Dell Aero AT&T The wait for the Dell smartphone in the United States is finally over. Monday, AT&T announced the Dell Aero, the first domestic mobile Dell device and AT&T’s second Google Android handset. Based on the previously announced Mini 3, the Aero features a candy-bar design with a prominent touch screen and few physical …

Though it feels like I just got off the plane from Europe and Mobile World Congress–and claimed my broken suitcase, thank you very much, Lufthansa–it’s time to board another flight to another cell phone trade show. Next week, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) holds its spring wireless bash in Las Vegas. It’s the larger of the industry association’s two …

The cell phone has joined your passport and a power adapter as an essential tool when traveling abroad. And as any smart traveler can tell you, texting when roaming is much cheaper than making calls. Normally, AT&T customers 50 cents per sent text message–and $1.30 per sent picture message–but today the carrier announced a new option for international texters. For …

As we approach another CTIA, it’s time to travel back a year ago to the wireless extravaganza that was CTIA 2009. Back then, we named two phones, one accessory, and one software title as the top products from that show. Now that they’ve had several months to face consumers, we’re comparing our initial impressions with our final assessments. Of the …

Nicole is waiting for her flight home from Austin, so Maggie Reardon joins Kent and Bonnie to talk CTIA. The fun starts next Tuesday in Las Vegas, thus we spend this episode of Dialed In dishing on what we’ll see at America’s favorite wireless trade show. 4G is the expected name of the game, but we should also see new …

AT&T raised the stakes in the fight for the world’s toughest phone Wednesday when it announced the new A25is from Airo Wireless. Billed as the word’s first “intrinsically safe” smartphone, the A25is won’t produce a spark so it’s built for people working in potentially explosive environments like process and chemical manufacturing, petrochemicals, the military, utilities, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods …

Yesterday, my colleague David Carnoy posted a list of the 20 cell phones in the United States with the highest SAR, or specific absorption rates. And now, as promised, I offer the 20 handsets at the opposite end of the scale. Currently, these models have the lowest SAR levels. Some are sold by carriers, and others are unlocked, but all …

Now playing: Watch this: LG Accolade VX5600 1:37 In their long history together, LG and Verizon Wireless have given us more than their share of quality handsets. From high-end handsets like the LG Chocolate Touch to simple models like the VX5400, we’ve been mostly pleased with what we’ve seen. The new LG Accolade VX5600 is closer to the latter, but …

If you fly frequently and have an iPhone, you might have already researched the iTunes App Store for titles that will help you track your flight, pick your seat, and check for delays. As a frequent flier and airline geek, I’ve browsed quite a few apps on the CNET iPhone and have downloaded more than my share. The selection is …

Earlier this week, we shared 10 ways that Google’s Android operating system beats the iPhone. And now, as promised, we offer 10 ways that the iPhone fights back. Even as Android continues to gather steam, Apple’s device still can hold its own in a number of areas like the music player, app selection and video recording feature. We’re not saying …