SAN DIEGO – The Department of Defense says it’s onboard with freeing up more wireless spectrum for commercial wireless broadband use. But proposals that rely heavily on the government sharing wireless spectrum with private sector wireless carriers doesn’t jive with what the industry wants. Robert Wheeler, Major General United States Air Force, Deputy CIO Department …

SAN DIEGO — The majority of Verizon Wireless’s data traffic will soon be traveling over the company’s new 4G LTE network, Verizon Wireless CTO Nicola Palmer said at a press conference at the CTIA’s MobileCon tradeshow here Tuesday. Palmer talked up the carrier’s progress on deploying its LTE network. The company announced it would be deploying its 400th market next …

The economy may be slowly recovering, but that doesn’t mean you need to hand over more of your hard earned cash to your wireless provider. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I help two different readers figure out how to get the most value out of their wireless service. Of course, cheaper isn’t always better. If the service doesn’t work …

With all the news of Apple Maps’ deficiencies and data leaks on iOS 6 devices, is the new iPhone 5 even worth it? That’s the question I try to answer in this edition of Ask Maggie. Apple has pulled the Google Maps app from its latest software, leaving the new iPhone 5 and other iOS devices to use its Apple …

Sprint may want MetroPCS for itself. Bloomberg reports that the number-three U.S. wireless carrier is considering its own offer for prepaid provider MetroPCS, which yesterday announced a deal with Deutsche Telekom to merge with the U.S. wireless provider T-Mobile. The news service says that Sprint, which had been close to its own deal to buy MetroPCS earlier this year, is …

Deutsche Telekom is doubling down on its U.S. wireless subsidiary T-Mobile USA with a plan to buy the prepaid regional carrier MetroPCS. But what’s it mean for wireless subscribers? Yesterday, Deutsche Telekom announced it had agree to buy MetroPCS and combine it with T-Mobile USA. The move is an indication that T-Mobile’s German parent isn’t giving up on the wireless …

The planned merger between nationwide carrier T-Mobile USA and prepaid provider MetroPCS is not a repeat of the failed merger between Sprint and Nextel back in 2005, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said during a conference call with the press today. A MetroPCS store. Greg Sandoval/CNET This deal, he said, is about gaining more spectrum in an effort to challenge bigger …

Deutsche Telekom, parent company to T-Mobile USA, said Wednesday it has struck a merger deal with prepaid regional carrier MetroPCS. T-Mobile’s Micro SIM card. T-Mobile USA According to the agreement, MetroPCS shareholders will get $1.5 billion in cash and a 26 percent stake in the combined company. Deutsche Telekom will own the remaining 74 percent of the company. The deal …

The hedge-fund backed LightSquared isn’t giving up on its plan to build a nationwide 4G wireless network. But the path forward is likely to be a long one. Last week, LightSquared, which was backed by billionaire Philip Falcone and his hedge fund Harbinger Capital, filed proposals with the Federal Communications Commission that would help it satisfy interference concerns and allow …

There are so many factors to consider when buying a new smartphone and choosing a wireless service. The truth is that what’s good for one consumer may not satisfy the needs of another. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I offer some buying advice for a consumer considering the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3. It’s not an easy …