The mobile world moves at a breakneck pace, and it’s difficult to keep up–even without the technical jargon most industry insiders throw around. And they do love to toss those terms about. This week, I continue with the techno-babble trend with a few more network terms for 4G. (Who doesn’t love those?) So for some …

After 45,000 Verizon workers walked off the job this weekend, Chief Executive Lowell McAdam issued a letter today to management justifying the need to extract better contract terms, saying that the company must make “additional hard decisions” to keep the cost of its wireline business in check. The strike represents the first work stoppage for Verizon in 11 years and …

Verizon Communications said it couldn’t agree to a new contract with its workers, resulting in the first strike at the telecommunications giant in 11 years. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. ET today as union leaders representing 45,000 workers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states decided to call a strike. A majority of the workers are field technicians or work …

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was emotionally invested in a film that largely focuses on teenagers rapidly tapping keys on their phone. That speaks to the quality of “Thumbs,” a surprisingly entertaining documentary that follows a dozen or so competitors through a grueling national texting championship. The key to its enjoyment came from …

AT&T is stepping up the protection of its customers’ voice messages amid mounting security concerns raised by the phone hacking incidents in the U.K. AT&T The Dallas telecommunications giant changed its policy today so that a password was the default setting for its cell phone voice mail boxes, Chief Privacy Officer Robert Quinn posted on a company blog. New phones …

The prepaid business, long an engine of growth for the wireless industry, is starting to sputter. TracFone, MetroPCS, and Leap Wireless all reported disappointing second-quarter financial results. The period is typically weaker for the prepaid providers as the business takes a breather following two consecutive quarters of growth. But their performance fell below even the lowered expectations placed on them, …

Clearwire’s move to add a 4G LTE network doesn’t mean it’s going to be giving up on its current WiMax standard, according to Chief Technology Officer John Saw. “Expanding into more markets is not off the table,” Saw said in an interview with CNET today. “We will continue to add capacity where it’s needed most.” Clearwire’s announcement yesterday that it …

AT&T and Verizon are working “behind the scenes” to stamp out new 4G wireless entrant LightSquared, according to billionaire hedge fund manager Philip Falcone. Falcone, speaking to CNBC today, claimed the two telecommunications giants aren’t competing fairly and are using their power to undermine LightSquared, which is run by Falcone’s Harbinger Capital. LightSquared is attempting to build a nationwide 4G …

Not all 4G networks are created equally. Just look at MetroPCS. MetroPCS The prepaid provider and Verizon Wireless may share the same 4G technology, Long-Term Evolution, but the two have little else in common. It’s a fact well known in the industry but less clear to consumers: MetroPCS’s 4G service is significantly slower than the one Verizon is offering. “The …

commentary If you’re thinking about picking up one of those fancy new BlackBerrys, let me explain for a minute or so why that may not be a very good idea. AT&T will sell the BlackBerry Torch 9810, one of several BlackBerrys coming out in the coming weeks. AT&T Research In Motion finally answered the pleas of the BlackBerry faithful for …