Disney Mobile has unveiled their service and is now available via their website. The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) has been in the works for quite some time and is taking aim at the emerging market of selling kid-phones to parents. Many of the unique features of Disney Mobile are aimed to parents that want to keep close tabs on their kids, such as a GPS tracking service much like Verizon Wireless' new Chaperone program.

The Pantech DM-P100 is the sole launch handset with the LG DM-L200 to follow shortly. The P100 lists for $59.99 after $90 in instant savings. Rate plans for a single handset vary from $39.99 (400 minutes) to $169.99 (3500 minutes). That fee includes unlimited use of most parental control features and 5 free GPS lookups per month.

Posted by mobilemodo at 02:03 PM | Permalink Posted to Disney Mobile | News

[CTIA 2006] -- Disney, the parent company of Disney Mobile has finally revealed its plans to launch the self proclaimed Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) marketting itself to parents seeking to keep tabs on what their kids are doing. Disney is aiming to hit the 10-15 year old age group -- very similar to Firefly and soon to be launched Kajeet. The expanded parental controls will espcially be attractive where caps can be set on spending and tracks can be followed via GPS (Global Positioning System).

Two different mobile handsets will be available for prior to the 50 million dollar launch, the already announced Pantech DM-P100 and the new LG DM-L200 phone shown here. These fashionable cellphones will cost about $60 retail, with no rebate or contract offers yet stated by the company or marketing division. Disney Mobile is set to be unleashed in early summer, but you can register now for company updates and the chance to win a free pair of handsets and a 1 year of free service.

More info on LG DM-L200 specs >>

Continue reading "Disney reveals MVNO launch plans, LG DM-L200" »

Posted by mobilemodo at 03:48 PM | Permalink Posted to Disney Mobile | MVNO | News | Sprint Nextel

Walt Disney's new Mobile division is ready to launch a head-to-head battle with major wireless carriers for the pocketshare of the family cellphone market. Disney Mobile has hired a San Francisco agency to market the launch of Disney Go Mobile for an estimated $50 million dollar launch this summer.

Disney Mobile’s primary market strategy will be to target parents who want to keep tight reigns on cellphone use by their children. The features will include control over the number of minutes used and when they are used.

Disney Mobile will have exclusive content from the entire Disney content collection.

The competition in this niche market segment has seen a number of new players in the past year, including Kajeet, Firefly. Disney Mobile will be the second launch of an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) this year on Sprint's nationwide CDMA network. In February, Disney's subsidiary ESPN media network launched Mobile ESPN, which features exclusive sports content. While some of ESPN’s service offerings are for real sports fanatics willing to spend a buck--over $200 at that, the Disney Mobile phone plans are expected to be priced competitively with family plans similar to Cingular. The phones will be sold online and through retailers and Disney.

Posted by mobilemodo at 01:26 PM | Permalink Posted to Disney Mobile

Disney Mobile is now showing a shot of the new cellphone to be launched during summer 2006. The pre-launch website that we told you about is now showing this picture of the phone.

This is not the bright and colorful Mickey mobile phone that some people were expecting to see, but rather it is just a simple looking silver and black flip phone.

You will notice that it does have the nice camera phone option on the outside shell for those can't miss shots of the kids at Disneyland. We don't have the latest specs on this phone yet for our readers, but will update with this story with options and pricing when it comes available.

Posted by mobilemodo at 04:02 PM | Permalink Posted to Disney Mobile | MVNO | News

Disney reveiled today the pre-launch Website for fans of the up-and-coming Disney Mobile MVNO phone service.

The Disney Mobile site is now allowing customers that are interested in the cellular phone service to sign up for news and information prior to the official launch coming this summer, 2006.

Disney is planning on using Sprint Nextel's 3rd Generation CDMA network for the launch of the MVNO service. The ESPN division of Disney just finished launching their own Service dubbed "Mobile ESPN" during Superbowl XL.

Posted by mobilemodo at 03:13 PM | Permalink Posted to Disney Mobile | News