IDC’s new forecast predicts that 1.3 billion smartphone units will be shipped worldwide in 2014, good enough for a 26.3 percent increase annually. But looking ahead to 2018, the analyst firm predicts global smartphone shipments will hit 1.9 billion, slowing the compound annual growth (CAGR) to 9.8 percent for the period. IDC says that the…
AT&T, T-Mobile, and More Cart Out Cyber Monday Deals
Major U.S. carriers are getting in on today’s online shopping deal extravaganza known as Cyber Monday. T-Mobile today is offering no charge memory upgrades on new iPhone purchases. Customers who snap up a 16GB iPhone 6 will get bumped up to the 64GB model and the carrier is also automatically upgrading a new 32GB iPhone…
Sony Shrinking Smartphone Portfolio in Hopes of Return to Profitability
Sony will be reducing its smartphone portfolio as the company realigns its mobile business strategy with the less lofty goal of returning to profitability. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hiroki Totoki, the head of Sony’s mobile unit, said the company is no longer aiming to be the third largest smartphone OEM behind Apple and…
FCC, T-Mobile Work Out Deal for Accurate Speed Tests
The FCC announced it has worked out an agreement with T-Mobile to ensure the carrier’s customers get accurate mobile broadband speed test readings even after they’ve been throttled. T-Mobile last summer began exempting data speed tests from impacting customers’ data caps—similar to what the carrier does with streaming music—but speed tests under that program displayed…
BlackBerry Offering Up to $550 for iPhone Trade-Ins
Correction: A previous version of this article mistakenly said BlackBerry was offering the Passport for $100. BlackBerry is offering the Passport for $100 off the cost. Beginning in December, BlackBerry will start offering up to $550 to customers who trade in their iPhones for a BlackBerry Passport. Depending on the model and condition of the…
T-Mobile Adds 14 More Streaming Services to Music Freedom
T-Mobile today announced it will be bringing 14 more music streaming services under the umbrella of its Music Freedom program, which omits data rate charges for music streaming. Google Play Music is now on the list along with Xbox Music and SoundCloud. The new additions to the program join the already 13 services—like Spotify, Rhapsody,…
U.S. Cellular Raising Up to $500M for Potential Spectrum Buys
U.S. Cellular today announced it will raise up to $500 million by issuing debt through its existing securities registration and/or through new lines of credit with banks or other lending partners. “U.S. Cellular’s existing liquidity and capital structure provide a strong financial foundation,” Kenneth R. Meyers, U.S. Cellular president and CEO, said in a statement.…
AT&T Launches Upgrade of Alltel Network in Ohio After Delay
More than a year after acquiring Alltel’s wireless operations, AT&T is ready to launch its upgraded coverage for more than 50,000 Alltel customers in Ohio. Former Alltel subscribers can now access AT&T’s LTE network. The carrier says its existing cell towers can now provide better indoor coverage and wider coverage areas in general. AT&T says…
Review: Can the Samsung Gear S Stand In for an iPhone 6?
$300, $200 on-contract To be clear from the get go, this will not be a full review of the Samsung Gear S. The company’s 4G-ready, Wi-Fi-enabled smartwatch is the best looking Gear device made yet and it’s filled with handy features. But despite the Gear S’s cellular connection, many of them need a Bluetooth connection…
Analyst: As AWS-3 Auction Hits $24B, Dish Soars, T-Mobile Likely Out
The FCC’s AWS-3 auction has rocketed past its $10 billion reserve price and surpassed $24 billion in bids after only five days. The rapid pace at which the auction is climbing helped spur a 10 percent rise in Dish Network’s stock Wednesday. Dish holds 40 MHz of nationwide AWS-4 spectrum—which some analysts estimate is more…