Filed under: Telecommunications

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Philadelphia telecom hoarding toll-free phone numbers

A small Philadelphia telecommunications company with close ties to an adult-entertainment business has amassed control of more than 1 million toll-free numbers, according to industry sources and a published report.

The toll-free numbers, including 1-800-CHICAGO or 1-800-YOUR-PHILLIES, are used mostly to redirect callers to phone-sex services, the industry observers say. Get the full story »

AT&T growth weak without iPhone exclusive

AT&T Inc posted weak subscriber growth in the first quarter as it gave up exclusive U.S. rights to sell the Apple Inc iPhone. Get the full story »

Motorola delays launch of Droid Bionic

Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. will delay the launch of its first 4G smartphone, the Droid Bionic, to make tweaks to the device.

Motorola said the Droid Bionic will launch with Verizon Wireless in the summer. Get the full story »

FCC orders ‘reasonable’ data roaming rates

U.S. regulators on Thursday adopted data roaming rules that would allow smartphones to access the Internet in areas across the country not covered by their wireless carrier. The rules set by the Federal Communications Commission in a 3-2 vote would force wireless carriers like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless to offer “reasonable” roaming rates. Get the full story »

Clearwire to launch prepaid 4G wireless broadband

Clearwire said Thursday it has signed a wholesale agreement with New Jersey-based Locus Telecommunications to provide prepaid 4G mobile broadband service. Get the full story »

Toyota, Microsoft team up on in-car digital services

Microsoft Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled a plan Wednesday to work together on bringing Internet-connected services to Toyota’s cars. Get the full story »

T-Mobile goes 4G in Springfield, 9 other markets

T-Mobile has lit up its 4G wireless network in Springfield, making the state capital one of 10 markets across the country to get the faster speeds.

The carrier said its 4G network now covers more than 200 million people in 167 markets. Other new markets include Ames, Iowa, and Battle Creek, Mich. Get the full story »

Verizon finishes $1.1B offer for ‘cloud’ provider

Verizon Communications Inc. said it has completed a $1.1 billion tender offer for Terremark Worldwide Inc., a provider of “cloud computing” services. Get the full story »

Walk and Text look-alike targets app thieves

Symantec Corp. said Thursday that it has detected a new kind of malware that targets Android mobile phone users who download illegal applications. Get the full story »

N.Y. promises hard look at AT&T/T-Mobile deal

An AT&T store in New York. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

AT&T Inc.s $39 billion bid to buy Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA came under scrutiny from New York’s attorney general, who said he is looking into its possible anticompetitive impact.

Citing a potential “near duopoly” as a result of the proposed deal, Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman said he wants to ensure the acquisition does not reduce access to low-cost cell phone options. Get the full story »

Amtrak tweeting major N.E. corridor delays

Amtrak is introducing a pilot program to notify Northeast Corridor passengers about major service disruptions via Twitter.

The program using the @AmtrakNEC handle began Tuesday. Get the full story »

Sprint formally objects to AT&T/T-Mobile deal

Sprint Nextel urged regulators to block AT&T Inc.’s $39 billion bid to buy Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA.

Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. mobile carrier, said in a statement Monday that the transaction would harm consumers and competition. Get the full story »

Tellabs to lay off 60 workers

Tellabs Inc. plans to lay off 60 employees by April 1 as part of a broader restructuring aimed at refocusing the Naperville-based company on data-based telecommunications equipment. Get the full story »

Amazon Appstore debut still lacks free test feature

A key feature of Amazon.com’s Appstore for Android was unavailable Wednesday, a day after the e-commerce giant launched its store to much fanfare. But other parts of Amazon’s venture were more successful, and early tests underscored the positives and negatives of the retailer’s approach. Get the full story »

Motorola Mobility to acquire Swedish firm

Libertyville-based Motorola Mobility Inc. said Wednesday it plans to acquire a Swedish company specializing in software for Internet Protocol Television. Get the full story »