• MetroPCS is selling its prepaid service by the minute at Walmart. The By the Minute service lets customers talk for as low as 3 cents per minute, with unlimited text messaging. Subscribers buy a $20 or $30 prepaid phone card, activate it and enjoy up to 1000 minutes of cell phone use during a 30-day period. The cards can only be purchased through Walmart.
• AT&T has launched its U-verse Mobile service on the new BlackBerry Curve 3G and several Android devices, including the Samsung Captivate and HTC Aria. The service will also launch on the Motorola Bravo and Flipside. U-verse Mobile lets U-verse TV subscribers browse the program guide, schedule and manage their DVR recordings, and for subscribers with qualifying TV plans, download TV shows over any Wi-Fi connection and watch them on their smartphone. With the Android device launches, U-verse Mobile is available on four mobile operating systems and will continue to expand to more devices in the future.
• Verizon Wireless is now offering its customers tools to let them manage their accounts at home or on the go through its Express Services. Verizon Wireless customers using My Verizon online or accessing My Verizon Mobile from any Android device will now see a list of frequent transactions involving their bills, their plans and their devices. In one click, customers can start to explore their account activity and complete popular transactions, including viewing a bill, managing Friends & Family, changing an address, adding a new line of service, or activating a new phone.
• ABI Research says cellular M2M connections are expected to exceed 297 million in 2015. Europe continues to account for the largest regional share with 110 million connections in 2015; North America will rank second with 79 million and the Asia-Pacific region third with almost 66 million. ABI's 2009 forecast of about 225 million connections by 2014 has been raised to 232.5 million.
• Rhapsody's music app is now available on BlackBerry devices. As with Rhapsody apps for Apple and Android, subscribers can enjoy their playlists from any BlackBerry smartphone and discover new music through playlists and radio stations programmed by Rhapsody's renowned music editors. Users are entitled to a free seven-day trial of the Rhapsody mobile app, after which they can purchase a Rhapsody subscription for $9.99 per month.
• Wholesale iPhone and iPad app marketplace appbackr launched in open beta yesterday. Using the platform, developers agree to sell a certain number of units to wholesale buyers at a discount. Wholesale buyers purchase those units in bulk and profit when the app sells through iTunes. Developers get the cash to support their app, and a "backr" with a vested interest in promoting their iPhone or iPad app. Wholesalers get involved in the promotion of emerging apps, and earn a 27 percent to 54 percent return once the app sells at the retail level.