Mobile

AT&T didn't hold much back in a withering response to the Federal Communications Commission report that slammed its proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA.

The Dallas telecommunications giant, struggling to save its $39 billion deal, called the FCC report "one-sided" and suggested that the regulators went into the process looking to sink the merger.

"The document is so obviously one-sided that any fair-minded person reading it is left with the clear impression that it is an advocacy piece, and not a considered analysis," Jim Cicconi, head of external and legislative affairs for AT&… Read more

Although our good friends over in the U.K. already have the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, we here in the U.S. are still waiting. But a new rumor suggests its launch might be nearing.

Engadget earlier today received a screenshot purporting to show a Galaxy Nexus listing in the Best Buy inventory system. The screenshot claims the smartphone will be in stock starting on December 11. However, as Engadget pointed out, an in-stock date does not necessarily mean that the device will be on store shelves that day.

CNET called several Best Buy stores around the U.S. to see … Read more

Clearwire made good on a $237 million interest payment due today and announced it has finalized a funding and resale agreement with Sprint Nextel worth up to $1.6 billion to keep the company afloat.

For months, Clearwire's future has been anything but clear as the company scrambled to line up cash to fund daily operations and finish a nationwide 4G wireless network. Last month, the company said it might miss its scheduled debt payment due to its tight financial situation. It had been unclear whether Sprint, Clearwire's largest investor and also its biggest wholesale customer, would bail … Read more

Samsung is readying a 2GHz chip with amped up graphics, offering more evidence of a wave of high-resolution tablets to come.

The Exynos 5250 dual-core chip is based on the latest and greatest Cortex-A15 ARM design. And just in case you're not sure what kind of device the chip is targeted at, Samsung leaves no doubt. The 5250 is "designed specifically for high-end tablets," according to Samsung's press release.

But let's get the nuts and bolts out of the way first. It uses 32-nanometer "high-k metal gate" process technology (translation: smaller chip geometries … Read more

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--With the Nokia Research Center leading the way, the Finnish handset manufacturer could be headed down one twisted road--and we mean that in a good way.

Since its founding in 1986, the NRC has been charged with developing mobile technology through the exploration of science. The center recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and to commemorate the milestone, Nokia hosted various events around the world. CNET got to take part in the U.S. celebrations at Nokia's Sunnyvale, Calif., headquarters yesterday, where we got to check out some of the latest innovations from the NRC. … Read more

It's funny how Siri works. She will tell you where you can find an escort, drugs, or guns but can't seem to help if you are seeking birth control or abortion clinics.

Today, the ACLU launched a petition that asks Apple to fix the "glitch" in the voice-activated service on the iPhone 4S so it provides useful information to people seeking information on reproductive resources.

Apple told CNET that the company is still working out the kinks in the beta service and the problem should be fixed soon.

"Our customers want to use Siri to … Read more

AT&T and Deutsche Telekom may form a partnership to share wireless resources if federal regulators reject AT&T's $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

The Journal cited unnamed sources who said that the companies are discussing a joint venture that would pool resources from AT&T and T-Mobile, which Deutsche Telekom owns. The exact nature of the arrangement is not known, but both AT&T and Deutsche Telekom could use T-Mobile's wireless spectrum, the newspaper said (subscription required). Under such an arrangement, Deutsche Telekom would likely … Read more

Sprint Nextel gave Dish Network the nod on its plans to acquire spectrum and build its own 4G LTE network, reversing its position from just a month ago.

Sprint said in a recent filing that Dish's proposed network does not interfere with its own operations, according to Fierce Wireless. The two companies will use spectrum that are adjacent to each other, and Sprint had been concerned over potential interference issues.

But Sprint disclosed in the filing that it has signed a deal with Dish in a resolution of the issue, clearing the path for Dish to get government approval … Read more

Smartphones accounted for 59 percent of the handsets sold to U.S. consumers in the third quarter of 2011, according to The NPD Group's Mobile Phone Track.

As the phones' penetration has grown, consumers have been more likely to find themselves with an ever more versatile tool in their pockets. These capabilities have certainly contributed to the decline in once hot-selling categories, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, and portable navigation products. These companies, in turn, have sought to differentiate themselves with, for example, larger screens on car navigation products and better image quality and longer zooms on digital cameras.

Smartphones are relatively cheap because of carrier subsidization; they are almost always with us because of the desire to be available for phone calls. However, are consumers settling for a second-hand experience in leaving their specialized gadgets behind? According to recent research from NPD Connected Intelligence, most consumers would say they are not. … Read more