As we’re fond of saying, even the fanciest cell phones aren’t worth much if they can’t make a decent call. And though we’ve always included a subjective analysis of a handset’s call quality in our reviews, we realize that you have to trust our opinion. After all, you’re not on on the phone with us, …

Five years after Sprint merged with Nextel, the deal remains a controversial topic in the financial world. Not only has the combined company struggled through several difficult quarters, but also Bloomberg recently named the acquisition as one that “never should have happened.” In a review published last Thursday of the 100 biggest takeovers since 2005, Bloomberg ranked the Sprint-Nextel deal …

Three weeks after teasing us with a promo of its first Android handset, we finally get pricing and a release date for the Sanyo Zio. The Zio, which will ship by August 21, is $229 if you place a preorder on Cricket’s Web site. The full price without the Web discount is an additional $20, but keep in mind that …

With its hilly terrain, dense urban population, and plenty of government red tape, San Francisco already is a difficult place for cell phone carriers to build new antennas. But that process could become even more complicated if the city approves new aesthetics restrictions for antenna installation on public property. Under the Personal Wireless Service Facility Site Permits Ordinance (PDF), introduced …

Verizon is expected to carry the Entourage Edge, which is a dual-screen portable device that combines an e-ink-display e-book reader with color-screen tablet computer. Josh P. Miller/CNET On Monday, I relayed some hot gossip about Verizon’s Android device roadmap for the rest of the year. The Boy Genius had originally uncovered the information, and I added new details that I …

If you’ve read my iPhone app reviews before, you’ll know that I have a slight penchant for airline- and aviation-themed titles. I’ve looked at the best iPhone flight tracker apps, the top titles for frequent fliers, and the best apps for airline geeks. Given my track record, it shouldn’t surprise you that I spend a lot of time scanning airport …

On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world. After last week’s brief review of the Froyo experience on the HTC Evo 4G, CNET readers responded in force. Many were ecstatic about Froyo’s new features, others were frustrated that the download still had not yet hit their phone, and …

Don’t count on it. Kent German/CNET The tech boy has cried “Verizon iPhone” so many times that this villager hardly listens anymore. Indeed, it wouldn’t be a day if a new rumor didn’t pop up, but just wanting a Verizon iPhone to cure the AT&T woes isn’t going to make it happen. The latest tidbit comes via TechCrunch, which reported …

Samsung Eternity II Samsung Summer isn’t just for movie sequels anymore, it could also be known as the season of cell phone sequels. On Monday, less than two weeks after it announced the Intensity II, Samsung stepped up and unveiled the Eternity II and Flight II for AT&T. As with most sequels, the new handsets attempt to expand on the …

Boy Genius offered a load of dish Monday on Verizon Wireless’ roadmap through 2010 and 2011. Some of the rumored devices we’ve heard about already, but not everything has been discussed before. According to the tipster, Verizon will have a Motorola Droid Pro global phone by November, two other global handsets from Samsung and HTC, a Moto Android device that …