The BlackBerry Bold 9900 could line UK shelves around mid- to late August, according to online retailers. That’s about one month earlier than its previously announced release date. While the touchscreen-toting mobile was supposed to emerge on 15 September, tech site Know Your Mobile spotted Clove listing the 9900 with a ‘late August’ release date, and …

Google has revamped its Android Market app for smartphones with a new look as well as some more products for purchase. The Android Developers Blog points out that this new interface could work better for both customers and developers. The new user interface is intended to be more engaging as it showcases top apps and games while providing a quicker …

Google has started rolling out its new-look Android Market to handsets, bringing the Market’s browser-based categorisation to the phone with swiping gestures to improve navigation. The update to the Market is being rolled out now to phones running Android OS 2.2 or higher as an automatic download when the Market application is opened. Google anticipates that all compatible phones will …

The HTC Desire will be getting an update to Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread, by the end of this month. The timing of the update was revealed via a Facebook post by HTC UK. The status update reads: “Hi everyone. As some of you have seen already, we have more news about our build of Gingerbread for Desire. “Our testing has …

Microsoft admits it’s microscopic when it comes to mobile phones. Big boss Steve Ballmer has conceded that Windows Phone 7 is still small fry next to rivals including the iPhone or Android phones. Ballmer told assembled partner companies at a Microsoft conference that “in a year, we’ve gone from very small to … very small”. But Ballmer insists it’s not …

Handset makers using the Google Android mobile operating system may be slapped with additional licensing fees if Oracle and Microsoft have their way. But what might that mean for the average cell phone consumer? Would the price of Android devices go up? It’s not likely, say experts. There are several reasons to think that legal victories from Oracle or Microsoft …

Hewlett-Packard is banking that its newly named WebOS chief, Stephen DeWitt, can tap into his start-up roots as he goes after the likes of Apple and Google with the company’s fledgling mobile-device business. Stephen DeWitt, the new head of Hewlett-Packard’s WebOS business. Hewlett-Packard DeWitt, who was named to his new position yesterday, will be busy with more than just the …

Product marketing starts at home. Josh Long/CNET It’s said you have to spend money to make money. If this latest rumor is true, Nokia will be betting on a $127 million dollar marketing budget to help sell Nokia-made Windows Phones, according to Marketing Magazine. The Finnish device manufacturer’s six-month campaign set to launch in October would rebrand the company as …

The What’s My Name app for Android recently came out to much applause from forgetful people. Now iOS is getting in on the name-remembering game with Name Buddy for iPhone. Name Buddy takes a different angle from its Android relative. From the very start, you can see that it is aimed at women. Pink is the color scheme theme and …

Are you ready to rock? O2 certainly is, beefing up its queue-jumping live music loyalty scheme O2 Priority with access to the best seats, special gigs and backstage passes. Gig-going O2 customers already get early access to tickets for live events with Priority. O2 is adding “best seats”, a chance to choose the best seats in O2 venues. It’s also …

Beginning today, the Huawei Ascend II is now available for Cricket customers. We first saw the successor to the original Huawei Ascend at CTIA last March, and immediately noticed some differences. Huawei’s second Android smartphone with Cricket is sleeker, without the physical buttons and trackball. It’s also slimmer, lighter, and more up-to-date, running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Like the original Ascend, …

WALTHAM, Mass.–Verizon Wireless is looking to help tech companies large and small leverage its 4G LTE network and it’s dedicating resources to make it happen. Verizon Wireless opened a new facility in Waltham, Mass., to work with partners to develop new products for 4G LTE products and services. Verizon Wireless On Tuesday the company officially opened its Verizon Innovation Center …

Australian DVD rental company Quickflix has announced a new partnership with Sony where it will provide its first movie downloads service on compatible Sony devices by the end of 2011. The Sony Qriocity deal marks Quickflix’s first movie streaming service. (Credit: Quickflix) As part of the deal, Quickflix will stream movies via Qriocity to all Sony Bravia Internet Video televisions, …

Omar Khan, the face of many of Samsung’s U.S. mobile events, is leaving for Citigroup. Samsung’s Omar Khan, head of strategy and product management, leaves for Citigroup. Samsung Khan, who was the head of products and technology for Samsung’s U.S. mobile division and the main pitchman for its many smartphones and tablets, will help develop Citigroup’s global mobile services. He …

Almost a year ago, we offered our list of the best iPhone apps as chosen by CNET editors. Picks from the CNET 100 series included titles of almost every kind from the insanely addictive (like Angry Birds) to the strictly practical (Still Tasty, anyone?). Of course, Apple’s iOS can’t have all the fun so this year the CNET 100 gives …