WRAL Tech Wire

Customers say service improving at top 3 wireless providers

The American Customer Satisfaction Index puts Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless within two points of each other on a 100-point scale of customer satisfaction. That's the smallest spread since the survey started looking at all four companies in 2005.

Google dumps shares in wireless data firm Clearwire

The search engine giant is selling its stake in the company backed by Sprint for $47 million - a loss of 94 percent.

Customers fleeing, T-Mobile moves to embrace iPhones

The nation's fourth largest wireless carrier says it will revamp its network to support Apple's phones. T-Mobile lost more than 500,000 customers in the fourth quarter.

Telecom news: iPhone boosts Sprint; Nokia cutting jobs

Sprint's losses soar even as number of subscribers grows. Meanwhile, Nokia says it will cut 4,000 more jobs and quit manufacturing phones in Europe.

Will iPhone sales help Sprint end subscriber losing streak?

For the fourth quarter of 2011, analysts expect Sprint to break the trends of subscriber losses, thanks to the iPhone, which the company started selling in October.

Court OKs immunity for telecoms in wiretap case

A federal appeals court says a law giving telecommunications companies legal immunity for helping the government with its email and telephone eavesdropping program is constitutional.

Verizon Wireless bans Google payment software from new Samsung phone

Verizon is part of a consortium of carriers that are planning its own payment application, and the company says its waiting to provide a wallet application until it can provide "the best security and user experience."

Is your cellphone spying on you? Tracking software triggers suits

Software on 150 million phones watches what owners of Sprint Nextel Corp. and AT&T Inc. smartphones do with them, including what people type and the numbers they dial. But it doesn't seem to transmit every keystroke to the company. Instead, it kicks into action when there's a problem, like a call that doesn't go through, and it lets the phone company know.

Carrier IQ web page touts how many phones include its software

Is your cellphone spying on you? Tracking software triggers suits

Software on 150 million phones watches what owners of Sprint Nextel Corp. and AT&T Inc. smartphones do with them, including what people type and the numbers they dial. But it doesn't seem to transmit every keystroke to the company. Instead, it kicks into action when there's a problem, like a call that doesn't go through, and it lets the phone company know.

Sprint throws financial lifeline to subsidiary Clearwire

The companies said Clearwire will get as much as $1.6 billion over the next four years, helping address its cash needs as it shifts to higher-speed wireless technology.

Earnings snapshot: What's happening in telecom sector

A summary of earnings reports for selected telecommunications companies and what they reveal about the industry's prospects.

RIM a 'wounded puppy;' Cisco raids VMware; Sprint can sue AT&T; Twitter tweaks; HP's new tech exec

Bulldog blog headlines: Research In Motion is losing market share and share value; Cisco hires VMware exec for security push; judge says Sprint can sue AT&T in merger deal; Twitter adds new features; HP hires new technology executive.

Korea fines GSK; Cisco CEO most overpaid?; malaria vaccine near?; Red Hat eyes fed cuts; AT&T targets Sprint

Bulldog blog headlines: South Korea fines GSK $2.7M for unfair trade; Wall Street blog site says John Chambers is most overpaid exec; GSK exec hopeful for malaria vaccine; government data center shutdown could help Red Hat; AT&T wants Sprint out of merger case.

New iPhone hits stores; Apple co-founder among first to buy

AT&T customers who pre-ordered phones can't get phones in stores, a spokesperson says. The iPhone 4S will be available at all Apple stores plus AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless stores. Some Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores and authorized resellers will also carry the phones.

Apple iPhone fans line up in Japan to buy new 4S.

New iPhone is red hot with pre-orders topping 1M

Apple Inc. and various phone companies started taking orders for the phone last Friday. It hits stores this coming Friday.

Touting iCloud through new iPhone 4S