Mobile : Advertising
Advertisers in touch with teens' cellphones
Yakking teens and phones have been inseparable for decades. The difference today is that teens use their cellphones for a lot more than just talking. It has become a palm-size entertainment and information center increasingly consuming their time and attention. Advertisers are realizing that if they want to reach teens, they need their number -- literally. "They're not watching TV, you're not reaching them in other places," said Andrew Miller, chief executive of Quattro Wireless, a mobile advertising network. "Mobile is where they congregate."
May 23, 2008, 15:52

Mobile
Ability to use cellphones in flight gets closer in Europe
European regulators have dropped the ban on in-flight cellphone calls, but passengers' ability to chat will depend on which airline they fly. European Union regulators on Monday loosened the rules on cellphone service, a satellite-based technology that can be turned on by a captain at about 10,000 feet. It also can be turned off at any time. The ban remains in place in the United States, so U.S. airlines aren't affected. Air France last week became the first international airline to offer mobile service as part of a six-month test to gauge customer response. Other carriers, however, are shying away from the feature, saying that passengers don't want chatter and ring tones invading their space.
Apr 9, 2008, 13:19

Mobile
Nationwide cellphone alert system in the works
The Federal Communications Commission is slated to establish technical standards and other requirements that for the first time would make such communication possible, two FCC officials say. The officials requested anonymity because commissioners have not yet voted on the plan. Although wireless carriers would not be required to upgrade their networks to accommodate the alerts, those that agree to participate would have to implement the FCC's standards. All four national cellphone providers — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile — said they almost certainly will take part if the FCC adopts an advisory committee's recommendations on how the system would work. The agency is expected to approve those proposals, which, among other things, would initially limit warnings to the English language and 90 characters in length, officials say.
Apr 9, 2008, 13:17

Mobile
Mobile content start-up innerActive in European launch
Mobile content start-up innerActive Smart Media Ltd. will shortly begin marketing in Belgium and the Netherlands a cellular content channel financed by advertising and Italian content provider Buongiorno SpA. This is a follow-on deal to the cooperation agreement signed between the two companies a few months ago.
Apr 7, 2008, 13:50

Mobile
Amazon launches text-message shopping
A new service lets shoppers compare prices and buy things with a few quick taps on their cell phones. Amazon TextBuyIt, which launched late Tuesday, lets people text the name of a product, its description or its UPC or ISBN to 262966 (that's "Amazon" on the keypad) from anywhere their cell phones work — including from inside physical stores.
Apr 2, 2008, 13:12