Looks like Microsoft has some good news coming its way. Apparently Asustek Computer is close to committing to putting serious resources behind the Windows Phone 8 mobile platform. Specifically, the Taiwanese electronics maker plans to begin creating phones that run WP8. … Read more

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for Android Jelly Bean phones to ship, I'm glad to see that a flood of handsets with the coveted software has burst onto the mobile scene. Some of these devices, such as the HTC Droid DNA and LG Nexus 4, rolled straight off the assembly line boasting Google's most modern OS. Older phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx, just received this significant upgrade.

Take a look at this stellar list of smartphones that all offer a state-of-the-art Android experience. From the pure flavor only … Read more

LAS VEGAS--As far as mobile conferences go, this was a quieter CES -- there were few marquee smartphones and only one real device that pushed the smartphone form factor forward (but what an interesting specimen). Regardless, phone makers launched 21 new handsets in conjunction with the show.

Despite the lack of dazzle, CES 2013 nevertheless gave us an important preview of things to come, and the direction smartphone development will take in the coming year.

Spotlight on the second tier Big names like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and Nokia were all but absent, maybe dribbling out a phone (Samsung Ativ Odyssey, … Read more

Prepaid carrier MetroPCS is rolling out a new line of wireless plans that it's dubbing "simpler" 4G LTE plans. All three plans offer unlimited data and are available on several of the smartphones MetroPCS offers.

The cheapest plan is $40 per month and includes unlimited data with the first 500MB of data running at 4G LTE speeds. The next unlimited data plan is $50 per month and the first 2.5GB of data runs on 4G LTE. And the final $60 per month plan offers complete unlimited data at 4G LTE speeds. All three plans include unlimited … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Cricket's Muve Music service has surpassed the 1 million subscriber mark, the company announced today.

This year's CES marks the second anniversary of the Android rate plan, which bundles unlimited music downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones to text, talk, and Web plans, starting at $50 per month.

Although 1 million may not sound like a large number for wireless giants like Verizon and AT&T, the milestone is significant for Cricket's much smaller prepaid subscriber base of about 6 million, and a demographic that typically shies away from purchasing expensive plans.

Deals with national retailers … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Small prepaid carrier Cricket Wireless announced today that it will carry the Kyocera Hydro, a waterproof midrange device, starting January 25.

Originally launched on Boost Mobile this past summer, the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich handset has a 3.5-inch HVGA touch screen with a 480x320-pixel resolution, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a microSD card slot.

Powering the phone is a 1GHz processor, and its 1,500mAh battery roughly translates to 8.4 hours of talk time.

The Hydro will come with Cricket's music subscription service, Muve Music, which enables users to stream thousands of popular artists … Read more

LAS VEGAS--With its new Sleek 4G, Wilson Electronics brings some long-needed interoperability to cell phone signal boosters.

Debuting at CES, the Sleek 4G supports 4G LTE networks from all major U.S. carriers. And expect for Sprint's WiMax, it's also backwards compatible with existing 3G and 2G voice and data networks.

The Sleek 4G is very welcome since Wilson's 2012 products, the Sleek 4G-V and the Sleek 4G-A, supported the LTE of Verizon Wireless and AT&T respectively, but they weren't interchangeable.

Designed for use in the car or in your home or office, the … Read more

Days before CES kicks off in Las Vegas, AT&T and Sierra Wireless pull back the curtain on the AT&T Unite, the carrier's second touch-screen hot spot.

Riding AT&T's 4G LTE network, the Unite features a 2.4-inch display and more conventional design than its rival, Novatel Wireless' AT&T Liberate.

Like the Liberate, the Unite also supplies connectivity for up to 10 Wi-Fi devices and offers touch access to device and network settings from the screen.

AT&T hasn't shared pricing information yet, but you will be able to … Read more

All eyes may be on RIM and its long-delayed BlackBerry 10 devices but that hasn't stopped the company from announcing that its budget handset is coming to another U.S. carrier. Slated for T-Mobile and expected to cost an affordable $49.99 (after mail-in rebate), the BlackBerry Curve 9315 will ship nationwide by January 23. … Read more