Roundup: Virgin Mobile absorbs Helio, Kindle for students, and more

Roundup: Virgin Mobile absorbs Helio, Kindle for students, and more

Mobile voice network operator Virgin Mobile USA has finished absorbing rival Helio — We heard a rumor, more than once, that “massive firings” were being considered, but Virgin Mobile tells us that this won’t happen. Instead, some employees have been “rebadged” to work at its IT… Continue Reading

Virgin Mobile buys (once) high-flying Helio for $50M, as mobile consolidation begins

Virgin Mobile buys (once) high-flying Helio for $50M, as mobile consolidation begins

Virgin Mobile USA has agreed to acquire Helio mobile phone division from SK Telecom and Earthlink for an investment that totals $50 million.

The deal is part of a consolidation trend in mobile. Nokia this week agreed to buy Symbian, the mobile phone software maker, for… Continue Reading

Roundup: Virgin Mobile acquires Helio, Starbucks to stop music sales and more

Roundup: Virgin Mobile acquires Helio, Starbucks to stop music sales and more

Here’s the latest action:

New partnership brings Helio to Virgin Mobile — Virgin Mobile USA will acquire the U.S. arm of South korea-based SK Telecom, namely, a mobile operator called Helio, according to the Financial Times. Both mobile operators have been struggling to make money by piggybacking… Continue Reading

Roundup: Tidbits on Jangl’s demise, Virgin considers Helio hookup, VCs looking overseas, and more

Roundup: Tidbits on Jangl’s demise, Virgin considers Helio hookup, VCs looking overseas, and more

updated

The back-story on Jangl’s slow death — Yesterday, we reported on Jangl’s asset sale process. A tipster tells us that Seattle-based WhitePages had offered to buy Internet phone company Jangl for $20 million, but then kept the company in diligence for more than a month and… Continue Reading

Rumor: Helio to announce firings this week

Rumor: Helio to announce firings this week

updated
Helio, the mobile phone service provider, is getting ready to announce a new round of firings this week, a source close to the matter tells us. These layoffs are expected to include senior level officials within the company.

[Update: Spokeswoman Brooke Hammerling has responded, saying the… Continue Reading

Roundup: Virtual sex bed suit, Geni, Gay.com, Netvibes, Helio and more

Roundup: Virtual sex bed suit, Geni, Gay.com, Netvibes, Helio and more

Here’s the latest (ahem) action:

Second Life avatar sues another avatar, over virtual sex bed — We should have predicted this. Second Life entrepreneur Kevin Alderman has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Second Life resident Volkov Catteneo. This is apparently the first time an avatar has… Continue Reading