verizon

A pair of images surfaced over the Labor Day weekend that could prove to be the first glimpse of HTC's rumored 5-inch Android smartphone. The Chinese forum on which these shots made their debut has since removed the pics, but not before The Verge caught wind. … Read more

A few more details trickled out today regarding the new Android smartphone that Motorola is expected to unveil next week.

Citing a person familiar with the handset, Bloomberg reports that it will feature an edge-to-edge display and support 4G LTE networks. The source didn't spill any other details, except that the device will go on sale with Verizon Wireless later this year. … Read more

An LTE-enabled iPhone 5 may prompt AT&T customers to jump ship to Verizon, says Jefferies & Co. analyst Thomas Seitz.

In an investor's note out today, Seitz said that the new iPhone is likely to be LTE capable, a view shared by many analysts and Apple watchers. If so, Verizon stands to attract at least some customers away from AT&T.

Verizon's LTE network currently reaches around 230 million people across 337 markets, more than all of the other U.S. carriers put together. By year's end, Verizon is aiming to cover an additional … Read more

ISIS, a joint venture between the wireless carriers to usher in a mobile-payment system, is poised to launch in two trial markets in September.

That's according to Doug Bergeron, CEO of Verifone, which makes the payment terminals that most mobile-payment systems rely on. Bergeron confirmed the month to CNET, although he declined to provide a specific date. Bloomberg earlier reported on ISIS' launch time.

Bergeron was optimistic about the prospects for ISIS.

"With the carriers on their side, they stand to have a very good chance to succeed provide the handset makers get NFC-enabled smartphones out as promised,&… Read more

Nearly every detail for Motorola's next big Android handset has surfaced a week ahead of the company's official announcement. Engadget has obtained the specs and images for the Droid Razr (Maxx) successor, yanking the proverbial cat out of the bag. … Read more

Verizon appears to be following up the entry-level Pantech Marauder with yet another smartphone aimed at first-time Android adopters. Android blog Droid Life recently caught wind of a Samsung model, which could be a similar offering only from a bigger brand. … Read more

The Federal Communications Commission just gave the final approval for Verizon Wireless to purchase the biggest hunk of spectrum outside of a full company merger in U.S. history. So what's it all mean?

In December, Verizon proposed buying 20 MHz of wireless spectrum from a consortium of cable operators known as SpectrumCo, which included Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Communications. It also struck a separate but similar deal to buy spectrum from cable operator Cox Communications.

The deal was controversial for two main reasons. First, it would have allowed Verizon to effectively double its spectrum holdings … Read more

Friday's tech news roundup can ease symptoms of Gadget News Overload:

(Note: This is a guest column by Geoffrey Manne and Berin Szoka. See below for their bios.)

commentary Yesterday was seemingly a good day for users of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. The Federal Communications Commission approved, with conditions, Verizon's purchase of wireless spectrum from SpectrumCo, a consortium of cable companies. The more spectrum that's put to use, the more we'll ease the coming "spectrum crunch" as exploding data demands outstrip supply. This particular spectrum has sat unused for years, and the FCC's approval of the deal (following on the Department of Justice's approval … Read more