Cingular Customers Talk 500,000,000,000 Minutes in One Year

ATLANTA, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout this year, when Cingular customers talked, people listened, and talked, and listened, back and forth, on and on and on and on. They talked so much that, for the first time, Cingular today said it expects to carry more than 500 billion minutes-of-use (MOU) on its network this year.That's a lot of gabbing. But why so much chatter?

Cingular believes the more than $13 billion dollar network investment it made over the past two years to enhance the quality and coverage of its Allover Network is the cause of all the talk by its customers. The network investment gave customers access to more than 45,000 cell sites, resulting in a substantial reduction in dropped and blocked calls as well as improved voice quality.

"It's common-sense business. If you give customers a quality product, they'll use it more often," said Ed Reynolds, president of network services for Cingular. "The investment we made is really paying off for us and our customers. People have noticed the difference and are taking full advantage of our services."

Cingular, which offers the fewest dropped calls of any carrier, said people are using its wireless service for longer periods -- an average of 755 minutes a month, as reported at the end of last quarter. Over the course of the network enhancements, the average length of a wireless call on the Allover Network has increased as much as 15 percent in some markets.

Along with people talking more, there are more people talking. Since the network enhancements began in early 2005, Cingular increased its customer base by nearly 20 percent through the end of October 2006. Additionally, due to the enhanced quality of service experienced by customers, churn also decreased by nearly 20 percent over the same period.

In the past, Cingular announced the busiest calling day of the year, which historically had been Halloween. But today, with all the additional customers and increased talking, the busiest day of the year changes almost weekly as customers increasingly use and rely on their wireless phones more and more.

And while chatter is the main subject matter, data is no pitter-patter.

The network enhancements also provide customers with an exceptional data experience -- whether using a laptop to receive broadband wireless connections to corporate and personal e-mail, surfing the Internet, downloading mobile games, or watching some of their favorite clips on Cingular Video. The consistent, fast and reliable network connections, coupled with easy-to-use applications, have driven demand for data services, increasing the average spending by customers more than 45 percent (3Q/05 vs. 3Q/06). The company expects customers to increasingly use data services, especially on its 3G network, which is available in most major markets around the country.

Add a cool device and it's twice as nice.

Cingular's quality of service is further enhanced by a wide range of devices that help customers take full advantage of the company's wireless offers. Exclusive devices such as the Samsung Blackjack and Sync, LG CU500, Cingular 8525, Sierra Wireless 875 PC modem card and others, allow customers to stay connected almost anywhere in the United States or when traveling to 190 countries around the world.

"The network is the foundation of our business, now and in the future," said Reynolds. "Our focus and investment will continue to be on providing the best possible wireless experience for our customers."

[code] Other things* you could possibly do in 500 billion minutes:

- Listen to the live version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" 45
billion times
- Watch nine seasons of Seinfeld without commercials more than 132
million times
- Make about 57 thousand trips to the moon and back
- Attend 2.8 billion baseball games
- Drive round-trip from New York to Los Angeles 92 million times
- Sleep for 950 million consecutive years
- Have a truly unlimited wireless calling plan!

*Estimates based on available information, and uh, best guesses.[/code]

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS) , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/

Source: Cingular Wireless

Verizon Wireless Announces a $146 Million Investment in North Carolina

The Company's Six-Year Network Investment Exceeds $531 Million

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today that over $146 million was invested in 2006 to enhance and improve the company's voice and data wireless network across North Carolina, increasing the company's six-year investment to over $531 million. The investment includes Verizon Wireless' history making deployment of wireless service in several eastern North Carolina markets including Wilmington, Greenville, Rocky Mount, Roanoke Rapids, Goldsboro, New Bern and Jacksonville.Additionally in 2006, Verizon Wireless launched the company's Evolution- Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network in several NC markets, including Greensboro, Wilmington, Greenville and Jacksonville. Verizon Wireless' national EV-DO network now includes 181 major metropolitan areas and is currently available to approximately 162 million Americans coast to coast.

Verizon Wireless opened several new retail stores during 2006 in the towns of Goldsboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Rocky Mount, Wilmington, Hendersonville, Pineville, Asheville and Mooresville -- extending the company's customer service options and creating employment opportunities for many North Carolina residents.

"Providing our customers with the most reliable network in the wireless industry means investing millions of dollars every year to deliver dependable wireless coverage," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas/Tennessee region president. "By bringing our network to eastern North Carolina in early 2006, we have given residents more options for their wireless needs and advanced our goal to service the state from the mountains to the coast."

Verizon Wireless is committed to offering customers the most reliable service on the nation's best wireless voice and data network*. To support that claim, the company's engineers conduct more than 750,000 voice call attempts and more than four million data tests quarterly on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks. The company's engineers travel approximately 220,000 miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services in North Carolina, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com .

* Network details at www.verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork .

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com .

To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia .

Source: Verizon Wireless

Palm and Orange France Announce Palm Treo 680 Smartphone

PARIS, Dec 18, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) and Orange France Business Services have announced the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 680 smartphone, running on the Palm OS(R) platform. The Treo 680 smartphone is ideal for the professional consumer who wants a more advanced phone experience on a single device, including access to email, web browsing, messaging and a range of features that are easy to use.(1)"Orange Business Services France is pleased to introduce the new generation of Palm OS Treo smartphone in its portfolio," said Jean-Marie Culpin, vice president, Orange France Business Services. "The Treo 680 messaging solution is targeted toward any business that wants to empower its employees with a mobile connection to their Outlook email, calendar and contacts. We believe the Treo 680 smartphone, combined with the Orange Business Mail offering, is a compelling device to serve our customer needs and expand our current business customer base."

The Palm Treo 680 smartphone is easy to use because of the multiple innovations it encompasses, including the following:

-- Improved phone application, which allows users to dial and navigate the phone features more quickly;

-- Ability to ignore calls and send a quick text message, such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk right now";

-- A full QWERTY keyboard with improved buttons, making it even easier to type emails or SMS text messages; and

-- A messaging application that displays text-messaging conversations as "threaded chats," meaning users can see their entire conversations with a particular person.

"Palm remains focused on introducing Treo smartphones that will be user-friendly and affordable for both business and consumers," said Roy Bedlow, vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Palm, Inc. "The Treo 680 announced today with Orange is a good proof point."

More information about the Treo 680 smartphone is available at www.palm.com/Treo680 .

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm handheld computers, and Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com .

(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier and the geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email, messaging and web access requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. Email account not included. EDGE service not available in all areas.

Broadcast Video and Other Palm Materials

Broadcast video and other materials are available online from Palm's Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary). Press can register at the site, which is hosted by The NewsMarket (www.TheNewsMarket.com), a web-based news and video archive, to browse and preview an extensive content library and order footage directly from their desktops. Registration and ordering on the site is free.

Palm, Palm OS, Treo and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

SOURCE: Palm, Inc.

Palm and SingTel Launch New Slim, Sleek Treo 680 Smartphone in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Dec 21, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For people who are ready to move up to a full-featured mobile phone that includes everything needed to stay organized, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) and SingTel Ltd (SGX:SINGTEL) today introduced the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 680 smartphone, a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone(1), on the SingTel network in Singapore. SingTel customers will find the Palm OS(R) based Treo 680 smartphone easy to use, slim and compact, yet packed full of features beyond its stellar phone capability, such as email, web browsing, messaging, multimedia, calendar, contacts and more.(2)"SingTel is excited to bring the award-winning Palm Treo user experience to our customers," said Vicki Brady, vice president of Consumer Marketing for SingTel. "With multimedia, business, and wireless Internet capabilities right out of the box, the Treo 680 allows subscribers to leverage SingTel's island-wide wireless mobile data networks, as well as a selection of exclusive content available on SingTel IDEAS(3)."

The Palm Treo 680 smartphone is easy to use because of the multiple innovations it encompasses, including the following:

-- Improved phone application, which allows users to dial and navigate the phone features more quickly;

-- Ability to ignore calls and send a quick text message, such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk right now";

-- A full QWERTY keyboard with improved buttons, making it even easier to type emails or SMS text messages; and

-- A messaging application that displays text-messaging conversations as "threaded chats," meaning users can see their entire conversations with a particular person.

"The Treo 680 smartphone is reaching new customers and markets, exemplifying Palm's dedication to expanding both geographically and demographically," said John Hartnett, senior vice president, global markets, Palm, Inc. "Its affordability, ease of use and style are attracting new users in the smartphone and feature-phone markets."

More information about the Treo 680 smartphone is available at www.palm.com/Treo680.

About SingTel

SingTel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best of global communications to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond.

With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary SingTel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.

To serve the needs of multi-national corporations, SingTel has a network of 37 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. These offices enable SingTel to deliver reliable and quality network solutions to its customers, either on its own or jointly with local partners.

The Group also has major investments in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia's largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 100 million customers in seven markets.

SingTel employs about 20,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$13.14 billion (US$8.12 billion) and net profit after tax of S$4.16 billion (US$2.57 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2006. More information can be found @ www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm handheld computers, and Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com .

(1) Designed to be compatible with networks implementing GSM/GPRS/EDGE standards, but networks may not be available in all countries or within countries in which it is deployed.

(2) Within wireless service coverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier and the geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email, messaging and web access requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. Email account not included. EDGE service; not available in all areas.

(3) SingTel IDEAS Mobile Portal delivers a full suite of mobile data services.

Palm, Palm OS, Treo and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

SOURCE: Palm, Inc.

Palm Kicks Off Worldwide Treo Smartphone Marketing Campaign

New Campaign Illustrates the Power of What's Possible on a Treo Smartphone

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec 11, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today launched a $25 million worldwide marketing campaign to generate mainstream awareness of and attract new users to the Treo(TM) smartphone line. The six-month campaign highlights Palm's new Treo 680 smartphone and encompasses a fully integrated media mix consisting of print, out-of-home, online, mobile and viral-marketing components. AKQA, a leading interactive marketing agency, developed the campaign, which combines non-traditional marketing approaches with tried and true media.

Palm believes that accessing the web while on the go is the next killer application. The popularity of web services, such as eBay, in combination with a Treo smartphone means that, for example, eBay fans can watch for products they want and monitor auctions of interest while away from their desktop or laptop PCs.(1) The new campaign helps people who aren't necessarily early adopters see how their personal and work lives can be enriched with a mobile computer that also is a great phone.Over the next few months, consumers and businesses can expect to see the following:

-- Advertising - Palm is working with like-minded passion brands - such as Fandango, Google(TM), The Onion, Orbitz(R) and Yahoo! - in its new ads to demonstrate what makes a Treo smartphone so unique and provide proof behind the category-defining tagline "Not just a cell phone. A Treo." The co-branded ads will run primarily in the United States and Europe in select print and online lifestyle publications, some of which include GQ, Lucky and Real Simple.

-- Interactive Kiosks - The campaign includes Palm's first-ever SMS-activated kiosks, which enable people to select and view category-specific content on larger-than-life Treo smartphones. The kiosks contain a live monitor in place of the Treo screen and displays canned and dynamic content. The interactive kiosks are located at bus stops and window fronts in major metropolitan cities, including Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

-- Microsite - The new microsite, www.onTreo.com, is designed to be an engaging and entertaining interactive website that allows users to catch a glimpse of what's possible with a Treo smartphone. Users also have the option to learn more about specific Treo features and related partner content within the microsite. The advertising campaign is tagged with the new URL to give new customer prospects a better understanding of the Treo experience in an interactive, virtual environment.

-- Viral Marketing - Palm street teams wearing bright-colored Treo clothing will be deployed in major metropolitan cities to stimulate buzz and excitement around Treo smartphones. The street teams will interact with passersby and offer services such as making a dinner reservation; checking their eBay accounts; ordering tickets to a show; and getting the weather, news and directions, among other things - all on a Treo smartphone.

"By aligning with passion brands such as Amazon, Orbitz and Yahoo!, we're demonstrating that Treo smartphones do much more than the average cell phone," said Scott Hancock, director of marketing communications, Palm, Inc. "We're showing people how easy it is to interact with these sites while mobile. For instance, one ad might simply say 'Buy tickets on Fandango' or 'Orbitz and go' with the corresponding logo appearing on the home screen of the Treo smartphone."

The Palm Treo marketing campaign will show people what life is like with a Treo smartphone and remind them that they don't have to look for an Internet cafe to access the information they want while on the go.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm handheld computers, and Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores ( http://www.palm.com/store ).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com .

(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier and the geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email, messaging and web access requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost.

Palm, Treo and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

SOURCE: Palm, Inc.

LG And Prada Partner To Develop Iconic Mobile Phone

LG Electronics and Prada, today announce an exclusive partnership to develop an innovative and iconic mobile phone.

LG Electronics, a worldwide technology leader in mobile communications, and Prada, one of the world’s leading brands in the luxury goods industry, today announce an exclusive partnership to develop an innovative and iconic mobile phone.

The first Prada telephone by LG will combine high-end technology with avant-garde design offering the best in both style and performance. This forward-thinking product is the result of a different approach to the typical fashion designer and mobile phone manufacturer co-branding exercise.

Leveraging on their respective expertise and know-how, Prada and LG have jointly explored and developed all aspects of this new product. The collaboration focused on the key elements inside the phone, such as software, user interface and music as well as its look, for example design and packaging.The result is a unique, sophisticated and elegant phone, with an advanced touch interface which eliminates the conventional keypad.

The initial launch is planned for early 2007, with distribution starting in Europe (firstly in Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany), followed by countries in Asia such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The Korean version of the phone is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2007.

“Here at LG, we are very excited by this partnership,� says Mr. Mun-Hwa Park, President & CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

He continues, “Prada’s legacy for classic and sophisticated design meant they were the perfect partner to develop this shared vision of innovative technology and ultimate style. We are passionate about developing exclusive phones that appeal to consumer’s desire to express their personality through their choice of mobile and feel very strongly that Prada shares this belief.�

Mr. Patrizio Bertelli, President & CEO of Prada, said: “As we do with ready-to-wear and accessories, we were looking at a break-through. Consistently with our approach, we are not branding an existing product; rather, Miuccia and I have been working with LG to give this new phone a very strong character and unique style, both in its contents and in its design. We, just like our partners at LG, are known for the attention to detail and uncompromising quality of our products. And we find these characteristics in the new mobile phone.�

Source: LG

Handango Predicts the Smartphone Market's Top Seven in '07

Smartphone content leader announces expected trends for next year in rapidly-growing smartphone market

Hurst, TX - December 12, 2006 - Handango, the world's leading provider of smartphone content, today unveiled its top seven predictions for 2007. With multiple touch points throughout the smartphone content ecosystem, including strong relationships with thousands of content providers, leading carriers and device manufacturers, and millions of consumers, Handango is uniquely qualified to forecast on behalf of the smartphone market. Incorporating global sales and download statistics, content development trends, consumer behavior and demands from its partners, Handango makes these top seven predictions for 2007:

1. Smartphones Will Go Mainstream
2. Mobile TV Will Hit the Small Screen in a Big Way
3. GPS-Enabled Location Based Services (LBS) Will Be Killer Applications
4. Smartphone Adoption in Europe Will Continue to Explode
5. Over-The-Air (OTA) Downloads Will Grow at a Faster Pace
6. More Professionals in Vertical Markets Will Rely on Smartphone Content
7. Large Consumer Brands Will Create Content for Smartphones1. Smartphones Will Go Mainstream

The landscape for smartphone devices is changing. Previously, smartphones were often considered a niche product, only getting a sliver of retail shelf space in carrier stores. These days, however, smartphone competition is fierce. With the introduction of slimmer models with faster speeds, excellent screen resolution and full QWERTY keyboards, today's smartphones are more consumer-friendly. Combine that with mainstream consumer marketing tactics and a significant drop off in handset prices, and smartphones are quickly becoming more attractive and more economical for the mass market consumer. Approximately 123 million units are forecast to be shipped worldwide this year, giving smartphones almost a 15 percent share of the mobile phone market, according to tech research firm ABI Research.

With the recent launches of the popular Motorola Q, Blackberry Pearl and Samsung BlackJack devices, Handango has already experienced an increase in on-device and Web-based downloads of mainstream consumer applications like mobile TV, instant messaging, games and ringtone managers.

"We see device prices dropping, entertainment content downloads increasing and more consumer-friendly packaging emerging," said Randy Eisenman, founder and chief executive office of Handango. "The widespread adoption of smartphones is at a tipping point, and we're excited to be part of it."

2. Mobile TV Will Hit the Small Screen in a Big Way

Smartphone screen quality and download speeds are constantly improving, making mobile devices a convenient choice for viewing more than just photos or quick video clips. With popular television shows now available for download, people are increasingly watching programs on-the-go.

Although Yankee Group reports in its 2006 U.S. Mobile User Survey that less than 5% of respondents are currently using their mobile phones for watching TV and video, Handango predicts that this is a huge area of growth for the smartphone market in 2007. Live and streaming applications MobiTV, HandiTV and PocketStreamer were all launched in 2006 and quickly broke into the top 40 best-selling titles for the Pocket PC platform. Fourth quarter revenue for these three applications alone is projected to increase 63% over the previous quarter.

3. GPS-Enabled Location-Based Services (LBS) Will Be Killer Applications

According to ABI Research, subscribers using GPS-enabled location-based services will total 315 million in five years. "GPS" is now the most popular search term on Handango.com despite the fact that the majority of existing GPS applications require an additional piece of hardware.

"We expect the use of GPS applications to move quickly beyond general mapping and more towards true location-based services," said Eisenman. "As smartphone manufacturers work to produce GPS-enabled devices, content providers will publish more LBS applications and people will start to use the services for social purposes like making restaurant reservations, locating friends nearby and accessing relevant coupons."

4. Smartphone Adoption in Europe Will Continue to Explode

Research firm IDC expects that from 2006 until 2010, shipments of converged mobile devices in Western Europe will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 49.3%, the largest of all regions across the globe.

Currently, 15% of Handango's content downloads originate from consumers located in Western Europe. Handango operates localized storefronts under the Handango brand for France, Germany and UK, and as part of its core strategy of market expansion in Europe, the company recently launched Handango Italia and the www.handango.it Web site.

"The European market has experienced rapid growth in smartphones this year," said Eisenman. "We plan to put more focus on our localized Web sites to satisfy growing smartphone content requests, offering country-relevant applications from the Handango catalog of thousands of mobile content titles. In addition, we will announce new European carrier and OEM partnerships in 2007."

5. Over-The-Air (OTA) Downloads Will Grow at a Faster Pace

Smartphones are increasingly easy to use without having to rely on a PC for support. As a result, consumers are more readily browsing and downloading content over-the-air (OTA), eliminating the need to go to the Web to make purchases. Content downloads occurring from Handango's on-device storefronts increased 186% year-over-year, and Handango expects that growth to increase even more in 2007.

6. More Professionals in Vertical Markets Will Rely on Smartphone Content

Smartphones are becoming popular among a variety of vertical markets, including real estate, law, finance and medicine, where professionals utilize mobile content for business productivity. As an example, Handango reports that revenues for the top four medical applications for Pocket PC have grown more than 25% from 2005 to 2006 and remain an often-requested type of content.

Handango also reports that many of its top tier carrier partners are now requesting industry-specific applications to support their sales forces that are selling more smartphone devices into vertical markets.

7. Large Consumer Brands Will Create Content for Smartphones

Well-known consumer brands and media companies are entering the fray, creating content for smartphones. This year, companies such as ESPN, Google, The Weather Channel, Konami, TV Guide and Skype began distributing their branded content though Handango. Handango believes this is only the tip of the iceberg as more traditional, non-mobile companies begin to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the smartphone content market.

"In summary, our place in the smartphone content ecosystem perfectly positions Handango to see developing trends," said Eisenman. "We look forward to monitoring these seven developments in the coming year - and expect to be right in the middle of all the action."

About Handango
Handango is the leading provider of smartphone content globally. Leveraging its network of more than 16,000 content partners and its vast distribution network, Handango seamlessly delivers the smartphone marketplace to millions of consumers on the web and from the device. Handango's market-leading content delivery platform, Handango AMPP, is the platform of choice for numerous mobile industry leaders including Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, RIM, HP, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Microsoft and AOL. By delivering intuitive and compelling consumer experiences, Handango has become the trusted source for millions of smartphone users around the world. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com .

Source: Handango

Sprint Poised to Reclaim Ground in US Wireless Market

New Churn Management Strategies Will Lead Mid-Term Recovery

Boston, MA - December 12, 2006 -In this holiday season, Strategy Analytics has some good cheer for SprintNextel, which has had a challenging year. The Boston-based analyst firm recently published, "SprintNextel New Brooms Bullish - But Are The Bristles Up To The Job?" which analyzed SprintNextel's plans to tame the churn albatross and roll out ultra high-speed mobile services, and concluded that the 2007 outlook is positive.

SprintNextel's inability to hold onto its subscribers, as evinced by its terrible churn rate compared to other US carriers, may finally be at an end. At its recent analyst event, Sprint gave details of plans to retain its best customers and make the experience of being a Sprint customer much more appealing."SprintNextel has taken a very can-do attitude toward resolving its problems," commented Sara Harris, Senior Industry Analyst at Strategy Analytics and author of the report. "Although no-one should expect overnight results, the combination of targeted capex to address network quality issues (notably in IDEN hotspots), the rollout of hybrid IDEN/CDMA handsets and a commitment to messaging the strength of the SprintNextel brand via the Power Up campaign will yield medium term results."

David Kerr, VP of the Global Wireless Practice, added, "SprintNextel must act on its plans to simplify the business, engage disenchanted Nextel channel members and aggressively spend on marketing to overcome the Verizon Wireless "its the network" media blitz. Success in these short term imperatives will allow SprintNextel to differentiate itself long-term as a media content, industry-friendly brand supporting cost effective transport solutions for multimegabit video, TV and broadband value propositions."

Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc.

Next Generation Radio and TV Services comes to Manitoba Cell Phones

MTS Allstream Launches QuickPlay Media’s Streaming Radio and TV Service

TORONTO, ON & WINNIPEG, MB, December 12, 2006. – Manitobans will get even more out of their cell phones now that MTS Allstream Inc. (“MTS Allstream�), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (Trading Symbol: MBT), QuickPlay Media Inc. (“QuickPlay�) and Standard Interactive have developed two new mobile services, Streaming TV and Streaming Radio, for MTS Mobility subscribers.

Powered by QuickPlay Media’s Personal Entertainment Server, the new Streaming TV service allows users to access TV clips in a variety of categories that include weather forecasts, sports highlights, comedy clips, movie trailers, horoscopes and much more. Clips start instantly when selected. With no need to wait for downloading time, the service provides quickly accessible entertainment and information.“Cell phones today are about so much more than phone calls. Music, news, television – customers want that on their new phones,� said Kelvin Shepherd, President Consumer Markets, MTS Allstream. “Thanks to the content we are securing from QuickPlay, MTS Mobility subscribers will be able to access great content on the latest cell phones.�

The new Streaming Radio service, launched in association with Standard Interactive., allows users to access more than 40 stations of digital-stereo, commercial-free music that is available 24 hours a day. This live on-demand, strictly music content is streamed in real time and also available through IcebergRadio.com, Standard Interactive’s streaming audio site.

“Users across Canada have responded enthusiastically to next-generation mobile audio and video services,� explains Raja Khanna, chief creative officer for QuickPlay Media. “We saw these two new services as a means of expanding mobile services to a very engaged Canadian market.�

Streaming Radio content is ideal for people on the move and includes genres such as: Ill Noiz (Urban/R&B), 2Kool4Radio (Alternative Indie), World Classical, Groove Jazz, 80s Hair Bands (Metal), Hit Country, Classic Country and more.

“Through our IcebergRadio.com service, Standard Interactive has created a great set of music channels that are not just random jukeboxes, they are custom-programmed by real people with a serious passion for music.� explains Rob Bolton, National Content Director for Standard Interactive. “We're convinced that listeners will love the stations, no matter how eclectic or obscure their tastes may be.�

The new features are now available on mobile through MTS Mobility, MTS Allstream’s wireless network, covering 97 per cent of the Manitoba population. The services are presently available on multimedia compatible devices that include Samsung a900, a920 and m500 devices. Subscription rates for both services at launch are $7 each month. Mobile Browser usage charges are separate.

About QuickPlay Media

QuickPlay Media Inc., a leader in interactive mobile media, is dedicated to delivering next generation mobile users experiences that increase usage and revenue. The company’s flagship white-label products, QuickPlay Personal Entertainment Center and QuickPlay Personal Entertainment Server, are supported by a team that combines deep expertise in both media and mobile telecommunications industries. QuickPlay Media was the first to introduce Mobile TV Service to the Canadian market with service to carriers Aliant Mobility, Bell Mobility, Fido, Rogers Wireless, SaskTel and Telus Mobility. Most recently, QuickPlay launched programs for ESPN, MTV and E! Networks in the United States. For more information on QuickPlay Media, visit: http://www.quickplay.com.

About MTS Allstream

MTS Allstream Inc. is one of Canada’s leading national communication solutions providers, delivering innovative products and services through its Consumer Markets and Enterprise Solutions divisions. Our Consumer Markets division serves small business customers nationally and residential customers in Manitoba with a full suite of wireline voice, high-speed Internet and data, next generation wireless, digital television, security and alarm monitoring services. Our Enterprise Solutions division provides national business customers with a world-class portfolio of IP-based connectivity, managed network services, and professional services. MTS Allstream's extensive national broadband fibre optic network spans more than 24,300 kilometres, and provides international connections through strategic partnerships and interconnection agreements with other international service providers. The Company markets its consumer products and services in Manitoba under the MTS Brand, and its enterprise products and services nationally under the Allstream brand. MTS Allstream is a subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. whose common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). For more information, please visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

About Standard Interactive

Standard Interactive is Canada’s premier online music and entertainment network, reaching over three and a half million monthly unique visitors across 132 websites. Specializing in content publishing, technology solutions and integrated advertising sales, the company also syndicates streamed audio and video content to online publishers and advertisers. Standard Interactive is the online division of Standard Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's largest privately-owned broadcast company.

Source: MTS Allstream

Vodafone and SKY to launch mobile DVB-H TV

Milan, 12 December 2006. Vodafone Italia and SKY announce the launch of Vodafone SKY TV, the new mobile digital television (DVB-H, Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld) created to offer the best SKY programmes on Vodafone handsets.

As leaders in the telecommunications and entertainment sectors, Vodafone and SKY are joining forces to offer customers a digital television service designed and produced to be used whilst on the move.

As a result of the agreement, the partners have selected the content from SKY's platform most suited to the new mobile digital TV audience, with a view to making it available at all times to mobile users. The agreement will also lead to the production of content specially created for use whilst on the move. In this way content that was until now only accessible to SKY subscribers will from today be available to all Vodafone SKY TV customers.Vodafone SKY TV's exclusive offering includes channels never seen before on the market:

* Fox One, showing the best TV series broadcast by SKY's Fox channels - FOX, FoxCrime, FoxLife - ranging from CSI to 24; the most exciting cartoons such as Griffin and Futurama; and the best of Fox's Italian productions.
* Disney Channel Mobile, featuring Disney programmes and characters, including hit TV series and sit-coms and the best-loved cartoons for all ages;
* DeeJay TV, offering music videos and the most popular Radio DeeJay shows for mobile users;
* FX, offering the ultimate in men's programming: Italian comedy classics, humour, girls, cars and motorbikes;
* Cine Shots, the brand new entertainment channel developed specially for Vodafone. Focusing on the world of cinema and lifestyle, Cine Shots has been devised exclusively for mobile use, providing the latest news, profiles, interviews, backstage coverage and gossip about cinema stars in formats never longer than 10 minutes;
* A fantastic array of live soccer with the quality of SKY: SKY Calcio, offering coverage of Italian Serie A league games played on the grounds of Milan, Roma, Inter, Lazio, Ascoli, Chievo, Empoli, Livorno, Reggina, Siena and Udinese, and all Serie B games excluding the home matches of Napoli and Genoa, as well as the matches played by all Europe's biggest teams taking part in the UEFA Champions League

In addition to all the news from:

* SKY TG 24, with news from Italy and around the world and weather forecasts, providing continuous round-the-clock updates, 7 days a week;
* SKY Sport 24, with news, results, goals and all the latest from the world of sport.

All Vodafone SKY TV content will be offered free until 31 March 2007. Vodafone and SKY aim to progressively launch new channels created for pay TV and accessible on Vodafone phones.

To coincide with the launch of Vodafone SKY TV, Vodafone Italia will be offering its customers an exclusive on the brand new DVB-H handset, LG's KU950, with its high-definition 2.4-inch display. The handset, which is the most widely available on the market, will cost from EUR 99.

SKY channels will broadcast a special advert to promote the launch from early December, with the adverts to be shown on the other networks from January on.

Vodafone Italia aims to ensure the quality of the service by using its own transmission network combined with DVB-H technology and capacity provided by Mediaset, a broadcasting industry leader, under the agreement signed in April 2006.

Source: Vodafone Italy