deals

Sprint forms special committee to review Dish proposal

Sprint is at least wiling to consider a proposal that Dish Network made recently to acquire its business.

Sprint today announced that it has formed a "special committee" made up of several of its board members, including Larry Glasscock, who will serve as the committee's chairman. The committee's charge is simple: to review the deal offered last week by Dish to determine if it's superior to the one already brought by Japan-based Softbank.

Last October, Japan-based Softbank announced that it would invest $20.1 billion into Sprint. A large portion of that -- $12.1 … Read more

Yahoo tries to freshen up, kills a bunch of products

Yahoo is doing some spring cleaning. The company announced its plans on Friday to shut down several products, including Yahoo Deals, Yahoo SMS Alerts, and the Yahoo Mail and Messenger apps used on feature phones.

It's all about getting rid of the old to make room for the new, according to Jay Rossiter, Yahoo's executive vice president in charge of platforms, who wrote about the changes in a blog entry.

"We want to bring you experiences that inspire and entertain you every day," Rossiter wrote. "That means taking a hard look at all of our … Read more

Woot Stalker - Deal Tracker 1.5 Review

One-a-day deals are becoming very popular on the Web. For those who are interested in getting a great bargain on various products, Web sites such as woot.com represent a great opportunity. Woot Stalker allows users to quickly access woot.com and several other similar Web sites and browse deals of the day and select merchandise that they wish to purchase.

The shear ease of operation and simplicity of its design make Woot Stalker a joy to use. It downloads almost instantly and it consumes minute amounts of the device's resources. Following the quick download, users are able to … Read more

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Dish-Sprint merger may bring new bundles, deals

Consumers may potentially get an even bigger price break if Dish is able to snap up Sprint Nextel.

Dish's $25.5 billion unsolicited bid for Sprint certainly adds a wrinkle to Sprint's existing merger plans with Japanese wireless carrier SoftBank. But a deal with Dish may be a boon to consumers, particularly ones looking for a mix of video, mobile, and Internet services.

A combination between Dish and Sprint means the two could bundle satellite-TV and mobile service together. In select markets where the telecommunications and cable providers don't have a strong presence -- particularly in rural … Read more

Apple, Yahoo said to be cozying up for more iOS services

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And in the case of Apple and Yahoo, Google is most definitely that company for the two.

So it makes sense that Apple and Yahoo might deepen their partnership, which is just what's happening, says The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

In a somewhat vague report, the Journal says the two companies have been in talks to bring more of Yahoo's content and services to Apple's devices. That's on top of what's already there, a list that includes weather, sports scores, stock information, and Web search in … Read more

T-Mobile's new twist on monthly plans

CNET Update can spare some change:

T-Mobile is ditching the typical contract and smartphone subsidy for a new plan. Pay full price for a phone, or pay it off over time with monthly payments -- and data plans start at $50 a month for 500 MB. Expect T-Mobile to release more details at a press announcement Tuesday morning.

Other stories featured in Monday's tech roundup:

- Barnes & Noble is working on incorporating in-app purchases for apps on the Nook tablets. And for those seeking an e-reader for their Easter basket, Barnes & Noble is giving a free Nook Simple Touch e-reader with the purchase of the Nook HD+ tablet. … Read more

B&N offers free e-reader with Nook HD+ for limited time

Over the last few months, Barnes & Noble has been running a number of special deals on the Nook HD+, the larger of its two tablets, including a free credit of $50 to spend on Nook content. But now the company is taking things a step further by throwing in a free Nook Simple Touch E Ink e-reader -- usually $79 -- with the purchase of Nook HD+, which starts at $269 for the 16GB model. The offer is available from March 24 to 30.

The deal comes at a turbulent time for the company. Much has been written lately … Read more

Defense Dept. reportedly in deal for more than 600K iOS devices

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to purchase more than half a million iOS devices, according to a new report.

Citing "well-placed sources," Electronista says the government plans to purchase 120,000 iPads, 100,000 iPad minis, 200,000 iPod Touches, and 210,000 iPhones as part of an effort to update and mobilize its technologies.

As for the timing of such a deal, Electronista suggests it would happen following the current sequestration.

Apple declined to comment on the report, and the Defense Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

Last month the Department of … Read more

RadioShack slashes prices on Galaxy S3, iPhone 5 and 4S

With Samsung's Galaxy S4 unveiled last week and rumors of an iPhone 5S on the way, RadioShack is letting loose some of its inventory at a discounted price.

The consumer electronics store is offering deals on the Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 5, and iPhone 4S to Sprint customers starting today. A RadioShack spokesperson told CNET that this sale will last between now and April 4.

Of the three devices, the best deal seems to be for the Galaxy S3. With a new two-year contract, customers can save $150 on the device. Typically the mobile phone costs $199.99 at … Read more