Microsoft recently outlined plans to improve the overall quality of the Marketplace for Windows Phones through tougher enforcement of the rules and regulations. In particular, Microsoft plans to remove bulk publishers who submit the same app under more than one category; will enforce a five keyword limit for app tags; will remove apps that have trademarked names as part of their own name; and will pay more attention to the images and content on Live Tiles... 

Verizon Wireless is offering a system update to the Sony Xperia Play gaming Android smartphone. The update adds continuous auto-focus when shooting 720p HD video, improves the user experience when loading games, and lets owners use the right trigger button as a camera/shutter control. Other benefits of the update include the addition of VZ Navigator, the Wireless Emergency Alerting System, and Verizon Video-on-Demand; fast-forward and rewind Bluetooth controls... 

Marlin Equity Partners today announced that it has finalized its acquisition of Openwave’s messaging and data service businesses and is relaunching them as separate companies, Openwave Mobility and Openwave Messaging. John Giere, formerly Openwave’s senior vice president and general manager, has been appointed Openwave Mobility’s CEO; and Sam MacNeill, formerly senior vice president and general manager for the messaging business unit, has... 

Verizon today expanded its already-large array of prepaid plan options with a data-centric smartphone option. For $80/month, the new plan includes 1 GB of data, plus unlimited messaging and voice minutes. After reaching 1 GB of data in a one-month period, users can buy additional data for $0.05/MB. The plan is available exclusively with the Samsung Illusion, an affordable Android phone with a curved glass display. The new plan will be available starting May... 

U.S. Cellular and Alltel today announced a new alliance to expand Alltel’s U Prepaid brand to U.S. Cellular’s footprint. The no-contract prepaid service will be sold in Wal-Mart stores in each carrier’s coverage area, including communities across 18 states. See the rest here: New Regional Prepaid Service Coming to Wal-Mart  Read More →

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called for a federal law that would make it illegal for all drivers to use cellular phones in moving vehicles. Calling the problem a national epidemic, LaHood cited 3,000 annual deaths attributable to distracted driving as a reason for adopting such a law. LaHood would build the law such that states would be compelled to enforce it in order to receive federal highway dollars. He wants to give police “the opportunity... 

After 14 years, Nokia is no longer the world’s largest supplier of cell phones, it has been replaced by Korean rival Samsung. According to data compiled by both IHS iSuppli and Strategy Analytics, Samsung sold 93 million cell phones during the first quarter of the year, giving it 25.4% of the market. Nokia sold 83 million in the first quarter, giving it 22.5% of the global market. Both firms saw sales decline in the first quarter of 2012 compared to... 

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently published a paper highlighting a new method for creating glass that eliminates glare, reflections, and is water repellant / superhydrophobic. The effect is created through the way in which the surface of the glass panel is formed. This is achieved by creating thin layers of materials, including a photoresistant layer, and then etching them away, giving the surface a pattern of nanoscale cones... 

Clearwire today announced the first batch of markets that will have access to its forthcoming TDD-LTE network. Some of the cities include New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle, though the total number of cities will be 31. Clearwire said it is targeting these cities because they are areas that show the highest demand for 4G mobile broadband services. Clearwire expects to launch its TDD-LTE network during the first half of 2013 as... 

Best Buy today said that it will suspend its Best Buy Connect mobile broadband service starting June 20. Its existing customer base, which numbers about 11,000 subscribers, will be given the opportunity to transfer their service to another provider. “We have decided to exit this business after re-evaluating the priorities of the newly formed Connectivity Business Group, determining that we can achieve greater growth and customer satisfaction by delivering... 

Skype today issued a small update to its Android application. The new version has a restyled instant messaging view, faster start-up, and supports video rotation in more devices. The update is free. Read the original: Skype for Android Updated with New Messaging Tool  Read More →

Twitter today updated its applications for the Android and iOS platforms. According to Twitter, the updates were made in order to improve usability of the apps. The Discover tab has been reworked so that users can tap any story once to see tweets about a particular trend or news article, and then participate in the conversation about those trends/articles. The search function has been improved in both applications. It will now autocomplete searches for usernames,... 

Representatives Cliff Stearns and Doris Matsui today proposed the Efficient Use of Government Spectrum Act, which officially calls for spectrum in the 1755-1780MHz band to be reallocated from federal use to commercial use. The act follows a recommendation made last month by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that suggested the government might be able to share that spectrum block with consumers. The CTIA Wireless Association... 

U.S. Representatives Henry A. Waxman and Anna G. Eshoo have requested that the Energy and Commerce Committee hold a hearing to allow for a discussion of the implications of Verizon Wireless’s proposed AWS spectrum acquisition and 700MHz A- and B-block spectrum sale. In a letter sent to Reps. Fred Upton and Greg Walden, who chair the Energy and Commerce Committee, Waxman and Eshoo argue that it is important for proponents and opponents of the dealings... 

Sprint today announced that customers using its CDMA-based Direct Connect service can now conduct walkie-talkie conversations with iDEN-based push-to-talk users in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. Sprint is offering unlimited PTT calling for $10 per month, as well as several less expensive options. Sprint is in the process of phasing out its iDEN network in favor of its CDMA network. Its iDEN network will be fully decommissioned by 2013. The CDMA-based...