ting

Today Ting, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that resells Sprint's network, launched a private beta that lets prospective customers sign up for Ting's service using their previously purchased Sprint phones.

For now, just seven devices make the cut:

Ting says that it has thoroughly tested these handsets to ensure that the hardware transitions smoothly to Ting's MVNO. More than just these smartphones work … Read more

Ting, a newish, little-known cell phone carrier, wants to stand out by mixing and matching your cell phone plan. Today the mobile virtual network operator, which rides on Sprint's network, announced plans to let you bring your own Sprint device to the network.

As it stands now, you have to buy one of Ting's 10 compatible handsets from the carrier -- including the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Motorola Photon Q -- but starting sometime in Q4 all that will change. When the bring-your-own plan rolls out, most Sprint phones will also work with Ting, except handset like … Read more

How about this for a crazy idea: a cell phone plan that charges you separately for each voice minute, message, and megabyte.

Meet Ting, launched yesterday by Tucows. The new cell phone service for U.S. customers turns the conventional contract on its head by offering plans for various allotments of talk, text, and data.

At the end of the month, Ting credits whatever you don't use, and charges for any extras beyond the plan (but at a higher rate) with no additional penalty fee.

Talk, text, and data bundles range from "XS," where you pay nothing … Read more

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--The Endeavour astronauts installed a $2 billion cosmic ray detector on the International Space Station today, a powerful magnet surrounded by a complex array of sensors that will study high-energy particles from the depths of space and time to look for clues about the formation and evolution of the universe.

"Thank you very much for the great ride and safe delivery of AMS to the station," radioed Sam Ting, the Nobel laureate who has managed the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer project for more than 15 years. "Your support and fantastic work have taken us … Read more