Verizon outranks Sprint, AT&T in customer satisfaction study
Verizon Wireless topped the Tier 1 carriers in terms of customer satisfaction, according to an annual study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index. And wireless carriers overall reversed a two-year trend of deteriorating customer satisfaction with a 2.9 percent gain to achieve an overall score of 72, on a scale of 0-100, matching a 10-year high. Better call clarity and improved network coverage are being credited with making customers happier with their wireless service providers.
Dish's Ergen bids $2B for Falcone's LightSquared, according to report
Dish Network's Charlie Ergen made a $2 billion "stalking horse" bid for bankrupt wireless provider LightSquared, according to a Bloomberg report, a move that could pit Ergen against fellow billionaire and LightSquared financier Philip Falcone.
TracFone acquires Verizon MVNO Page Plus Cellular and its 1.4M customers
América Móvil's U.S. MVNO, TracFone Wireless, acquired Start Wireless' Page Plus Cellular, an MVNO that counts around 1.4 million customers in the United States. The action is TracFone's second major acquisition after its purchase of T-Mobile US MVNO Simple Mobile and its 1 million customers almost exactly a year ago.
Sprint acquires mobile software partner Handmark
Sprint Nextel is bringing a longtime partner into the fold. The carrier confirmed that it acquired mobile software development and distribution firm Handmark, along with its social media apps and ad unit, OneLouder.
Jolla unveils first smartphone running Sailfish OS, targets 2013 launch
Finnish startup Jolla formally announced the first smartphone running its open-source Sailfish OS, hoping to spark interest in a the fledgling platform as it seeks to compete with goliaths like Apple, Google, BlackBerry and Microsoft in the growing smartphone market.
T-Mobile's MetroPCS drops net neutrality lawsuit, leaving Verizon to challenge rules alone
Now that it's owned by T-Mobile US, MetroPCS has decided to drop its lawsuit against the FCC's net neutrality rules for wireless and wired networks, leaving Verizon Wireless as the sole challenger to the rules.
NPD: Global smartphone shipments to outstrip feature phones in 2013
Another research firm, this time the NPD Group, has predicted that shipments of smartphones will overtake those of basic and feature phones for the first time this year, as adoption of smartphones accelerates.
Vodafone in the spotlight as fate of Verizon Wireless looms
Vodafone will report its annual results on Tuesday and speculation is brewing about what, if anything, CEO Vittorio Colao will say to shed light on the future of the operator's 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless.
The 2013 rising stars of wireline
Just as there are rising stars every year in the wireless industry, so, too, are there executives in the wireline telecom industry who are getting more and more attention and influence. Meet the rising stars in wireline for 2013.
UPDATED: Report: Verizon Wireless gave AP reporters' cell phone records to DOJ in leak probe
Verizon Wireless gave the personal cell phone records of at least two journalists from The Associated Press to the government as part of a wide-ranging seizure of telephone records by the Department of Justice, according to the New York Times. Verizon said it was following the law in giving the records to the Justice Department.
Intel's ex-chief Otellini laments missing the iPhone as new boss Krzanich looks to the future
Former Intel CEO Paul Otellini expressed regret that the silicon giant did not or was not able to get its chips inside Apple's iPhone. The comments highlight Intel's current attempts to catch up in mobile--which Otellini's successor, Brian Krzanich, has pledged to do.
Samsung: We'll hit 10M Galaxy S4 sales in less than a month
Samsung Electronics said that global shipments of its new flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone will hit 10 million less than a month after it went on sale, beating the sales pace of its predecessor the Galaxy S III.
Verizon boosts data allottments in prepaid plans
Verizon Wireless launched new prepaid pricing that significantly increases the amount of data its prepaid smartphone customers can consume per month with their plans, as competition in the prepaid market, especially among Tier 1 players, continues to heat up.
As iPhone Sleeve delays drag on, FreedomPop offers Photon and free 2 GB as consolation
The FCC said it requires additional testing of MVNO FreedomPop's iPhone Sleeve, which the company said could "take another couple months and tens of thousands of dollars." As a result, the company is now offering anyone who pre-ordered the company's iPhone Sleeve before February 2012 a FreedomPop Photon mobile hotspot with 2 GB of free data. The company said that "if/when" the iPhone Sleeve does ship, customers will also be eligible to receive a free Sleeve as well.
CTIA to leverage star power at next week's show - CTIA 2013
Wireless trade group CTIA is hoping some star power as well as a new venue in Las Vegas will breathe new life into its annual CTIA Wireless 2013 trade show, which will take place May 21-23 at the Sands Convention Center.
Google's Page slams focus on competition in tech, draws rebukes
Google CEO Larry Page took questions from audience members during the opening keynote session of the company's annual I/O developer conference and hit on the fact that the tech media likes to play up competition between Google and its various rivals.
NPD: One-third of U.S. smartphone sales were prepaid in Q1
Nearly one-third of U.S smartphone sales in the first quarter were on prepaid carriers, the highest on record, according to a report from the NPD Group. The statistic is another indication of prepaid's growing momentum in the smartphone market.
Reports: Dish lines up financing for $25.5B Sprint bid
Dish Network has lined up the financing it needs to make its $25.5 billion bid for Sprint Nextel, according to multiple reports, which could ratchet up pressure on both Sprint and SoftBank, which is seeking to acquire 70 parent of Sprint for $20.1 billion.
Tomorrow's networks, Internet of things - two topics worth exploring at CTIA 2013
Arguably two of the most compelling and controversial topics in the wireless industry right now are the future of the wireless network and the Internet of Things. And both of these topics touch on the underlying business case of nearly every company in the industry right now.
Microsoft's summer Windows Phone 8 update to expand Data Sense support
Microsoft said it will start rolling out a software update to existing Windows Phone 8 phones "later this summer" that will include a handful of new features.
