Mobile & Wireless

Google has just started rolling out an update to the Play Store app on Android that, among other things, now offers more fine-grained control when making purchases. This change could very well be related to the class action suit that the company is now facing. Early this week, Google was hit with a class action Continue Reading →

Besides adding new Maps, Healthbook, and iTunes Radio applications, Apple plans to enhance and refine the functionality of some of its current pre-bundled applications and features for iOS 8. Here is a list, provided by sources, of some of the refinements Apple is considering for select applications and system functions in iOS 8. Notification Center, the Continue Reading →

The issue of insurance has been a thorny one for ride-sharing services including Lyft and Uber — when their drivers are between fares, it becomes a gray area regarding responsibilities in the case of an accident. On Friday both companies have taken steps to address such problems. On-demand ride-sharing startup Lyft announced on Friday that Continue Reading →

Shareholders of telecommunications company Ono are close to agreeing a deal with Britain’s Vodafone which has offered to buy the Spanish group for about 7.2 billion euros (£6.02 billion) including debt, two sources familiar with the matter said. Shareholders in private equity-backed Ono, which sells fixed and mobile phone, TV and internet services, gave the Continue Reading →

Sprint is triple-downing on prepaid. On Friday, Sprint introduced Sprint Prepaid, a revamped take on an existing program that includes less expensive plans — with caveats — and new options for smartphones, including a “Spark” device able to access higher LTE speeds. Sprint Prepaid represents yet another push by the carrier to reinforce its position in the Continue Reading →

App analytics firm Umeng, typically known as the ‘Flurry of China,’ has released a new report that provides more evidence of the burgeoning smartphone market in China, which is already known as the world’s largest. The number of active smart devices in China — including smartphones and tablets — exceeded 700 million by the end Continue Reading →

Starting this April, United Airlines will roll out a new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft for Apple’s iPhone and iPad running iOS 7 exclusively at launch time. With the new service United Airline customers will be able to choose from over 150 movies and nearly 200 TV shows and watch them free of Continue Reading →

On March 10, Microsoft and Nook Media updated their agreement forged two years ago, according to a new 8-K filing by Barnes & Noble. Under terms of the amendment, Nook Media is allowed to discontinue distributing the Nook Windows app and to cease work on its Windows Phone app. Ouch. There seemingly is a replacement Continue Reading →

Eighteen months after Google entered the Grand Canyon to capture panoramic imagery for Street View, the Internet giant has teamed up with American Rivers to ride the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and capture even more impressive views. Though this certainly boosts Google’s arsenal of imagery on Street View, it seems part of this Continue Reading →

Huawei is still on friendly terms with Windows Phone, but Android is the true object of its affection. Speaking with blog site TrustedReviews, Huawei Chief Marketing Officer Shao Yang said the maker of mobile devices remains “committed” to making phones outfitted with Microsoft’s mobile OS. Last year, China-based Huawei launched the Ascend W1 and struck Continue Reading →