Business and Money

Android app review - TippoBilloSplitamus

Of all the Android programs available for calculating tips and splitting bills, this one is the silliest. I also think it's the most practical, functional, and fun to use. It definitely has the best name: TippoBilloSplitamus. Say that five times fast. It's not difficult, but it's fun! This program will be in the *new* Android Market as well as the Apple App Store very soon. The cost is $2.00.

Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

"OMG!  Simple Mobile!" Despite the risky nature of the MVNO business (which brought Helio, Amp'd Mobile, ESPN Mobile, Disney Mobile, and Voce down), that's the browser title for the latest MVNO to enter the arena, Simple Mobile.  As the company name implies, Simple Mobile's mission is to provide a straightforward cell phone service - something needed in today's wireless market.  Similar to other prepaid alternatives on the...

AT&T amends lawsuit, demands that Verizon drops latest round of commercials

It was a matter of time before AT&T amended their lawsuit against Verizon to include the latest round of holiday commercials.  As a reminder, AT&T is suing Big Red, claiming that the 3G coverage map is misleading potential customers into believing that Ma Bell has no coverage outside of the blue shown in the map.  In reality, they do - though it is EDGE coverage (not 3G).  A slippery slope indeed. The best part of the...

T-Mobile reports disappointing third quarter earnings

Last but not least, we take a look at T-Mobile's third quarter earnings.  Step up to the plate, T-Mobile, it's your turn!In the third quarter, the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier lost 77,000 net retail wireless customers, a dramatic turn from the 670,000 additions in the same quarter last year and the 325,000 in the second quarter.  T-Mobile lost a total of 140,000 postpaid subscribers in the quarter, and gained 63,000 prepaid...

iPhone + VZW: Will they or won’t they? (Verizon CEO says it’s up to Apple)

Sometimes, covering the drama of the mobile phone industry is like watching TV. Just as I hoped and prayed for Sam and Diane to finally couple up (followed by Ross and Rachel, and now Finn and Rachel), I am watching the Verizon–iPhone situation with anticipation, looking for any inkling that these crazy kids might finally get together. Many of you are saying, “No way.” Those “iDon’t/DroidDoes” ads were...

Phones for the disgustingly wealthy

We’re pretty sure none of these ridiculously priced handsets will be on your upcoming holiday lists, but what the heck? Let’s take a quick look at how the other half lives anyway. As usual, whenever I look at the buying habits of rich people, I’m left with more questions than answers: Are these trinkets ostentatious? Absolutely. Expensive? Of course. But most “old money” biddies wouldn’t be caught dead with...

Universal phone chargers are on the horizon

One of the most annoying things about about mobile life is dealing with various chargers. Several cell phone companies have their favorite styles of proprietary connectors, and even mini USB can have different plug heads. But there’s been a growing movement toward a universal charging standard for a while now, mainly surrounding a micro USB solution. Now, another step forward has been made this week, with a big nod of approval from the...

AT&T exec kinda/sorta acknowledges the end of iPhone exclusivity someday

  Vague, yes. But even so, the merest acknowledgment on the part of AT&T regarding the end of its exclusive iPhone offering still seems to qualify as news. And why not? Whenever the subject’s come up in the past, the carrier practically stuck its fingers in its ears and sang, “I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you.”Not so this time. In fact, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega didn’t dodge the issue...

Lawsuits, pt deux: Nokia claims Apple violated 10 patents

Is this peak litigation season or something? After the news broke that AT&T is suing LCD manufacturers, there’s word that Nokia has just filed a lawsuit against Apple in Delaware today. The Finnish company is claiming that the iPhone has violated 10 of the Finnish company’s GSM, UMTS and Wifi patents. Says Nokia (via press release): “The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed...

AT&T sues LCD makers, alleges price fixing

The boys in blue (AT&T, not law enforcement) have certainly been keeping themselves busy. Not necessarily with improving their 3G network, working out a reasonable pricing scheme for MicroCell, or enabling that pesky iPhone tethering feature, but rather, with lawsuits. You’d think there’d be some sort of class action thing taking aim at the carrier, but no — AT&T is the one doing the suing. Specifically, the company has...

B&N takes on Kindle with new 3G eReader, the Nook (AT&T)

If I could layer in some old 60s Batman-style audio of “Smashes,” “Booms” and “Blams” into these posts, I would. This would be a great place to use them. In a move that may frighten Amazon’s Kindle department, Barnes & Noble's debuted the $259 Nook today. The Nook is the first eReading device with both 3G (via AT&T) and Wifi for downloading content from B&N online. Most interestingly, it runs...

Z3 RIZR - is it worth the money?

I was looking to trade in my Razr for the new Z3, but I was wanted to know if the phone suffers from the same poor battery life I am experiencing with my Razr. I really don't know that much about the phone and any input would be appreciated. [:$]

Save money on your cell phone bill while overseas

Consumers planning a trip abroad this winter who want to continue to be accessible by cell phone should take care when planning their communications options for the trip. Due to the differences in network standards used by the various U.S. carriers, a U.S. cell phone may or may not work abroad. For example, since Cingular and T-Mobile’s services both operate on the GSM standard, they will likely function in most European and Asian countries....

Re: Re: AT&T amends lawsuit, demands that Verizon drops latest round of commercials

that could simply just be the processor on your phone i have the droid now on verizons 3g and it is only a tad slower than my iphone 3gs was on att main difference is i have that slightly slower coverage 100% of the time rather that 60% of the time

Re: Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

I love how they proudly advertise watching YouTube as a feature. You couldn't finish watching even one video with a 20MB plan. Deceptive advertising abounds. I wouldn't give this company a dime.

Re: Re: AT&T amends lawsuit, demands that Verizon drops latest round of commercials

Thanks Travis for that link. i am an ATT customer and I appreciated their overview of their coverage compared to Verison

Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

It seems that this company has done what T-Mobile tried to do with the Even More and Even More Plus Plans. T-Mobile failed to keep it simple. Ooops.

Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

Its something to look into.

Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

During our Sprint 4G launch week in N.C., I enjoyed meeting iPhone owners, like Brett, who were looking for a better network. Because the iPhone is a WiFi-enabled device, to turn it into a 4G iPhone, all I needed to do was give Brett access to my Sprint 4G personal hotspot.

Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

seems like they have the same coverage map as T-mobile, im also glad to see that you can buy a sim card from them, but what sucks is that they give you only 20 or 40mb of data

Re: Simple Mobile hits the MVNO marketplace, offering affordable rate plans

im eager to see what type of phones they will get/or have.

Re: Re: AT&T amends lawsuit, demands that Verizon drops latest round of commercials

they don't have to mention the iphone in the ad because it's obvious that meant to be the iphone

Re: AT&T amends lawsuit, demands that Verizon drops latest round of commercials

verizon is using solid facts about coverage, if AT&T can't handle it then they need to step up their game instead of firing off lawsuits because the big bad bully picked on them....boohoo

verizon has the best network, period.

as for the "attacks" it's just good ol' competition, no one is suing apple for saying that windows is unstable, no microsoft comes up with it's own adds to combat it. there is no difference here with vzw/att, the problem is AT&T knows they're beat on this one and once VZW gets the iphone AT&T is going to have a rough time picking up the pieces if they don't get it together and upgrade their network, remember kids, a study showed 30% of calls were dropped on the iphone, and it's considered normal....wtf? what good is a device if the network is unreliable. do some research people.