Oct. 19, 2010 at 1:25 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Telecommunications,
Wireless
By Dow Jones Newswires
Verizon Wireless plans to introduce a less expensive–but restricted–data plan for smartphone customers next week, according to a person familiar with the plans, in a move that follows AT&T Inc.’s own offer of two tiers of pricing.
The nation’s largest wireless carrier by subscribers will offer a $15 monthly plan that gives customers 150 megabytes of data starting Oct. 28. But unlike AT&T, it will keep available its $29.99 monthly unlimited data plan. The change was first reported by technology news Web site Engadget. Get the full story »
By Reuters
A new fund could help bring high speed Internet to unserved and remote areas of the United States, U.S. telecommunications regulators said on Thursday.
The Federal Communications Commission proposed allocating universal service funds — fees consumers pay telephone companies to subsidize landline phone services for low-income and rural families — to create a “mobility fund” to expand broadband Internet to areas without service. Get the full story »
Oct. 14, 2010 at 10:05 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer news,
Wireless
By Reuters
(Ryan Anson/AFP/Getty Images)
Verizon Wireless will join rival carrier AT&T in selling Apple Inc’s iPad later this month, showing it may move closer to disrupting the tight relationship between the device maker and AT&T.
All three models of the popular tablet computer, which comes with Wi-Fi access, will be available at Verizon Wireless stores as well as AT&T stores from October 28, the companies said. Prices will range from $629 for the 16-gigabyte (GB) model to $829 for the 64 GB model at both of their stores. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
A mobile application that combines games and perks at local businesses is launching Wednesday in Chicago with the Chicago Office of Tourism and other area institutions.
SCVNGR is the latest location-based service to enter the Chicago market. These apps, which allow consumers to “check in” at local businesses, have become increasingly popular, thanks to the rise of companies such as Foursquare and Gowalla. Yelp and Facebook have also added location-based features to their offerings. The SCVNGR app is available for both the iPhone and Android-based phones. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
Apple Inc.’s stock flirted with $300 Tuesday as investors high on the iPad’s promise pushed shares to a record peak. Analysts see few reasons to believe shares will stop there. Get the full story »
Oct. 11, 2010 at 12:15 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer news,
Wireless
By Wailin Wong
Mobile phone users in Illinois are paying hundreds of dollars every month for unused minutes and unnecessary services, the Citizens Utility Board said in a report released Monday.
CUB studied 4,400 cell bills entered into its online Cellphone Saver between August 2009 and July 2010 and determined that those consumers are overpaying by an average of $359 a year. Get the full story »
Oct. 11, 2010 at 11:26 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Consumer electronics,
Updated
By CNN
The new Windows Phone 7 is presented at the Windows Phone 7 launch press conference in New York, Oct. 11, 2010. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi)
See a photo gallery of the Windows 7 phones here.
Microsoft on Monday unveiled its plan to battle the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones with its new Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system.
At a press event in New York, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that Windows Phone 7 smartphones would be available in the United States on AT&T’s network.
“When Microsoft first showed us Windows Phone 7, we knew it was going to be a winner,” AT&T CEO Mobility and Consumer Markets Ralph de la Vega said at the event. “It was different than anything we’ve seen.” Get the full story »
Oct. 8, 2010 at 5:23 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Technology,
Wireless
By Associated Press
Motorola Inc. shares slipped Friday after a downgrade from Citi Investment Research on fears of increasing competition in the smart phone market.
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
Amazon.com Inc. plans to open a software-applications store for smartphones running Google Inc.’s Android operating system, putting it in head-to-head competition with Google’s own digital-app store.
According to an Amazon document for developers viewed by The Wall Street Journal, Amazon would take a 30 percent cut of sales, with the developers keeping the rest. The document includes a stipulation that the apps can’t be offered at a lower price elsewhere. Get the full story »
By Reuters
Apple CEO Steve Jobs showing off the first version of the iPhone in 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Apple Inc. plans to begin making a new iPhone by the end of the year, and Verizon Wireless will begin selling them in early 2011, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
AT&T is the sole U.S. carrier for the popular smartphone, and investors and consumers alike have long speculated over when Apple will expand distribution. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
Chicago is one of the 38 cities that will be included in Verizon Wireless’ launch of its 4G network later this year, the operator said Wednesday.
Verizon, which will use a fourth-generation network technology called Long-Term Evolution, said its Chicagoland network will extend from the Wisconsin border, to Tinley Park and Homer Glen to Lake Zurich, Hoffman Estates and Bolingbrook. Lake Michigan will form the network’s eastern border. Get the full story »
Oct. 5, 2010 at 5:09 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Telecommunications,
Updated,
Wireless
By Reuters
AT&T Inc., the No. 2 U.S. mobile service, plans to sell three smartphones from Motorola Inc. based on Google Inc.’s Android software, potentially helping the phone maker depend less on Verizon Wireless, its most important U.S. customer.
The new devices, announced Tuesday, are aimed at a more cost-conscious audience than Motorola’s flagship Droid X device, which Verizon Wireless sells for $200. Get the full story »
By Dow Jones Newswires
Goldman Sachs downgraded Microsoft Corp. on Monday to neutral from buy, and lowered its price target on the software giant to $28 from $32.
Among the reasons for the move, the broker cited “increased caution near-term on a more elongated PC refresh cycle” as well as the threat that some of the notebook market could be cannibalized by tablet PCs, where Microsoft Windows doesn’t yet have a presence. Get the full story »
By Reuters
Verizon Wireless in a statement Sunday said it will pay millions of dollars in refunds to 15 million cell phone customers who were erroneously charged for data sessions or Internet use.
By Wailin Wong
Motorola Inc. said Thursday it has acquired a company that develops location-based software for smartphone devices.
Terms of the deal with Aloqa GmbH, which has offices in Munich, Germany and Palo Alto, Calif., were not disclosed. Aloqa makes a mobile phone application that delivers content to a device based on where its owner is located. A person might receive discounts on local businesses or information about nearby events, Motorola said. Get the full story »
