“DirecTV launched a new channel Tuesday, Game Lounge, which will offer games for both children and adults that will be played using the DirecTV remote. With the launch, DirecTV also announced an exclusive deal with Mattel Inc. that will incorporate all of the Mattel brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels and UNO, into a line of children’s games available exclusively for the Game Lounge platform. Other brands that will have games on the channel include Nickelodeon, Leap Frog and PBS Kids… Mattel is the world’s biggest toy maker. DirecTV Group Inc. is the largest direct broadcast satellite provider in the United States. Both companies are based in El Segundo.”
“Yahoo Inc. plans to place display advertisements on mobile devices in 18 countries, the company said, as part of its aggressive push beyond just a search and online presence. Sunnyvale-based Yahoo said it will offer its brand advertising for mobile phone users in western Europe, the Americas and South Asia, and has signed on advertisers that include Santa Clara-based Intel Corp., carmakers such as Nissan and Infiniti, and companies with interest for travelers such as Singapore Airlines and Hilton’s Embassy Suites.”
“The big social networks are looking for ways to reach more people, and they’re having to partner. MySpace.com, the giant social network, will enter the European mobile phone market with an exclusive relationship with Vodafone, they just announced.”
“BT has agreed to terms to acquire International Network Services Inc (INS), a global provider of IT consulting and software solutions. This professional services acquisition will increase BT’s presence in North America and will significantly enhance BT’s consulting capabilities… Based in Santa Clara, California, with offices in Europe, Asia and throughout North America, the company builds, implements and secures business technology infrastructures for its customers.”
“The California Department of Technology Services and the California Department of General Services today announced the award of four statewide contracts for telecommunications services worth an estimated $350 million annually to AT&T Global Services and Verizon Business.”
In disclosures filed with the state this week, AT&T reported donating $25,000 to Governor Schwarzenegger’s campaign on Nov. 14 of last year. Four days later, on Nov. 18, Susan Kennedy, then a Public Utility Commission PUC member, voted to approve AT&T’s merger with SBC Communications. Twenty one days later, on December 5th, Governor Schwarzenegger paid that exact amount- $25,000- to Susan Kennedy claiming she was a “campaign consultant”. At the time, he had already announced that Kennedy would become his chief of staff, although she stayed on the PUC for the final month of 2005.
Consumer activists have rebuked the Governor and Kennedy because of the strongly suspected “quid pro quo” nature of this decision that was made in AT&T’s favor. Bob Finkelstein, executive director of the Utility Reform Network of San Francisco, said: “The timeline is pretty damning.” TURN, a group that advocates on behalf of consumers, also opposed the way the PUC approved SBC’s purchase of AT&T, and says the decision will cost consumers more than $330 million. Doug Heller, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, called on Kennedy to return the $25,000 she took from Schwarzenegger: “The PUC ought to throw out any votes that involved her on this telecommunications rule,” Heller said. “It is an absolute conflict that goes to the heart of what’s wrong with use of public officials in campaign functions”. A spokesman for the Governor denied any connection between the donations and Kennedy’s actions in her final days as a Public Utility commissioner.
“Polycom Inc. said Wednesday it will buy SpectraLink Corp. for $220 million in cash. Pleasanton-based Polycom sells teleconferencing and video equipment. Boulder, Colorado-based SpectraLink sells wireless telecommunications to businesses.”
South Korea Investigates Qualcomm
South Korea’s antitrust regulator said Thursday it has launched a full-scale investigation into alleged unfair market practices by wireless technology company Qualcomm Inc. The Fair Trade Commission early last month formed a task force to push forward a probe into allegations that the company used its dominant position in wireless technology to seek excessive royalties, said Shin Yeong-ho, an FTC official.
