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AOL is preparing to shutter a number of products, including the AOL MyMobile application, as the web services giant primps for a possible sale. All of the targeted non-performers (also including Xdrive, AOL Pictures and Bluestring) fall under the umbrella of AOL EVP of products and marketing Kevin Conroy, who writes in an internal e-mail obtained by TechCrunch that "Being responsible to our company and its financial goals means taking a very hard and honest look at each of our products and making the tough business decisions necessary to ensure the long term viability of AOL." On the subject of mobile, Conroy writes: "We have decided to halt further investment in AIMWorld and will sunset MyMobile next year in order to focus on our core revenue producing products (ie, mail, messaging, portal and mapping). Along with these core products we will focus on developing for key devices like the iPhone and the BlackBerry. We will also leverage open services through OpenMobile to engage third party mobile developers in order to create new applications and experiences, which will expand distribution without additional internal development costs." For more on AOL's product reorganization: - read this TechCrunch article Related articles: AOL taps Cellufun for mobile gaming portal AOL Open Mobile Platform on tap for summer

Verizon Wireless announced the launch of E-mail and Web for Smartphone, a new management solution promising subscribers an unlimited data allowance for mobile web browsing and email. According to Verizon, the $29.99 monthly access plan supports up to 10 personal e-mail accounts from service providers including Yahoo! Mail, AOL, Windows Live and Verizon.net. E-mail and Web for Smartphone is currently available on smartphones including the Verizon Wireless SMT5800; the Verizon Wireless XV6800 and the MOTO Q9m, expanding to other devices in the months ahead. In related Verizon news, web services giant AOL announced its Platform-A advertising unit will manage the operator's online and mobile web ad inventories, supervising ad serving, targeting and inventory management capabilities for Verizon's display, mobile and video advertising services. Per terms of the deal, Verizon will leverage Platform-A's sales capabilities for all of its online inventory and a majority of its mobile inventory, with Platform-A the sole sales organization guaranteeing placement within the Verizon network. Platform-A's Third Screen Media mobile ad serving platform will continue managing mobile web advertising sales. For more on E-mail and Web for Smartphone: - read this release For more on the Verizon/Platform-A deal: - read this release Related articles: Verizon taps Millennial Media for mobile ads Verizon : 20 billion texts sent in February Verizon intros exclusive V Cast TV channels

More news from CTIA: AOL has introduced a new mobile web portal for WAP-enabled phones, which the company says will offer users a better experience. The portal, http: aol.com , brings together several AOL products, including AIM, AOL Mail, AOL Search, MapQuest, AOL CityGuide, Moviefone and Winamp. According to Scott Falconer, executive vice president of AOL Mobile, this year has been a transformation year for the company as it has been focused on integrating the various AOL Mobile properties and delivering a superior customer experience. Falconer, who spoke with FierceMobileContent prior to the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment show, said that this new WAP portal is extremely robust, and offers expanded shopping, music, news and entertainment. Thumbplay is a key AOL partner, and AOL will be integrating Thumbplay content within the new WAP portal and it will also offer Thumbplay content throughout AOL Music, AOL Games and the AIM instant messaging service. In addition, Falconer said the company has been expanding its distribution strategy and expanding into 14 new countries in 18 months, including Austria, India, Italy and Spain. The company, which has primarily worked with operators to make is applications available to consumers, is also starting to work with devices makers to distribute its products direct to consumer. -Sue For more on the AOL/Thumbplay deal: - read this release Related articles: Thumbplay inks ringtone deal with EMI Thumbplay launches ringtone charts Thumbplay palms $15M in funding, credit

]Mobile web is the future, that’s a moot point at this, uh, point. So, it’s about time web purveyor AOL jumped on the wagon. The new AOL mobile homepages allows users to get their mobile page customized just the way they want - include hyperlinks, include images, optimize linked pages, include numbers, and set maximum characters per page. Will this convince us to sign up for AOL? Most definitely not, we like our web unfiltered and raw. But, AOL users will be happy to know that their mobile homepage just got a little easier optimized. [Via: Resource Shelf ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Consilient: Push E-mail RevisitedFineDB Mobile 2.0 releasedReal Networks buys Sony's NetServices - Serves up Streaming Music for VodafoneThe Inquirer thinks that the Nokia N800 has a very limited niche marketVerizon's Answer to AT&T's Apple iPhone - The LG KE850 PRADA Phone?