Motorola to launch Droid 4 in December?

Less than six months after launching the Droid 3, Motorola is apparently ready to give us its successor.
The Droid 4 will launch December 8, according to purported promotional materials obtained by Droid Life. The site reports it has confirmed that employee training is already in progress at some Verizon Wireless stores.
The Droid 4 will reportedly have Droid Razr styling and run on Verizon's 4G LTE network, but like the previous Droids, it will feature a five-row, slide-out keyboard. It will also sport a four-inch touch screen, a 1.2GHz

dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a front-facing camera for video chatting, and an 8MP back-facing camera.
There's no indication in the materials which Android version it will run, but if Droid Life's report is accurate, the new smartphone will launch the same day as Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, the new flagship phone for Google's Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich.
A Motorola representative declined to comment, and Verizon representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

AT&T proposes divestiture to salvage T-Mobile deal

AT&T Inc., with its T-Mobile USA takeover facing regulatory opposition, is preparing the biggest remedy proposal yet to the Justice Department to salvage the $39 billion deal, according to a person familiar with the plan.

The company is considering an offer to divest a significantly larger portion of assets than it had initially expected, said the person, who declined to be identified because the plan isn't public. Though the exact size of the divestiture hasn't been determined, it could be as much as 40 percent of T-Mobile USA's assets, the person said.
The divestiture is an attempt to address the concerns of the Justice Department, which sued to block the takeover on Aug. 31, saying the deal would "substantially lessen competition" in the wireless market. The acquisition was dealt another blow Tuesday, with the Federal Communications Commission signaling an attempt to block it.
"It's going to be problematic for AT&T to find a successful divestiture solution," said Kevin Smithen, an analyst with Macquarie Securities USA Inc. in New York. The pool of potential buyers isn't very big and those that might be interested probably wouldn't have a chance, Smithen said. "It's unlikely that the DOJ would allow a big competitor like Verizon to purchase the assets," Smithen said.
AT&T fell 0.5 percent to $27.41 at the close in New York. The stock has lost 6.7 percent this year. T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom AG added 1.6 percent to 8.83 euros in Frankfurt and has declined 8.6 percent this year.
Brad Burns, an AT&T spokesman, and Andreas Fuchs, a Deutsche Telekom spokesman, declined to comment.
The asset-sale proposal, which could come as early as the next Justice Department hearing on Wednesday, might be the only remaining option if the second-largest U.S. wireless operator wants to avoid a lengthy court battle in its bid to become the country's top mobile carrier. The purchase may vault it past Verizon Wireless, depending on the size of the divestitures.
On Thursday, AT&T and Deutsche Telekom asked to pull their deal applications to the FCC so the companies could better focus on the Justice Department lawsuit. AT&T also said it would take a one-time charge of $4 billion to cover the breakup fee it will need to pay to Deutsche Telekom if the deal fails.
One approach is to propose a remedy that would lessen the market impact of losing the fourth-largest wireless service provider. The second approach is to fight the court case, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 13.
According to a term in the agreement, AT&T would be able to pay less than the deal's original $39 billion value if regulators demand asset sales that surpass 20 percent of that figure, or about $7.8 billion, three people with direct knowledge of the situation said Sept. 7.
AT&T could walk away from the deal and pay Deutsche Telekom a breakup fee if the concessions requested top 40 percent of that value, the people said. If the deal doesn't happen, there's no way AT&T can avoid paying the breakup fee, the people said.

The apps that eat your wireless data

Are you a wireless-data glutton or a nibbler?
New Verizon Wireless smartphone customers will have to figure that out starting Thursday as the country's largest wireless carrier rolls out data plans with monthly usage caps, instead of the unlimited plan for which existing customers pay $30 a month.
Under the new plans, smartphone users will pay Verizon between $30 and $80 each month for 2 to 10

gigabytes of data usage. Customers who use more than their allotment will be charged $10 more for each additional gigabyte.
If you have a monthly limit on how much data you can use, here are some tips on what types of phone use will gobble up megabytes:
Streaming video and videoconferencing. One minute of YouTube-quality video eats up 2 megabytes. Unless you're on WiFi, if your plan gives you 200 megabytes per month, you can't even watch Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video once a day. AT&T charges $15 a month for 200 megabytes, though Verizon is not offering such a limited plan.
Streaming audio. Audio consumes about a quarter of the data that video does, but 10 minutes a day will break the bank if you're on a 200-megabyte plan. One hour a day of Pandora consumes nearly a gigabyte, which you can afford if you're on a 2-gigabyte plan and don't use other data-hogging apps.
Photos. If you're a real shutterbug, photos can consume significant amounts of data. Sending and viewing photos both count toward your monthly limit. Posting 10 photos per day eats up most of a 200-megabyte plan. If you're on a 2-gigabyte plan, you probably don't have to worry about photos.
Maps. Navigation apps consume lots of data when they retrieve map images, up to a megabyte a minute. You're also likely to use them for long periods of time when you're away from WiFi, such as when you're driving. Watch out for these.
Web surfing. Roughly speaking, 10 Web pages a day will eat up about half of a 200-megabyte plan. Again, those on 2-gigabyte plans don't need to worry much about surfing.
Facebook. Roughly equivalent to Web surfing. Status updates won't take much data, but sending photos and viewing friends' pictures will.
E-mail. Most e-mails are tiny, in terms of data. Basically, you can send and receive e-mail messages all you want, as long as they don't have attachments such as photos.
Twitter. Like e-mail, these short messages don't use much data, but if you follow a lot of people and click on links, usage adds up.

Reports: Apple halts delivery of some Verizon iPads

Apple has halted the delivery of a small number of iPad 2s designed to work on the Verizon Wireless network because of a manufacturing glitch, according to news reports Friday. The shipments were halted because some of the iPads carried identity codes already in use on other Apple products, which could cause problems on Verizon's network, according to the Wall Street Journal. The number of affected devices was "extremely small," Apple told the newspaper. Earlier Friday, the technology blog 9to5Mac reported that some iPad 2s being

delivered from China were diverted to Apple mid-shipment. One buyer told the website that Apple is compensating affected users with a $50 credit or accessories. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday.

99% of Android phones leak secret account credentials

The vast majority of devices running Google's Android operating system are vulnerable to attacks that allow adversaries to steal the digital credentials used to access calendars, contacts, and other sensitive data stored on the search giant's servers, university researchers have warned.

The weakness stems from the improper implementation of an authentication protocol known as ClientLogin in Android versions 2.3.3 and earlier, the researchers from Germany's University of Ulm said. After a user submits valid credentials for Google Calendar, Contacts and possibly other accounts, the programming interface retrieves an authentication token that is sent in cleartext. Because the authToken can be used for up to 14 days in any subsequent requests on the service, attackers can exploit them to gain unauthorized access to accounts.

“We wanted to know if it is really possible to launch an impersonation attack against Google services and started our own analysis,” the researchers in the university's Institute of Media Informatics wrote on Friday. “The short answer is: Yes, it is possible, and it is quite easy to do so.”

The findings build off previous findings of Rice University professor Dan Wallach, who in February uncovered similar Android privacy shortcomings affecting Twitter, Facebook, and Google Calendar during a simple exercise for his undergraduate security class. The attacks can only be carried out when the devices are using unsecured networks, such as those offered at Wi-Fi hotspots.

Google patched the security hole earlier this month with the release of Android 2.3.4, although that version, and possibly Android 3, still cause devices synchronizing with Picasa web albums to transmit sensitive data through unencrypted channels, the researchers said. Based on Google's own statistics, this means more than 99 percent of Android-based handsets are vulnerable to the attacks, which are similar in difficulty and effect to so-called sidejacking exploits that steal authentication cookies.

A Google spokesman said the company's Android team is aware of the Picasa deficiencies and is working on a fix.

Researchers Bastian Könings, Jens Nickels, and Florian Schaub warned that the weaknesses could be used against people who use their Android devices on networks under the control of an attacker.

“To collect such authTokens on a large scale an adversary could setup a wifi access point with a common SSID (evil twin) of an unencrypted wireless network, e.g., T-Mobile, attwifi, starbucks,” they wrote. “With default settings, Android phones automatically connect to a previously known network and many apps will attempt syncing immediately. While syncing would fail (unless the adversary forwards the requests), the adversary would capture authTokens for each service that attempted syncing.”

Apps that use ClientLogin should immediately start doing so over encrypted, https channels, the researchers said. A more robust authentication protocol known as oAuth will also close the authToken capture vulnerability, although https should still be used to prevent synced data from being intercepted.

The researchers also suggested Google improve its security by shortening the length of time authTokens are valid and rejecting ClientLogin requests from insecure http connections.

With more than 99 percent of carriers offering their users Android versions with known security weaknesses, the report demonstrates how little success Google has had in getting its partners to upgrade to the latest versions. Many Verizon Wireless customers, for instance, remain stuck with Android 2.2.2, despite containing vulnerabilities that have been known about for months.

Last week, Google said it planned to work more closely with wireless carriers in an attempt to help them offer Android updates more quickly. The company has yet to offer details.

A Verizon spokeswoman told The Register she couldn't say when the company will provide customers with an updated version of Android. She said users should consider using their devices only on secured networks.

Next iPhone Might Have Over-the-Air Updates [REPORT]

The day where you don’t have to plug your iPhone, iPad or iPod into your computer to update its operating system might be close at hand. There’s a report that iOS 5 will be capable of over-the-air updates.

According to 9to5 Mac‘s multiple sources, Apple has been negotiating with Verizon Wireless to provide the over-the-air updates, but the sources wouldn’t comment on whether the same negotiations were taking place with AT&T.

For iOS updates to be delivered over-the-air, Apple will need to make fundamental changes in the way its updates work. For one thing, Apple will need to stop requiring a download of the entire operating system for a simple update.

My take: Today, I updated my iPhone to iOS 4.3.3 (fixing that location tracking problem that caused such an uproar lately), and as it always does, the phone’s data was backed up onto my laptop, and then the entire iOS 4.3.3 was downloaded, all 662.3 MB of it. That’s not going to be easy to do over the air, especially if you’re using 3G or 4G.

Perhaps Apple will let these updates take place only over Wi-Fi connections, as it does for some large app downloads. Even if that’s the case, just for the sake of efficiency it would be a good idea to send incremental updates, similar to the way Microsoft has been updating its operating systems for years, in small pieces as they become available.

This would be a long-awaited and welcome capability — a feature that’s commonplace in the Android operating system. So how much longer must we wait? Of course, Apple’s not saying, but general consensus is that iOS 5 will launch when the iPhone 5 ships, and now the latest iPhone rumor is that it won’t be happening in June or July, as many had hoped. Another recent report said the next iPhone would be shipping in September.

Are you hoping for over-the-air update capability, and do you think it’s on the way?

AT&T and T-Mobile: Wireless megamerger(Video)

The No. 2 and No. 4 wireless carriers announce a $39 billion merger deal that would create a company with nearly 130 million subscribers, easily leapfrogging Verizon Wireless for the No. 1 spot.

Wireless CEOs spar onstage at CTIA

Chief executives of AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint are forced to discuss the elephant in the room: AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA.

• Audi signs T-Mobile, gets AT&T

(Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)

March 22, 2011 8:17 a.m. PT

What would AT&T, T-Mobile deal mean for Sprint?

Sprint Nextel may find it difficult to compete on its own if the deal between AT&T and T-Mobile is eventually approved by regulators.

(Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)

March 21, 2011 9:56 p.m. PT

AT&T: Buying T-Mobile speeds LTE shift in U.S.

Facing regulatory scrutiny, AT&T argues that buying T-Mobile USA will bring next-gen mobile networks to more Americans at a quicker clip and make the United States more competitive.

• Study: Verizon fastest among 4G networks

(Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)

March 21, 2011 7:52 a.m. PDT

AT&T and T-Mobile: Good for whom?

analysis AT&T announces it will acquire T-Mobile for $39 billion. Though the carrier is preaching nothing but upsides for T-Mobile customers, I'm not so sure.

• Video: What consumers think about AT&T and T-Mobile merging

(Posted in Dialed In by Kent German)

March 20, 2011 8:09 p.m. PT

AT&T and T-Mobile--listen before you judge

analysis Consumer advocates have already condemned the AT&T and T-Mobile USA as "unthinkable." But Larry Downes argues jumping to conclusions doesn't help anyone, especially consumers.

(Posted in Signal Strength by Larry Downes)

March 20, 2011 6:02 p.m. PT

T-Mobile: Business as usual for now

In the wake of the AT&T acquisition news, T-Mobile assures its customers that nothing will change. At least for the next 12 months.

(Posted in Dialed In by Bonnie Cha)

March 20, 2011 2:54 p.m. PT

AT&T-T-Mobile merger: By the numbers

On the cusp of a historic mobile operator merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, a look at some key stats.

(Posted in Dialed In by Jessica Dolcourt)

March 20, 2011 6:16 p.m. PT

Current AT&T and T-Mobile plans compared

After the AT&T and T-Mobile merger news broke, one of the first concerns many T-Mobile customers had was with pricing plans.

(Posted in Dialed In by Nicole Lee)

March 20, 2011 9:51 p.m. PT

Will AT&T kill T-Mobile's lovely anti-AT&T ads?

The news that T-Mobile USA is being bought by AT&T might mean the end of the T-Mobile campaign that attacks, um, AT&T.

(Posted in Technically Incorrect by Chris Matyszczyk)

March 20, 2011 1:58 p.m. PT

AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA for $39 billion

T-Mobile's 33 million subscribers will give AT&T the dominant position in the mobile market and leave the U.S. with only one GSM carrier.

(Posted in Wireless by Steven Musil)

March 20, 2011 12:03 p.m. PT

Apple iPad 2 on Sale this March 11 on Verizon

Apple iPad 2 is being prepped up for its March 11 release date. Apple Stores will surely have a very long line again for its iPad 2 Sale. Its popularity has just gone high when it was unveiled last Wednesday with CEO Steve Jobs. 

The Apple iPad 2 was featured as thinner, Lighter and faster. Sources are also saying that the Apple iPad 2 will be made available on Verizon Wireless with a price tag of $ 499 for 16 gig, $599 for the 32gig, and $699 for the 64gig (All Wifi Only Units).

Verizon Wireless has already confirmed that they will be offering the Apple iPad 2 this upcoming March 11. AT&T and Verizon has not yet confirmed that the 3G version will be available on this date. So those who want the Apple iPad 2 3G will have to wait. Although, AT&T also had not confirmed that they will be releasing the Apple iPad 2 on March 11. Its your choice on which provider you will be sticking to.

The Apple iPad 2 has a similar appearance to its predecessor but comes with its new features. A front and rear camera, a 1.3lbs weight and a new shell for the Apple iPad 2. Having 33% thinner aluminum shell with a flat back and beveled corners wrapping around the 9.7-in. screen. Its Display has not changed at all, still has a 1024 by 768 pixels, with 132 pixels per inch. Get yourself ready for the Apple iPad 2 Sale this March 11!.