This domain name is specifically for sites made for wireless devices, and wireless companies have first crack at registering. The flood gates open in September when the general public will be allowed to register.

Not sure if the folks over at dotMobi (the company organizing this) realized that a four-letter domain name is that much more difficult to type than a two or three letter extension. Most people have enough trouble typing ".com" with a numeric keypad...

Looks like Hands-On needs a little more work in the makeover department, though - check out their logo and right below it, the logo for the recent Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy film:

Wow. C'mon guys - can't do any better than that? Don't have much hope for their product if this is the logo they "created".

Success of the apps can be attributed to the strong collection as well as big backing from Verizon as it is always prominently placed on the ringtones deck. For those who don't know, ringtones on Verizon must be purchased through an application due to their "walled garden" - this is unlike purchasing on Cingular or T-Mobile directly though a WAP page. On Verizon, a user purchases an application loaded with credits and content providers manage their own collection under Verizon's supervision.

This should now allow Airborne to play with the big boys like Moviso (subsiduary of Infospace), Zingy, mForma and Faith West. Their collection of wallpapers has found it's way onto all the tier-1 carriers in the USA, and their ringers and video content are also headed in that direction. Cybird entering the field will expand the global coverage and bring some cash infusion to the table that will no doubt lead to an expanded catalogue and create a more competitive space.

From the press release:

“Airborne Entertainment has been extremely successful in creating and launching compelling mobile products based on some of the world’s biggest brands as well as its own innovative original content”, said Tatsuya Kato, Co-President of CYBIRD. “Airborne Entertainment understands the uniqueness of the mobile marketplace and the mobile consumer, and shares CYBIRD’s commitment to convenience by delivering mobile content through strong carrier distribution, targeted multi-platform promotions and branded sales environments. Being part of the explosive growth of the North American mobile market is of strategic importance to CYBIRD and Airborne Entertainment’s leadership positions us incredibly well in it.”

"...psychologists say ringtones can be an indicator whether a person is an extrovert or not, if one is pretentious or speaks one’s mind.

A recent survey by a British company gave an insight into the world of cell phone users. According to it, those who constantly change ringtones to whatever is currently on the charts are unreliable by nature, while those who opt for classical music are regarded pretentious."

Any teen in America - the core buying demographic of ringtones - will tell you the same. This is the whole reason they set "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani as a ringtone one day, and have "Get Back" by Ludacris the next.

"It is clearly unique and not a traditional restaurant," said Bill Whitman, a McDonald's spokesman. "But it is a peek at the future of McDonald's through the use of technology, innovative design and contemporary space."

Not long until we see these type of vending machines in malls and other shops...

"Cornered the market" may be misleading in the above article, mainly because Napster's numbers are miniscule compared to the number of ringtones carriers as a whole sell on a daily basis. It should also be noted that Napster sells only licensed music ringtones.

With the iTunes phone on the horizon, the competition is about to heat up.

"An HMV spokesman said: "Kids obviously find it cute and cool but students and office workers seem to be drawn to its rather kitsch, ironic appeal.

"Music purists might not be too happy."

Regardless, this is proof that aggressive marketing will work for this relatively new culture obsession. Ads for the latest incarnation of the Frog are being played in heavy rotation on many UK TV channels. Jamster, the company behind the Frog, runs the risk of killing the market for everyone including themselves though; when the Crazy Frog phenomenon passes, it could leave a bad taste in the mouths of fickle consumers, especially in the USA.

What does this say abut consumers? Hard to judge, but the old adage of "simple is better" might apply here. Watch out, 50 Cent...

"We believe that the hip-hop community will foster additional growth and demand for mobile entertainment content throughout the US and worldwide," said Alexander U. Conrad, President and COO, Dwango Wireless. "Partnering with the Rap Olympics connects Dwango with millions of hip-hop fans passionate about discovering today's hottest new rap artists."

All performing artists will be featured on the national Rap Olympics DVD called "Phenomenon." The best Freestyle Artists will be selected to advance and compete for $50,000 in the Celebrity Rap Olympics competition this summer in New York City. The Rap Olympics will push on throughout the summer with a nationwide messaging campaign in association with the Anger Management 3 Tour."

More fusion of hip-hop and ringtones, and it won't stop anytime soon. Urban influences in the wireless content world will be prevalent as long as hip-hip stays as the top of the cultural thermometer.

"Other artists spanning a broad section of musical styles -- alternative/rock, hip-hop/R&B, pop, Latin, country, and more -- will become part of Cingular Sounds in the coming weeks and months. The program will include exclusive ringtone debuts and offer weekly text message updates from a wide range of participating artists."

Check out the whole release here.

"Lil Jon definitely sees this as a chance to get his foot in an opening door, both business-wise and creativity-wise. "It's definitely new and innovative to make music strictly for your cellphone," he says. "I can make songs about my momma calling, my girlfriend, 'I don't want to answer the phone,' so many different things, so many different levels…. For me to do exclusive new stuff for the phone will be crazy."

As the fusion of the most popular music in the U.S.A. and hot technology continue, expect artists to start finding way to bypass the middleman like Lagardere and sell their content directly. This will likely happen as premium SMS starts to emerge...