Football Fans Can Follow the 2010 Draft Live with New Sprint Football Live App Tweet

College Stars Ndamukong Suh and Sam Bradford Write Exclusive Sprint Blogs.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., --With pro football's draft a week away, Sprint (NYSE:S) announces the launch of Sprint Football Live, an application that will provide football fans complete coverage of the 2010 draft. With Sprint Football Live, fans will be able to follow all the picks, trades and news as it happens on their phone - and it's free with any data plan. Before the draft Sprint subscribers will also have access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes blogs from projected top picks Sam Bradford, quarterback from the University of Oklahoma, and Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle from the University of Nebraska.

Sprint Football Live features a live draft tracker, in-depth profiles and analysis of nearly 500 top prospects, breaking news and information from ProFootballTalk.com, team-specific news for all 32 teams from SBNation, expert analysis, mock drafts, and a Sprint-only blog by NFL insider Jay Glazer.

Additionally, fans will be able to watch the live telecast of CBSSports.com's draft coverage April 22-24 on Sprint TV, including on-demand video featuring expert analysis and the latest news. Sprint TV will have CBSSports.com footage available beginning at noon ET on April 22 with hourly check-ins on the latest news and information.

"Many fans don't have the ability to follow the draft in its entirety from their home and Sprint is making it possible for them to track all the picks live when it works for their schedules," said Steve Gaffney, vice president of Corporate Marketing for Sprint. "Whether it's exclusive video, the live draft tracker, or opinions and analysis from top experts, Sprint is allowing fans to get the latest information as it happens throughout the draft."

Sprint Football Live is available on most Sprint handsets, and all Sprint video-enabled phones offer Sprint TV. Both are included at no additional charge with Sprint Everything Data plans, which include Any Mobile, Anytime for unlimited calling to any mobile phone in America, unlimited text, unlimited Web and unlimited GPS navigation starting at $69.99 - the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for unlimited talk only.

Fans can find more information at www.Sprint.com/football.

Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving more than 48 million customers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company's customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

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LG Viewty GT: Slender Touchscreen Sequel Arrives On 3, Free From £15 Per Month Tweet

The LG Viewty GT – a simplistic and stylish touchscreen handset with a line in features – is now available to buy from 3 Mobile.

With a 3-inch resistive touchscreen (complete with stylus), separate customisable homescreens for widgets and contacts and a 5-megapixel camera, the Viewty GT ticks many of the smartphone boxes despite rocking LG’s proprietary interface rather than a full-fat operating system.

The responsive display and suite of applications make it an ideal entry level device for email and messaging, whilst the 3G and Wi-Fi makes surfing on the Viewty GT a swift experience.

The LG Viewty GT also has a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and an LED flash, as well as photo editing software to make images picture perfect for uploading to your favourite social site.

Thankfully getting online is a simple task on the Viewty GT, thanks to 3’s usual offerings including Skype-to-Skype calls, access to Windows Live Messenger and a dedicated Facebook widget.

Seemingly an attractive revamp of the navigation-savvy GT500 Puccini, the Viewty GT inherits that good sense of direction with assisted GPS support.

Available from £15 per month on an 18 month deal that gives you 75 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited internet, the Viewty GT looks to be an affordable handset for social (networking) butterflies.

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Twitter launches ad service Tweet

Microblogging site Twitter yesterday unveiled its long-awaited advertising program in a first step to turn the incredibly popular service into a profitable business. The ‘Promoted Tweets’ offering lets brands pay to have their tweets listed as the first result when a user conducts a search on Twitter. Over time, Twitter plans to show the promoted tweets in the stream of messages people see when they log into the site and to allow partners – from small developers to large Internet companies – to display the sponsored messages as well. A handful of brands are already on board, including Starbucks, Virgin America and Best Buy, although Twitter is not yet charging for the Promoted Tweets service. The pricing model remains to be determined.

Despite being one of the most popular Internet services, Twitter has – in its own words – “frustrated some Twitter watchers” by its “stubborn insistence on a slow and thoughtful approach to monetisation.” In a blog posting this week, the company set standards for its new Promoted Tweets offering: “Promoted Tweets must meet a higher bar; they must resonate with users. That means if users don’t interact with a Promoted Tweet to allow us to know that the Promoted Tweet is resonating with them, such as replying to it, favouriting it, or Retweeting it, the Promoted Tweet will disappear.” It’s worth noting that Twitter already draws some revenue from licensing partnerships with Google, Microsoft and Yahoo. Under the terms of those deals, tweets appear in each company’s respective Internet search results.

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ViVOpay® Tweet

The ViVOpay® line of contactless payment systems are the best-selling contactless payment devices in the world. ViVOpay devices are used in movie theatres, fast food restaurants (QSR), casual dining establishments, convenience stores, petrol stations, grocery stores, buses, taxicabs, and vending machine locations, enabling a wide variety of businesses to accept contactless/NFC payments.

ViVOpay enables almost any point of sale (POS) and Electronic Cash Registers (ECR) systems with contactless payments with minimum changes and implementation costs. ViVOpay readers come in several different packages and configurations to fulfill the specific needs of each merchant segment: Countertop, Integrated, Vending, Drive Thru, OEM and more.

ViVOpay 8800: ViVOpay 8800 is a PCI 2.1 certified next-generation customer facing payment acceptance device with integrated chip, mag-stripe, contactless and NFC mobile capabilities plus wide screen capacitive display with signature capture, ADA compliant keypad and ARM processor. Also the first payment platform for retailers to deliver exciting new near-store and in-store personalized mobile marketing and loyalty programs to consumers.

ViVOpay 8600: ViVOpay 8600 is a PCI 2.1 certified next-generation customer facing payment acceptance device with integrated chip, mag-stripe, contactless and NFC mobile capabilities plus black and white LCD display with signature capture, ADA compliant keypad and ARM processor. Also the first payment platform to provide small and medium sized merchants to deliver exciting new near-store and in-store personalized mobile marketing and loyalty programs to consumers.

ViVOpay 5000: The powerful ViVOpay 5000 makes possible contactless EMV programs in Asia, EMEA and Latin America by enabling existing POS and ECR systems with contactless EMV capabilities compatible with programs such as Visa® Wave, OneSmart MasterCard PayPass™, OneSmart® MasterCard Pre-Authorized and ExpressPaySM from American Express®.

ViVOpay 5000m: ViVOpay 5000m is a powerful contactless payment reader that can be adapted to existing POS and ECR systems to provide an integrated contactless and MSR functionality as well as an interactive display for customers. The flexible architecture and advanced functionality of the ViVOpay 5000m makes it an ideal solution for emerging mobile commerce and promotion applications based on NFC mobile phone technology.

ViVOpay 4500: The flexible ViVOpay 4500 features ARM processor-based hardware with large application memory to support multiple branded EMV and magnetic stripe contactless applications in addition to retailer loyalty, prepaid and NFC mobile phone payment programs. It has built-in remote download for seamless firmware and application update in the field and its flexible design allows it to be installed in almost any surface: countertop, mounted to windows, POS systems or cash registers and more.

ViVOpay 4500m: The ViVOpay 4500m contactless and magnetic stripe payment device provides merchants with an integrated acceptance device for all payment transactions. Customers can tap their contactless cards, key fobs and NFC mobile phones or swipe their magnetic-stripe cards on the ViVOpay 4500m to make a payment.

ViVOpay Vend: The ViVOpay Vend contactless and magnetic stripe payment device provides vending machine operators with an integrated acceptance device for contactless and magnetic stripe payment cards. Customers can tap their contactless cards, key fobs and NFC mobile phones or swipe their magnetic-stripe cards on the ViVOpay Vend to make a payment, while being guided through the payment process via the integrated high-contrast display.

ViVOpay DTc Drive-Thru: ViVOpay DTc is a compact Drive Thru contactless payment device with integrated magnetic stripe reader based on the same platform of the ViVOpay Vend that enables drive thru windows and other external locations with contactless and mag-stripe acceptance. Customers tap their contactless cards, key fobs and NFC mobile phones or swipe their magnetic-stripe cards on the ViVOpay DTc to make a payment, while being guided through the payment process via the integrated high-contrast display. Its flexible design allows for mounting to walls, metal, poles, or areas conveniently located near the drive thru payment window.

ViVOpay DTm Drive-Thru: ViVOpay DTm is a ruggedized contactless payment device with add-on magnetic-stripe reader designed to enable drive thru windows and other external locations exposed to extreme environments with contactless and mag-stripe acceptance capabilities. Its flexible design allows for mounting to walls, metal, poles, or areas conveniently located near the drive thru payment window. ViVOpay DTm can be installed in locations with extreme temperatures as low as negative 35ºC and positive 60ºC.

ViVOpay Kiosk: ViVOpay Kiosk is a bolt-on external reader module that can be easily added to existing and new Kiosk systems to add new contactless payment functionality. The ViVOpay Kiosk’s compact design and rugged weather-proof construction allows it to be used in self-ordering kiosk systems in public transit, air travel, parking and retail, as well as turnstiles, parking meters and more.

ViVOpay Kiosk II: ViVOpay Kiosk II is a flexible stand-alone contactless reader comprised of a compact controller module and an RFID antenna module packaged individually giving equipment manufacturers flexibility to integrate contactless payment functionality with their host systems.

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Microsoft Kin Two Windows phone Tweet

Its hardware design was developed in partnership with Sharp to create a social phone portfolio with two models called Kin One and Kin Two. Both phones feature a touch screen and slide-out keyboard. One is more compact, while Two offers a larger screen and keyboard, in addition to more memory, a higher resolution camera, and the ability to record high-definition video, the company said.

The 5 and 8 megapixel cameras in One and Two, respectively, are designed for use in low light with image stabilization and a bright LumiLED flash.

Microsoft, which previously only focused on operating system development, entered the phone device market when it acquired Danger Inc, maker of the Sidekick devices, in 2008. Kin devices are the first products of the acquisition.

Kin will be exclusively available from Verizon Wireless in the US beginning in May and from Vodafone this autumn in Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

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Orange signs C Mobile - a new eco MVNO - on the Orange Partner Platform Tweet

Orange has announced that it has signed C Mobile, a new environmentally focussed Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on the Orange Partner Platform via Transatel, Orange’s mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA).

C Mobile, the ethically accredited* online mobile reseller, will launch its Prepay MVNO nationally across the UK later this year with both SIM only and handset deals targeting the ethical and eco market. C Mobile gives consumers the opportunity to fund ecologically sustainable energy projects via profit based grants. More details of the proposition will be revealed by C Mobile nearer the launch.

Stephen Harris, Director of Business Development at Orange UK said: “It is great to see how many different companies are waking up to the potential of the MVNO market and with our Partner Platform it’s so easy and quick to get going. We are excited about the potential opportunities available for C Mobile in the eco-mobile space and look forward to working with them over the coming months.”

Jon Lobb, MD at C Mobile added: “We are extremely pleased to sign up to the Orange Partner Platform with Transatel for our UK MVNO operations. The ease of access to market which this opportunity represents is the first step in our growth strategy and we look forward to working with both Orange and Transatel as we move towards our UK launch.”

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Footnote
* C-Mobile are accredited with The Ethical Company Organisation.

About Orange
Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With 131.8 million customers, the Orange brand now covers internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population, and 3G coverage to more than 93%. At the end of December 2009, Orange had more than 17.4 million customers in the UK – 16.5 million active mobile customers and approximately 900,000 fixed line internet customers.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.

For more information please call the Orange Press Office 0870 3731500, or visit www.orange.co.uk/newsroom

About Transatel
Transatel is a “Mobile Enabler” (or MVNE – MVNO Enabler) dedicated to deliver value to Mobile Users, Mobile Service Providers (MVNO) and GSM operators (MNO). Transatel offers: Turn-key solution & methodology for economic players wishing to deploy and market mobile services under their own brand; Infrastructure & services for GSM operators to easily integrate new Mobile Service Providers (or MVNO) or launch a differentiated co-marketing offers; An innovative approach to mobile service differentiation. Transatel tools & processes integrate into the existing environment from the MVNO and the MNO. Depending on the MVNO’s needs, Transatel services cover: order entry management, provisioning, billing (post-paid & prepaid), CRM, SIM card and value added services. Transatel’s solution runs on a mutualised MVNE platform, ensuring scalability and cost optimisation. Transatel’s MVNE platform is currently deployed and is live on 7 European GSM networks with more in the works.

For more information, please visit: www.transatel.com and www.transatel-solutions.com

About C Mobile
C Mobile is the choice operator for mobile phone users who wish to protect the world they love in an eco and ethical way. C Mobile was founded in 2008 and launched its on-line reseller service in 2009, focusing on the UK consumer contract market. For more information please visit www.cmobile.co.uk

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One million downloads Tweet

Opera Mini for iPhone #1 download in iTunes App Stores everywhere.

Apple said “Yes”, and iPhone users around the world said, “Yes, please”. Opera Mini was downloaded more than one million times in its first day of availability in each market. Opera Mini is currently the number one iPhone app in the 22 featured Apple App Stores on their site, as of 8 a.m. CET today.

According to Apple’s download count, Opera Mini has been added to 1,023,380 Apple devices. Opera Mini is the world’s most popular browser that brings the Web to nearly any mobile phone. Opera submitted its browser to Apple on March 23, following the unveiling of Opera on iPhone during the Mobile World Congress, CTIA and SXSW. Initial previews of the browser garnered rave reviews, indicating that Opera Mini delivers up to six times the speed, especially on congested networks, and significant Web-page compression to keep roaming and pay-per-MB costs at a minimum.

“Today iPhone users have a choice, and, as the numbers show, they are eager to explore new and faster ways to surf the Web on the iPhone - especially during heavy Web traffic,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “With any widely available and frequently downloaded Opera product, we are appreciative of all the feedback we are getting, as it helps us to continually improve our product and better meet the needs of our users.”

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