SpiralFrog has launched a free, ad-supported music download Website in North America. Users can download unlimited song files and related content for free, just for watching targeted advertising.

Songs and videos downloaded on SpiralFrog will play on Windows PCs running XP and Vista. Members can download songs to their PCs and synchronize their music with up to two portable music players or music-enabled phones that support Windows Media DRM.

By Wireless Week Staff

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed into law legislation banning teen drivers from using all electronic devices—including cellphones, pagers, personal digital assistants and laptop computers—while behind the wheel.

The new law kicks in on July 1, 2008, the same date as a separate law requiring all drivers to use hands-free devices for cellular calls on the road. Violation of either law carries a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for each additional offense. Both laws make exceptions for 911 emergency calls.

By Jeffrey Silva

Global Tower Partners today said it has bought 549 cellsites in urban areas across 27 states from AT&T. The new tower sites adds substantially to GTP’s footprint of 2700 towers owned in the U.S. It’s total footprint contains 7700 sites across the world.

By Kevin Fitchard

Verizon Wireless has filed suit against the FCC regarding the commission's rules governing the 700 MHz spectrum auction that would require certain airwaves be compatible with any device. The carrier is claiming that the FCC overstepped its authority when it adopted the open-access requirements earlier this summer.

By Teresa von Fuchs

San Francisco has officially ended plans to build a citywide Wi-Fi network. The city, partnered with Google and Earthlink, had been working for several years now on a plan to blanket the city with free Internet access. The plan was pretty much thought to be off the table when Earthlink pulled out of the deal last month, but a committee of the city's Board of Supervisors formally killed the proposal yesterday when it declined to vote on the contract.

By Teresa von Fuchs

Kyocera is entering the final round of talks to acquire the mobile phone unit of Sanyo Electric, according to Japanese news site Nikkei. According to reports, Kyocera is looking to the buy the unit for 50 billion yen ($434 million). Combined, the two would create the world's seventh largest handset maker.

By Teresa von Fuchs

Sprint Nextel has launched a new mobile shopping application that allows customers to shop and buy products from more than 30 online retailers directly from their Sprint mobile phones. Powered by mShopper, Sprint's new mobile shopping portal promises to bring to the handset the same ease of price comparisons and purchasing power that users have online. Sprint data subscribers can access Mobile Shopper at no additional charge.

By Wireless Week Staff

Ad buyers who purchase Google text ads will soon start seeing their ads show up on mobile devices in addition to the Web. Integrated delivery to the Web and mobile search listings will be the new default setting within Google AdWords. Users will be able, however, to opt out of having their ads delivered to mobile devices.

By Rich Karpinski

Alcatel-Lucent previously anticipated its annual revenue would grow in the mid-single digits this year (based on a constant euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate), it now expects revenue to be “flat to slightly up,” the company said in a release issued early this morning. The difference could be in excess of $1 billion.

By Ed Gubbins

The Federal Communications Commission took dramatic steps to improve the location accuracy of wireless 911 service.The agency clarified that cellular carriers must meet enhanced 911 location accuracy requirements at the public-safety answering point service-area level, directing them to meet interim and annual benchmarks over the next five years to ensure full compliance by Sept. 11, 2011.

By Jeffrey Silva