Wireless

Will AT&T be the first carrier to offer 4G LTE Microsoft Windows Phones? That's what Paul Thurrott of the WinSupersite blog reported Thursday.

Thurrott didn't name sources for this information. But he was very specific about the devices and launch dates for the new Windows Phone LTE devices. And he was very clear that AT&T and not Verizon Wireless, which has a much larger 4G LTE network deployed today, will be the first to offer a Windows Phone with LTE.

Thurrott also said that AT&T will announce not just one, but three … Read more

Verizon Wireless plans to charge subscribers a new $2 fee every time they pay their wireless bills online or directly over the phone.

A leaked memo from the company first reported by Engadget, showed some of the details of the new plan. And the blog Phone Scoop got confirmation from a Verizon representative on Thursday of the change.

The new fee will go into effect starting January 15 and doesn't apply to customers paying their bills with an electronic check or who enroll in autopay using a credit, debit, or AT&T cards, according to the memo posted … Read more

Will they or won't they? That's the question Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab customers are asking with respect to whether Samsung will offer them the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update.

Samsung will likely not update those devices to ICS, but older Galaxy owners may not be entirely out of luck. There is apparently still a chance that Samsung is preparing a "Value Pack" with ICS features and functionality, just scaled for less robust hardware. TheNextWeb.com had the news, citing a Korean site as a source.

Ever since Ice Cream Sandwich was announced … Read more

The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team warned this week of a security flaw in a popular tool intended to make it easier to add additional devices to a secure Wi-Fi network.

On Tuesday, the organization, known as US-CERT, cited findings from security researcher Stefan Viehbock, who uncovered the security hole in the so-called Wi-Fi Protected Set-up, or WPS, protocol, which is often bundled into Wi-Fi routers. The WPS protocol is designed to allow unskilled home users to set up secure networks using WPA encryption without much hassle. Users are then able to type in a shortened PIN instead of … Read more

Microsoft plans to target inexpensive smartphones with the next release of its mobile operating system, and won't add more advanced features until a software release slated for the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a leaked Windows Phone roadmap obtained by the Web site Wmpoweruser.com.

The next iteration of the software known as Tango will be out the door in the second half of 2012, the leaked plans reportedly indicate. By Q4, Microsoft plans to roll out its next big upgrade, known as Apollo. This update will provide features such as dual-core devices, near-field communications, and HD screens. … Read more

Christmastime is a time of giving. So it's natural that if you got a shiny new smartphone, you'd want to give your old one away to a friend or family member. But be careful to whom you bestow this present. If the lucky recipient of your generous gift doesn't already have a smartphone and a smartphone data plan, you may be saddling him or her with a higher monthly bill.

In this edition of Ask Maggie I clear up the confusion around whether a smartphone can be used for voice service only. I also offer some advice … Read more

Rumors of Apple TV sets have been swirling for months. And the Taiwanese publication DigiTimes added to the mix today, with word that its supplier sources say Apple is ordering components to build 32-inch and 37-inch TVs that should go on sale in the second half of 2012.

There have been rumors floating around for years that Apple is building its own TV. The speculation got amped up this fall after Walter Isaacson revealed in his biography of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs that Apple had finally figured out how to build a user-friendly integrated TV.

"I'd like … Read more

Did you get a notice recently from AT&T stating you use more than your fair share of wireless data? Ask Maggie explains why this is happening and offers some advice to help you keep the data flowing. Ask Maggie also offers some advice on deciding between an iPad and a MacBook.

Throttled by AT&T

Dear Maggie, I have an unlimited data plan on AT&T. I've been with AT&T for a few years. But just recently I received an e-mail from AT&T saying that I'm in the top 5 … Read more

Verizon Wireless's claims of having the most reliable wireless network are being tested, with the company experiencing two outages on its new 4G LTE network this month.

The latest outage began in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and affected 4G customers across the nation. From New York City to Denver to Washington state, customers complained that they could not access the 4G data network. Some customers said that they weren't even able to access the 3G wireless service, despite Verizon's claims that this network was not affected.

By mid-morning on the East Coast, Verizon said … Read more