Mobile in the Sky -- Mobile technology company Ericsson has rolled out its newly developed GSM system enabling airplane travelers to use their mobile phones while in flight. Airlines will be able to offer access to the network as an added-value service. The system will be available for installation on aircrafts by the end of the year.
Poker Beat -- Believe it or not, Party Poker has something cooking that's bigger than its $10,000 36-player poker tournament held at the Global Interactive Gaming Summit & Expo opening reception. Marketwatch reports that the group is eying June 30 as a float date, with conditional trading to start June 27. The initial share price is expected to be in the range of 111 pence to 127 pence, translating to a capitalization of £4.76 billion and placing the company immediately into the FTSE 100 index. . . . The world's fourth largest poker site, Sweden-based PokerRoom.com, has signed on as the latest member of eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). The eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal will be on the PokerRoom.com home page, indicating to players that the site has met the group's stringent requirements. "Real and practical regulation such as eCOGRA offers has benefits for everyone, protecting the players and at the same time enforcing high levels of professional and business conduct," Patrik Selin, chief executive of PokerRoom.com, explained.
Casino City, Round 2 -- The Casino City case involving advertising for online gambling sites has sprung back to life. In response to the U.S. Department of Justice's warnings that media outlets carrying ads for online gambling services could be breaking the law, Casino City sought a declaratory judgment to determine whether disallowing such ads is an infringement on First Amendment rights. The government's motion to dismiss the case was granted in February, but Casino City last week lodged its appeal in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court. The government has 20 days to respond to the appeal.
Skills -- U.K.-based skill games supplier GameAccount has signed on to provide its products to content management software provider GII Entertainment Corp. (a subsidiary of GII Investments Inc., a company with Scandinavian roots). The deal will give GameAccount access to GII's stable of more than 90,000 customers in more than 35 countries, most of whom reside in Scandinavia. GameAccount will provide a fully integrated single-wallet solution to GII. Launched in 2004, GII Entertainment is a media venture focusing on Scandinavian, Asian and North American markets. It currently offers lottery, casino and poker and will soon provide sports betting, music and movies. Its clients and partners will have access to GameAccount's skill-based games through their existing accounts.
Logo No-Go -- Slam Sports reports that Spanish football clubs Juventus and PSV Eindhoven have launched legal action against online betting companies for using their club logos.
Son of GameWire -- Mobile casino technology provider Spin3 and Internet gambling software company Microgaming have launched Version 2 of GameWire, their flagship wireless casino system. The new version includes an enhanced user interface, a full-menu system built into Java, easier game play and the ability to register and purchase directly from mobile phones.