Cellcos Want Nokia to Remove Skype from N97

The Nokia N97 will integrate Skype directly into its address book. This will be a boon to cellular providers selling great data services, but a bane to cellular providers still addicted to legacy voice revenue. Two of the less progressive mobile operators in the UK, Orange and O2, are threatening not to carry the N97 unless Skype is removed.

3, a more progressive UK mobile operator, should have no problem with Skype on the N97. In fact, they already offer their own Skype handset.

Looks like cellular provides are taking a page from the record labels’ playbook: blocking useful technologies to preserve outdated business models. As the music industry so aptly demonstrates, that strategy is doomed to fail.

E-games Launches ZXOnline with Alodia and Ashley

Philippine game publisher E-games scored a major PR coup when they tapped popular Filipina gamer-blogger-cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao to endorse their games. They’re playing the Alodia card as they launch the first English version of the Chinese MMORPG ZX Online: Journey to Immortality. If you’re in the Philippines on March 8, see Alodia and her sister Ashley in cute Chinese outfits at Robinson’s Place Manila Midtown Atrium 11am GMT+8.

E-games executives will also be on hand to share their plans for the game. I’m sure they’ve got some great ideas, but we all know the main crowd draws will be Alodia and Ashley.