Carriers

Canadian carrier Rogers might be a week from delivering the one-two punch that is the Xperia Play and Xperia Arc, but that doesn't mean the tech press will stop digging up details.

As we learned last week, the carrier is accepting preorders for both handsets with as little as $50 down at local Best Buy stores. At the time, pricing was rumored, but not confirmed, to be 99 Canadian dollars ($103) with a three-year commitment. Tech blog MobileSyrup has obtained a couple of internal Rogers documents, verifying the three-year pricing as well providing other options.

As previously reported, the $… Read more

Sprint's integration with Google Voice isn't available for everyone yet, but it is live for some people ahead of schedule.

"When we announced our Google Voice integration with Sprint, we confirmed it would be rolling out gradually to all Google Voice users," a Google representative told CNET in an e-mail. "Over the last couple of weeks, we have extended a limited number of beta invites to users and will begin rolling out to everyone soon."

In contrast with Google, Sprint has kept quiet. Spokesman Mark Elliot told CNET, "We have not announced an … Read more

With a filing at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today, AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile is now in the hands of federal regulators.

The paperwork, which spells out AT&T's intention to acquire T-Mobile's spectrum licenses, is the first official step in its quest to become the country's largest wireless carrier. AT&T also used the documents to argue why the deal is good for customers and the wireless industry as a whole.

"AT&T faces severe spectrum and capacity constraints and cannot simply wait for the next … Read more

AT&T may be putting the kibosh on an application for BlackBerry smartphones that allows users to connect their new BlackBerry PlayBook tablets to AT&T's 3G wireless network for free.

AT&T has confirmed that the app that allows BlackBerry users to pair their RIM smartphones with the new PlayBook tablet is not currently available on AT&T BlackBerry phones, a fact that limits the functionality of the device for AT&T BlackBerry customers.

AT&T said the app isn't supported yet on its network because it hasn't fully tested … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said earlier today that the proposed merger between T-Mobile and AT&T will create a duopoly in wireless that will slow innovation and move America backward.

"Competition will be stifled, growth will be stifled and wireless innovation will be jeopardized," he said while speaking at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. "We just can't let this happen."

Though Hesse largely focused on Sprint's green initiatives and the formal unveiling of the eco-friendly Samsung Replenish during his speech, he also took several shots at the deal that would create … Read more

Our Canadian readers will be happy to learn that Rogers has begun taking orders for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and Xperia Play. According to recent reports, both Android 2.3-powered handsets are expected to arrive later this month on April 28.

Pricing is consistent other high-end Rogers smartphones at 99.99 Candadian dollars ($103) with a 3-year commitment or 549.99 Canadian dollars ($571) outright. Effective today, interested customers also can go to their local Best Buy and preorder either phone with a $50 down payment.

As a refresher, the sleek Xperia Arc features a 4.2-inch super LCD … Read more

We go hands-on with the weirdest Android phone yet, as Justin Eckhouse and Antuan Goodwin finally decide whether the Kyocera Echo is cool. Sprint delivers ringtones, HTC streams movies, and a tablet winner is declared, all that and more on this week's edition of Android Atlas Weekly.

Stories

Sony Ericsson delivers exclusive Android Market channel http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20053628-251.html

HTC enters the movie streaming business with HTC Watch http://androidandme.com/2011/04/news/htc-enters-the-movie-streaming-business-with-htc-watch/

Sprint … Read more

U.S. Cellular will start offering Android smartphones for its prepaid customers tomorrow, April 15. Handsets include the LG Optimus U and the LG Apex, which cost around $199.99 and $249.99 respectively. While the initial cost might be high, the monthly plans are quite affordable. U.S. Cellular prepaid customers can get 450 minutes, unlimited messaging, and 2GB of data for $60 a month, or unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of data for $70 a month.

If you would rather go without the data plan, you can opt for just the unlimited minutes and messages for $50 … Read more

Android users on Sprint's network won't have to pay for Angry Birds Rio and other Android Market purchases on their Visa cards much longer.

Today, Google announced a partnership with Sprint that lets you add your Android app buys to your monthly voice and data bill.

Carrier billing, as it's called, opens Android to one more payment method, in addition to the prevailing system of credit card billing.

Deferring app payments has its benefits. First, it lets phone owners decide how they want to settle a bill, and second, it allows customers without credit cards to purchase premium apps.

Owners of prepaid phones are one demographic that typically tends to pay bills with cash or other methods instead of with a credit card. The same goes for subscribers in emerging global markets. More basic Android phones are becoming increasingly prevalent in these sectors.

Google stated in a blog post that it will continue to partner with global carriers to bring the carrier billing option to more subscribers worldwide.

A Google spokesperson confirmed that for now, at least, Android Market carrier billing won't extend to Sprint's prepaid brands, like Virgin Mobile USA or Boost Mobile.

Update, 1:15 p.m. PT with information about Sprint's prepaid brands.… Read more