Daily Marauder

WIRELESS

As Techcrunch reported earlier today, Fring is launching a downloadable app for the iPhone that will allow people to make Skype and other VoIP calls over the data connection instead of using up talk minutes. Fring supports Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo and AIM services. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/15/update-frings-jailbroken-iphone-app-now-live 4/15)

Fring Demo

With 89% of U.S. adults signed up for cellphone service, carriers are trying to boost revenue by getting customers to receive more data on their phones — and nothing contains as much data as video. Sales of video subscription services jumped to $308 million in the last quarter of 2007. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mobiletv15apr15,1,5994888.story 4/15)

Samsung’s video-enabled Instinct mobile phone will be distributed by Sprint Nextel. Content companies hope wireless customers know such services are available.

Owners of more than 800 local U.S. television stations are forming a group, the Open Mobile Video Coalition, to test standards for sending local digital TV signals to cell phones, laptops and other mobile devices, aiming to tap into the booming market for mobile advertising. (Iwantmedia 4/15, http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080414/mobile_tv.html 4/14)

The Associated Press is testing a mobile news platform for a possible summer deployment that would feed national and local news to smart phone users. The Mobile News Network, made up so far of Advance, Hearst, Lee, McClatchy, MediaNews and Rust Communications, is designed to distribute multimedia news to iPhone users along with local and national advertising, split 50/50 between content providers and sellers. (Cynopsis 4/15, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_bi_ge/ap_annual_meeting 4/14)

Describing it as an evolutionary step forward in delivering downloadable content over broadband networks, MobiTV introduced its new Optimized Delivery Server. “MobiTV allows carriers and operators access to this next-generation media distribution solution on their terms,” said Charlie Nooney, the company’s chief executive officer. “Whether they want a fully managed, end-to-end hosted network solution or the ability to license components of our system that can interoperate with their existing infrastructure, the choice is now theirs.” (CED Magazine 4/14)

MTV and French telecom SFR have announced that on April 23 they will begin offering 3G MTV 3.3, a mobile network aimed at young French users. The service will include access to MTV’s four French channels as well as two channels being developed for 3G MTV 3.3, “MTV Scan” and “MTV Shake ton booty.” (The Hollywood Reporter 4/14)