Mobile virtual network operator Working Assets Wireless announced it will begin offering a solar-powered cellphone charger for free to new subscribers who purchase their flip phone. The company said the offering is part of its effort to help subscribers “connect to progressive causes.”

"If we want to reverse the negative effects of global warming, we have to consider our daily actions as the first place to make changes," said Laura Scher, CEO of Working Assets.

By Mike Dano

As part of its ongoing process to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) program, the FCC issued a Report and Order yesterday strengthening its debarment rule for carriers convicted of criminal violations or civil liability cases around any of the four funds. Previously the commission's debarment rules applied only to the E-rate Program, not the High Cost, Low Income or Rural Healthcare programs.

By Teresa von Fuchs

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Sony Ericsson is looking to become one of the top three handset manufacturers in the world. CEO Miles Flint told the paper that the company is looking to expand beyond its niche of high-end camera and media-centric phones and address a broader market.

In recent months, the partnership between Japanese Sony and Swedish Ericsson has begun releasing more basic, low-cost handsets aimed at expanding emerging markets such as India.

By Teresa von Fuchs

LG Electronics announced its first high-end cameraphone, the LG Viewty. The handset, designed for easy sending, sharing and viewing of photos and video, is scheduled for release in Europe in mid-October, with worldwide release scheduled for the end of this year.

By Teresa von Fuchs

Syniverse Technologies, a provider of technology and business solutions for the global telecommunications industry, announced that it is working closely with the GSM Association (GSMA) to define and implement a new standard that is expected to reduce the incidence of roaming fraud by up to 90%.

By Wireless Week Staff

Nokia introduced Ovi—which means “door” in the Finnish company’s native tongue—at its Nokia Go Play event in London this morning. The portal will serve as a gateway to Nokia services as well as a storefront for full-track music downloads, online communities and games from the company’s resuscitated N-Gage platform.

By Colin Gibbs

EarthLink Inc. has fired 900 employees and closed offices in Orlando, Fla.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Harrisburg, Pa.; and San Francisco in a “corporate restructuring”. Speculation is rampant about the company’s next move. Many see this as a sign of a company-wide exit from the fledgling municipal Wi-Fi market.

EarthLink’s troubles also bring into question the company’s investment in mobile virtual network operator Helio L.L.C. Formed as a joint venture between EarthLink and Korean telecom giant SK Telecom, Helio continues to lose millions of dollars every quarter.

By Matt Kapko

WebEx, the Web collaboration solution provider, has launched a new iPhone-compatible version of WebEx PCNow, an on-demand remote access service for desktops and wireless devices. PCNow gives iPhone users the ability to access their desktop PC files, as well as Microsoft's Outlook corporate e-mail, contacts and appointments from their wireless devices.

By Wireless Week Staff

Diebold Inc., maker of self-service and security systems including automatic teller machines, said that it has been granted five U.S. patents that cover applications allowing mobile devices to interact with bank ATMs.

Diebold states that the patents cover the technology to allow customers to locate and get directions to the nearest ATM using their mobile phones; to order cash withdrawals remotely and conduct other wireless transactions. Diebold engineers claim that this could be in users’ hands within three to five years.

By Kelly Hill

Google's Gmail is now being offered as a push e-mail service, thanks to an upgrade of Emoze's push e-mail software application. Unlike other mobile e-mail providers, Emoze service does not require users' mobile devices to periodically dial-out and check for new messages. Emoze push e-mail automatically acts to route messages to users' handsets in real-time.

By Wireless Week Staff