smart phones

New Data Hogs in the Pen: Sprint Smartphone Users

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:27:50 -0400

Full article: ConsumerReports.org
Jeff Blyskal
Sprint's improving cellular service left AT&T in the dust in the <em>Consumer Reports</em> 2011 ratings. But now the Kansas-based carrier's smartphone users have taken the blue-ribbon prize away from AT&T's data hogs.

Obama Said to Seek Doubling Airwaves for Smartphones, Internet

Stevie Converse — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:54:34 -0400

Full article: Bloomberg
Larry Liebert
President Barack Obama will propose almost doubling the airwaves available for smartphones, laptop connections to the Internet and new wireless devices. The president’s proposals echo the National Broadband Plan proposed in March by the FCC, headed by Julius Genachowski, which called for providing more spectrum for services such as mobile phones.

$350 Is the New $175

Stevie Converse — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:38:09 -0500

Full article: Free Press
Chris Riley
Without more consumer-friendly and competition-friendly practices, the wireless industry will shift more and more toward consolidation and reduced choice and innovation. With a few simple reforms, the FCC could create a market where carriers have incentives to invest in service quality, and where meaningful competitive pressure reduces service price.

Wireless Carriers Push 'Smart' Strategy for Growth

Stevie Converse — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:37:10 -0500

Full article: Wall Street Journal
Jeffry Bartash
With an eye toward future growth, wireless-phone companies plan to encourage customers to buy or upgrade to smart phone devices. The downside to this is the extra strain such heavy-data usage can put on wireless networks.

Consumers to Telecom Industry: Tell Us the Truth

Stevie Converse — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:36:49 -0400

Full article: Free Press
Consumers are being bombarded with inconsistent and incomplete information when shopping for service providers or plans, and then they are baffled by misleading and confusing bills once they sign up. Six public interest organizations filed comments with the FCC, encouraging the agency to protect consumers from deceptive billing.

Telecom Industry Should Tell the Truth about Billing

Stevie Converse — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:30:46 -0400

Full article: Free Press
Megan Tady
Increasingly, phone, cable and wireless providers are fudging the numbers on their products and services, misleading consumers until they get hit with outrageous bills and hidden fees. The practices are so harmful and egregious that six public interest groups filed comments with the FCC asking the agency to protect consumers.

Wall Street Journal Takes Paywall Fight to Mobiles

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:41:56 -0400

Full article: Wired
John C. Abell
Dow Jones will start charging for <em>Wall Street Journal</em> stories delivered via its iPhone and Blackberry apps -- a long-anticipated move spurred on by News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, who has complained as loudly as any media executive that the news industry's survival depends on getting paid for digital content.

The Great iPhone Lockdown

Stevie Converse — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:10:54 -0400

Full article: Slate
Farhad Manjoo
The FCC has traditionally maintained a hands-off policy with regard to cell phone companies. But Julius Genachowski, the new FCC chairman, has vowed to increase competition in the wireless industry. The iPhone seems like the best place to start.

What Will Carriers Do When the Data Gravy Train Derails?

Stevie Converse — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:25:52 -0400

Full article: GigaOM
Stacey Higginbotham
Now that the market for cell phones is saturated, carriers are positioning to gain in the next wireless revolution, based on data connections. Selling data plans to people is going to become more expensive in the next 5-10 years as more consumers seek to use them.

The Stupidity of 'Smart' Phones

Stevie Converse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:41:55 -0400

Full article: In These Times
Megan Tady
Exclusive phone deals are harming consumers and smothering innovation. We need a policy change to unlock cell phones from our wireless carriers and unshackle us from corporations. Until then, "smart" phones like the iPhone are less than smart -- they're only as useful as the carriers allow them to be.