• Verizon Wireless has launched an online resource center targeted at smartphone users. The Verizon Wireless Smartphone Resource Center provides information on the carrier’s smartphone offerings, answers to commonly asked questions on each model and interactive simulators to learn about advanced functionalities. The Web site also features an online community to allow customers to post reviews and participate in discussions with others.
• Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, has launched the Samsung Messager II. The 3G handset features include a slide-out qwerty keyboard, 2.0MP camera, camcorder and MP3 player. The addition of the Samsung Messager II brings Cricket’s device lineup to a total of four qwerty devices, three of which feature 3G.
• ZTE has partnered with Icon Private Equity to build a 3.5 GHz WiMAX network for Icon PE’s portfolio company, Ukraine High Technologies (UHT) in Ukraine. Under the phase one exclusive contract agreement with UHT, ZTE is providing technical expertise and solutions to help construct a WiMAX network that covers Ukraine’s capital city Kiev and the surrounding areas. ZTE also will supply WiMAX equipment, including more than 250 base stations, 6,000 terminal products and core network equipment.
• Mobile Internet software company Openwave has appointed Heikki Makijarvi as vice president of business development. In the newly created role, Makijarvi will be responsible for expansion efforts into new areas. Prior to Openwave, Makijarvi served as a venture partner with Accel Partners in London, where he led investments and served on the boards of several companies, including Getjar, Telepo and watAgame.
• Integrated Device Technology and Immersion Corporation plan to collaborate on haptic feedback technology for touch-enabled products. The partnership is targeted at driving adoption of the technology in consumer electronics devices.
• Rhomobile has launched an information syncing service for the iPhone, BlackBerry and smartphones based on Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android. RhoSync is a stand-alone server that uses a background paging technique to synchronize information to the smartphone, while giving the user the perception of immediately retrieved data.
• Amalfi Semiconductor has released the AM7802, which it claims is the world’s smallest complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-based transmit module for cellular handsets. The AM7802 is a dual-band GSM/GPRS transmit module targeted primarily at the entry and ultra-low cost (ULC) market segments in emerging markets.
• The first Mobile Ad Summit will take place during Advertising Week on Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Times Center Hall in New York City. The program is sponsored by Jumptap, Admob and Quattro Wireless. Participants will hear from industry leaders in mobile advertising, content and technology.
• Handango’s latest Yardstick report finds that for the first time, BlackBerry surfaced as the dominant platform within the Handango smartphone content catalog, surpassing Windows Mobile and representing 41 percent of all apps sold. For the first half of 2009, Handango added 550 content partners and almost 7,000 new apps to its network.
