Mobile Mage (mobilemage.com)

Opera brings full Web browsing to new Ford trucks and vans. Opera browser selected by Ford to bring the full Web to the world’s first broadband-capable, in-dash computer system – part of Ford Work Solutions technology package for Ford trucks and vans.

Virgin Mobile USA gets Opera Mini mobile browser for the web that allows people to surf the web on their mobile phones fast and intuitively. Opera Mini will be available as a free application download on select devices for Virgin Mobile USA prepaid customers via the VirginXL download storefront. In the future, Opera Mini will come pre-installed on selected Virgin Mobile USA handsets.

MMA brokers first ever mobile industry cross-carrier best practices with Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile USA. Four largest U.S. wireless service providers consolidate their playbooks around MMA best practices, enabling $200 million in annual efficiencies and ensuring a consistent user experience.

With Mozilla turning the tide on the traditional web browser front it comes as no surprise that the smart folks wouldn’t want a piece of the mobile market. Speed, performance and features may make Fennec a force to be reckoned with in the mobile browser front. While we at MobileMage.com haven’t got our hands on the beta yet, fear not, the geeks here will be watching the ensuing mobile browser wars and provide as much news and objective reviews as possible.

For now

Mobile Streams announced that it will launch HBO Mobile, a mobile internet retail portal for the premium television network Home Box Office (HBO).
The HBO Mobile retail site will offer personalization content (i.e. ringtones and wallpapers) from popular and award-winning HBO shows such as Flight of the Conchords, Big Love, True Blood, Rome, Entourage, The Sopranos, Sex and the City and The Wire.

The USA has knocked the UK off the top slot for mobile web browsing with 29% of the worldwide traffic, according to data released today by Bango. And the good news for content providers is that the growth in traffic is being matched by the growth in users paying for content on the mobile web.

Vodafone announces agreement with Opera Software to enhance mobile Internet experience on mobile devices, mobile phones and handsets. Vodafone has signed an agreement with Opera Software to develop a custom-made version of the mobile browser Opera Mini aimed at giving customers with low and mid priced handsets a high quality mobile internet experience on the go.

According to surveys conducted by ABI Research in 2007 and 2008, 70% of respondents used their mobile phones to access information through Internet search engines last year. That represents a substantial 14% increase over 2007. The consumption of mobile data services, including search, has steadily increased year over year as indicated by the use of email and web from a mobile phone.

Vodafone UK launches new mobile music experience “Vodafone Music.” A new, simple way to allow customers to discover and buy music anytime and anyplace. You can preview songs you’ve never heard before for free or download favorite tracks straight to their mobile phone or mobile device.

Mobile personalization and games firm Sonic Branded Solutions re-brands as Sonic Boom and blasts into online and social media. Sonic Boom will launch its comprehensive suite of web and social media applications – including Facebook widgets and branded sites – in the third quarter of 2008.