• Reuters, Thursday, November 9, 2006 12:30 PM

Helio, the mobile virtual network operator jointly owned by Korean-based SK Telecom and EarthLink, is today announcing a new partnership with Google and Samsung Electronics Co. to deliver its new phones, with added features like a friend locator service and Google Maps.

The partnership empowers Helio customers with a Global Positioning Service-like technology. The service is being offered on Samsung's new Drift phone, which sells for $255. This is the third model in Helio's 6-month-old phone service; it will be marketed to young, tech-savvy consumers. Helio Chief Executive Sky Dayton said the company was very pleased with sales of its mobile phone service, which runs on Sprint Nextel's cellular network.

Sprint Nextel Corp. also sells a competitor to Helio. Its Boost Mobile unit, as the service is called, is also aimed at young consumers. The wireless carrier plans to announce a similar location-based service next week. Dayton said Helio's average monthly revenue per customer is about $100, and that revenue from data services such as photo-swapping and text messaging is well above rivals at $25 a month.

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