Consumers may soon get a guarantee that no new local and state taxes will pop up on their cell phone bills over the next few years. A House Judiciary subcommittee today passed the Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 1521), which was first introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). The …

As Nokia sheds executives like a snake sloughing off dead skin, it hunts for new talent to revive its ailing smartphone business. Peter Skillman at the Gel conference in New York in 2007. Good Experience On Tuesday, the company confirmed that it has hired Palm Pre designer Peter Skillman to head up the user experience and services division for MeeGo, …

Nokia wants to be back on top in the U.S. market, but how serious are the company’s intentions? While Nokia’s execs are adamant the company, which has only 3 percent of the U.S. cell phone market, wants to make a big push in the U.S., its actions say something different. Nokia’s new Symbian phone lineup has three new phones. From …

Technology companies plan to put unused wireless spectrum that sits between TV channels to use when the Federal Communications Commission finalizes rules for the new spectrum next week. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Motorola, are already testing products that will use unlicensed wireless spectrum called “white spaces,” which sit between broadcast TV channels. The 300MHz to 400MHz …

Net neutrality is dwarfing all other policy debates in the communications sector these days. The issue has stirred the passions of liberal groups that see the fight for specific Net neutrality rules as one that pits big corporate interests against the average consumer. These groups have been lobbying Washington policymakers hard ever since President Obama took office. Now playing: Watch …

Stephen Elop has his work cut out for him as the incoming CEO of Nokia, which has been a lackluster presence in the smartphone market. Nokia After three years of watching competitors such as Apple eat its lunch in the smartphone market, Nokia finally has its “aha” moment. But is it too late for the cell phone behemoth to regain …

Smartphones are supposed to liberate mobile phone users, but often they just give wireless subscribers big fat headaches. A cool new phone comes out and you’re dying to get it. But wait. You don’t have the right carrier and therefore your dreams of a fancy upgrade are dashed unless you switch wireless service providers. This is an all too familiar …

As smartphones get more sophisticated, so does the software that runs them. And that means a major pain in the neck for consumers: buggy software upgrades. Just like with your computer, smartphone software is constantly evolving and upgrades are rolled out all the time. While new versions of software often add more functionality, sometimes they’re buggy and they break things …

NEW YORK–Just having the latest and greatest 3D-enabled TV won’t guarantee you a virtual court-side seat this weekend when CBS Sports broadcasts the U.S. Open tennis tournament in 3D. You’ll also have to subscribe to DirecTV’s satellite TV service. Avid sports fans can now feel like they’re part of the action in their own living rooms thanks to 3D TV …

The Federal Communications Commission is close to finalizing rules for the use of unlicensed white space spectrum, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper on Tuesday reported that top aides to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski have met with TV broadcasters and others in recent weeks to discuss how to get the spectrum freed for use by …