3, including a number of web based technologies, we see the platform evolving further to enable even richer user experience," said Ulf Persson, Corporate Vice President and Head of PBU Open Platforms at Sony Ericsson. "We welcome this release and are committed to developing and delivering products on UIQ 3.3."

Nokia Wins Frost & Sullivan Award for Mobile Advertising

American Mobility Award for On-deck Mobile Advertising by Frost & Sullivan, solidifying the company's position as one of the pioneers and continued leaders of the mobile advertising industry.

Nokia acquired mobile advertising leader, Enpocket, in October 2007 and continues to leverage Enpocket's ground-breaking analytics technology to optimize campaigns, improve conversions, and measure campaign performance across the network, allowing the company to provide mobile advertising solutions to some of the biggest brand advertisers around the world.

"Nokia continues to drive innovation in the U.S. Mobile Advertising industry and remains the preferred partner of mobile operators, advertisers and content publishers," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi. "The company has been a key partner of Sprint's pioneering mobile advertising initiative and plays a central role in ad-enabling Sprint's mobile properties and powering the Sprint Mobile Media Network."

Nokia enables advertisers to place ads on publisher and operator mobile Web pages, as well as Nokia properties, representing a global consumer reach of more than 100 million mobile consumers. As part of the turn-key service for advertisers, the award-winning mobile marketing team from Nokia creates mobile campaigns for hundreds of top brands.

"We're pleased to accept this award from Frost & Sullivan," said Mike Baker, VP and head of Nokia Interactive. "We are committed to building a mobile advertising ecosystem that provides advertisers with a high-performing and measurable medium for reaching their target audience while ensuring a relevant and respectful advertising experience for consumers."

Alltel Wireless launches Alltel Social Video

Alltel Wireless announced that customers with video-capable phones now have exclusive access to Alltel Social Video, a new application that allows customers to share and rate videos from a wide range of online outlets. To deliver the application, Alltel Wireless has teamed with Transpera, a leading provider of mobile video services, which provides the first comprehensive platform to monetize Web video on mobile phones.

Customers can subscribe to the service for $2.99 per month and access videos from sources such as Break.com, the leading online entertainment channel for men; AtomFilms, one of the world’s leading brands for independent entertainment; and GrindTV.com, a site widely recognized as the top online destination for action-oriented videos and content. After viewing the videos, customers have the option to rate the video or share the content via the “Send-to-Friend” feature. In addition, customers can search for videos across channels, create custom playlists and manage distribution lists.

“As the mobile phone continues to evolve into a portable entertainment device, Alltel Wireless is constantly seeking ways to engage customers through their phones, as more and more are taking advantage of the video capabilities offered on their handsets,” said Craig Kirkland, director of messaging and voice services for Alltel Wireless. “Alltel Social Video allows our customers to interact with video and lets them become part of an online video community.”

“Alltel Wireless is widely recognized throughout the industry as being a leader in wireless innovation. The launch of Alltel Social Video is the latest example of how Alltel provides customers with applications that tap into current trends and take full advantage of today’s technologies,” said Frank Barbieri, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Transpera. “The Transpera platform that Alltel Wireless chose to use for its social video application will provide its customers with seamless video and advertising delivery, while connecting them to the entertaining and social world of online video.”

Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and control to the customer’s wireless experience by offering features such as “My Circle,” an industry-defining feature giving customers the freedom of unlimited calling to and from five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free; and was the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

Audiopoint Provides Personalized News and Information Services to EarthLink's Subscribers

Audiopoint, a speech applications company developing products for businesses that reach consumer markets, and EarthLink, one of the nation's leading Internet service providers (ISPs), announced an agreement that will give EarthLink's subscribers the ability to define their own News and Information Services leveraging Audiopoint's latest product release and speech application service. The popularity of EarthLink's Email By Phone has demonstrated that people want access to a wider range of information on the go. News and Information Services combines the existing functionality of Email By Phone with natural voice-enabled Web content. Popular content such as Local News, Weather and Stock Quotes, amongst other personalized services are now available from any telephone using simple voice commands.

uVuMobile To Provide Mobile Streaming Video And Advertising Service For Action Engine

uVuMobile announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Action Engine, The On-Device Portal Company to provide an integrated multimedia services platform that gives media companies and wireless operators a user-friendly experience for streaming video and audio content on a wireless device. This agreement will enable Action Engine customers to enhance their on-device portals with rich, on-demand multimedia options that can be advertising enabled.
Mobile multimedia continues to be one of the fastest growing services in the wireless industry. According to Research and Marketing, streaming media enterprise markets were at $230 million in 2006 and are anticipated to reach $2 billion by 2013, uVuMobile’s flexible and scalable platform for streaming video and audio can provide a presence that extends far beyond the traditional video on-demand services being offered today and provides for advertising insertion, including pre-roll, mid-roll, and post roll video commercials.
“This licensing agreement with Action Engine is another example of how uVuMobile is leveraging its mobile platform within the mobile video and audio delivery industry. Through this partnership, Action Engine will be able to deliver its customers streaming media and video advertisements and services across a wide variety of devices. This agreement also makes Action Engine the first company to integrate streaming video, mobile advertising and on-device portal technology into a single platform – offering a single source for delivering, managing and monetizing mobile multimedia services for its customers,” said Bill Loughman, President and CEO of uVuMobile.

Wisair to Bring Wireless USB Functionality to Mobile Devices

Wisair announced that it is furthering its efforts to bring embedded Wireless USB technology to portable and handheld electronic devices with its new SDIO Wireless USB solution. Based on the Wisair WSR601 low-power single chip, the design enables vendors to embed Wireless USB into portable devices, such as digital still cameras, camcorders and smart phones, using the Secure Digital Input/Output (SDIO) interface.

"Wisair is committed to making the use of Wireless USB the ultimate experience for consumers. As part of this effort, we are enabling module vendors to implement small form-factor, low-power modules based on our single chip. These modules will be utilized by OEMs to integrate Wireless USB into mobile devices," said David Yaish, CEO of Wisair.

The Wisair WSR601 single chip has received regulatory approvals in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, and was recently certified by the USB-IF.

The Wisair design package includes a comprehensive platform for the development of embedded Wireless USB device solutions, based on the SDIO interface. Using the development platform, hardware and software, developers can implement an embedded small form factor module that is controlled by the device side application CPU via the SDIO bus.

modu is the World’s Lightest Mobile Phone

The Guinness World Record™ for the world’s lightest mobile phone has been awarded to modu for its tiny and sophisticated mobile phone. modu was awarded this prestigious honour after careful consideration by the Guinness World Records™ judges, who declared that: “The lightest mobile phone is the modu, which weighs 40.1 g (1.41 oz).” Guinness World Records added: modu’s dimensions are 72.1 mm (2.8 inches) x 37.6 mm (1.4 inches) x 7.8 mm (0.3 inches).”

modu launched its innovative mobile phone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event, held in Barcelona, Spain in February 2008. modu is the world’s first modular mobile phone, supported by a variety of ecosystem partners. At the heart of the ecosystem is modu - a tiny, sleek mobile phone that is fully functional and easy to use. modu can be slipped into a wide variety of modu jackets - stylishly designed phone enclosures and modu mates – modu-enabled consumer electronic products. modu's ecosystem offers boundless possibilities in a simple and affordable way.

Throughout the design process of modu, the emphasis has been on keeping the phone small, light and compact in order that modu’s innovative approach could be realized. The result is a phone that is not only miniature, but also superbly designed and minimalist, whilst offering all the functions and capabilities of a normal-sized handset.

Zack Weisfeld, modu’s VP Marketing, said: “The Guinness World Record™ is a great achievement for a team that has worked tirelessly to take modu from the drawing board to producing full working devices in less than a year. From the outset, modu’s tiny dimensions and super light weight have been fundamental to delivering the disruptive, modular communication concept that modu embodies.

“With modu, the mobile phone can now be added to the list of ‘invisible’ items that people carry with them wherever they go, such as a bunch of keys, their wallet and their watch."

China Mobile Phone Output Reached 594.4 Million Units

According to Research and Markets, in 2007, China mobile phone output reached approximately 594.4 million units, among which, 548 million units were legal products from official mobile phone producers and 46.4 million units were illegal products from official mobile phone producers. In 2007, sales volume reached 180.7 million units, amounting to 16% of the world total. In the same year, the global mobile phone output reached 1.141 billion units, of which 52 percent was from the Mainland China, exceeding 50% for the first time.

In the first half of 2007, the mobile phone output in the Mainland China totalled 266.8 million units, up 33.4% year on year and its combined sales revenue stood at CNY161.08 billion, up 29.6% year on year. Among the total output, 32.8 million were for CDMA mode, 234 million for GSM mode. Domestic sales volume reached 83 million units and exports arrived at 183.8 million. In the later half of 2007, mobile phone production reached 327.6 million units, of which 230.2 million units were for exports, and 97.4 million for domestic sales.

Kodiak Networks Announces Mobile Applications to Address End-User Demand for New Conferencing, Group Messaging and Contact Management Services

Kodiak Networks, a provider of applications for wireless carriers, announced a series of innovative clientless and client-based mobile applications targeted at business and consumer segments. The clientless applications provide end-users with the ability to assign a telephone number to a group of individuals that they can use for conferencing, text messaging, or voice messaging, directly from their mobile contact list. Both the group text and voice messaging applications allow recipients to reply to the originator or reply to all message recipients, directly from the message. This announcement also includes the first-ever client-based scheduled conferencing application, which allows users to set-up meetings directly from their mobile handset. All of these applications converge wireless and land-line calling functionality, that address end-user demand for integrated group communications and help operators increase revenue and retain customers.