The No. 2 and No. 4 wireless carriers announce a $39 billion merger deal that would create a company with nearly 130 million subscribers, easily leapfrogging Verizon Wireless for the No. 1 spot. AT&T to FCC: You’re totally ‘one-sided’ on T-Mobile deal Carrier accuses federal regulators of “cherry-picking” some facts, and ignoring others, to push …

roundup The 7-inch $199 tablet is here to entertain us. It could also help redefine a market that’s long been the playground of Apple’s iPad. Help! Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet? In this edition of Ask Maggie, one reader needs advice on choosing between the new Amazon Kindle Fire and the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet. (Posted in Signal Strength …

In a splashy debut, the Finnish company launches its Windows Phone-based Lumia handsets, along with the Asha line for emerging markets. Nokia could definitely use a hit product or two. Can Nokia’s Lumia smartphones make it in the U.S.? Nokia announced its first Windows Phone smartphones this week. The new devices will debut first in Europe and Asia. But how …

Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and other gadget makers flock in late summer to Germany’s big consumer electronics show. Is mind control the future for TVs? China-based Haier demonstrates a prototype headset that would allow the wearer to change TV channels and control the volume with mere thought. (Posted in Crave by Philip Wong) September 6, 2011 11:46 a.m. PT Panasonic shows …

Android’s parent comes a-calling for the handset maker as the stakes heat up for dominance in the smartphone sector. CNET and its sister sites bring you in-depth coverage. Five possible responses to Google-Motorola When big acquisitions are announced, there’s likely an aftershock that reverberates through an industry. CNET takes a look at some possible scenarios for Google and Motorola competitors. …

Based on new findings, the World Health Organization classifies cell phones as a potential cancer risk much like exhaust from gasoline-powered vehicles and lead. Meanwhile, CNET launches a series on the state of cell phone research and what consumers can do to protect themselves. Cell phone radiation: A self-defense guide (FAQ) For many people, it’s just not practical or realistic …

The D: Dive into Mobile conference offers a look at how things are revving up on portable devices, with appearances by honchos from Google, Microsoft, Spotify, and elsewhere. RIM’s Playbook the linchpin of a 10-year plan The QNX software at the heart of Research In Motion’s Playbook tablet represents its plan for the next decade, according to the company’s co-CEO. …

Apple Store employees giving out free smart water to people in line. for the 14th St. store. Note that this is a full city block away from the start of the line. Caroline McCarthy/CNET It’s finally here. The much-anticipated iPhone 4 is hitting store shelves on Thursday at 7 a.m. local time in each time zone where it’s available. CNET …

iPhone users will finally be able to take advantage of Skype 2.0, with 3G calling, according to a report. But after August they’ll have to pay for the privilege of Skype-to-Skype calls with the new service. Gizmodo reported the iPhone-ready service and a “small monthly fee” associated with it (along with operator charges for data). Gizmodo also noted that upgrades …

A prolonged outage for users of T-Mobile’s Sidekick device gets even worse as Microsoft’s Danger unit says that their lost Sidekick data may be gone forever. Deaf users sound offon Sidekick outage Recent problems with the smartphone, long popular in the deaf community, leave many users frustrated and sizing up alternatives. (Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried) October 15, …