Sprint today announced a new service that will help customers who have speech disabilities communicate with others via their wireless phone. The My Wireless STS service works via a short code that when dialed connects the speech-disabled customer with a speech-to-speech operator. The operator can then complete the call and assist with the conversation, including word-for-word translation and/or help with words that are unclear. Calls can also be initiated... 

Handset maker ZTE has confirmed reports of a security hole in its Score Android smartphone and says a patch is being developed to plug the hole. “ZTE is actively working on a security patch and expects to send the update over-the-air to affected users in the very near future,” ZTE said in a statement emailed to Reuters. “We strongly urge affected users to download and install the patch as soon as it is rolled out to their devices.”... 

AT&T’s LTE 4G network has grown by a few more markets during the course of the last few weeks. AT&T today announced that LTE is now available in New Orleans, the New Orleans metro area, and Baton Rouge, La., though LTE has been available in New Orleans since earlier this month. Other markets that have access to LTE include Naples, Fla., and a wide range of Chicago’s southern suburbs, including Hickory Hills, Palos Heights, Alsip, Country... 

AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega told investors at the JPMorgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference today that the company is doing what it can to offer devices with low subsidies. “We have to watch subsidies and make sure that we bring devices to market that customers love and will keep and have low subsidies,” he said. In the U.S., wireless network operators often subsidize the cost of handsets for customers who sign new contracts.... 

MetroPCS CFO Braxton Carter said that were Apple to bring an LTE-equipped version of the iPhone to market, MetroPCS would allow it to access its LTE network. Network access would only be given to unlocked LTE iPhones, not those on contract. Apple only recently began allowing iPhone owners to unlock older devices that aren’t under contract. “If you have LTE iPhones out there, it could be an opportunity in the future,” Carter said today at... 

T-Mobile USA today announced a new set of mobile broadband plans that will be available free of annual contracts. The plans include several options for users of mobile hotspots, laptop sticks, and tablets. T-Mobile is offering access to 300MB of data for a period of one week for $15. Customers can also choose access to 1.5GB of data for a period of one month for $25; 3.5GB for a month for $35; or 5GB for a month for $50. The new options will be available starting... 

Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo told investors that the company plans to increase prices for its wireless and FiOS home internet services. Speaking at the JP Morgan investor conference earlier this week, Shammo said that the company expects its new shared data plans will result in customers paying more for their services as a whole. “I think revenue ARPU [average revenue per user] will continue to grow as we get into data share plans and people... 

Klausner Technologies today announced that it has settled patent-related litigation with Samsung and MetroPCS regarding its visual voicemail intellectual property. Samsung and MetroPCS now licensing Klausner’s patents. Klausner says it has 51 licensees of its visual voicemail patents, including mobile network operators, handset manufacturers, VOIP/cable operators, and enterprise voicemail providers. See the original post here: Samsung and MetroPCS Settle... 

Google today announced that Sprint supports carrier billing for all purchases in the Google Play Store. This means Sprint customers can now purchase digital goods — including music, movies, and books — in the Google Play Store and have the purchases added to their Sprint bill. Previously, only apps were supported. Originally posted here: Sprint Now Supports Carrier Billing in Google Play  Read More →

Samsung sold 86.6 million cellphones during the first three months of 2012, surpassing the 83.2 million handsets sold by Nokia in the same period. This puts Samsung ahead of Nokia as the world’s top supplier of mobile phones, a title Nokia has owned for more than a decade. The numbers, which come from Gartner, mark a significant change in the mobile industry. Nokia has long been the world’s foremost supplier of cell phones as a whole and smartphones... 

T-Mobile USA today said that the HTC Amaze 4G will be able to download and install the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update starting May 21. T-Mobile says the update can be downloaded over the air, but recommends Wi-Fi for a faster install process. Users will be notified when the update is available to their handset, though they may also update manually through the device’s system tools. Read the original post: T-Mobile’s HTC Amaze 4G Gains Android... 

HTC today announced that shipments of its One X and EVO 4G LTE smartphones have been halted at customs. In a statement emailed to media, HTC explained, “The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. Go here to read the rest: HTC... 

AT&T and U.S. Cellular filed separate applications with the Federal Communications Commission today seeking permission to purchase spectrum licenses from Cox Communications. AT&T is seeking eight 700MHz B Block licences that cover various markets along the east coast. U.S. Cellular is looking to nab 700MHz A Block licenses that cover portions of Kansas. AT&T is also hoping to purchase four 700MHz C Block licenses from Peoples Telephone in several... 

The Federal Communications Commission today approved the preliminary applications from T-Mobile USA, Leap Wireless, Savary Island, and Cook Inlet with respect to a proposed spectrum swap. The companies want to exchange small blocks of spectrum in a handful of markets scattered about the country. The FCC has set May 29 as the deadline for petitions to deny the exchange, June 8 as the deadline for oppositions, and June 15 as the deadline for replies. The companies... 

T-Mobile USA CEO Philip Humm today announced a forthcoming internal reorganization that will result in some job losses. In a letter sent to T-Mobile employees, Humm explained that the company has had to make some difficult choices in order to move forward with its new strategy. Humm didn’t say how many employees would be affected by the changes, but noted that the changes are coming in the next week and employees will be notified personally. “It...