-- 9 Squared and Zed Worldwide combine operations: 9 Squared unveiled plans to formally combine operations with mobile entertainment company Zed Worldwide, with Zed continuing to offer the products originally developed under the 9 Squared brand. Zed’s U.S. operations will be led by 9 Squared co-founder Brian Casazza.

-- QuickPlay makes XM (NSDQ: XMSR) Radio Mobile available on BlackBerries: QuickPlay’s OpenVideo will be the first media management platform to offer XM Radio Mobile on BlackBerry smartphones (software 4.2 or higher). Users will now have access to 20 XM channels of commercial-free music and 24-hour comedy programming for $7.99 per month. The service can be downloaded through the BlackBerry browser.

-- Verizon (NYSE: VZ) offers TMZ on V CAST Video: Verizon Wireless has just launched a TMZ-branded channel on its V CAST Video service, enabling users to watch commercial-free segments from the syndicated TMZ TV show 24 hours after broadcast.

-- RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) extends its Ringback Tone services suite: RealNetworks has announced two services to extend its Ringback Tone (RBT) services that will be available in the third quarter 2008. The Multi-Service RBT Platform enables service providers can offer bundled ringtone, video ringtone and graphic content services to subscribers and the Multi-Tenant version will make it accessible for smaller carriers.