MySpace, the hugely popular social networking site, is planning to launch its own wireless service, allowing users on the go to read and post to the site for free.

Photo: Pantech Hero Photo 1

Debuting in a partnership with Helio, an MNVO joint venture between Internet service provider Earthlink and South Korean carrier SK Telecom, MySpace Mobile will bring together the 55 million MySpace users with the power of wireless connectivity.

"MySpace Mobile On Helio will allow our members to share their lives as they happen and evolve the MySpace experience from being about what you did last night to about what you are doing right now," said Rob Gelick, head of media and community services, Helio.

The mobile service will offer a look, feel and overall customer experience that are true to the online MySpace environment while optimizing it for mobile including:

- Mailbox - Ability to read and write MySpace mail from a Helio device
- Bulletin - Send messages to all your friends anytime, anywhere from a Helio device
- Blogs - Read and write blogs on-the-go without a PC
- Photos - View photos on friends' profiles optimized for a Helio screen
- Profiles - View profiles and add new friends as users meet them directly from their Helio device

The service will also enhance the overall MySpace experience with new features and content sources including:

- Photo posting directly from a Helio device so experiences are shared as they happen
- Added photo storage capacity exclusively for Helio members
- A mobile online status indicator in a user profile for those online via a Helio device

Helio also unveiled its exclusive devices - the Hero and Kickflip. The jet-black Hero, produced by Pantech, features as a virtual mobile entertainment center. A co-processor chip delivers high-quality music and video through full-duplex stereo speakers. Using a 2.2-inch, 262K-color high-resolution QVGA LCD display, the Hero's 2.0-megapixel camera with digital zoom and flash captures photos and video anywhere on the go.

The pearlescent Kickflip, produced by VK Mobile, packs similar features. Packaged in a sleek body with an innovative swivel form, users can open the Kickflip with a simple nudge of the finger. The Hero and Kickflip both support EV-DO broadband technology, 2.0-megapixel cameras, MP3 players, 70 MB of internal memory plus TransFlash expansion card slots, and a user interface designed by Helio. The jet-black Hero features a "night" themed interface, while the lustrous Kickflip glows with a "day" theme.

Helio will launch in the U.S. this spring.

- Pantech Hero Photo 1
- Pantech Hero Photo 2
- VK Mobile Kickflip Photo 1
- VK Mobile Kickflip Photo 2

1. Posted by GSMDude	Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:38 am
My goodness. This is a monster deal for MySpace and Helio, taking social networking to the next level. This looks to be the knockout blow for all the other competitors (ie Friendster, Facebook, etc.). This may be the edge Helio needs to differentiate itself from the big carriers.
2. Posted by Bushy Turtle	Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:45 am
I never did get the whole MySpace craze. But this deal is going to boost both Helio and MySpace usage for sure! Speaking of MySpace, I read that their having problems with growing pains and people abusing their service (strangers contacting and picking up kids). News Corp (which bought MySpace), has big things in store. Whether they sink or swim under their own success will depend on how they handle all this.
3. Posted by Rebel6127	Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:13 pm
seems kina wierd but myspace ids awesome
4. Posted by booboy	Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:07 am
When you consider MySpace gets two times more traffic than Google, you start to understand why this is huge...
5. Posted by Ashelena777	Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:13 am
I already check MySpace on my mobile phone... having a "MySpace" phone in unnecessarily cheesy.
6. Posted by cementmaker	Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:35 am
myspace is highly overpriced... 500 million$??

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