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Buzz Out Loud 754: Molly.wood, here I come!

ICANN approves its plan to totally overhaul the Internet domain structure, but all we can do is make fun of the name "Winklevoss." Hee. "Winklevoss." Also today, Microsoft wants to shut off your gadgets from afar (or at least, their patent filing suggests that they do), the Samsung Instinct is totally the new iPhone, and torrent freaks think JJ Abrams' new show, Fringe, will be a hit. Phew! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 754

Judge Ends Facebooks Feud With ConnectU http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/judge-ends-facebooks-feud-with-connectu/

Facebook suspends app that permitted … Read more

Sprint to launch WiMax service in September

LAS VEGAS--Sprint Nextel will launch its first commercial WiMax service in Baltimore in September, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said Wednesday during a speech at the NxtComm trade show.

Sprint will turn up WiMax service in two other cities, Chicago and Washington, before the end of the year, Hesse added. But he didn't give a specific time frame for these deployments.

The much-anticipated WiMax service has been delayed several times. Initially, the company had said it would launch the service in the first half of the year. More recently, it has been vague about when it would deploy the service. … Read more

Sprint makes Instinct even cheaper

Last week I told you that Sprint was preparing to offer its new Instinct cell phone for $199. But now, I have to admit that I jumped the gun just a bit. Sprint finally confirmed today that when the Instinct goes on sale Friday it will cost just $129 after a $100 mail-in rebate. You will have to sign a two-year contract with a Simply Everything plan, which starts at $69 per month. With such a hefty price drop, it's even clearer that Sprint is taking on the iPhone 3G, which will sell for $199 or $299 depending on … Read more

Samsung Instinct to cost $199

Sprint has yet to confirm it officially, but the Samsung Instinct should have a $199 price tag when it goes on sale Friday, June 20. That price includes a rebate but it would require a two-year contract with a Sprint "Simply Everything" plan. We've been hearing buzz of the bargain basement price for a few days now, but Wall Street Journal technology reporter Walt Mossberg mentioned it in his review of the Instinct, which posted today. In all seriousness, a $199 price tag is more than believable as it would make the Instinct just as expensive as … Read more

Do wireless companies care about contract customers?

Being what some would call a phone fanatic--I have multiple lines with multiple carriers--I never thought cell phone companies cared much about old customers. Most ads and gimmicks are geared toward drawing in new business, such as free phones and special plans for new lines of service. Since I'm a longtime customer, I didn't see where any of that applied to me.

Having to wait until my contract is up to negotiate a better plan or newer phone is always draining and time consuming; I wanted to know if there was anything out there for existing contract customers.… Read more

WiMax patent alliance announced

Six technology heavyweights came together Monday to announce an alliance to jointly license patents for the broadband wireless technology WiMax.

The group, which calls itself the Open Patent Alliance, includes Intel, Cisco Systems, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel, Clearwire, and Alcatel-Lucent. The intent of the group is to gather rights to WiMax patents and license them to makers of consumer electronics devices, networking equipment, and computers.

During a Webcast Monday, executives from each of the six companies emphasized the openness of the alliance that was being created. And the companies said they hoped other companies would join the group.

"As … Read more

Samsung Instinct review

The Samsung Instinct, Sprint's answer to the iPhone, finally has arrived. It's been two months since we first saw the slim touch-screen cell phone with a boatload of features, but now we've had the opportunity to kick its tires and run it through its paces. What we found is an innovative, powerful and easy-to-use device that matches the original iPhone in many ways. The Instinct's appealing design and plentiful features, particularly in the messaging and GPS areas, push it to the forefront of Sprint's lineup. Things got a little shaky on the performance side, but … Read more

EIC Squared: Wireless mergers, Apple alert, and the battle for Yahoo's soul

On this week's EIC Squared podcast, ZDNet's Larry Dignan and I discuss the latest moves in carving up the wireless world as Verizon Wireless announced plans to acquire Alltel for $28.1 billion. It won't be long before the U.S. wireless industry shakes out into AT&T, Verizon, and a Sprint/T-Mobile merger. We also discuss the latest news in the travails of Yahoo as it tries to keep Carl Icahn from taking over the board.

Plus, we speculate about the Steve Jobs' keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

Samsung Instinct to require $70 service plan

Last week we told you that the highly-anticipated Samsung Instinct would goes on sale on Friday, June 20. Though the exact price of the Instinct is still unknown--Sprint is promising that it will cost less than $300--today the carrier announced that the slick touch-screen phone will require a $70 per month voice and data plan.

The "Simply Everything" plan will give customers unlimited data and messaging on the Internet-centric handset. Night and weekend minutes will be unlimited as well, but anytime calls will be capped at 450 minutes.

In comparison, the cheapest plan for the iPhone runs $… Read more