fees

As smartphones get more sophisticated, so does the software that runs them. And that means a major pain in the neck for consumers: buggy software upgrades.

Just like with your computer, smartphone software is constantly evolving and upgrades are rolled out all the time. While new versions of software often add more functionality, sometimes they're buggy and they break things that worked perfectly well with the previous version of software.

This is a major headache for many smartphone subscribers, especially those who use Android phones. In this week's Ask Maggie column, I answer one reader who wants to … Read more

Have you ever wondered why it's so difficult to find information about when your wireless contract ends? Or have you ever gotten so angry at a service provider that you threaten to cancel all the services you get bundled from them?

Well, you're not alone. This week in Ask Maggie, I answer one reader's question about finding information on a wireless carrier's Web site as to when a contract ends. I checked in with the major carriers and will walk you through how you can access information about contract expiration and early-termination fees online.

I also … Read more

Breaking up is hard to do, but when you're slapped with an early termination fee, the sting hurts even more. Then tack on a sales tax, and who wouldn't be crying in their beer?

In this week's Ask Maggie column, I tackle a tough question about being charged a sales tax on top of an early termination fee for canceling a wireless service early. I also tell a reader about a U.S. carrier that cuts customers a break on their monthly bills when they bring their own phone. And finally, I explain the likelihood of whether … Read more

Vimeo, one of the first providers of high-definition video on the Web, has done away with a limitation that had its users paying to place an HD version of their video on external sites.

The business centered on charging its members for a certain number of HD plays on external Web sites, which ran anywhere from $9.95 for 1,000 plays, all the way to $199.95 for 100,000 plays.

In cases where a user ran out of plays, Vimeo would still let viewers watch the video in HD, though they'd have to come back to the … Read more

If you've got wireless questions, I've got answers.

More than 90 percent of the U.S. population now has a cell phone. And as hot new smartphones, such as the iPhone 4, HTC Evo, and Motorola Droid, gain in popularity, consumers around the country are trying to figure out what phone is right for them. Meanwhile, wireless operators are touting faster 3G networks and 4G wireless networks to entice new customers. Carriers are changing service plans and early termination fees. And consumers are confused.

Having reported on the wireless beat for six years, I've fielded hundreds of … Read more

A word of warning to AT&T subscribers who would switch carriers when the company's iPhone exclusivity deal with Apple finally ends: The cost of doing so will soon rise--substantially. Come June 1, AT&T is raising its early-termination fee on smartphones to $325 from $175.

The increase comes amid speculation that AT&T's iPhone-exclusivity deal with Apple is nearing its end. But a company representative tells me it has "nothing to do with the iPhone or any other device."

$325. That's a pretty steep increase from $175. Though to be fair, … Read more

This week on preGAME, we shine a light through the creepy forest to bring you a live demo of Alan Wake a week before it hits stores. The game tells the story of an author who travels to a small mountain town on vacation only to be confronted by a terrifying dark force.

But before we venture into the depths with Alan Wake, we'll bring you three brand-new trailers for a trio of games we're really excited for. Tune in and watch as we screen new videos for Enslaved, Singularity, and LittleBigPlanet 2.

Then, it's onto this … Read more

U.S. mobile operators, , in letters sent to the Federal Communications Commission earlier this week, defended their use of early termination fees and explained how they are informing consumers about their policies.

In January, the FCC asked each of the four major wireless carriers, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile USA, along with Google to detail how they inform customers of their fees in statements on corporate Web sites, in brochures and sales scripts, and in monthly bills. The companies had until February 23 to respond. Earlier this week, they filed their answers to the FCC's … Read more

You may be surprised to learn that Tuesday, Feb. 23 was a big day in the U.S. wireless industry. It marked the deadline for cell phone carriers to respond to an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission into early termination fees (ETF). Though ETFs are nothing new, it was only in the last couple of years that the Feds put them under the microscope. And naturally, the carriers and their man in Washington, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, are doing their best to justify the charges.

The four major carriers plus Google each responded to the FCC's set … Read more