Tired with mobile ad revenue to Google and Yahoo!, seven global cell phone operators have joined forces to create their own mobile search engine. The seven operators are Cingular, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Hutchison Whampoa, Telecom Italia, Telefonica and Vodafone.

Given the operators’ tendencies to create “walled garden” approaches to content, there’s doubt as to whether the operator consortium can pull off a victory. With seven different businesses participating in this project, it is unclear if they’ll develop one engine that is white-labeled to each brand or create an advertising clearinghouse that search services could use to access subscribers.

It remains to be seen how this would succeed as they will be looking to succeed where others have failed, like Microsoft. Some critics have questioned the necessity, as most phone and hand held devices have the ability to search directly from Google or Yahoo! pages. Google as the undisputed leader in the Internet search, has since announced plans to include ad links to all mobile searches, claiming to make their services profitable by 2008.

When DirecTV announced that they would be adding 100 new HD channels to their programming line-up this year I nearly jumped out of my seat. Having just purchased my first HDTV I’m pretty psyched about any new little tidbit of programming that I can get. The Discovery Channel is nice, but I need a little more variety.

However, an explosion at the Sea Launch platform may delay these new channels coming to a DirecTV dish near you.

The explosion did not involve the launch of a DirecTV satellite and, thankfully, no one seems to have been hurt in the explosion. However, DirecTV 11, one of the new satellites slated to offer these new HD channels, is scheduled to launch from this same platform this summer.

DirecTV 10, the second satellite, is slated for a land launch and should not be affected by the explosion. It remains to be seen if there will be a delay in launching DirecTV11.

There is another incident on record at this platform in March of 2000 with a successful launch following in July 2000. Hopefully, the repairs and review of the launcher will be done in time for the scheduled launch.

Read [DBSTalk]

GigaOM is having a giveaway a lot of invites and goodies today but most of it is gone. However, there is still the offer for a free WIFI Router from FON. They have 1500 available so hurry and sign up. Free means no shipping too - so you’ll have to pay a grand total of $0.00. This is the fastest way to get around their “invite only” promotional strategy.

All you have to do sign up and let them know where the device needs to be shipped. Usual disclaimers apply, so please read it before signing up.

Signup page [FON] Via [GigaOM]

We don’t need to tell you that Microsoft Vista launched yesterday (and is now available for download) unless you have been in seclusion the past couple of days (or should I say months).

Here are some memorable video feeds in case you missed the official worldwide launch in New York from Steve Balmer and Bill Gates. The third feed is a Bill Gates interview on the Daily Show (with Jon Stewart), the day before the release. Seems like Bill Gates always wears the same color sweater and pants. He must have thousands of those or a wash-and-wear guy. The “Wow” starts now …

Not everyone wants to be associated with the Apple iPhone, Verizon has turned down a deal to be the exclusive distributor of iPhone. But Verizon may be doing that for the right reasons.

Among other things, Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees, say over how and where iPhones could be sold and control of the relationship with iPhone customers, said Jim Gerace, a Verizon Wireless vice president. “We said no. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone. We just couldn’t reach a deal that was mutually beneficial.”

Apple now has no other choice but to work with Cingular (now AT & T). There are no financial terms made known to the press but reliable sources have said that it is a 5-year, USA-only exclusivity contract. That leaves Apple a free hand to market iPhone to the rest of the world. Whether or not Apple will try to push the same conditions as proposed to Verizon remains to be seen. But I guess Apple will make it a condition that the terms of the negotiation will not be made public for fear it would embarrass Apple the second time should any carrier decided not to dance along with Apple. With all those ridiculous terms and conditions imposed by Steve Jobs, who in the right mind would?

Read [USA Today]