• Canada’s Telus warns that its first-quarter wireless financial results will be negatively affected by lower-than-expected wireless net additions and ARPU due to the tough economy. Net additions of 48,000 represent a 46 percent decline year-over-year.
• The FCC adopted rules to expand first responders’ use of the 4.9 GHz band. The commission says the rules will enhance first responders’ deployment of broadband technologies across the nation in the 4.9 GHz band and help stimulate the economy.
• Verizon Wireless and HTC announced that the HTC Touch Diamond will be available tomorrow through business sales channels and online at Verizon Wireless’ Web site. The device will be available in black; it features a 2.76-inch touchscreen, a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera and support for Windows Mobile 6.1. It will cost $300 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year contract.
• Nokia Spain and Telefonica Spain have signed an agreement to introduce the Nokia Messaging push e-mail service in Spain. Telefonica Spain will be among the first operators to bring the solution to market.
• Amazon.com is releasing its latest mobile offering, Amazon App for BlackBerry, which is now available as a free download directly from Amazon.com. The app offers customers who use a BlackBerry device with a track ball a quick way to find, discover and buy products from Amazon.com and other retailers.
• Visa announced the launch of a commercial Visa mobile payments service for point-of-sale transactions using near field communications (NFC) technology. The service marks the first time consumers can purchase an NFC-enabled mobile device off the shelf and use that device to make Visa payWave-enabled transactions at the point-of-sale instead of using their payment card.
• Samsung Electronics says it expects to provide mobile WiMAX technologies to Canada and several South American countries following its successful deployment in the United States. The company hopes to conclude some deals by the end of this year.
• MobiTV has promoted Ray DeRenzo to chief marketing officer. DeRenzo has spent the last four years at MobiTV as senior vice president of product, programming and marketing.