Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin again suggested the agency may decide to address in a broader context the mobile phone industry practice of assessing hefty early termination fees levied on subscribers who break service contracts.

The FCC has yet to act on a March 2005 request by cellphone association CTIA to preempt states—as well as plaintiffs’ lawyers—from addressing consumer complaints about ETFs.

By Jeffrey Silva

Verizon has tapped Web application vendor Laszlo Systems to build a new branded Webmail application for its FiOS fiber-to-the-home customers—and eventually all of its broadband Internet users.

For Verizon, building its own Webmail application allows it to offer its own branded software in addition to partner-branded email. FiOS users also have the option of using third-party email and portal services from their choice of Microsoft, AOL or Yahoo.

By Rich Karpinski

According to British scientists, cellular phones do not pose short-term health risks, but a report, the largest investigation in the U.K. into the possible health risks of mobile technology, did say that it was too soon to tell whether mobile phones have long-term health affects.

By Teresa von Fuchs

Fresh off its record win over Research in Motion, which rewarded NTP with a $612.5 million settlement, NTP is suing the operators for patent infringement related to messaging technology it developed before push e-mail became a monster application in the last few years. This time it’s taking on the giants of the telecom industry, suing AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

By Kevin Fitchard

T-Mobile has launched a new mobile Internet search function on its T-Zones platform. The mobile search function is designed for mobile devices with smaller screens, in that it returns answers instead of links. The new search is being launched as part of a partnership with Medio Systems in five European countries.

By Wireless Week Staff

Bank of America (BofA) has launched a new service called SafePass, adding another layer of security to online banking transactions. Using authentication technology, SafePass sends a 6-digit code to a customer's mobile phone; the code can only be used once and expires 10 minutes after being sent. BofA customers can elect to use SafePass codes for certain types of online banking activities, such as logging on from a new computer or authorizing transfers of funds.

By Teresa von Fuchs

AT&T's new chairman and CEO, Randall Stephenson, said the iPhone is only one part of the company's multi-pronged global strategy focusing on mobility. Stephenson told USA Today that, "Wireless is the core of the business now… it's the core of how we grow the business going forward."

Along the lines of this statement, AT&T has launched a new advertising campaign focusing on a mobile-centric lifestyle, with the tagline: Your Seamless World. The campaign will start with six commercials featuring actors playing globe-trotting characters, who describe how they are always on the go and need a company that can serve them wherever they travel.

By Teresa von Fuchs

Google to work with IT consulting firm CapGemini to deliver Google Apps to enterprise desktops. Google Apps is a roll-up package of Google online applications—including e-mail, calendar, word process and spreadsheets—designed specifically for corporate use. Google Apps Premier includes the ability to integrate Google’s applications into a corporate computing infrastructure.

By Rich Karpinski

Vodafone has announced its upcoming handset line-up for the holiday season, including the Samsung F700, a device some are calling a direct rival to Apple's iPhone. Unlike the iPhone, the F700 has a pull-down Qwerty keyboard and supports 3G and HSDPA networks, with speeds as high as 7.2 Mbps.

By Teresa von Fuchs

AT&T has launched a new directory assistance service available across nine Southeastern states. The service, called AT&T 1-800-YellowPages, gives consumers free access to business listings while providing advertisers the opportunity to reach buyers at a critical moment in their purchasing decisions.

By Wireless Week Staff