NVIDIA on Thursday announced that its Icera 410 LTE multi-mode data modem for tablets and clam shell devices has been validated for use on AT&T’s 4G LTE network. “Validation with AT&T is an achievement that paves the way for NVIDIA Icera-powered LTE devices on the AT&T network through this year and next,” said Stan Boland, senior vice president of Mobile Communications at NVIDIA. The Icera 410 LTE modem offers 4G LTE connectivity of up to 50Mbps alongside HSPA+, 3G and 2G connect...

AT&T noted record smartphone sales when it posted a monster holiday quarter to close out 2011, and the carrier came back in the first quarter this year with another record-setting report that beat Wall Street’s profit expectations. Verizon Wireless reported record revenue growth in the fourth quarter last year, and profits were up 16% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter in 2011. But despite soaring performance, executives at both carriers confirmed to investors this week tha...

The nation’s second largest wireless carrier has reportedly held talks with Leap Wireless in recent months over a possible acquisition, according to Reuters. The move is the latest attempt by AT&T in its efforts to find additional wireless spectrum after its failed acquisition of T-Mobile. The talks were serious enough that Leap reportedly hired bankers to advise it on a potential deal, although it is unclear if discussions are still ongoing. Leap Wireless, which operates the nation’s seventh...

Now that T-Mobile and AT&T don’t have to pretend to like each other anymore, the nation’s No.4 carrier can go back to attacking AT&T and its top-selling smartphone, Apple’s iPhone 4S. T-Mobile debuted a new TV commercial this week that once again takes aim at AT&T’s slow network and Apple’s popular iPhone. ”If this is the speed of the iPhone 4S on AT&T, what does 4G speed on T-Mobile look like?” the ad’s narrator asks as a man cruises along the ...

AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega said he feels good about the future of the company’s shared family data plans. “I’m very comfortable with the plan that will be offered to our customers,” de la Vega told CNET at the CTIA Wireless trade show. The comments mark a 180-degree reversal from previous statements the CEO made in January. De la Vega had said the company had run into complications over IT and billing issues, as well as complications regarding how the carrier would subsidi...

When asked about the slow roll-out of updates for its Android-powered smartphones and tablets, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson claimed Google was at fault and the carrier could do nothing about it. “Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when,” the executive said. “A lot of times, that’s a negotiated arrangement and that’s something we work at hard. We know that’s important to our customers. That’s kind of an ambiguous answer because I can’t give you a direct a...

Samsung and AT&T on Monday announced the Samsung Focus 2, a budget-friendly Windows Phone launching on May 20th for just $49.99 on contract. The handset features a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 5-megapixel camera, Windows Phone 7.5 and 4G LTE connectivity. “AT&T offers our customers the broadest Windows Phone portfolio of any carrier, with three 4G LTE Windows Phones – the only 4G LTE Windows Phones in the U.S. – now at a variety of price points and form factors,” AT&T SVP of devices Jef...

AT&T on Monday unveiled a new end-to-end suite of home automation and home security services ahead of the annual CTIA Wireless convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dubbed AT&T Digital Life, the carrier’s new offering is an IP-based solution that includes home security and automation features, professional installation and monitoring services, and software for PCs, tablets or smartphones that allows users to monitor and control system features remotely from anywhere in the world. “AT&...

Walmart has evidently dropped its prices on the AT&T iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in select retail stores, according to Cult Of Mac. Without rhyme or reason, the price of the 8GB iPhone 4 on AT&T has dropped from $88 to $34, and the 16GB iPhone 4S is now being offered for only $114, down from the original list price of $188. The new prices apply to any AT&T customers, whether they are new activations or upgrades. Unfortunately, pricing on Verizon and Sprint iPhone models has not been lowered. Walmart pr...

Behold the Ghost of Palm Past. Earlier this week, industry watchers got to relive the rise and fall of webOS as Research In Motion gave the world a brief look at a gorgeous new smartphone platform while failing to convince anyone that it can succeed in a market dominated by Apple and Google. RIM’s stock plummeted from a high of $14.62 earlier this week to the $11-range as a result. Then, on Thursday, Samsung took the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. The impressive smartphone&#...

Samsung’s new flagship smartphone may launch on all four major U.S. carriers as well as a number of regional carriers beginning this summer. Samsung on Thursday unveiled the Galaxy S III during a press conference in London, and the vendor said its sleek new smartphone will launch on nearly 300 different wireless service providers around the world in the coming months. At the same time, Samsung added a page on its U.S. website that allows users to sign up to receive more information about the Galaxy S II...

Apple’s next huge move isn’t into the television or banking industries according to one expert. Instead, Apple will take on carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless by becoming a direct mobile service provider. Veteran wireless industry strategist Whitey Bluestein, who has managed strategic deals for the likes of AT&T, Intel, T-Mobile, Verizon, Microsoft, Nokia and Best Buy, says Apple will soon begin to offer wireless service directly to iPhone and iPad users. Apple has the distribution ...

Following AT&T’s failed attempt to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion, AT&T had to pay a lofty break-up fee as per the terms of its agreement. AT&T’s related expenses totaled $4 billion, and included in that sum was the transfer of AWS spectrum licenses to T-Mobile in 128 different markets. On Wednesday, T-Mobile announced that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer. ”We applaud the FCC for acting swiftly to approve the transfer o...

AT&T on Tuesday reported its results for the first quarter of 2012. Following a record holiday quarter that saw the nation’s No.2 carrier pull in $0.42 per share excluding one-time charges on sales of $32.5 billion, analysts were expecting first-quarter EPS of $0.57 on revenue totaling $31.85 billion. The company beat expectations, posting a profit of $0.60 per share on in-line sales of $31.8 billion. AT&T activated 3.6 million iPhones during the first quarter last year, and that number climb...