Mobile and Wireless

Wireless Internet Topic Center

What you need to know about the wireless Internet: news, reviews, in-depth analysis and more

Motorola Mobility fails to make patent case against Apple in German court

A German court has thrown out a Motorola Mobility patent lawsuit against Apple, breaking a recent run of courtroom successes for the company.
Read more...

Google, Microsoft and Apple letters aim to keep regulators at bay

As patent infringement lawsuits continue to pile up in the mobile industry, Google, Apple and Microsoft appear to be trying individually to reassure regulators and standards bodies that they won't use their patents to build a monopoly, experts said.

The Super Bowl by the wireless and network numbers

AT&T and carrier equipment provider Sandvine released some interesting wireless and Internet usage figures from Sunday's Super Bowl victory for the New York Giants over the New England Patriots.

Copyright lawsuit targets owners of non-secure wireless networks

A federal lawsuit filed in Massachusetts could test the question of whether individuals who leave their wireless networks unsecured can be held liable if someone uses the network to illegally download copyrighted content.

Appeals court denies Google bid to keep email out of Oracle trial

Google has failed in its latest attempt to keep a potentially damaging email out of the lawsuit Oracle filed against it over alleged Java intellectual-property violations in the Android mobile OS.

Microsoft to roll out wave of native mobile apps for its CRM software

Microsoft is gearing up to release a phalanx of native mobile applications for its CRM software, with clients aimed at BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, iOS, and Android 2.2 and higher devices, the company announced Monday.

Wi-Fi in flight has yet to soar

Launched four years ago, the use of Wi-Fi on U.S. commercial aircraft has yet to catch on, with estimates that the wireless technology is still used by only 7% of the flying public.

Sprint to sell $100 tablet from ZTE

Sprint is rolling out one of the lowest cost tablets on the market -- a ZTE tablet with midrange specs -- but you'll have to sign a two-year service contract to get the low US$100 price tag.

Lease program would offer users new phone every year

Wish you could have the latest hot smartphone even with a year left on your contract? TMNG Global has devised a leasing program that could let you upgrade your phone every year.

IBM buys Worklight for mobile software platform

IBM on Tuesday announced plans to buy Worklight, a move that will give it a range of cross-platform mobile application development technologies. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, were not disclosed.

Wireless bandwidth: Are we running out of room?

Soaring demand for wireless bandwidth is putting a squeeze on the wireless spectrum. Experts are divided on whether it's a temporary crunch or a full-blown crisis.

Apple's textbook plan feels like a blast from the past

I had to check that my computer wasn't an old black-and-white television set showing blocky white text Thursday morning and that I wasn't clacking away on a 6502 computer over a 110-baud modem when I heard about Apple's announcements relating to iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and its new multimedia textbooks. That's because I've heard it all before.

When new apps and old iOS devices don't mix

Reader Steve Paulson finds that old and new iOS devices don't always mix in pleasing ways. He writes:

Send Google Calendar Alerts to Any Cell Phone

Jonah Langlieb asked how to send Google Calendar notifications to any cell phone.

Ten must-have iPhone games

Scored an iPhone this holiday season? Or perhaps just delicious iTunes Store credit? We've assembled this list of the best iPhone games; if you're a gamer, these are the must-have apps for your device. Loosen your thumbs, loosen your wallet, and start playing.

How Intuit Liberated IT to Embrace Mobile, Social and the Cloud

Intuit CEO Brad Smith has deftly steered what was once only a shrink-wrap software company into the cloud and mobile worlds and has led a re-engineering of Intuit's IT organization into a customer-focused, driver of innovation and value. Insider (registration required)

App Gems: Top education apps

The iPad has been making in-roads in the classroom ever since its 2010 debut. If Apple’s tablet is going to continue progressing to the head of the class, it will be with apps like our two favorite educational offerings leading the way.

20 Best U.S. Airports for Tech Travelers

Walking past laptop-toting digital nomads who huddle around the outlets lining the concourse, you arrive at your gate with 30 minutes to spare. You have a 6-hour flight in front of you, and a laptop and a smartphone that need a full charge to keep you working and listening to music throughout the flight. You stalk the gate area. The two available outlets on the payphone are taken. No outlets on the walls. The remaining minutes before departure click down. A baby is crying. (Please, please, please, you think, don't seat me next to the baby...). "Final call for boarding." Your laptop has an hour of life left, and so does your phone. When both are dead, your noise-canceling headphones will be useless. You board and approach your seat. You're in 16B. The baby, in 16C, is already crying...

In Search of the Tech-Savvy Airport

Editor's Letter

Microsoft SkyDrive for iOS Takes on iCloud, Dropbox

Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service debuted for iPhones this week, after it had been available to Windows users for several years and on Windows Phone 7 devices more recently. Microsoft understands that a lot of Windows users are carrying iPhones with them, so SkyDrive for iOS is a welcome addition, but the personal cloud market already offers plenty of choice.