Carriers

Everyone wants to take advantage of the great Black Friday tech deals, but sometimes the thought of fighting the crowds is enough to make one stay home instead. Fortunately, for U.S. Cellular customers, the carrier is starting its holiday promotion early so you can beat the rush.

Starting today, U.S. Cellular dropped the prices on its entire Android lineup. From now through November 29, you can get the LG Apex and Samsung Acclaim for free after a $80 mail-in rebate. The Samsung Mesmerize is $100 less at $99 and the HTC Desire is $150 less at just $49; … Read more

The Black Friday deals are coming in fast and furious, and now, T-Mobile has throw its hat into the ring with a new buy one, get one promotion for the annual post-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza.

Starting November 26, new and existing T-Mobile customers who purchase a featured smartphone and sign up for a two-year family plan will be able to get a second featured smartphone or affordable Android phone for free.

The carrier's list of featured smartphones include the T-Mobile MyTouch 4G, the T-Mobile G2, the HTC HD7, the RIM BlackBerry Bold 9780, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, while the … Read more

Verizon tipped its hand a bit last night by inadvertently outing its next Android smartphone. A 360-degree view of the HTC Merge landed on the carrier's Web site only to be abruptly pulled.

AndroidCentral was quick enough to see the phone and capture a video of the device. The Merge, which once carried the nickname of Lexikon, should be Verizon's first sliding QWERTY world phone. Specifications include Android 2.2, an 800MHz processor, and a 3.7-inch touch screen.

Incidentally, AndroidCentral was able to get its hands on the Merge and do a full review back in early … Read more

This week's episode of Dialed In is brought to you by the letters L and G, as in LG Electronics, because the company has certainly dominated the headlines these past few days. LG looks to be making a big push in the smartphone market, as it continues to release new smartphones for the U.S., including possibly the first Android device to have a dual-core chipset. Plus, U.S. Cellular and Cellular South detail their LTE plans--well, sort of--and we come to the defense of basic cell phones. All this and more on this week's Dialed In.

GreatCall, the mobile virtual network operator that debuted the Jitterbug line of senior phones, announced new monthly rate plans yesterday. The carrier now offers four contract-free options designed for occasional and frequent users.

At $79.99 per month, the Simply Unlimited plan is the most expensive option, but it comes with the most features. You'll get unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekend minutes, unlimited texting, and no data charges. The plan also includes free calls to GreatCall's operator service, free voice mail, and free use of the Daily Health Tips, MyCalendar, LiveNurse, and Wellness Call applications.

For … Read more

U.S. Cellular today announced its fourth Android-based smartphone, the LG Apex, for a November 19 release. After last month's Samsung Mesmerize, the Apex uses Android 2.1 and carries a price tag of $79.99 after an $80 mail-in rebate.

Unlike the Galaxy S Mesmermize, however, the hardware details for the LG Apex indicate an entry-level device with a 3.2-inch touch screen, sliding QWERTY keyboard, and 3-megapixel camera. The smartphone should pair well with the new Primary Plus Plan.

As handset makers continue to push the envelope with cutting-edge technology and high-end hardware, phones like the Apex … Read more

Back in early October, CNET News reporter Maggie Reardon interviewed Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam and when asked about Windows Phone 7 and Microsoft, he said they weren't at the forefront of his mind--not exactly a ringing endorsement there. However, that doesn't mean Big Red is going to turn its back on Microsoft's new mobile operating system.

Responding to a follower's question about Windows Phone 7 device availability, Verizon Wireless tweeted, "As soon as Microsoft has 'em ready, we're excited to offer Windows 7 mobile devices." Unfortunately, they won't be ready till the … Read more

U.S. Cellular offered additional details on its next-generation LTE network yesterday when a company executive said it would begin testing early next year. According to Steven Campbell, CFO and executive vice president, the regional carrier will select its first trial market in late 2011 with full commercial deployment following in 2012. Campbell made the remarks while speaking at the Wells Fargo Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in New York.

U.S. Cellular has yet to select an LTE equipment vendor, but Fierce Wireless reported that the carrier is open to securing deals with companies like Clearwire and Ligtsquad, particularly … Read more

It's a big day Dialed In for as we hit our 150th episode, Bonnie makes it back to San Francisco for a special visit, and Jessica marks the day before her birthday. We also have a lot to get through today as the usual preholiday deluge of new phones is reaching its height. As it always does, Samsung is spinning out the most new models with six handsets unveiled in just the last week. Also in the podcast, Jessica examines the minimum requirements for an Android phone, Nicole polls readers on what kind of keybaord they prefer, the first … Read more