The top three mobile phone manufacturers in the world,
Ericsson,
Motorola and
Nokia, joined together on Tuesday (4/11) in an attempt to develop a framework for safer and simpler business over cell phones. Although many phones offer wireless Internet access, there isn't a guarantee against fraud. And no good way to surf for porn either... In a recent poll of pre-IPO Internet companies conducted by
WTW Associates, a New York based executive search firm, over 60% indicated that entertainment companies were the most desired source for executives. They already have experience blowing through large sums of cash and know how to grind a fad into the dust...
Handleman introduced its new business-to-business Internet-based operation that will supply digital distribution of music and provide on-demand CD manufacturing for online and brick-and-mortar stores. The operation is called the
Global Entertainment Utility (GEU). It includes a mechanism for distributing music online and via networked in-store kiosks. Handelman has entered into partnerships with
IBM,
Muze Inc.,
Sonic Foundry Inc. and the
Rimage Corporation to support the GEU. It will be SDMI-compliant. Isn't "kiosk" a neat word? Say it out loud. Kiosk, kiosk, kiosk...
Enigma Digital, the online company that umbrellas genre-specific music streaming sites such as
www.grooveradio.com and
www.knac.com has partnered with
HomePage.com to offer customizable home pages. Enigma Digital community members will use Home Page's software to build their own page, which they will probably be too lazy to update...
CustomDisc.com just signed deals with 25 independent labels to its catalog. CustomDisc is also offering co-branded Web sites that will add targeted tracks to each label's Web site. Visiting
www.bloodshot.com will offer the option of making a customized disc of
Bloodshot bands. New labels include
SST,
Vanguard, Bloodshot and
Sugar Hill. Boy, this whole Internet thing looks like it might take off, huh?