Alltel to spin off landline business
Alltel said it will spin off its local-phone operations and then merge a 15% stake of the new business with Valor Communications Group. The transaction, expected to be worth about $9.1 billion, will transform Alltel into a purely wireless carrier with about 11 million customers . USA TODAY (12/9), Reuters (12/9), NYTimes.com (12/9), The Wall Street Journal (12/9), TMC Internet Telephony (12/2005)  
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EA snaps up JAMDAT
Video game published Electronic Arts has bought JAMDAT Mobile, a company that specializes in games for mobile phones, for $680 million. The acquisition marks an aggressive expansion by EA into the growing mobile game market. NYTimes.com (12/9)
Report: Cable penetration sagging
Cable's market penetration dipped to 64.8% in the year ending Nov. 30, according to a report by the Television Bureau of Advertising. Alternative distribution methods such as Direct Broadcast Satellite reached more than 30% of subscribers in 42 markets at the end of that period, the report found. Telephony Online (12/9)
Cable's wireless dilemma
Cable is playing catch-up in the wireless business, an area that is expected to boom in coming years. MSOs are faced with the prospect of cutting deals with wireless carriers or buying their own spectrum, both of which would be prohibitively expensive. Meanwhile, mobile phone companies are forging ahead with video services that put them on the leading edge of a cultural shift toward greater mobility. Barron's (subscription required) (12/8)
Free Wi-Fi becomes the norm
The fee-based business model for Wi-Fi access appears to be falling by the wayside as the number of free hotspots increases -- in turn causing consumers to become less willing to pay for the service. USA TODAY (12/9)
Alcatel projects big growth from mobile operations
Alcatel yesterday said growth at its mobile communications business would exceed the midsingle-digit growth predicted for the global market in 2006. Alcatel gets about 30% of its revenue from mobile communications operations. Reuters (12/9)
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Yahoo! strikes cross-platform deal with Aussie broadcaster
Yahoo! and broadcaster Seven Networks have formed a joint venture that will meld their online, mobile and IPTV businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The deal is similar to one between Microsoft and Nine Network. CNET (12/9), C21 Media (12/9)
BellSouth enhances enterprise VoIP offering
BellSouth has beefed up its VoIP offering for medium and large businesses by adding Cisco Systems' media conferencing capabilities to the mix. Telephony Online (12/8)
BT takes another step toward 21CN reality
BT Group said it has successfully run live customer voice traffic over its IP network, a small but significant step forward for the closely watched 21CN project. Light Reading (12/6)
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