T-Mobile Inks Deal with Google

T-Mobile announced it will use Google as the entry point for customers to access the Internet via wireless devices. T-Mobile plans to provide subscribers full access to the Internet from its wireless phones, dismissing the “walled garden” concept where carriers pick and choose which Websites subscribers can view. The company will also offer devices with larger displays to better view Web pages.

Source: Reuters

Verizon Wireless Expands Broadband Service

Verizon Wireless announced it will deliver broadband Internet service to 15 more markets, for a total of more than 50, extending its lead over Cingular Wireless and Sprint. The network expansion includes Seattle, St. Louis, Cleveland and the Long Island suburbs of New York City.

Source: Associated Press

Free Wi-Fi Initiates Two Bills

For nearly a year, governments and businesses have argued whether Internet access is a paid privilege similar to telephone and cable services or if municipalities can provide the service for free. Municipalities see free Wi-Fi as necessary to attract new residents, tourists and businesses. Internet service providers see it as a threat to their billion-dollar high-speed access businesses. Two bills have been introduced on the issue, which highlight the divide. Senate bill 1294 says no state can prohibit a municipality from offering broadband to its citizens. House bill 2726 says state and local governments can’t offer Internet service if a private provider already does.

Source: Washington Post

Cingular Considers iTunes Phone

According to reports, Cingular Wireless is considering selling a Motorola wireless phone that plays Apple Computer’s iTunes music service. The iTunes phone is another example of how wireless carriers and music companies are betting on wireless phones with digital music players to be a key source of growth in the next few years.

Source: Reuters

Paramount Confiscates Wireless Phones

At Paramount Studio’s premiere of “War of the Worlds,” all guests, including celebrities, were required to hand over their handbags and wireless phones to security guards. According to a New York Times report, Paramount confiscated wireless devices in case people attempted to record scenes using their cameraphones.

Source: New York Times

Ringtones Continue to Generate Revenue

Ringtones are providing music labels and wireless carriers a chance to build a vibrant, piracy-proof market for songs, video clips and other wireless entertainment. At a time when illegal “peer-to-peer” sharing of songs hurts the music industry, many companies are seeing success in wireless ringtone sales. According to research firm Consect, ringtone sales topped $4 billion worldwide and $300 million in the U.S., in 2005.

Source: Reuters

Wireline Companies Lobby to End Wi-Fi Plans

As cities look to provide high-speed wireless Internet access, many are receiving push-back from wireline and cable companies. Around the country, governments are contracting with providers other than local telephone or cable companies to build or run networks using Wi-Fi technology. Many traditional telecom providers view these projects as a threat and are pushing for laws to curtail them.

Source: Wall Street Journal

China Wireless Phones Show Poor Performance in 3G Test

According to reports, a Chinese standard for 3G wireless phones failed to perform well in a government test, raising doubts about when licenses might be granted. Phones equipped with the TD-SCDMA standard could only be used to place calls and send text messages but failed to support other services, such as downloading video clips.

Source: Associated Press

Federal Rules Prohibit Telemarketing to Wireless

According to a CNet News report, the more that 190 million U.S. wireless subscribers could be targets for telemarketers. Since there are more wireless subscribers than wireline subscribers across the globe. However, Federal rules prohibit using automated dialing machines to reach wireless subscribers’ phones. Under the rules, telemarketers are allowed to dial each number by hand, which would be labor and cost intensive, according to the Federal Communications Commission. CTIA-The Wireless AssociationTM ensures that wireless carriers are doing everything they can to keep wireless phone numbers out of the hands of telemarketers.

Source: CNet News

Mobile Marketing and M-Commerce:Global Spending and Trends
2005 is projected to be a breakout year for mobile marketing, with spending spiking from “virtually nothing to millions in pilot investments.” Though that sounds suspiciously like the online advertising hype of the 1990s, remember, the Internet is now key to the marketing and sales strategies for most companies. Wireless represents the next frontier.

Source: eMarketer.com