WIRELESS FOR THE 'MY SPACE GENERATION' -- waiting here to watch Sky Dayton (founder of Earthlink(www.earthlink.net) and Boingo Wireless(www.boingo.com -- Wi-Fi) on CNBC to talk about his newest launch Helio -- what his firm is calling 'wireless for the My Space generation'. By Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020 blog & emerging entertainment analyst, www.joycecom.com. 
www.helio.com -- check it out --new wireless MVNO for 'My Space generation'
As I wait for Sky Dayton's appearance on CNBC Squack Box show, the one big question I would love to text to him (if we had Text enabled CNBC) is "Why didn't My Space do this?" ...do you think that Rupert Murdock is jealous? Or is Murdock just waiting to see how Sky's new firm Helio does -- and then buy it out too...remember MySpace sold to Murdock for about a $1/2 billion or so.
WHAT'S HELIO? Device or service -- both is the answer
Go to www.helio.com and you'll see two different devices both at retail of $250. Supposedly, Sky Dayton and his wife were in Korea and they saw the advanced 3G devices that the Koreans were using -- and they were jealous. Sky who according to Internet lore (or did he actually tell me once) he started his career running a coffee shop in West Hollywood at some insane young age of 21 or so. Why was he in Korea? His Boingo Wi-Fi firm has deals for hotspots throughout Korea as I remember. So he decided to gather an experienced team together that includes backgrounds with DANGER (teen-device creator of the product better known to consumers as Sidekick rolled out by T-Mobile) and of course execs from SK Mobile, Motorola, Overture and more. Here's what Wired.com had to say about Helio team and Sky's philosophy earlier this year: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.03/helio.html. And it appears they are all in the Helio 'House' in Westwood (near UCLA) --note it's a house like the MTV House-- not a building or an office-- Sky is 'ever-kewl'...he was MySpace generation before MySpace! 
CNBC REPORT ON HELIO -- looks like a phone but does everything except cook dinner-- the equivalent of a Swiss Army knife
Here's my take on a 'live transcript' of the Sky Dayton interview on CNBC -- did my best and probably got about 80 percent of it....no doubt other media reports will follow !Segment over at 5:55 a.m. -- so 6 minute segment-- not bad for CNBC. They had Sky sitting at the Squack Box table - -not just an interview via phone --very effective new product intro.
(Note I've put Sky's responses in bold -- questions from the Squack Box team in regular text...have some fun reading it-- Hollywood2020 may be the first to run the story on CNBC!! js)
5:49 a.m.PST --CNBC Squack Box (partial transcript) -- part mobile phone, part game player, it's got everything-- just about --inside this thing. FIRST ON CNBC -- HELIO IS HERE -- joint venture between Earthlink and SK Telecom. (The Squack Box team is sitting on the set now playing with Helio devices. )Looks like a phone but lot going on here. Squack Box team shown holding up Helio and it is "playing MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" trailer -- they are holding it up -- saying WOW --someone actually says they are "having a good time just getting it open". So Sky what is it? Explain this device to us. We created a new mobile service for young mobile consumers whose lives evolve around mobile space. What is the coolest thing this device can do? Full access to MySpace -- exclusive to Helio -- can be on MySpace 24/7 -- can blog live -- Is this what 18-34 year olds are looking for....yes, they don't want their father's cell phone. I buy into this -- I'm in this demo barely. Fee starts at $85 month -- Sky says 1 out of every $10 is being spent by young consumers on wireless . This is like clothes or a purse or a car-- sit down at table in cafe. "It says who you are" Sky Dayton -- He's getting kidded now by the Squack team...who's coming after you --bigger, faster-- Sky avoids question -- SK Telecom -- 2-3 years ahead of US -- buddy list, sending video to friends. Can send video message to 5 of your friends simultaneously -- up to 10 minutes...don't they have homework...are you competing with iPod with this? We wanted to create a service that was all about communication. Can gift or beg games-- can also make phone calls...built-in MP3 player MPEG4 player-- full stereo speakers...who makes the components inside these machines? Qualcomm --it's 3G tech, Pantech and VK out of Korea . Bringing something unique to the US market. Available now on the website and in 1000 retail locations by end of the year. Today is our launch date --go to Helio.com to buy. Spoiled rich kids everywhere will want to buy it. Let's go from GENEX forum that this is ---to Mark.....(and we're out of the segment with Sky Dayton smiling!) Here's the link to VK (formerly Viable Korea) and their new slim device. Pantech appears to be providing the 2 megapixel camera....The Korea Times : Korea＊s VK Unveils 8.8mm Slim Mobile
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