Services and applications

SAN FRANCISCO--RealNetworks is adding video to its interactive voice response feature, which will let mobile operators incorporate a video interface for finding information, content, and entertainment.

The company announced the new service here on Wednesday at the CTIA Wireless Fall 2008 trade show. The service, which mobile operators will subscribe to and offer to their subscribers, will be available to customers already subscribing to an operator's video telephony service.

Video telephony is a service that's been envisioned almost since the phone was invented. It allows operators to add video to real-time voice chats between two people using the … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--The wireless Web has prompted mobile operators to change their tune about open networks, but don't expect the mobile market to be as open as the PC Internet anytime soon.

CEOs from three of the big four wireless operators in the U.S. took the stage during a keynote panel at the CTIA Fall 2008 trade show here Wednesday to discuss what they envision for open cell phone networks. While Robert Dotson of T-Mobile USA, Dan Hesse of Sprint Nextel, and Lowell McAdam of Verizon Wireless all agree on the importance of opening their networks to developers and … Read more

As the CTIA Fall 2008 show opened, Verizon Wireless announced new channels for its V Cast streaming-video service, some of which will feature full-length programming.

The new channels include Scooby Doo & Friends, DC Comics, Relix, G4 Mobile, HGTV, The Food Network, The WB, ES Musica and Rock On: Altitude from GoTV, Comedy Time Latino, TLC, Animal Planet, Planet Green, and Discovery Kids.

While the above channels will feature mostly short clips, full-length programming will be available from shows like Comic View: One Mic Stand and Hell Date from BET and Score Center and MMA Live from ESPN. You'll … Read more

Along with several new phone announcements today, Sprint has also launched One Click, a new user interface designed to be highly customizable and easy to use. The One Click interface consists of eight shortcut tiles lined up along the bottom of the screen, which then lead to any of 14 available applications. They include the texting interface, Web access, e-mail, Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV Sprint Music, and other features. As you flip through the different shortcut tiles, you get a short little pop-up of that application's submenu, or a brief preview of the application itself. You can also customize … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Nokia took aim at smartphone rival Research in Motion Tuesday with plans to expand the number of devices that will automatically be capable of accessing Microsoft corporate e-mail.

On the eve of the CTIA I.T. & Entertainment tradeshow here, Nokia announced it will embed Microsoft Exchange Activesync on all Nokia phones that use the S60 Symbian operating system. As a result, 43 different models of Nokia phones will have easy access to Microsoft corporate email. Nokia will also add the Microsoft Exchange support to all new N-Series and E-Series phones that hit the market in the future.

Until … Read more

Verizon Wireless has launched three new applications that interact with the voice recording feature on select cell phones to allow users to create new content. The content can be used on the phone or shared with other Verizon customers.

With Sonic Boom's ToneMaker users can create their own music by layering their own vocals on prerecorded tunes. You can then use the clips as a ringtone or pass them on to others. ToneMaker is $3.99 per month on handsets with Verizon's Get It Now Internet service.

YouTones from FunMobility takes the same concept in a slightly different … Read more

Verizon Wireless is getting a head start on CTIA by announcing a new mobile Web site for V Cast video content. The site, m.vcast.com, will allow users to browse content by category, channel, or show and then watch that content on their phone. You'll also be able to access and share content using social networking sites like Twitter. Accessing m.vcast.com will incur normal data charges, but you will need a device with a full HTML browser. At present, that's limited to the LG Dare or the LG Voyager but Verizon says more such devices … Read more

If you're not a fan of the preloaded ringtones on your cell phone, Verizon Wireless is providing an alternative way to get more catchy tunes on your mobile. On the eve of CTIA Fall 2008, the carrier announced Ringback Buddies, a Facebook application that lets you browse, purchase, and manage ringtones and "jukeboxes" from the social networking site.

You can install the Ringback Buddies application by searching for the word "ringback" on Facebook, and from there you can do a number of things. First, you can see what songs your friends like or want, purchase … Read more

Verizon Wireless and The New York Times have just announced a joint effort to offer mobile access to NYTimes.com (which is at mobile.nytimes.com) via several of Verizon's own feature phones. As long as you have a Mobile Web subscription (Unlimited Mobile Web is included with a $15 monthly V Cast VPak package) and a compatible phone, you will get access to the content without an additional charge. The NYTimes.com mobile site includes news of the election coverage, opinion pieces, sports news, and more.