First introduced in 2011, Republic Wireless is a North Carolina-based service that promises a smartphone with unlimited Internet, voice, and texting for an absurdly inexpensive $19 per month. Most astounding of all: The phone seems to work.
Telecom
As FCC Chief’s Term Nears End, Speculation Grows Over Possible Successor
On June 30th, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski’s five-year term will expire, which has led to speculation that Genachowski might soon announce his departure. Although the FCC chair is not a …
‘Hot’ New Gadgets Anybody? No Thanks, We’re Good
Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas promises to unveil all sorts of gadgets that’ll not only make our lives better—but that we simply won’t be able to live without. Instead, what we get is stuff like the $99 “smart” fork.
Could 2013 Be the Year That Customer Service Gets Better?
There’s nothing particularly new about the horrendous state of customer service. What is new is that maybe, just maybe, businesses will take steps to make customers happier this year.
Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility?
Should broadband Internet service be treated as a basic utility in the United States, like electricity, water, and traditional telephone service? That’s the question at the heart of an important and provocative new book by Susan …
The Top 5 Tech Biz Stories of 2012
OMG: Traditional Text Messaging Is On the Decline
But that doesn’t mean we’re not sending tons of digital messages with our phones. We’ve just found cheaper alternatives.
Inside Google’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Google stunned Wall Street Thursday by accidentally releasing its third-quarter earnings report four hours ahead of schedule. Even worse, the search giant’s financial figures came in well below analyst expectations on both …
Unlimited Data Plans: Are They Coming Back From the Dead?
Unlimited data, once a consistent option among cell phone carriers, has been on the outs lately with the big dogs of wireless. But fourth-place carrier T-Mobile is hoping to win back some users — and market share — by offering …
PayPal-Discover Pact Boosts Mobile Payments Momentum
The mobile payments/digital wallet drama now unfolding is fascinating for three reasons: First, paying with your mobile phone is the most fundamental shift in retail commerce since the credit card was invented 60 years ago. …
Walmart, Target Challenge Google, Square as Mobile Payments Heat Up
Retail titans like Walmart, Target and Best Buy are challenging tech upstarts like Google, Paypal and Square for advantage as the mobile payments space heats up.
The Smartphone Shakeout: Time Is Running Out for a Viable No. 3
Smartphone maker HTC has repeatedly cut its earnings and revenue outlook, and is reportedly shuttering its South Korea office. Nokia is struggling with a lukewarm response to its Lumia Windows Phone devices and challenges in …