cell service

Late last year, Republic Wireless made a big splash by offering an Android smartphone with unlimited calling, texting, and data for the unheard-of price of $19 per month.

There were a few catches, of course, most notably the phone itself: LG's Optimus S, a small, decidedly entry-level model with a scratch-prone screen and slow processor.

This month, the company dumped the Optimus in favor of a new model: the Motorola Defy XT. How does it compare? I've spent the last week or so finding out.

In terms of specs alone, the Defy XT blows the Optimus S out … Read more

The Federal Communications Commission wants to know what the public has to say about government officials asking carriers to disable cell service for public safety purposes. The agency's concern is a reaction to last year's cutting of service by San Francisco Bay Area subway police ahead of a protest.

"Our democracy, our society, and our safety all require communications networks that are available and open, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement. "Any interruption of wireless services raises serious legal and policy issues, and must meet a very high bar. The FCC, as the agency … Read more

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission says the agency will review the new rules adopted by the San Francisco subway that allow officials to shut down cell service in the subway stations because of the legal and policy issues it raises.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, adopted a policy yesterday that bars officials from interrupting cell service in subway stations except in "extraordinary circumstances," such as when there is evidence of imminent unlawful activity that threatens the safety of people, property destruction, or disruption of subway service.

"Today BART took … Read more

The San Francisco Bay Area Transit District adopted a policy today that bars officials from interrupting cell service in subway stations except in "extraordinary circumstances."

The policy, which is believed to be the first policy governing intentional cell service disruption in subways, comes in response to a public backlash over BART for shutting off cell service to head off a protest this summer.

Under the new policy, BART may temporarily interrupt cell service only when it determines that there is "strong evidence of imminent unlawful activity that threatens the safety" of passengers, employees and the public, … Read more

New Yorkers will finally be able to use their cell phones in subway stations--as long as their commute takes them through one neighborhood in Manhattan.

The New York Times reported yesterday that cellular service will come to four stations starting Tuesday. AT&T and T-Mobile customers will be able to make phone calls, send text messages, and browse the Internet on their phone underground--something that's virtually impossible today. The deployment is extremely limited: only four stations in the Chelsea neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan.

The initial launch, which acts as a pilot program for a wider … Read more

OAKLAND, Calif.--Bay Area Rapid Transit should only interfere with public communications in extreme emergencies, a director for the agency said in a special meeting called here today to discuss its cutting off of cell phone service to block an anti-police violence protest a few weeks ago.

"The First Amendment and the right to have a communications channel are what people are looking for because it's part of this democratic society we live in...We can't sit back like Big Brother and say we don't like the message," said Lynette Sweet, a member of the … Read more