T-Mobile Drops More “App Store” Details

T-Mobile recently made it known that it will be the first carrier to offer its own mobile-accessible application store in line with Apple’s App Store. What better venue than CTIA to shed some new light on T-Mobile’s plans to enter the evolving space that is mobile app distribution? Here is the condensed version of an interview with T-Mobile’s Venetia Espinoza, Director of Product Development for mobile apps and partner programs, and Sue Schmitz, Product Marketing Manager of the devPartner program:

• The initial offering will allow free and pay apps, but nothing containing advertising. There will also be no Android apps allowed (Android Marketplace should get interesting) and no Sidekick apps either.
• The developer agreement will be live on T-Mobile’s site next week and developers may begin signing on as soon as it goes live.
• As far as a revenue split, the terms start at 50 / 50 but there are various factors that can bump it up to as much as 70% for the developer. Developers get an increase as they meet various criteria such as providing multiple points of contact for customer service and supporting 10 or more T-Mobile handsets.
• T-Mobile will be providing demo handsets and a virtual lab to assist developers.
• Free apps will be allowed in the store at no cost to the developer but there will limitations as far as how much bandwidth they can use.
• There will not be an API available from day one but T-Mobile is considering opening up a bit more in the future. In other words, for the time being there will be no access to handset functionality such as GPS for location-based services, Contacts, Camera, MyFaves, etc. Hmm.

So there you have it people. Initially you’re going to be looking at a proof of concept of sorts; very basic stuff that will help T-Mobile determine how it wants to move forward and expand. As far as whether or not it will allow Google’s competitive offering on Android handsets it sells, only time will tell.

SOURCE: http://www.boygeniusreport.com

HTC Touch Diamond Now Available from Sprint

Sprint has finally stepped up to the plate and delivered the goods. The Touch Diamond is now available for order online from Sprint.com. The official price is $249.99 with a $100 rebate and 2-year contract, though qualifying for the rebate itself requires the addition of some form of data plan.

Beyonce – Virtuoso Intellect

Beyonce’s fans will get their first glimpse of the artist’s new album with the simultaneous release of two of the album’s key tracks — “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies” — scheduled to impact radio on October 7. With all songs co-written and co-produced by Beyonce, the artist’s third studio album is her most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to-date. It has been confirmed that name of the 3rd solo album will be “Virtuoso Intellect.”

 

Virtuoso in musical terms is defined as a solo performer with great ability….Beyonce fits that category to perfection….And intellect which means someone that possess a great capacity or understanding of something(which is her music, performing….)….Translate this into a musical sense and Beyonce dominates as well.

 

Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga Engaged!

According to People Magazine:

Jennifer Hudson and boyfriend, David Otunga, have gotten engaged, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“I can confirm that Jennifer got engaged to her boyfriend David on Friday night in L.A.” says the rep.

Otunga, who is known as “Punk” from the reality show I Love New York 2, popped the question with a Neil Lane diamond ring on the Dreamgirls Oscar winner’s 27th birthday.

The couple, who have been dating less than a year, both hail from Chicago.

Professionally, it is a busy time for Hudson as well. Her debut solo album, Jennifer Hudson, will be in stores Sept. 30, and her next film, The Secret Life of Bees opens on Oct. 17.

Britney Spears – Circus, 12/1/2008

From http://www.thatgrapejuice.net:

Jive/Zomba recording artist Britney Spears announces her sixth studio album, ‘Circus’, set for release December 1st. The first single from the album is titled “Womanizer” and was produced by the up-and-coming Atlanta production team The Outsyders. The album release date coincides with Spears’ birthday.

On the heels of an MTV VMA awards sweep, where Britney walked away with three Moonmen awards for “Video of the Year,” “Best Female” and “Best Pop Video” for “Piece of Me,” Jive Records is preparing her latest album, ‘Circus’, a follow-up to her critically well received album, ‘Blackout’. For her latest effort, Britney has enlisted a stellar group of established producers/writers that include Dr. Luke (who wrote and produced the album’s title track, “Circus”), Danja, Max Martin, Bloodshy & Avant and Guy Sigsworth (Madonna, Alanis Morissette, Bjork).

Britney Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade,and to date, she has sold in excess of 62 million albums worldwide that include ‘Baby One More Time’ (1999), ‘Oops!…I Did It Again’ (2000), ‘Britney’ (2001), ‘In The Zone’ (2003), and ‘Blackout’ (2007), eight #1 worldwide singles and four consecutive #1 albums.