Verizon Wireless is set to release two more exclusive Motorola Mobility smartphones on Oct. 18, the Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD. Both Android devices run on Verizon’s LTE network, with the Razr HD selling on a two-year contract for about $200 and the Razr Maxx HD carrying an on-contract price of about $300. The debut of the devices follows Verizon’s launch last month of the Droid Razr M.

Consumption of mobile data in the United States doubled to 1.16 trillion MB between June 2011 and July 2012, according to new data released by CTIA. During the previous one-year period, U.S. mobile subscribers consumed 568 billion MB. More than 2.27 trillion text messages and 58.3 billion MMS messages were sent and received. Despite the rising usage, the average wireless bill actually declined 7 cents to $47.16.

Alcatel-Lucent says the nine APIs it released Thursday for IMS infrastructure will make it easier for developers to leverage the capabilities of the infrastructure, including HD voice and video, conference calls, interactive voice calls, and messaging and call control. The APIs are available through Alcatel-Lucent’s ngConnect program.

Swiss microsensor manufacturer Sensirion has unveiled a humidity and temperature sensor it claims is the smallest in the world. The SHTC1 measures just 2 x 2 x 0.8 mm and is designed for mobile devices. The sensor’s tiny size was achieved through CMOSens technology, which allows the sensor and signal processing electronics to be combined on a single silicon chip.

Trilithic has come out with a new series of COTS Variable Step Attenuators with a frequency range of DC to 3 GHz, 50 dB of dynamic range in 1 dB steps, that enable Distributed Antenna System RF power levels to be appropriately adjusted for the DAS head-end equipment. Model RSA-3550D SMA-R female connectors are standard, other attenuation ranges and connector types are available.