Daily Marauder

WIRELESS

The Apple online store has stopped selling iPhones completely, stating they are currently unavailable. What does it mean? In some way I’m inclined to say “not much.” Apple rarely telegraphs its moves this far in advance. However, since O2 in the UK has stopped selling iPhones and a number of folks have had trouble buying them in stores, Techcrunch thinks we might be seeing a next-gen iPhone in the next few days.  (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/11/no-more-iphones-at-apple-store-3g-imminent 5/11)

Remember when Steve Jobs used the excuse that the Apple iPhone is tied to AT&T’s slow EDGE network because 3G web surfing was too power hungry? Well Steve still seems to be concerned about this as the soon-to-be-released 3G iPhone will ship with the ability to toggle back forth between the EDGE and 3G network. (Cynopsis 5/12)

Research in Motion has officially released its new, speedier BlackBerry Bold smartphone, setting up a 3G-network showdown with Apple’s 3G iPhone, which analysts expect the company to introduce in June. Besides its speed, upgrades to the new BlackBerry include a brighter screen and an improved Web browser, said co-CEO James Balsillie, who said the race was on to provider faster processors and faster networks to consumers. (Pocket-lint.co.uk 5/12, Bloomberg 5/12)

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) Virgin Mobile USA and Helio are in talks to merge, according to a story first reported in mocoNews.net. Virgin and Helio, both of which resell services leased from Sprint Nextel, are two of the last surviving MVNO.  Among those who have failed to make a go of it include Disney Mobile, Amp’d and ESPN Mobile. (Cynopsis 5/12)