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Reuters - The publisher of the controversial "Grand Theft Auto 4" video game sued the Chicago Transit Authority on Monday, accusing it of pulling ads promoting the blockbuster without explanation.

Tags: video

AP - News from the virtual world: Tags: video

Skype on Monday lowered the cost of nationwide and international calling with the debut of new unlimited calling subscriptions. The launch marks the first time Skype has offered a flat rate for unlimited calls to 34 countries, including Mexico.

Unlimited Skype calls to landline and cell phones in the U.S. and Canada will cost $2.95 per month. Skype subscribers in Mexico can make unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada, and to landlines in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey for $5.95 a month. Unlimited calls to 34 countries are now $9.95 a month, up to 80 percent less than normal SkypeOut rates. Skype-to-Skype calls remain free.

No Strings Attached

"We know Skype users have different communication needs -- whether it's doing free video calls to others on Skype, or using Skype to make calls to friends or family members who are on landline phones," said Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America. "Our goal is to provide simple, clear options that allow people to choose the free or inexpensive communication methods that work best in their lives."

The 34 countries included in an Unlimited World subscription are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

Each subscription includes a Skype To Go number, which lets users make international calls at local rates from a cell phone or landline phone. A user dials an assigned access number and the call is connected by Skype to overseas numbers. Calls are charged at standard Skype calling rates. The subscriptions do not require a long-term contract and give customers the choice of paying monthly, quarterly or annually. From now... Tags: video

Sony Pictures is gearing up for full-length movies on AT&T mobile phones. The movie giant on Monday launched PIX, a domestic network for mobile phones that will let viewers watch selections from the studio's library.

Offering films from Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star, ScreenGems and Sony Pictures Classics, the new service will include a catalog of movies across all genres. The films will be accompanied by added-value material. Titles will be available for up to one month, with films added weekly. Some of the first titles to be offered include Bugsy, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, and Stand By Me. Subscribers of AT&T Mobile TV, launching in May, will be the first with access to PIX.

"PIX will give viewers their own personal movie theater wherever they take their mobile phones," said Eric Berger, vice president of mobile entertainment for Sony Pictures Television. "With an incredible library of quality Hollywood hits, it's a mobile destination channel for convenient, enjoyable entertainment, and the latest offering in SPT's distinctive portfolio of mobile games and video."

Getting Off the Couch

Sony is reportedly in talks with other U.S. carriers to offer PIX, but did not give details about which other companies might be picking up the service. The pricing models for the new network have not been announced, though analysts said individual carriers will likely set their own pricing schemes. Some carriers may choose to offer PIX free with an ad-supported model. Others could choose to charge per movie.

A longtime concern with mobile TV has been the size of the screens. According to William Ho, a wireless services analyst at Current Analysis, handset makers are working to develop devices with larger screens that offer clearer images. Even so, he cautioned, mobile TV appeals to a different audience than the typical couch-potato viewer.

"Get the being-on-a-couch thing out of your head.... Tags: games, video

Reuters - Web sites will be able to carry an unlimited amount of photos and news articles on the Beijing Olympics -- and those in Australia can even show short video clips for the first time -- as part of new media guidelines.

Tags: video

AP - News from the virtual world: Tags: games, video

Los Angeles-based Gemstar-TV Guide International said this morning that the firm has entered into an agreement with Japanese-based firm KDDI Corporation. According to Gemstar-TV Guide, the agreement covers licensing of Gemstar's technology for use on a mobile terrestrial digital video broadcasting service in Japan. Financial terms and impact of the deal were not disclosed. KDDI has been using Gemstar-TV Guide's interactive programming guides since 2006. READ MORE>> Tags: programming, technology, video

AFP - New games releases for spring 2008 include a range of sport themes, with a new version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 specially for Wii, a blue tennis-playing hedgehog, high-def racing cars and a “god of war” combat game, complete with high gore and ancient Greek mythology.

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Tags: games, video

AFP - New games releases for spring 2008 include a range of sport themes, with a new version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 specially for Wii, a blue tennis-playing hedgehog, high-def racing cars and a “god of war” combat game, complete with high gore and ancient Greek mythology.

Read more

Tags: games, video

AFP - New games releases for spring 2008 include a range of sport themes, with a new version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 specially for Wii, a blue tennis-playing hedgehog, high-def racing cars and a “god of war” combat game, complete with high gore and ancient Greek mythology.

Read more

Tags: games, video