Mobile

Sprint says more to come from BlackBerry

LAS VEGAS--Sprint Nextel is planning at least one more BlackBerry to join its line up this year.

"We're not done with BlackBerry," said Lois Eichelberger Fagan, director of product portfolio for Sprint Nextel, in an interview with CNET on Tuesday here at the CTIA Wireless conference. "There's more to come."

Sprint plans to launch the Qwerty keyboard-equipped BlackBerry Q10 late summer. The company opted not to sell the flagship BlackBerry Z10, which was the debut product for BlackBerry 10.

Sprint has teased another product from BlackBerry by the end of the year, but wouldn'… Read more

Acting FCC Chairwoman: We're still focused on spectrum

LAS VEGAS -- Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn said that the agency is not slowing down when it comes to getting new spectrum on the market, even though the commission is down two members.

Clyburn, who made her first appearance as the interim head of the FCC at the CTIA Wireless Association's opening keynote, reassured the wireless industry that the FCC will continue to make more spectrum available, even as the agency prepares for a new full-time chairman and awaits the nomination of a Republican commissioner.

"The FCC wireless agenda remains focused," she said. "… Read more

Galaxy S3 arrives at Boost, Virgin Mobile armed with LTE

LAS VEGAS -- Though the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been out in the world for a few weeks, its immediate predecessor continues to make the carrier rounds.

Today at CTIA 2013, Sprint announced that it is bringing the Galaxy S3 to its prepaid Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile brands next month. The device will operate on 3G and LTE networks for both operators.

The design and features of the reborn GS3 will be unchanged from the original version. Expect the same slim profile and 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, while inside you'll find Android 4.1.2 Jelly … Read more

Boost Mobile wants to be its customers' digital wallet

LAS VEGAS -- Sprint Nextel's prepaid arm, Boost Mobile, is taking its own stab at the digital wallet.

The company on Tuesday unveiled its Boost Mobile Wallet program, which is an Android application that allows its prepaid customers to manage their funds, transfer funds, send money overseas, and pay bills.

While the heavy-hitters such as Google and Isis -- which is a joint venture between Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile -- are going after the high-end, tech-savvy user with their own digital wallets, Boost is going the opposite route. The company is instead targeting customers who tend … Read more

Opera's Android browser leaves beta stage

Opera Software's new and improved Android browser has gone gold.

The company announced the news on Tuesday, saying that its browser for Android, which was available as beta software in the Google Play marketplace, is now complete and officially launched. Getting it out of beta means that Opera is confident that most of the bugs are gone and the software is ready for wide use.

Opera announced the initial browser overhaul in February at Mobile World Congress. Rather than base the software on its Presto engine, it decided instead to move to the open-source Blink engine used in Google … Read more

Sprint CEO: Clearwire offer our 'best and final' one

LAS VEGAS -- Sprint's sweetened bid for Clearwire represents its "best and final" offer, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse told CNET on the sidelines of the CTIA Wireless show here Tuesday.

"You can take that to the bank," he said.

Sprint earlier today raised its offer for Clearwire to $3.40 a share, valuing the company at $10.7 billion. The offer is a substantial premium over its original $2.97 a share offer, and 10 cents a share more than Dish Network's competing bid for Clearwire.

Clearwire shareholders had been agitating for a better … Read more

Kyocera looks to create multi-headed Hydro

LAS VEGAS -- Kyocera is looking to capitalize on one of the phones that has been a quiet success story for the company.

The Kyorcera Hydro has been one of the top 10 selling smartphones each month since its launch in August, according to ITG Majestics. The company is looking to build on the Hydro name with the introduction of two new phones, the lower-end Hydro Edge and mid-tier Hydro XTRM.

The Hydro Edge is a low-end phone destined for Sprint Nextel's contract service and Boost's prepaid service. It will launch later this summer; its price has yet … Read more

Waterproof, shockproof Kyocera Hydro XTRM available today (hands-on)

LAS VEGAS -- In addition to introducing the midrange Hydro Edge, Kyocera also revealed its slightly more decked-out Hydro XTRM.

Unlike its Edge sibling, which is only waterproof and operates on 3G networks, the XTRM (pronounced "extreme") is both waterproof and shockproof, and runs on U.S. Cellular's 4G LTE data speeds.

You can order the XTRM online today for $29.99 after sending in a mail-in rebate and signing a two-year carrier agreement. Retail stores will begin selling the device starting May 24.

Design Because the XTRM fulfills certain military spec standards for shockproof capabilities, it … Read more

Kyocera announces waterproof Hydro Edge (hands-on)

LAS VEGAS -- At CTIA 2013, Kyocera unveiled one of the newest members of its waterproof Hydro line: the Kyocera Hydro Edge.

Kyocera also introduced its slightly higher-end Hydro XTRM for U.S. Cellular. The Edge, however, will be available through Sprint and the prepaid network, Boost Mobile, and will run on both carrier's 3G network.

Through exact pricing and availability are unknown, CNET was told by a Kyocera rep that the Edge will most likely have the same initial $129.99 pricing as the original Hydro. It will arrive on both carriers by this summer.

Design The Edge … Read more