A curated selection of the weekend's newsworthy tech stories from all around the Web. Read on, and join the conversation with a comment below.
"We learned that you can't rely on anyone else to control and maintain your own brand."
-- Groupon CEO Andrew Mason on its controversial Super Bowl ad. (Ad Age)
Photo: Engadget
AT&T plans to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion, a deal that would make the former the largest mobile U.S. carrier and the only carrier stateside to use Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology -- it will also bring the number of major national wireless carriers down from four to three. The transition, which will take 12 months to happen if U.S. regulatory agencies don't put up a fight, will also give T-Mobile USA owner Deutsche Telekom some 8% of the newly-combined AT&T. (What say you, Fortune readers? Is AT&T's move a stroke of brilliance or an ominous sign of things to come in the mobile market? Sound off in the comments below.) (Fortune)
What does AT&T's $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA mean for Sprint? A whole lot of trouble.
Image via Wikipedia
Sprint (S), the third-largest U.S. carrier, has struggled to find its niche for years. It spent billions of dollars building out a WiMAX 4G network that has failed to pay off. It's also battled customer losses (a.k.a. churn in industry lingo) and a reputation for less-than-stellar customer service. Assuming AT&T's (T) MORE
Michal Lev-Ram, writer - Mar 20, 2011 5:56 PM ET
It appears that Sprint will join T-Mobile in carrying the Google phone, except Sprint's will do 4G/WiMAX.
Sprint.com, click to enlarge
Engadget received some interesting new information on Sprint's (S) upcoming phone announcements over the weekend. Along with what is called an EVO 3D and EVO View tablet, Sprint will be doing their own version of the Nexus S built by Samsung. Sprint's version will be labeled '4G' and obviously also carry WiMAX MORE
Seth Weintraub - Mar 7, 2011 9:41 AM ET
Rumored for weeks, Sprint finally announced its newest Android flagship phone from HTC today.
Wirefly does a great overview of the EVO Shift here (I have yet to lay my hands on one):
For my money, I like the Samsung Epic 4G hardware better (once it gets its Android 2.2 update). The Sprint Epic 4G has a bigger five row keyboard (with hardware menu keys), bigger better screen and front facing camera and MORE
Seth Weintraub - Jan 4, 2011 2:40 PM ET
With Clearwire experiencing growing pains, Sprint's best option for 4G expansion might be turning to a rival competitor for cash.
Sometimes the best allies are also the unlikeliest.
This might be the case if T-Mobile invests in Clearwire (CLWR), which is majority-owned by Sprint (S). Currently, Clearwire offers fourth-generation (4G) wireless network coverage to more than 41 million people throughout the U.S., but it plans to expand further to cover 120 MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer-Reporter - Sep 13, 2010 11:19 AM ET
As Google moves into (and starts to depend on) ISPs' business, is it having an easier time seeing things from their point of view?
It's now clear that Google underestimated the public's desire for true net neutrality over both wireless and wired services -- something the company quickly discovered after issuing a joint policy recommendation with Verizon last week.
Google tried to explain its thinking with a couple of posts, but so far MORE
Seth Weintraub - Aug 15, 2010 10:18 PM ETMason Cohn, Producer - Mar 26, 2010 12:16 PM ET
By Michal Lev-Ram
When Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse joined the wireless company last December, he inherited a backlog of problems. Among them: The logistical nightmare of managing two different networks formed by Sprint's merger with Nextel, a high rate of subscriber defections and a bad (okay, horrible) reputation for customer service.
At his first conference call with analysts in February after Sprint (S) announced disappointing fourth-quarter earnings, Hesse MORE
Michal Lev-Ram, writer - May 9, 2008 12:41 PM ET
By Michael V. Copeland
If you want a hint at where innovation in the gadget world is headed, talk to the chip guys. These nuggets of insanely complex silicon that companies like Intel, AMD (AMD), Atheros, Broadcom and Marvell (MRVL) are creating today will end up in the phones, laptops, televisions and mobile video/music/Internet devices of tomorrow.
We all know that Intel is dead-set on making WiMax -- wireless access measured in MORE
Todd Woody - Jan 14, 2008 2:00 AM ET
By Michal Lev-Ram
A lot happened in wireless this past year, from the debut of the iPhone to Verizon Wireless' move to open its network. But 2008 promises to be just as eventful, starting with the Federal Communication Commission's spectrum auction in January. Here's a look at the 10 most significant events and trends in the coming year.
1. Wireless networks will remain the domain of wireless operators: There's been talk MORE
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| Company | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Corp... | 7.95 | -0.16 | -1.97% |
| Microsoft Corp | 31.27 | -0.17 | -0.54% |
| Ford Motor Co | 12.28 | -0.25 | -2.00% |
| General Electric Co | 19.39 | 0.17 | 0.88% |
| Citigroup Inc | 32.36 | -1.00 | -3.00% |
| Index | Last | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow | 12,938.67 | -27.02 | -0.21% |
| Nasdaq | 2,933.17 | -15.40 | -0.52% |
| S&P 500 | 1,357.66 | -4.55 | -0.33% |
| Treasuries | 2.00 | -0.04 | -1.96% |
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