Broadband Jungle Blog

Zannel

For everyone not yet familiar with social networking / mobile / vc2 community Zannel: Consider giving the Zillion Channels destination a spin.

Launched in March 07 and recently upgraded to full blown networking capabilities, Zannel  already engages 100.000 plus members in instant chatting, mobile video and photo upload. With cool new widgets available, the site could be described as the Brightcove in the mobile space or 'Twitter with Pictures and Video' (recently in a terrific write-up in TechCrunch).

The model is clear and simple: Users create profiles and in return receive their personalized channels that can be shared and connected to any number of friends. Particularly impressive: Blazing-fast upload speeds that put the service ahead of its competition. In a recent  ad-hoc demo from Zannel staffers during a meeting in Santa Monica, a test clip shot midway during a conversation made it straight into Zannel in between two sips of decaf-latte. I'm not kidding.

Co-founded under the guidance of serial web entrepreneur Steve Hoffman last summer, Zannel also integrates its sizeable online following into the mobile experience.  I'm comfortable to predict lots of Zannel-surfing in the near future and plenty of room for everyone, including Kyte.

Helio on the block?

After Amp'd's colorful demise, how strong of a foothold has niche cell phone provider Helio managed to carve out, especially at the sight of the iphone's arrival?

Mobile Media News in MediaBistro reports: Could Helio Be Shut Down Next?
We've watched with interest, though not exactly surprise, the downfall of specialty cellphone carriers Mobile ESPN and Amp'd Mobile. Helio doesn't seem to be in any stronger a position than Amp'd was; in fact, it's bleeding cash like there's no tomorrow.

MocoNews is reporting that Helio's parent company, Earthlink, is continuing to infuse cash but is seriously weighted down by Helio's losses. The small carrier, with just over 100,000 subscribers, is slated to lose between $160 million and $180 million for the calendar year 2007.