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Sprint has doubled down on Samsung's big Galaxy Note 2 bet. The carrier has just confirmed that the advanced, 5.5-inch screen Android device will hit its stores shortly.

Expected to cost $299.99 when it launches on October 25, both Samsung and Sprint hope the Galaxy Note 2 will offer plenty of catnip for Android users and possibly prove irresistible for users craving a smartphone with tablet-like features. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google's latest and greatest software yet, the phone will connect to Sprint's new 4G LTE network and boast a 1.6GHz quad-core … Read more

Right after AT&T said that it will begin selling the LG Optimus G on November 2 for $199.99, Sprint announced that it too will be selling the LG flagship phone for the same price, starting November 11.

In addition, users can pre-order the 4G LTE device starting November 1.

While both carrier models sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU and a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display, Sprint boosted the handset's camera from 8 megapixels, which is what the AT&T version has, to 13 megapixels.

It will also have a couple of … Read more

AT&T announced today that it will be offering the quad-core LG Optimus G starting November 2 for $199.99 after a two-year carrier agreement. Preorders for the 4G LTE device begin tomorrow.

We had a chance to review the device recently, and we have to admit, this device is fast. Its zippy quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU make it a snap to handle, and its 4.7-inch screen is gorgeous. Pictures and videos appeared crisp and bright, and gameplay was vivid and speedy.

The phone did have a few missteps, however. AT&T's Optimus G … Read more

Forget about the Galaxy S3 Mini. The latest Samsung rumors are swirling around a Galaxy Premier device that will be one step up from a Galaxy Nexus, but below the global GS3 in the smartphone pecking order.

According to Gotta Be Mobile which names German tech news site Mobile Geeks as the original source, the Galaxy Premier will feature Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but will be powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and not the fancy quad-core Exynos chip inside the global Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II. The Premier's screen will also share the same size … Read more

Wow, suddenly that $1 billion cell phone bill I received last month doesn't seem so bad. I could have gotten a multi-quadrillion dollar bill, like poor Solenne San Jose recently did.

Yes, you read that right. San Jose, who lives in the Bordeaux region of France, received a cell phone bill late last month for 11,721,000,000,000,000 euros, or about $15 quadrillion. Lady likes to talk!

In all fairness, San Jose had been warned she would be charged a fee for terminating her contract with Bouygues Telecom early. She was not, however, told that fee would greatly exceed the GDP of France. (Or the entire world's economic output -- by a factor of 214, no less.)… Read more

The wait for Motorola's new Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD phones will soon be over. Verizon officially confirmed that Moto's fresh devices will hit store shelves on October 18.

Via Verizon's blog, the company locked down pricing and availability for both models. The Motorola Droid Razr HD will run from $199.99 ,while the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD will cost a steeper $299.99. Both devices feature large 4.7-inch HD AMOLED screens and access to Verizon 4G LTE.

Only the Razr Maxx HD will boast the massive 3,300 mAh battery, which … Read more

Last update: 8:20 a.m. PT

Sprint Nextel has confirmed that it's holding discussions with Softbank regarding a "substantial investment" by the Japanese mobile carrier.

The confirmation came several hours after a report in the Wall Street Journal said, citing sources, that Softbank is in advanced talks to acquire the U.S.-based carrier for $12.8 billion. Beyond that, details are slim, and there's no telling if the companies might actually arrive at any kind of a deal.

Sprint's statement stopped short of saying that the company would accept a full buyout:

It's official, BlackBerry 10 developers: RIM has declared open season for BB10 app submissions. A recent post on the company's development blog confirms that RIM is now accepting entries for applications that specifically target the long-anticipated BlackBerry 10 operating system.

The post in question also lays out how to begin the submission process to the BlackBerry storefront as well offering links to the Beta3 Developer SDK, if you'd like to get in on the coding action. In addition, RIM reminds potential developers that any app deemed worthy of the Built for BlackBerry program and earns $1,000 … Read more

Huawei and ZTE, two of China's largest and most successful mobile companies, are once again under fire in the U.S.

Over the last couple of days, the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee has received "dozens and dozens" of calls complaining about Huawei and ZTE, Reuters is reporting today, citing sources. Many of those calls reportedly came from current and former employees, as well as customers, who report odd behavior in the companies' equipment. It's not clear what sort of "odd" behavior they were witnessing.

Earlier this week, lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee issued a 52-page report … Read more