News briefs: Helio, Parks, Research and Markets, AIU Mobile, Boost Mobile
Helio partners with Buzzd
Mobile services provider Helio has allied with entertainment service Buzzd to provide real-time information for clubs, bars and restaurants to the carrier's members based on their location.
The service is accessible on all Helio devices from the carrier's's mobile deck and lists events and venues in all major cities in the United States.
Buzzd provides users with entertainment listings and reviews. It also allows subscribers to find, connect with and message friends via an SMS feature.
Mobile gaming is moving off-deck: Survey
As gamers move from carrier decks to newer channels, mobile gaming is predicted to grow, per market research firm Parks Associates.
The report found that mobile game revenues generated on-deck will drop to 72 percent from 90 percent in the next five years.
Parks attributes this to a lack of competition between the carriers' decks and an uninspired user interface.
The growing influence of established media companies, experiments with alternative distribution channels and recent efforts to open carrier's decks is what's driving the off-deck distribution.
Large chunk of world pop can't afford mobile phone service
Mobile phone usage is up but not everyone has a device, according to Research and Markets.
Although there is a huge growth in the number of people who use mobile phones, there were more than 4 billion people without a device by the end of 2007.
The number of subscribers does not equal the amount of users because a lot of people have more than one mobile phone.
A large chunk of the population can't afford to have mobile phone service and therefore organizations and governments will need to subsidize mobile phone service for the less fortunate population segments.
Global mobile subscription levels are expected to reach 5 billion by 2014.
AIU Mobile puts the classroom on mobile
American InterContinental University Online launched a mobile education delivery channel, allowing students to access online educational programs and support.
AIU Mobile lets students access information such as class assignments, instructor directories, campus email, grades and video courseware and podcast.
This new form of portable learning allows students to stay connected to the university community even during down time.
Boost Mobile introduces new plan
Sprint Nextel's Boost Mobile has introduced a $1 a day chat plan for Pay As You Go subscribers.
Pay As You Go subscribers now have three payment plan options including Basic Pay As You Go, the Chat Plan and Premium Plan.
The new Chat Plan has unlimited nights and mobile-to-mobile for 10 cents a minute. The Boost Walkie Talkie service is an extra $1 a day.