mobile

T-Mobile rolls out enhanced 4G coverage in dozens of new cities

T-Mobile announced today that it added five new metro areas to its list of U.S. cities served by 4G (HSPA+) on its faster 1900 network, including Chicago, Reno, and three regions in California.

"T-Mobile has now enhanced the network in 23 metro areas, and we have already reached 100 million people with this improved network experience," T-Mobile USA's chief technology officer Neville Ray said in a statement. "These upgrades will now provide voice and data enhancements, improved signal strength and in-building coverage for customers."

One of the devices that the carrier specifically highlighted to … Read more

Report tags top consumer trends for 2013

Cloud computing is one of the main trends to keep an eye on in 2013, according to a new report from Ericsson.

The electronics firm's "Ten Hot Consumer Trends 2013" report (PDF) suggests that not only is cloud computing becoming increasingly important in our daily lives, but young people's use of the Internet will drive new businesses and products in the coming year.

The most important technological trend is cloud computing. More than 50 percent of tablet users and 40 percent of smartphone users in the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Sweden subscribe to these kinds … Read more

iPhone infringes on patents from MobileMedia, jury rules

Apple has lost a few rounds in a courtroom case pitting it against patent holder MobileMedia.

A U.S. court ruled today that the iPhone infringes on three patents held by MobileMedia, a spokesperson for the patent holder told CNET.

One of the patents, No. 6,427,078, refers to a camera phone technology, according to the spokesperson. The other two patents, No. 6,253,075 and No. 6,070,068, deal with call handling.

A document of the verdict posted on Scribd shows the jury found that Apple directly infringed on the three patents in question. The jury also … Read more

AT&T expands 4G LTE to seven more regions

The holiday season may be in full swing, but that hasn't stopped AT&T from keeping busy. The carrier announced today that it has expanded its 4G LTE data network to seven additional metropolitan areas.

Ma Bell's most advanced cellular network now covers Reno, Nevada; Richmond, Virginia; Allentown-Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Hattiesburg and Starkvillle, Mississippi; Moscow, Idaho; and Pullman, Washington. That's not a bad day's work. Still, while AT&T says it now blankets 3,000 cities more than its arch-rival Verizon with 4G, an area that includes over 160 million people. That claims AT&… Read more

More details emerge about high-end ZTE Grand S

Event info posted on CES' press page details a January 8 unveiling of the ZTE Grand S.

We already knew that the Chinese company would announce a high-end smartphone during the January trade show, but more specs reveal that it'll be a thin, 5-inch handset with an FHD screen.

Judging by the event summary, the device may also sport a stylish look, too.

It noted that the phone will be made out of ceramic, feature a "traditional Chinese style," and is perfect for the "fashionable set."

Though ZTE is remaining mum about further details, a … Read more

Square to ink payment-processing deal with Burberry -- report

Square has lined up its first luxury-brand partner, a new report claims.

Square and the Burberry clothing chain are testing out a deal to see how the payment processing might work in its stores, The Next Web reported today, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the deal. The announcement could be made soon.

Burberry CTO John Douglas already spilled the beans, albeit unofficially. On Twitter last week, Douglas noted that Square was "live in our Burberry Brit store in San Francisco."

Square has been growing by leaps and bounds. The company, which offers a free accessory … Read more

ZTE to unveil high-end smartphone at CES 2013

According to IDG News Service, ZTE's global chief design director, Hagen Fendler, said that the Chinese phone company will announce a new high-end handset in January during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Though ZTE is known for its low- to midlevel devices, Fendler said that CES will mark a new "design era" for the manufacturer.

Recent ZTE handsets, like the ZTE Warp Sequent and the Sprint Flash, have shown a deliberate change in direction for ZTE, toward better-quality devices. The former has a sturdy construction and a 4.3-inch touch screen, while the latter is … Read more

Sony launches new entertainment app for Xperia users

Sony is launching an app aimed at Xperia smartphone users that grants access to additional music, film, and sports content.

Sony Mobile Communications, a subsidiary of Japanese electronics maker Sony, announced today that a new app, called the Xperia Lounge, has been released in beta. Available on Google's Android operating system, Xperia Lounge contains "backstage" content based around music, film, gaming, and sports.

Touted as a "VIP" experience, the free app is launching with content from band Coldplay and a competition to win tickets to see Swedish House Mafia. It will later include a chance … Read more

Direct your own story -- through baking

Bakery Story (iOS, Android) is a cute and simple interactive social networking game along the same lines as FarmVille. It's part of a series of "story" games made by the same studio (TeamLava), and just like FarmVille, it can become extremely addicting.

In Bakery Story, players open their own bakery where they can create and sell an assortment of sweets, desserts, and beverages in exchange for money (coins). The process of creating a confection is nothing more than a few taps, after which the player must wait a certain amount of time before the item is ready. … Read more