T-Mobile launches HotSpot @Home service nationwide

Are you looking for a way to get rid of that pesky land-line phone? You might want to give thought to T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service.

The HotSpot @Home service is awesome because it allows you to use your T-Mobile phone anywhere there is a T-Mobile HotSpot without using up your wireless minutes. It seamlessly switches between the WiFi and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks, so you never even know it happens. There are currently over 8,500 such HotSpots active in the US, so you’re bound to run into one near you.

Today T-Mobile is introducing two new phones that are fully compatible with the new HotSpot @Home service, the Samsung t409 and the Nokia 6086. Each phone can be purchased for $49.99 with a two-year contract.

You will be able to pick up a HotSpot @Home router from either D-Link or Linksys so you can take advantage of the free airtime at home. They will function just the same as other home routers, so they will be a breeze to set up. You will simply choose which brand you want when purchasing the HotSpot @Home service. The routers are free after a mail-in rebate.

The introductory price for the service will be $9.99 for an individual line, or $19.99 will cover up to 5 phones on a family plan. Since a large portion of wireless minutes are used within the home, the service will pay for itself in no time. The service goes on sale today and can be purchased online or at a T-Mobile retail store. For more information check out T-Mobile’s HotSpot @Home website.

We’re going to be giving away a T-Mobile HotSpot @Home router, phone, and a years worth of service soon. In addition to our giveaway, T-Mobile is going to be having promotional events in several major US cities where they will be handing out free service/phones/routers to lucky people. Stick around for more details on both giveaways.

Verizon Wireless to Offer New Mobile Payment Service

Obopay, a mobile payment service, will soon make its services available to Verizon Wireless customers.

Verizon, the first U.S. carrier to offer the mobile payment service, says customers will be able to receive, send and spend money instantly through their mobile phones.

Verizon says users can immediately access their mobile money using an Obopay prepaid MasterCard, which can be used at any ATM or retail outlet that accepts credit cards.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless customers will soon have another option when they shop other than just cash or credit – they will be able to pay using their wireless phones. Obopay, the first comprehensive mobile payment service in the U.S., today announced with Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, they plan to make Obopay’s services available to Verizon Wireless customers in the coming weeks. Obopay is the first mobile payment offering for any major U.S. carrier, and it will allow Verizon Wireless customers to make purchases easily and directly from their mobile phone.

The Obopay service allows users to receive, send and spend money instantly and effortlessly via their mobile phones – whether shopping at their favorite store, going to the movies or dining with friends. Users can immediately access their mobile money using an Obopay prepaid MasterCard®, which can be used at any ATM or retail outlet that accepts credit cards. With Obopay’s user-friendly features, users can also check their account balances, collect money owed from other mobile users, view transaction histories, and invite friends to use the service.

“After a series of industry-firsts, Obopay has once again shown unrivaled leadership by working toward making its services available on the Verizon Wireless network,” said Obopay chief executive officer, Carol L. Realini. “We look forward to working with Verizon Wireless to deliver our mobile payments services to its customers.”

Obopay will initially run on Verizon Wireless mobile phones as a BREW application that can be downloaded from the Verizon Wireless Get It Now® online catalog. After downloading the application, users will be able to sign up for the service directly from their Verizon Wireless mobile devices or at www.obopay.com. Signing up friends will be easy – users simply send cash to prompt others to sign up or issue mobile alert invites. The service will also be made available as part of Verizon Wireless’s Mobile Web 2.0 service. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

For more information Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 60.7 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 66,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Obopay
Obopay, Inc. (www.obopay.com) is the leading service provider for payments over mobile phones. Obopay delivers instant and effortless payment solutions that allow consumers, merchants, banks and carriers to easily embrace the power and convenience of instant mobile payments.

Source: Obopay

MusicStation, all-you-can-eat mobile music service launches

Unlimited music on your mobile for £1.99 a week

We brought you the news about Omniphone's revolutionary MusicStation service back in February, but now we're happy to be able to announce that it goes live today.

As we previously revealed, MusicStation is a Napster-style service for your mobile phone that will deliver unlimited music downloads to (almost) all music enabled 2.5 and 3G phones for a weekly fee of £1.99 (or 2.99 if you're in euros).

This new service will let mobile phone users legally access, download and listen to an unlimited amount of music, any time, anywhere with no extra charge for data.

Music will come from Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, EMI Music and Warner Music International, as well as independents, so this is no tin-pot service.

Although not a direct competitor to Apple's iPhone, this certainly muscles in one of the iPhone's supposedly special features – a decent music offering for your mobile phone.

Omnifone has announced a target of 100 million MusicStation handsets within the next 12 months.

The service rolls out across Europe today, with handsets with the MusicStation software preloaded hitting stores but further details regarding operators, etc, to be confirmed – we'll update you as soon as we know more.