News

Verizon Wireless, the USA's second largest carrier, and Google, the world's largest internet search engine, will soon close a deal whici concern Google's internet search service for mobile devices integrated into Verizon's cell phones.

If the deal completes as expected, Google would become the default search service for Verizon handsets, replacing Verizon's own search system. It is being reported that when, and if, this deal goes through, it would be Verizon's intent to put access to Google's search on the standby screen of its phones.

After posting its second quarter results, AT&T reported an increase of 9.2 million when compared with Q2 of 2007. The company has said that it has seen a 52 percent increase in data revenue from Q1.

All of this adds up to a Q2 2008 wireless income of US$2.998 billion on revenue of $12.0 billion, an income figure that is up a staggering 92.9 percent from the Q2 2007 figure.

Today T-Mobile launched its 3G network in Las Vegas. The company hopes that, by the end of this year, will have 3G service in at least 20 additional markets.

By the numbers posted today by Sprint, the company has a net loss instead of a profit. The company's total revenues for the quarter were US$9.1 billion, down $1.1 billion from Q2 2007. Its income figures worked out to a loss of $344 million for this quarter as compared to a Q2 2007 profit of $19 million.

Sprint loss a net 900k customers over the course of the quarter, dropping to 51.9 million total. The company had 54 million subscribers at this time last year. Its subscriber churn rate has improved, though, dropping .45 percent to just under 2.0 percent. Sprint says that its subscriber base is made up of 35.5 million CDMA users, 14.6 million Nextel iDEN users, and 1.7 million hybrid PowerSource users that have devices that work on both networks.

Sprint reported that its wireless subscriber ARPU (average revenue per user) remained stable at $56, but that data is making up an ever larger portion of that figure, standing currently at $15 per user.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has just approved the HANG UP act. Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace (HANG UP) is a bill that is now headed to the U.S. House of Representatives and would permanently make in-flight voice calls illegal.

HANG UP would still allow for data services such as internet browsing, email, and instant messaging to be available, and only aims to keep voice calling from polluting the sound waves inside the airplane. If approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill would still need to pass through the Senate and be signed by the President before it would become a law.

Sprint's Palm Centro will offer users a few new features and enhanced overall stability such as an updated setup wizard and better support for Gmail's IMAP mail service, performance updates for Bluetooth connectivity, Sprint TV, and AOL Instant Messenger. The camera shutter sound is also now set to 'on', by default.

Verizon and LG's sweet tooths have combined to offer the LG Chocolate 3, a new clamshell music device that's ready to rock.

The handset comes in Black and Light Blue color schemes, equiped with an external front navigation wheel and dual stereo speakers.

The Chocolate 3 features a built-in FM transmitter, so you can easily broadcast your tunes to any FM radio, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, for full wireless stereo music enjoyment, and a microSD card slot.

The LG Chocolate 3 supports Verizon's high-speed EV-DO network for a robust internet experience, and also supported the carrier's VZ Navigator GPS navigation service.

The LG Chocolate will be available from Verizon on July 13th, priced at $129.99 with a 2-year commitment and a mail-in rebate.

Virgin Mobile's phone lineup reads like a gang roster, with phone names like MARBL, Wild Card, and Red Cyclops. Adding to the membership recently is the TNT!, an entry-level clamshell. The oddly named TNT! offers a speakerphone and a WAP web browser as its main features, but is available for use on Virgin Mobile USA's recently announced unlimited calling plans.

NTT DoCoMo will launch Internet Services only for BlackBerry 8707h.

The BlackBerry Internet Service allows individuals access to push email without the need for a corporate IT account.

Research In Motion's BlackBerry Internet Services will be launched in Japan for the first time on August 1st and will cost 3,045 yen (US$28.50) per month, in addition to regular monthly fees for voice and messaging.

The BlackBerry 8707h features a full QWERTY keyboard and quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support, along with WCDMA (2100MHz) for high-speed data access. A QVGA display and handy thumb wheel allow for quick navigation through the phone's various menus.

On Wednesday Research In Motion announced that it had doubled its Q1 revenue figures from those of Q1 for the prior year. However, due to the company not meeting the Wall Street consensus on earnings, on top of some less than optimistic forecasts for the future, the company's stock actually dipped over $20 during active trading on Thursday and Friday. Palm's week went no better, even though the company boasted of a 29% gain in the sale of its smartphones vs. the same quarter in the prior year. The fact that it posted a loss of $43.4 million for the quarter meant it lost over 40 cents per share vs. the 15 cents per share it earned a year ago on fewer unit sales. Palm stock dropped 51 cents on Friday from its Thursday close of $6.51. Sony Ericsson has warned Wall Street that it is seeing a slowing in cell phone sales and that it expects to see a decline in profit margins year over year and compared to Q1 figures.