BARCELONA, Spain–Mobile operators at the GSM Association’s Mobile World Congress here this week are happy to offer subscribers access to as many application stores as they can. But they still want some say in the apps offered on their networks, and they want a cut of the action. Instead of creating and distributing mobile applications …

BARCELONA, Spain–Google CEO Eric Schmidt extended an olive branch to wireless-network operators as he took the stage Tuesday afternoon here at the GSM Association’s Mobile World Congress. Schmidt delivered his speech hours after the CEO of the world’s largest mobile operator, Vodafone, suggested in his own keynote address that Google was getting too powerful in the mobile value chain. Earlier …

Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announces a free version of server software at Mobile World Congress. Marguerite Reardon/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is trying to hold on to business customers with a free version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announced here Tuesday during his keynote address to the Mobile World Congress that the company will offer …

Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao addresses Mobile World Congress. Marguerite Reardon/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao warns fellow telecom executives that Google–and other companies that dominate parts of the mobile ecosystem–could be getting too powerful and suggests regulators need to get involved. Speaking at the GSM Association’s Mobile World Congress here Tuesday, Colao urged European and U.S. regulators to help ensure …

BARCELONA, Spain–Some of the world’s largest wireless operators are uniting to create “an open international applications platform” in an effort to tap demand for mobile applications. At the Mobile World Congress 2010 trade show and conference here on Monday, two dozen mobile phone carriers, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, Deutsche Telekom, China Mobile, and Vodafone announced plans to launch …

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer takes the stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to unveil the new Windows Phone 7. Marguerite Reardon/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–Steve Ballmer hopes “7” will be Microsoft’s lucky number as the company restarts its mobile business with the release of Windows Phone 7. On Monday, the CEO of Microsoft and his team of Microsoft executives took the …

BARCELONA, Spain–Verizon Wireless is on track to offer its 4G wireless service later this year, the company’s chief technology officer said here Monday. Dick Lynch, an executive vice president and CTO for Verizon Communications, said during a press conference here that Verizon Wireless is on track to launch its commercial LTE (long-term evolution) service this year. The gathering was hosted …

BARCELONA, Spain–Executives from Sony Ericsson, the struggling European handset maker working hard to make a turnaround in 2010, said most of its new phones introduced this coming year will sport the Google Android operating system. On the eve of the Mobile World Congress trade show, Sony Ericsson held a press conference here to show off its three new smartphones due …

BARCELONA, Spain–Verizon Wireless could soon be adding Skype software to some of its phones, according to reports. Verizon, the largest wireless company in the U.S., announced Friday that it is scheduling a press conference with Skype on Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress trade show and conference here. Verizon isn’t commenting publicly on the announcement, but Bloomberg is citing unnamed …

BARCELONA, Spain–Microsoft is expected to show off the long-awaited Windows Mobile 7 operating system for smartphones at Mobile World Congress, as the company attempts to resurrect itself in this arena and better compete against rivals Apple and Google. The operating system will be demonstrated during Microsoft’s press conference here Monday, according to several reports. News of Microsoft’s plans to talk …