mobile messaging

T-Mobile USA faces SMS lawsuit

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:59:56 -0500

T-Mobile USA is facing a class action lawsuit filed by subscribers who claim to have been charged for text messages even though they do not want the feature. The subscribers claim that T-Mobile should disable SMS features for those who do not wish to use SMS or receive texts at all.

"T-Mobile requires each of its customers who have not subscribed to one of T-Mobile's Messaging Value Bundles to pay for each and every unsolicited text message they receive," the suit claims. "In sum, T-Mobile, the party with the superior bargaining power, has carried out a wrongful business scheme regarding text messaging to deliberately cheat a large number of consumers out of individually small sums of money."

For more on T-Mobile's class action lawsuit:
- read this article from RCR News

VeriSign may be divesting of mobile units

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:59:56 -0500

Network infrastructure developer VeriSign reportedly plans to divest a series of business units, possibly including its mobile banking, mobile messaging and wireless billing technologies, to focus its business on securing online transactions as well as overseeing the ".com" and ".net" domain name registries. VeriSign is expected to announce its plans during a Wednesday meeting with analysts. CEO Bill Roper told the AP that the firm plans to sell businesses where it's not the clear market leader. Roper indicated that VeriSign will sell its mobile transactions infrastructure unit and its telecommunications routing business, although he added the company has not selected all of the divisions it will shed, nor has it settled on their respective pricetags.

"We're getting a lot of interest," Roper told the AP. "It's not a matter of these being cats and dogs that nobody's interested in. It's just a matter of…we might not be the best home for those businesses."

For more on VeriSign's mobile future:
- read this Associated Press article

SPOTLIGHT: NBC snags stake in 4INFO

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:59:52 -0400

NBC Universal announced its selection of messaging services provider 4INFO as the broadcaster's preferred partner for ad-supported mobile messaging--per terms of the agreement, NBCU will take a minority stake in 4INFO, investing an undisclosed amount via Peacock Equity, a joint venture owned by the media giant and parent General Electric's GE Commercial Finance. Article