Clearwire finally looks poised to go nationwide with their 4G WiMAX network. The company announced today that it has secured an additional $1.5 billion in funding from its partners to help build out the Clearwire network. Clearwire has been pushing to get their 4G WiMAX network up and running throughout the US, but it’s been a slow process. It takes a lot (seriously, a LOT) of money to build out wireless network infrastructure, money that Clearwire doesn’t necessarily have on tap. Sprint (NYSE: S), somehow, does have the money.

Most of the $1.5 billion comes from Sprint Nextel, which is putting up $1.176 billion in additional funds. Despite quarterly losses that just keep adding up, Sprint is fully invested in the Clearwire network. Sprint has majority interest in Clearwire. The carrier donated its own WiMAX assets to Clearwire as part of a deal that would allow Sprint to use Clearwire’s WiMAX network for its own 4G wireless broadband service. And, with their wireless voice business hurting, Sprint really needs WiMAX to be a success.

In comparison, big-name backers like Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Intel will be giving Clearwire $196 million, $103 million and $50 million, respectively. In that light, it’s clear that Sprint is committed to pushing WiMAX to every corner of the US. Let’s just hope it works out.

[Via: paidcontent]

Back in July of last year, we talked about Verve which at the moment got $3 million from Associated Press and other investors. Now we’re finally seeing some fruits of the co-operation as the two companies [Verve and AP] have unveiled an initiative to help publishers create white label, branded mobile apps for their content. The idea is to take a piece of the advertising being placed on other publisher’s apps in exchange for the application design.

The package comes with a content management system, allowing publishers to fully control their content, as well as ads that will appear in the application. In addition, standard metrics are also provided, as well as advertising delivery module.

The applications will be available for an array of platforms — including Android, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), iPhone, Symbian, Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre and Windows Mobile. Additional details are available from Verve’s website…

[Via: MobileBurn]

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Best Buy have announced a partnership whereby Best Buy employees will offer to install the Google Mobile Application for customers purchasing mobile phones from a retail Best Buy store. It wasn’t mentioned how much money Best Buy would receive from Google, but rumored estimates range from “I’m going to leave my job and order a trophy wife from Russia” to “I’m rich, bitch”.

Press Release, with massive amounts of bullshit press lingo stripped out, after the jump.

Read the full article »

Do you develop mobile apps for the iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian or webOS? Well, we want to hear from you! We’ve partnered up with “Under The Radar” to find cool mobile apps that will blow our minds. We’re asking any and all mobile app developers to submit their app for the “FAST PITCH” mobile app talent search, where your app will vie for a chance to be showcased in front of an audience of global dealmakers and start-ups. Even if we don’t pick your app for the talent search, you’ll get some serious recognition for your app (and possibly prizes, like handsets).

Interested? Here’s what you need to know:

• You must be able to attend Under the Radar (in Mountain View on Nov 19)
  • If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll get a free conference pass
• Your app has to be live and available for download
• We welcome any and all apps for iPhone, Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc
• Your app must be unique and new – no tip calculators or sudoku apps, please
• You must be able to pitch your app in 2 min (and 4 slides) on stage

We’re going to make it simple for you to submit your app for consideration in the “Under The Radar” FAST PITCH mobile app talent search. Interested mobile devs need only leave a comment or tweet @IntoMobile with a quick one-liner pitch for your mobile app – Twitter is limited to 140 characters, so choose accordingly. Please make sure to include a link to your app’s download page (or homepage) and your Twitter handle with your submission.

Your app will be judged for its “uniqueness” and the all important “awesomeness” metric. We’ll be accepting mobile app submissions through Friday, Nov. 6 Monday, Nov. 9 (deadline extended). The 6 lucky finalists will be contacted directly through email and/or Twitter.

You know that future we keep talking about? The one where everything in your life is controlled by what we know today as mobile phones? Right, well, that future inches closer today with the launch of Parkmobile’s “Pay by Phone Parking” service in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Like the name suggests, the new service allows residents and visitors to pay for their metered parking space with nothing more than a couple key presses on their cellphone.

The “Pay by Phone Parking” service isn’t an app, or even a webpage, it’s a dial-in service that works with any and all cellphones. Once you’ve registered your phone number with Parkmobile’s system, all it takes is a simple phone call to start paying for your meter. When you get back to your car, call Parkingmobile to stop the “meter.” It’s really that simple.

We’re not told when or where Parkmobile will be expanding the “Pay by Phone” service, but we hope it’s soon and everywhere, respectively.

Parkmobile website

[Via: PRNewswire]

Orange announced a deal with Google (NSDQ: GOOG) to bring the Goole Mobile App to its customers in Europe. The multi-year agreement is made to make mobile search and geo-location services easier to use by the carrier’s customers, while at the same time helping Google become ever more powerful player in the mobile industry. This, of course, is not to say Orange won’t benefit from the deal, as well.

Orange plans to bundle Google’s mobile app in its Signature phones, starting with those running Android. And in the UK and France, Google mobile search results will also include content from Orange’s own mobile portal.

In addition, Orange’s Android devices — including LG Eve, HTC Tatto and HTC Hero — will feature specially designed services like the Orange Email Wizard in one easy-to-manage place.

Once the “Android phase” is over, the two companies will bring Google Mobile App as well as other Google services to Symbian S60, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and Windows Mobile devices…

In a nutshell, Google is one step closer to ruling the world. Next in line are Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) and Telefonica (NYSE: TEF), after which we can say the search giant dominates the western hemisphere.

Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s giving Virgin America customers an early holiday present. Jet-setters lucky enough to be flying Virgin America between November 10, 2009 and January 15, 2010 will be have access to free in-flight WiFi, courtesy of Google. If you’re on Virgin America’s email list, you’ll find the offer in your inbox today.

Virgin America has already been offering in-flight WiFi for travelers looking to keep themselves connected at cruising altitude, but this is the first time the airline has teamed up with Google to provide free WiFi service. The deal should give boost Virgin America’s holiday air-travel traffic, while Google gets a bit of positive press. That’s a win-win in our book!

Remember, your flight has to fall between Nov. 10 and Jan. 15 in order to take advantage of the free WiFi offer. Book flights through Virgin America’s website here.

Walmart is all about giving customers the best prices on everything from underwear to mobile phones. Come October 18th, Walmart will start offering discount wireless service too! Walmart has announced that they are breaking into the wireless business with an exclusive wireless service of their very own. Dubbed “Straight Talk,” Walmart’s own-branded wireless service offers customers discount wireless plans starting at just $30 per month with unlimited talk, text and web coming in at just $45 a month. What about contracts? Nope, you won’t find any contracts with Straight Talk.

Walmart teamed up with TracFone Wireless, one of the biggest names in prepaid wireless, to bring the exclusive Straight Talk service to its customers. The move reminds us of the good ole’ days when everyone and their sister had an MVNO to call their own. But while the MVNO fad proved mostly disastrous, Walmart’s super cheap Straight Talk service could have what it takes to turn the discount retailer into a legit prepaid wireless carrier.

The Straight Talk service will go live on October 18th, and offers nationwide coverage and unlimited 411 information services. The $30 “All You Need” plan includes 1,000 voice minutes, 1,000 text messages and 30MB of data. The $45 Unlimited plan includes, well, unlimited minutes, messages and data.

Unfortunately, you probably won’t be using too much data on Straight Talk’s lineup of mostly underwhelming sub-$100 handsets. Still, there’s at least one QWERTY phone in the bunch, so text message fiends have something to look forward to.

Full press release after the break.

Read the full article »

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless has yet to jump on the Android train, but the carrier is determined to hop a ride in the near future. Today, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Verizon announced that they are working together to bring a “family of [Android] devices” to market in the near future. In fact, we should be seeing two new smartphones powered by Google’s mobile OS this year. We’re hoping one of those Android devices is going to be the Motorola Sholes/Tao that was missing at Motorola (NYSE: MOT)’s Android announcement last month.

There are apparently a handful of different manufacturers lining up to bring their Android wares to Verizon’s network. Some of them might even be working on an Android netbook. But, the most interestingly tidbit to come from Google’s partnership with Verizon is the expected arrival of Google Voice with Verizon’s first Android launch. In what we’re going to interpret as a jab at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed that Google Voice would be a go on Verizon, adding that “you are either open, or you are not.”

As for when we’re going to see the Motorola Sholes hitting market, we can’t say. Our money is on a pre-holiday launch.

AT&T (NYSE: T) isn’t going to let their exclusive iPhone and its prolific AppStore get all the mobile app glory anymore. The No. 2 US wireless carrier has been pushing mobile applications through their on-deck AT&T Media Mall for longer than Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) has been selling the iPhone, and it seems AT&T wants to make a mobile app comeback. To that end, Big Blue has just acquired mobile app developer Plusmo.

What’s the big deal? Plusmo is in the business of making it easy to develop mobile apps for a variety of smartphones. Plusmo’s service champions the “code once, run everywhere” philosophy by giving developers the tools to convert/port their mobile app (coded in standardized web language) to the all sorts of smartphone platforms. With Plusmo’s technology under wing, AT&T is looking to encourage mobile devs to craft apps for all of its smartphones, not just the iPhone.

Why? Because AT&T won’t have the iPhone locked down forever. In fact, there’s a growing population of AT&T-hating iPhone lovers that probably wouldn’t have a problem dropping AT&T as their iPhone carrier… right now. When AT&T’s exclusive iPhone deal runs its course, it’s going to have to have a backup plan. That plan likely includes a smartphone portfolio that has enough mobile app support to keep AT&T at the top of its game.

[Update]
AT&T hasn’t fessed up to Plusmo’s purchase price yet, but we’re sure it’s a big number.

[Via: BusinessWeek]