Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile: okay, yeah, we're talking to SK Telecom]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/14/virgin-mobile-okay-yeah-were-talking-to-sk-telecom/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/14/virgin-mobile-okay-yeah-were-talking-to-sk-telecom/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/14/virgin-mobile-okay-yeah-were-talking-to-sk-telecom/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Looks like Virgin Mobile USA and Helio parent SK Telecom didn't bother to get their stories straight before turning to the press over recent rumors that they've been talking marriage. Right on the heels of an SKT statement that talks of a Virgin Mobile takeover were "groundless," Virgin Mobile has come out with a super-brief statement saying something quite to the contrary -- that the two are, in fact, in "preliminary discussions" over "possible strategic opportunities." That's about as vague and unhelpful as it gets -- a level of vagueness that's really only saved for situations where something big is about to go down, actually. The MVNO goes on to say that it's gonna stay mum on the subject at this point unless "a definitive agreement is reached," but at least we know they're chatting.

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heliosk telecomSkTelecomvirgin mobileVirginMobileWed, 14 May 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom says talk of Virgin Mobile takeover of Helio is "groundless"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/sk-telecom-says-talk-of-virgin-mobile-takeover-of-helio-is-grou/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/sk-telecom-says-talk-of-virgin-mobile-takeover-of-helio-is-grou/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/sk-telecom-says-talk-of-virgin-mobile-takeover-of-helio-is-grou/#commentsFiled under: ,

Well, it looks like the struggling Helio may not be falling under the Virgin Mobile umbrella quite just yet, with the MVNO's parent company, SK Telecom, now calling such speculation ""groundless." An SK Telecom spokesperson further added that it was not in "any sort of talks" with Virgin and that it remains "committed" to Helio, although the company did seemingly leave the door open somewhat by saying it is "actively seeking opportunities" to expand its service in the U.S. Muddling the situation a bit further, Reuters reported on Friday that the two companies were in fact in "early talks" about a deal, although the source behind that story was apparently unable to confirm whether the deal was actually a merger or a purchase, or one of a number of "other possibilities."
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heliomvnosk telecomSkTelecomvirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileMon, 12 May 2008 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile's first quarter earnings: down, but good times supposedly ahead]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/11/virgin-mobiles-first-quarter-earnings-down-but-good-times-sup/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/11/virgin-mobiles-first-quarter-earnings-down-but-good-times-sup/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/11/virgin-mobiles-first-quarter-earnings-down-but-good-times-sup/#commentsFiled under: ,

Virgin Mobile's warnings of a bleak quarter were pretty dead-on, with a mere 17,772 net adds coming on board during the three-month time frame ending March 31 -- not quite the blockbuster 309,721 reported in the same period a year ago. Similarly, revenue and income both took a dive, supposedly in part due to a big marketing push focused on the MVNO's new pricing plans. If there's a silver lining on the dark, rumbling cloud, though, it's that the CEO believes they'll start to see some positive growth again in the third quarter after a weak second (for his sake, we hope he's right). Also notable was a mention that although the company had no strategic partnerships, alliances, or investments to announce, it was definitely open to "non-organic growth" in the form of another MVNO or "capability." Wonder what he may have been talking about there?

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsearnings callEarningsCallrevenuevirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileSun, 11 May 2008 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile looking to merge with Helio?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/virgin-mobile-looking-to-merge-with-helio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/virgin-mobile-looking-to-merge-with-helio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/virgin-mobile-looking-to-merge-with-helio/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Times haven't been so great at Helio, but it looks like the troubled MVNO could be snapped up by Virgin Mobile. mocoNews did a little digging after Virgin's recent Q1 conference call, and says that the two companies are currently in merger talks. Since both companies use Sprint's network, the tech would be compatible, and the deal would give SK Telecom a way to keep Helio going as it tries to gain a foothold in the US market. Nothing's set in stone yet and the two companies aren't talking, but we'll definitely keep an eye on this one.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmergemergerThu, 08 May 2008 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Blyk reaches 100,000 subscriber mark in Britain, dons party hats in celebration]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/29/blyk-reaches-100-000-subscriber-mark-in-britain-dons-party-hats/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/29/blyk-reaches-100-000-subscriber-mark-in-britain-dons-party-hats/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/29/blyk-reaches-100-000-subscriber-mark-in-britain-dons-party-hats/#commentsFiled under:


Hold on to your seats, chaps -- Blyk has just surpassed that magical 100,000 subscriber mark in Britain that it's been aiming for ever since the company got off the ground last fall. For those curious as to why "just" 100k is a milestone worth celebrating, this particular MVNO -- which rents airtime from Orange and utilizes equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks -- issues its customers a free pool of minutes / text messages in exchange for them accepting advertisements. In other words, a totally ad-funded service is somehow managing to go over at least decently well. According to the outfit, it reached the aforesaid goal a full six months ahead of schedule and is currently seeing ad response rates of 29-percent. Kudos, Blyk -- way to quiet those naysayers.

[Via textually]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-fundedad-supportedadsadvertisingBlykBlyk mobileBlykMobilebritainenglandmvnoukTue, 29 Apr 2008 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio will push your Gmail to you -- or any other mail, for that matter]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Owners of Helio devices equipped with the MVNO's "Ultimate Inbox" feature -- Ocean, Fin, Mysto owners, we're looking straight at you -- will find that they now have a fun little gem waiting for them. Gmail's now being touted as supporting push notifications right alongside Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL, and My Helio, but the real trick here is that Ultimate Inbox now supports push for any POP or IMAP account of your choosing. In other words, that "my bad, I haven't checked my email recently" excuse suddenly holds, like, zero weight if you own one of these devices. Sorry!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gmailhelioimapinboxmailpoppushultimate inboxUltimateInboxThu, 24 Apr 2008 10:44:00 EST<![CDATA[CEO says Sonopia isn't dead, it's just playing possum]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/12/ceo-says-sonopia-isnt-dead-its-just-playing-possum/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/12/ceo-says-sonopia-isnt-dead-its-just-playing-possum/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/12/ceo-says-sonopia-isnt-dead-its-just-playing-possum/#commentsFiled under:


Apparently, laying off every single one of your employees at your US headquarters doesn't imply you're going out of business. Sonopia, the MVNO that allowed customers to roll their own mini-MVNOs, recently imploded -- but it turns out the company's still there, having maintained its customer base by purchasing minutes through a third-party wholesaler rather than from carriers directly. The remaining operations have retreated to Ukraine, where roughly half of its once 60-strong development staff remains; the CEO says that he's waiting for Americans to warm up to MVNOs to make his triumphant return, and in the meantime, the company is exploring European ventures. For what it's worth, he says they're not pursuing any additional venture capital beyond the $20 million they've raised already, though it's not clear whether that's because he doesn't feel they need any or because they don't stand a prayer of landing funding. On an interesting side node, he also chimed in on the state of other MVNOs currently trying to make a dent in the US market; he thinks value is where it's at, which is what seems to be making TracFone and Virgin Mobile so successful. On the other hand, he thinks Helio already had its chance to be successful; if it was going to be profitable, it'd be there by now, and at this point it's just a matter of how long its corporate parents are willing to cut it an allowance. Then again, do we really trust the opinion of a dude whose MVNO just failed?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mvnosonopiaSat, 12 Apr 2008 15:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Roll your own MVNO somewhere else: Sonopia calls it quits]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/08/roll-your-own-mvno-somewhere-else-sonopia-calls-it-quits/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/08/roll-your-own-mvno-somewhere-else-sonopia-calls-it-quits/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/08/roll-your-own-mvno-somewhere-else-sonopia-calls-it-quits/#commentsFiled under:


Given that MVNOs have been dropping like flies for the past couple years and the fact that the whole business model is being called into question, it stands to reason that a company whose strategy revolves around allowing groups to create their own MVNOs would be on thin ice. Sure enough, the start-up shuttered its US operations in March, laid off all of its employees, transitioned subscribers to its partners, and has "practically ceased operations." At least they were kind enough to see to it that customers were shuttled off to more financially sound carriers before shutting off the switch, but sadly, it looks like that Engadget-branded carrier we've all been yearning to set up is going to have to wait just a little bit longer.

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mvnosonopiaTue, 08 Apr 2008 22:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio Ocean 2 breaks cover, FCC style?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/helio-ocean-2-breaks-cover-fcc-style/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/helio-ocean-2-breaks-cover-fcc-style/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/helio-ocean-2-breaks-cover-fcc-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


In light of the fact that the original Ocean's model number was OZ, it seems pretty obvious that an "OZ2" passing through the FCC by way of Pantech would be -- you guessed it -- the Ocean 2. It helps that the label diagram's depiction of the phone is clearly Ocean-esque in nature, too. So let's use this opportunity as a springboard for discussion: what does everyone hope to get out of the dual-sliding Helio Ocean's successor?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccheliooceanocean 2Ocean2oz2Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile retools prepaid and monthly plans, still no contracts]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/24/virgin-mobile-retools-prepaid-and-monthly-plans-still-no-contra/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/24/virgin-mobile-retools-prepaid-and-monthly-plans-still-no-contra/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/24/virgin-mobile-retools-prepaid-and-monthly-plans-still-no-contra/#commentsFiled under: ,


MVNO Virgin Mobile is taking a rather unusual approach to advertising its new plan features and pricing structures unveiled today, pointing out that they provide "smarter choices in a tough economy." For monthly plans, those "smarter choices" include unlimited nights and weekends starting at 7pm (well, we suppose weekends start at 12am, but you get what we mean) and unlimited messaging for a reasonable $10 monthly. Prepaid plans, meanwhile, are now offering the capability to "roll forward" up to 5,000 unused minutes when the account is re-upped within 30 days. Minute packs are now available in $20, $30, and $50 increments equaling 200, 400, and 1,000 minutes, respectively, knocking the per-minute price down to 5 cents at the highest level. The new goodies are all available immediately.

[Via Phone Scoop and MobileTechNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contractplanplansvirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileMon, 24 Mar 2008 19:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Put away the hacks: Helio now offering Opera Mini officially]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/17/put-away-the-hacks-helio-now-offering-opera-mini-officially/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/17/put-away-the-hacks-helio-now-offering-opera-mini-officially/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/17/put-away-the-hacks-helio-now-offering-opera-mini-officially/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Back in the days of yore, the world was a simpler place. The Helio Ocean had just one browser -- its own -- and if you wanted Opera Mini instead, you got it the old-fashioned way: with hard, manual labor. Times are changing, though, and both Helio and the Ocean are changing with 'em. Opera Mini is now available as a direct download from Helio itself, a nod to the community's desire to have access to what is commonly considered the premier mobile web browser, and maybe -- just maybe -- an admission that Opera Mini is better than the Ocean's integrated app. Whatever the implications, it looks like hitting 67372 from your Ocean's home screen will get the show on the road.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heliooperaopera miniOperaMiniMon, 17 Mar 2008 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile Flare: not bad for 30 bucks]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/15/virgin-mobile-flare-not-bad-for-30-bucks/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/15/virgin-mobile-flare-not-bad-for-30-bucks/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/15/virgin-mobile-flare-not-bad-for-30-bucks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Virgin Mobile's slowly (and we do mean slowly) moving into the 21st century with its ultra-cheap prepaid offerings; in the past they've frequently foregone features most of us consider standard like Bluetooth and external displays in an effort to keep the sticker shock to a minimum, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Virgin's getting close to being able to offer a circa-2008 feature set in 2008. Here we have the Flare courtesy of LG, a glossy lil' flip that serves up a color screen out front, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and mobile web access for a penny shy of $30 -- contract-free. The FCC filing (it's the LX175) reveals a lack of EV-DO, but seriously, what do you expect for the price?

[Thanks, Eric C.]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clamshellflarefliplgvirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileSat, 15 Mar 2008 18:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio continues to bleed money, now $560 million in the red]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/29/helio-continues-to-bleed-money-now-560-million-in-the-red/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We'll be honest with you -- it's a bit disheartening to watch the (seemingly) inevitable happen to Helio. After all, it's managed to soldier on despite hordes of other MVNOs hanging it up here in the US of A. Nevertheless, data gleaned from EarthLink's most recent annual report shed some light on its deteriorating situation. Reportedly, Helio's net loss "widened by 41.3-percent to $326.6 million in 2007 compared to $191.8 million in 2006," yet revenues managed to grow 267-percent to $171 million from $46.6 million the year prior and subscriber growth rose 28-percent over last quarter to 180,000. Add those figures to the $42 or so million it lost in 2005, and we're up to a grand total just south of 560 million American dollars. Tough times, indeed.

[Via Silicon Alley Insider]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EarthLinkfinancialsheliolossesmvnoFri, 29 Feb 2008 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[ROK's acquisition of Xero officially now a vapor-acquisition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/28/roks-acquisition-of-xero-officially-now-a-vapor-acquisition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/28/roks-acquisition-of-xero-officially-now-a-vapor-acquisition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/28/roks-acquisition-of-xero-officially-now-a-vapor-acquisition/#commentsFiled under: ,

We certainly can't give Xero Mobile credit for launching any actual product -- because they haven't -- but we're all about giving credit where credit is due, and in Xero's case, we've gotta hand it to 'em for continuing the magnificent vaporware parade for as long as they have. It's now been nearly 14 months since the ad revenue-supported MVNO had originally claimed to be targeting a launch, and as far as we can tell, they're still doing something behind the scenes; that "something" may have absolutely nothing to do with actually launching, but hey, announcing partnerships and potential acquisitions must pay the bills, we suppose. Speaking of potential acquisitions, suitor ROK Entertainment has unceremoniously dropped its bid this week without giving any rhyme or reason, leading us to wonder where this leaves Xero's liquidity -- do they have enough money to continue trying to sell themselves, let alone launch an MVNO?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rokrok entertainmentRokEntertainmentxeroxero mobileXeroMobileThu, 28 Feb 2008 23:28:00 EST<![CDATA[A trip down Helio's memory lane]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/a-trip-down-helios-memory-lane/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Back before there was Helio, there was Earthlink, South Korea's SKT, and a dream. Heliocity managed to score some shots of just what that dream looked like in the early days, a similar -- yet decidedly different -- vision than what the MVNO ended up bringing to market. Not only are the prerelease versions of Helio's first two models to market (the Kickflip and Hero) "SK Earthlink" branded, but check out that super trippy Kickflip proto, complete with aerial antenna and secondary LCD for self-portraits. The Ocean obviously came along further down the road, and while we like the all-black finish Helio decided on, we think the two-tone action here would've made for an interesting second choice. Read on for all the visuals.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinkhelioherokickflipmvnooceanprototypeprototypessk earthlinkSkEarthlinksktTue, 26 Feb 2008 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Amp'd going after former CEO to pay off debts]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/08/ampd-going-after-former-ceo-to-pay-off-debts/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/08/ampd-going-after-former-ceo-to-pay-off-debts/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/08/ampd-going-after-former-ceo-to-pay-off-debts/#commentsFiled under: ,

It wasn't a pretty end for Amp'd Mobile, but even the hasty one-week extension of service, sale of customers to Prexar and asset liquidation wasn't enough to keep creditors at bay -- the bankrupt company is now suing after its former CEO for cash. Claiming that Peter Adderton "refused to perform certain aspects of his employment" and "threatened to take action that would damage" Amp'd, the lawsuit seeks some $1.15M in payments made. Amp'd is also going after some 20 other partners in similar suits, ranging from Merrill Lynch to law firm Latham and Watkins to Playboy and MTV. We're not sure how that's going to play out, but it looks like those rumors about the content team and properties like "Lil' Bush" being sold off are definitely true -- William Morris is in charge of shopping the group out to the highest bidder. All in all, it looks like Amp'd's creditors aren't being shy about getting their cash -- but what repo man ever is?

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>peter addertonPeterAddertonshutdownFri, 08 Feb 2008 18:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Voce indeed dead, execs let go by phone disconnections]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/voce-indeed-dead-execs-let-go-by-phone-disconnections/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/voce-indeed-dead-execs-let-go-by-phone-disconnections/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/06/voce-indeed-dead-execs-let-go-by-phone-disconnections/#commentsFiled under:


Alright, we'll definitely cop to having broken off a relationship or two via text message, but we don't think we've ever heard of a high-ranking executive discovering he'd been fired when his phone stopped working -- which is exactly what happened to Roy Kosuge, COO of Voce, that "luxury" MVNO. We'd heard rumors of Voce's demise, but it looks like ol' Roy wasn't so plugged in, only finding out that his company was dead when his phone stopped making calls. Of course, when a company's chief operating officer doesn't know that you're about to kill the lights, it's a safe bet that things are pretty screwed up, so if you were among the few who signed up for Voce's premium services, we'd recommend calling your credit card company immed -- oh, right. Sorry about that.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>voceWed, 06 Feb 2008 16:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio offering unlimited everything for $99 a month]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/helio-offering-unlimited-everything-for-99-a-month/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/helio-offering-unlimited-everything-for-99-a-month/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/04/helio-offering-unlimited-everything-for-99-a-month/#commentsFiled under: ,


Is it just us, or is this a pretty good deal? Helio has started offering its unlimited plan for $99, down from the $145 it was charging before. In Helio parlance, "unlimited" really does mean unlimited, too: voice minutes, texts, and on-device data usage are all fair game. Of course, tethering isn't offered, which is probably the only thing preventing a deluge of people signing their names on the dotted line to get in on the action, but it still seems to be a solid offering any way you slice it. The MVNO had offered the $99 unlimited plan previously before jacking up the price (and indeed, the triple asterisk beside the price leads to some fine print that says "limited time offer"), so if this piques your interest, you might want to get in sooner rather than later.

[Thanks, Chris R.]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>helioplanunlimitedMon, 04 Feb 2008 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Did Voce die overnight, without warning?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/02/did-voce-die-overnight-without-warning/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/02/did-voce-die-overnight-without-warning/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/02/did-voce-die-overnight-without-warning/#commentsFiled under:


We don't yet know for sure what's up, but we're hearing that customers of Voce, the luxury MVNO based on AT&T's network, woke up on February 1st to zero service, dead customer service lines, and even some crazier claims like being double-billed for the final month of service. We gave their sales lines -- usually the very last thing to go down -- a ring, and got no reply. It's possible this could be some kind of huge misunderstanding and outage on Voce's part, which we do hope it is, because if they did shut down they certainly did so in about the most abrupt, impudent way imaginable. Either way, looks like guys are going to be out for the count -- we wouldn't exactly expect a mobile phone provider to go completely dark, ignore its customers for days, and expect to retain any business.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcyvoceSat, 02 Feb 2008 11:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio's Sky Dayton steps down as CEO]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/helios-sky-dayton-steps-down-as-ceo/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sky Dayton, founder and chairman of the phantasmagorical Helio, has announced that he's stepping down as CEO to become chairman of the board of the last-man-standing MVNO. Helio's new CEO will be Wonhee Sull, formerly the company's president and COO, and obviously a direct conduit to co-owner SK Telecom. "Helio has reached a point in its development where I feel the timing is right for this change... As we have for the past three years, the two of us will continue to define Helio's direction and future," said Dayton. Whether Sky's really ready to move on or not we'll never know, but it's certainly possible that the recent influx of cash (and increased ownership) from from its Korean parents and dwindling marketshare of US MVNOs led SK to step in and get things on track.

Update: Lots of fun inaccuracies going on up in here, our bad. We ironed out the kinks, see above for the latest, correct edits to Helio's executive musical chairs.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceocooheliomvnopresidentsky daytonSkyDaytonMon, 28 Jan 2008 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Mobile rises from ashes to invade Japan]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/disney-mobile-rises-from-ashes-to-invade-japan/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/disney-mobile-rises-from-ashes-to-invade-japan/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/28/disney-mobile-rises-from-ashes-to-invade-japan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If at first you don't succeed, try, try again -- preferably on a different continent. That's the attitude Disney is taking with its Disney Mobile MVNO, shutting down its poorly-received US service and heading over to Japan where Softbank is serving up the necessary airwaves this time around. The target demo is decidedly different now, too -- whereas the US service was aimed at families with young kiddies, the Japanese rendition is targeting women in their 20s and 30s, seen as prime consumers of Disney content. The first handset to support Disney Mobile will be the DM001SH, a reworked version of Sharp's 821SH for Softbank that features 3G data, a 2 megapixel cam, 400 x 240 internal and 60 x 32 external displays, one-seg mobile TV, FeliCa, and no shortage of Mickey Mouse branding. All told, we'd say it's just a tad hotter than the carrier's now-deceased US offerings. Look for the service to launch March 1.

[Via Tech-On!]

Gallery: Disney Mobile rises from ashes to invade Japan

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clamshelldisneydisney mobileDisneyMobiledm001shflipjapanmvnosharpsoftbanksoftbank mobileSoftbankMobileMon, 28 Jan 2008 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio Mysto now available to everyone]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/helio-mysto-now-available-to-everyone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/helio-mysto-now-available-to-everyone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/helio-mysto-now-available-to-everyone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Following a limited release last month, Helio is now taking its slim, sexy Mysto slider from Samsung to the general public. Like every other phone currently in Helio's lineup, the Mysto has integrated GPS and a healthy dose of EV-DO data for the media-rich apps the MVNO and its members tend to be so fond of. Grab it today for $149 on contract or $320 without.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heliomystosamsungsliderWed, 16 Jan 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio Mysto in the flesh]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/28/helio-mysto-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/28/helio-mysto-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/28/helio-mysto-in-the-flesh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We'll take a closer look at Helio's latest hotness in the next few days, but we wanted to give you a few shots to drool over if you haven't been able to score one of the first few units trickling out of the MVNO's flagship stores this week. Needless to say, we're pretty sure the Samsung-sourced Mysto is our new favorite Helio handset; we kinda knew it would be, seeing how lovely the similarly styled Ultra Edition 10.9 is. Click on, people!

Gallery: Helio Mysto in the flesh

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onhands-onHandsOnheliomystosamsungsliderFri, 28 Dec 2007 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio releases Mysto, Korean community comes first]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/helio-releases-mysto-korean-community-comes-first/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/helio-releases-mysto-korean-community-comes-first/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/helio-releases-mysto-korean-community-comes-first/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Helio has gotten official with the slim, sexy Mysto slider -- a branded, CDMA rendition of the Ultra Edition 10.9 that should ultimately become the MVNO's top of the line handset just this side of the Ocean with a 2 megapixel camera, microSD expansion, and the now-typical GPS and EV-DO data. There's a catch, though; it turns out that Helio will start out by soft launching the phone through its "Helio powered by SK Telecom" division that caters directly to the Korean American market. A full-scale launch is planned for January, but we've been told that folks should be able to approach staffers at Helio's New York and Santa Monica stores with a nudge nudge, wink wink starting December 26 and get hooked up for $149 (even though no Mystos will be on display). Good luck, shoppers!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsheliomvnomystosamsungsliderFri, 21 Dec 2007 01:02:00 EST<![CDATA[XE Mobile, R.I.P.: another MVNO goes to the cell tower in the sky]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/xe-mobile-r-i-p-another-mvno-goes-to-the-cell-tower-in-the-sk/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/xe-mobile-r-i-p-another-mvno-goes-to-the-cell-tower-in-the-sk/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/xe-mobile-r-i-p-another-mvno-goes-to-the-cell-tower-in-the-sk/#commentsFiled under:


MVNOs left and right are discovering that it takes way more than a round or two of venture capital and a dream to be successful; Amp'd is probably the most spectacular and well-publicized of the falls from grace, but they're certainly not the only example. Latest to fall victim to the virtual network backlash is XE Mobile, a service focused on college students that offered pay-as-you-go service and a host of crappy phones atop AT&T's network. We're not sure how many customers are left scrambling for an alternative here before the network goes dark on December 31, but seeing how the company's death was nearly as silent as its birth, we're guessing it's not terribly many -- which explains the shutdown, we guess, and the circle of life begins anew.

[Via Phone Scoop]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mvnoxe mobileXeMobileMon, 17 Dec 2007 02:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio brings full-featured YouTube to the Ocean]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/helio-brings-full-featured-youtube-to-the-ocean/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/helio-brings-full-featured-youtube-to-the-ocean/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/12/helio-brings-full-featured-youtube-to-the-ocean/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Okay, so we've had a chance to play around with this app, and as mobile YouTube apps go, it's pretty hot (and yes, that includes the eye candy-rich iPhone version). Helio's latest stab at opening the vast world of time-wasting, brain-numbing video entertainment to its subscribers matches the very best in the market for slickness and ease of use, but that's just the beginning -- as Helio describes it, they're now providing the "most complete YouTube experience currently available on mobile." That rather boastful claim is backed up by a handful of cool features like dead simple instant uploading, geo-tagging of posted videos using the Ocean's integerated GPS, and login capability, which allows users to rate, comment, and post video replies as they would on their PCs. Thanks goodness Helio decided to go free with this stuff, eh? Look for it to be available to Ocean owners today.

Gallery: Helio brings full-featured YouTube to the Ocean

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heliovideoyoutubeWed, 12 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile deploys automated phone activation]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/11/virgin-mobile-deploys-automated-phone-activation/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/11/virgin-mobile-deploys-automated-phone-activation/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/11/virgin-mobile-deploys-automated-phone-activation/#commentsFiled under: ,

Who wants to talk to customer service if they don't have to? Lucky Virgin Mobile customers (and soon-to-be customers) just got a free pass to spend a little less time on the horn with company reps thanks to the MVNO's deployment of Telespree's over-the-air provisioning wizardry. Apparently, the entire process now requires zero human intervention from beginning to end for both new customers and upgrades alike. Kinda ironic that we're buying a phone to talk to others and we no longer have to talk to others, isn't it?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activationself serviceSelfServicevirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileTue, 11 Dec 2007 21:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Montclair State mandates use of GPS-enabled phones]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nearly six months after Slippery Rock University introduced a RFID payment system for mobiles at its campus, we've learned that Montclair State University is requiring that all full-time undergraduates carry a school-issued mobile for their own safety. The handsets, which cost some $210 per semester, are already being carried by about 6,000 students, and feature a GPS function that can be activated to ensure campus police are alerted of their location if something goes awry. Aside from being able to send a request for help immediately, the phone will also call for assistance should the feature remain on for longer than a preset length of time. As it stands, the university has yet to see the Rave Guardian technology used in situations other than false alarms, but a 32-member police force is kept on staff in case any future calls prove legitimate.

[Image courtesy of WCBSTV]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpsgps phoneGpsPhoneMontclair State UniversityMontclairStateUniversityrave wirelessRaveWirelesssafetysprintuniversityTue, 04 Dec 2007 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lawsuit claims Virgin Mobile told a little lie to boost IPO showing]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/03/lawsuit-claims-virgin-mobile-told-a-little-lie-to-boost-ipo-show/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/03/lawsuit-claims-virgin-mobile-told-a-little-lie-to-boost-ipo-show/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/03/lawsuit-claims-virgin-mobile-told-a-little-lie-to-boost-ipo-show/#commentsFiled under: ,

Virgin Mobile's October IPO raked in a solid $412.5 million -- a little bit off its highest estimate, yeah, but still boatloads (and when we say "boatloads," we mean "hundreds of millions of dollars") higher than what it had thought it could get when it first announced its intentions to go public. A new class action suit alleges that the $412.5M figure was inflated, though, by Virgin's fudging of third quarter revenue figures which conveniently have since been revised down to indicate a $7.3M loss. Unfortunate coincidence? Maybe, but Virgin's stock fell a solid 14.4 percent on news of the redone numbers, so we can understand that a few shareholders might be grumbling about the sitch. Meanwhile, the MVNO's form letter reaction to the news is in full effect, claiming that the lawsuit is "completely without merit," so we're guessing this one's gonna be tied up in the legal system for a hot minute or two.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipolawsuitmvnosuitvirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileMon, 03 Dec 2007 12:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Blyk alleges decent click-through rates on mobile ads]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/22/blyk-alleges-decent-click-through-rates-on-mobile-ads/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/22/blyk-alleges-decent-click-through-rates-on-mobile-ads/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/22/blyk-alleges-decent-click-through-rates-on-mobile-ads/#commentsFiled under:

It has yet to be conclusively proven that the ads-for-minutes system really works, but UK-based Blyk Mobile is starting to offer up some stats on how it's fared since its launch a couple months back. As a refresher, Blyk is offering folks in their teens and early twenties precisely 43 minutes of voice and 217 text messages per month for the right to send out six targeted ads per day -- and believe it or not, it might just be working. Blyk claims that it's seeing click-throughs ranging from 12 to 43 percent depending on the type of ad (text, video, and so on), and its demographics are fairly well balanced to boot with a 52 / 48 percent gender split in favor of men. The MVNO has a fairly modest 12-month subscriber target of 100,000 users -- and while they're being a little coy about whether the service on track for that number, they've reiterated that it's still the number they're shooting for. So yeah, Xero Mobile, if you ever want to get off the ground, how's about you take a few pointers from these guys?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blykblyk mobileBlykMobilemvnoukThu, 22 Nov 2007 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Mickey's back: Disney to launch mobile services, handsets in Japan]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/11/mickeys-back-disney-to-launch-mobile-services-handsets-in-jap/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/11/mickeys-back-disney-to-launch-mobile-services-handsets-in-jap/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/11/mickeys-back-disney-to-launch-mobile-services-handsets-in-jap/#commentsFiled under: ,

You know what they say: nothing gets you over the last one like the next one. Apparently, Disney is totally signed on to the aforementioned mantra, as just under seven weeks after Disney Mobile hung its US-based ears in shame, the Japanese unit of Walt Disney Company will reportedly be firing up similar operations in its neck of the woods. Apparently, the outfit has "reached a basic agreement" with Softbank Mobile to lease telecom networks and start providing nationwide service to those interested. Furthermore, it will be buddying up with Softbank to "develop handsets and consign its output to other companies," and if all goes to plan, Disney hopes to sign up "more than one million subscribers." Oh, and if that wasn't enough to make you scrounge up that decade-old Mickey Mouse figurine and give it a long overdue hug, users of the service will also have exclusive access to "animated film downloads." Regrettably, there's no word on an actual launch date just yet, but we'll be keeping a (grossly oversized) set of ears to the ground.

[Via Yahoo / Reuters]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealDisneyjapanmvnopartnerpartnershipsoftbanksoftbank mobileSoftbankMobiletelecomtelecommunicationswalt disneyWaltDisneySun, 11 Nov 2007 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[SK Telecom effectively taking over Helio]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/09/sk-telecom-effectively-taking-over-helio/#commentsFiled under: ,


We knew Earthlink and SK Telecom were both planning on reinvesting up to $100M each into struggling joint venture Helio back in July, and it looks like all that recent talk about "revised governance" was on point -- the deal will effectively shift management control of Helio away from Earthlink and to SKT for the first time in Helio's history. SKT has already allocated $70M to make the move, and it's also committed an additional $100M to future handset development and marketing. No word on what other changes SKT plans to make, but we'd happy to see Helio score a much-deserved second chance.

[Via MobileTech News]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthlinksk telecomSkTelecomFri, 09 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Hop-on intros HOP1883 GPS phone]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/08/hop-on-intros-hop1883-gps-phone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/08/hop-on-intros-hop1883-gps-phone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/08/hop-on-intros-hop1883-gps-phone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's been a hot minute since we've heard from Hop-on, but the firm is hitting us up with a new GPS phone dubbed HOP1883. Granted, it's currently listed as "in production," and the only product shots we're seeing are mere renderings, but nevertheless, this tri-band GSM handset purportedly sports a candybar-styled exterior, 2.8-inch QVGA (320 x 240) display and support for a variety of languages. Additionally, it features an integrated SiRFstarIII GPS chipset, up to eight-hours of talk time, 32MB of SDRAM, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 connectivity, a T-Flash expansion slot and a two-megapixel camera to boot. Sadly, all we're missing is a price and a release date, but here's to hoping it won't be long before those final pieces fall into place.

[Via NaviGadget]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpsgps phoneGpsPhonehophop onhop-onHop1883.HopOnThu, 08 Nov 2007 20:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile deals the Kyocera Wild Card]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/19/virgin-mobile-deals-the-kyocera-wild-card/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/19/virgin-mobile-deals-the-kyocera-wild-card/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/19/virgin-mobile-deals-the-kyocera-wild-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Virgin Mobile is officially dipping its toes into smartphone water with its latest offering, the Kyocera Wild Card. Of course, how deep into that particular pool both companies are going is a question for the ages. The Wild Card isn't exactly the most robust phone you'll ever get your hands on, though the flip-phone does offer a QWERTY keypad, dual screens, a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth integration, and a WAP browser. The hitch is that you'll have to view that browser on a 128 x 160 screen, which is painfully, embarrassingly small -- though they do throw in Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man to keep you distracted. Hey, for a price point of $99, you could do way, way worse. The phone is available now from your friendly neighborhood Virgin Mobile dealer.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flip phoneFlipPhonekyocerapre paid wirelessPrePaidWirelessqwertyvirgin mobileVirginMobilewild cardWildCardFri, 19 Oct 2007 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile's IPO nets $412.5M, not quite what it hoped for]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/11/virgin-mobiles-ipo-nets-412-5m-not-quite-what-it-hoped-for/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/11/virgin-mobiles-ipo-nets-412-5m-not-quite-what-it-hoped-for/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/11/virgin-mobiles-ipo-nets-412-5m-not-quite-what-it-hoped-for/#commentsFiled under: ,

It seems the $467.5 million Virgin thought it could muster in its IPO filing was a little optimistic -- though it still fared far better than it thought it would a few months back. Shares of Virgin Mobile started trading today on the New York Stock Exchange at $15 a share; multiply that by 27.5 million and you arrive at a healthy $412.5 million in proceeds. Most of the money is earmarked to repay debts and to buy back 16.7 percent of Sprint's ownership, making the relatively successful prepaid MVNO a more independent entity. No word yet on whether it can spare a few dimes to research bringing higher-tech handsets to its lineup, unfortunately (bear in mind this is the carrier that just discovered Bluetooth a few months back).

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipomvnovirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileThu, 11 Oct 2007 23:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Mobile Canada gets unlimited data for $10, two new phones]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/10/virgin-mobile-canada-gets-unlimited-data-for-10-two-new-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/10/virgin-mobile-canada-gets-unlimited-data-for-10-two-new-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/10/virgin-mobile-canada-gets-unlimited-data-for-10-two-new-phones/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Look familiar? Yep, Virgin Mobile's Canadian outpost is getting two phones that should ring a bell for Sprint peeps in these parts: the Samsung m300 and m510 flips. The m300 doesn't look half bad, but its spec sheet's pretty forgettable: 1xRTT data, VGA cam, you get the idea; pick 'er up for $99 CAD. The $199 m510, though, is where things start to get interesting. Simultaneously with the phone's launch, Virgin is firing up its "Tidal Wave" unlimited data plan (sounds vaguely Helio-esque, does it not?) for just $10 a month -- way cheaper than any competing plan up there -- the only catch is that the m510 is the one and only device that they'll let you hook up to it. We're sure the connection's pretty restrictive (laptop tethering hopefuls, sorry, you're still stuck with far more expensive plans) but Virgin says you have "unlimited megabytes for surfing the mobile web." Lucky thing the m510's down with EV-DO, that's for darned sure.

Read - Samsung m300
Read - Samsung m510
Read - Tidal Wave Data Pak

[Thanks, Stewart M.]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadam300m510samsungsch-m300sch-m510virgin mobileVirginMobileWed, 10 Oct 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[The Helio Drift is dead, long live the Mysto?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/the-helio-drift-is-dead-long-live-the-mysto/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/the-helio-drift-is-dead-long-live-the-mysto/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/the-helio-drift-is-dead-long-live-the-mysto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Drift was a groundbreaking device for Helio -- its first to be sourced from Samsung, its first to integrate GPS, and its first slider that didn't look like death -- so we'd be kidding ourselves if we didn't say we were getting just a little emotional over the news that it's been pulled from Helio's site. That's right, the Drift is no more, leaving just the Heat behind to rep the form factor in Helio's lineup. So what's next? The 'nets are abuzz with talk of the Samsung SPH-A523, a handset that passed through the FCC not long ago, is apparently destined for the MVNO, and is said to resemble Samsung's beautiful Ultra Edition 10.9. On a related note, Helio has recently filed for a trademark on the name "Mysto," continuing the surf-themed naming convention (a "mysto spot" is apparently a rare, difficult to find break that typically occurs offshore) -- and while we don't know that the A523 will be called the Mysto, it seems like a good fit. We'll pass along more info as we get it.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Read - HowardForums
Read - Heliocity
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a523heliomystosamsungslidersph-a523Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Blyk's ad-supported free service goes live in UK]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/blyks-ad-supported-free-service-goes-live-in-uk/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/blyks-ad-supported-free-service-goes-live-in-uk/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/02/blyks-ad-supported-free-service-goes-live-in-uk/#commentsFiled under:

Alright, we give Xero Mobile a pretty hard time around here -- mostly deserved, we'd argue -- but at least its business model has now been partially validated by the launch of a similar setup across the pond, Blyk. Currently open only to 16 to 24 year olds (by invitation only, no less), the MVNO offers users 217 free text messages and 43 voice minutes per month in exchange for an agreement to receive six SMS ads a day, participate in some polls, and fill out some profiling information; any additional usage will cost cold, hard cash. Blyk operates atop Orange's British network; there aren't any immediate plans to launch elsewhere, though the company says it's in talks to do so. At this point, Xero might want to hold out and see whether this is successful before they bother launching. And no, we can't believe we just suggested Xero should delay its launch even longer than it already has.

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blykmvnoukTue, 02 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Xero Mobile in yet another round of acquisition talks]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/01/xero-mobile-in-yet-another-round-of-acquisition-talks/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/01/xero-mobile-in-yet-another-round-of-acquisition-talks/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/01/xero-mobile-in-yet-another-round-of-acquisition-talks/#commentsFiled under: ,

The fact that former Gizmondo peeps are still associated with the vaporware artists at Xero Mobile would send most would-be investors sprinting in the opposite direction, we'd think, but what do we know? After announcing a series of stock swaps, partnerships with companies we've never heard of (whose execs just happen to be on Xero's management team), and failed buyouts, ROK Entertainment Group -- which offers video downloads to phones, apparently -- has inexplicably announced an interest in acquiring the perpetual hype machine. If we had to guess, we'd figure that there's some sort of shady business deal going on behind the scenes that lets parties involved make yet another obscene profit without actually launching any actual product, but we've gotta ask: just how many times can the same team of scam artists run the same con and continue to pad their wallets without getting busted? All we need to see, Xero, is a functional website where we can sign up for one of your ad revenue-subsidized plans you've been touting for ages, and we'll start to believe. Honest!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionmergermvnorokrok entertainmentRokEntertainmentxeroxero mobileXeroMobileMon, 01 Oct 2007 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Mobile, R.I.P.: 2006 - 2007]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/27/disney-mobile-r-i-p-2006-2007/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/27/disney-mobile-r-i-p-2006-2007/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/27/disney-mobile-r-i-p-2006-2007/#commentsFiled under:

Perhaps Disney hoped that its MVNO bearing the corporate name would fare a little better than its doomed sibling, Mobile ESPN, but it was not to be. Making good on some ominous verbiage last week from CFO Thomas Staggs, Disney Mobile has announced that it will "cease its wireless operations" as of December 31, 2007. MVNOs have generally had a tough time navigating through the dog-eat-dog world of profitable wireless service, and Disney Mobile was dogged from the very beginning with tough competition on kid-friendly features and hardware from larger rivals and a dearth of quality handsets. Though it seems that existing subscribers will be able to continue to use most or all features of the service through then, folks are being encouraged to pack their bags and move elsewhere by November 30 to ensure plenty of time to get numbers ported. Furthermore, hardware purchased directly through Disney Mobile will be subject to a reimbursement of some sort, with details going up early next month.

[Thanks, Paul D.]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdisneydisney mobileDisneyMobilemvnoThu, 27 Sep 2007 14:58:00 EST