HTC Merge Bonnie Cha/CNET ORLANDO, Fla.–Introduced back in late February, the HTC Merge is due to hit North American carriers this spring. Fortunately, HTC brought the Android smartphone to CTIA 2011, so we were able to get some hands-on time with the device, and we’re liking what we see so far. First off, it’s nice …

ORLANDO, Fla.–LightSquared, a company that is building a nationwide 4G wireless network, said Wednesday that it has signed a deal with Best Buy to offer 4G wireless service. The announcement follows a roaming agreement LightSquared announced Monday with wireless carrier Leap Wireless. LightSquared is building its new wireless network using spectrum that had been designated for satellite communications. The company …

ORLANDO, Fla.–While the first day of CTIA was full of news about 3D phones, new tablets, a certain merger, and more, the second day proved to be relatively humdrum in comparison. Still, some news did trickle in on the second day. Huawei made an appearance at a CTIA Mobile Focus event last night with the Huawei Ascend 2 for Cricket …

We’ve got a soft spot for wireless charging, because it’s a properly futuristic technology, like lightsabres and hoverboards. That’s why we’re happy to see the freshly unveiled LG Wireless Charging Pad. The Wireless Charging Pad allows you to simply dump your LG phone onto the mat, and it will start charging — without plugging a cable into the handset. A …

We’re still big fans of the Shazam music-recognition app, which is ideal for identifying sizzling new tunes as we get down with our bad self in a hot club (translation: as we sit on our sofa watching TV ads while scoffing a Pot Noodle). Now Shazam is going social, with the help of Facebook. You could already share details of …

Nokia will start negotiations over job cuts with employees and union representatives in April, the company has said. “We have communicated to employee representatives and employees that we are currently targeting to announce the implications of these changes towards the end of April,” a spokesperson told ZDNet UK today. “At present we have not given a specific date.” The cuts …

Microsoft is starting to promote the current generation of Windows 7 tablets, including the Asus Eee Slate, with video ads that cock a deliberate snook in Apple’s direction. A character in one of the videos — an artist no less — explains why he opted for a Windows 7 slate rather than… well, it’s left unsaid, but the clear implication is that he …

With the Xperia Play PlayStation Phone going on sale in the UK this month, it’s time to start thinking about what games you’ll play on it. Six will be preloaded, and another 50 will be available in its PlayStation Suite store. Now mobile publisher Gameloft has revealed plans for an exclusive Xperia Play game called BackStab. It’s an action-adventure set …

Following yesterday’s letter from four U.S. senators that asked Apple, Google, and Research In Motion to remove applications that could help drunken drivers evade police checkpoints and other law enforcement efforts, RIM has agreed to the request, saying such applications will soon be removed from its BlackBerry App World. “RIM’s decision to remove these apps from their online store proves …

HTC Merge Bonnie Cha/CNET ORLANDO, Fla.–How’s that for timing? We just wrote up our feelings on the HTC Merge this morning, and now we have our first North American carrier to offer the smartphone. Alltel Wireless announced today that it will begin taking preorders for the Merge on March 28, with pricing set at $124.99 with a two-year contract. Highlights …

ORLANDO, Fla.–No, your eyes do not deceive you–it is indeed yet another LG Optimus handset, and this time it’s for Cricket Wireless. We took a look at the LG Optimus C during the Mobile Focus event here at CTIA 2011, and it does look and feel like the other Optimus phones. The Optimus C is the seventh entry-level Optimus handset …

Sometimes I feel like our society is doomed to dumbness. I mean, just look at the people who appear on reality shows. Heck, look at the people who watch reality shows. (Kidding, kidding. I’ve been a “Survivor” junkie since day one.) Fortunately, we can… helping… our brains… be more betterer. And all it takes is the gadget that’s already riding …

ORLANDO, Fla.–If you were a fan of the LG Optimus 2X, then you should be a fan of the T-Mobile G2X too. We had hands-on time with the sleek new LG phone today, and it feels just as fast and impressive as its European cousin. And no wonder: The specs are eerily similar. The G2X has a 1GHz dual-core Tegra …

Now playing: Watch this: Huawei Ascend 2 1:13 The Huawei Ascend 2 (left) receives some noticeable upgrades. Jessica Dolcourt/CNET Huawei quietly introduced a sequel to its Android-powered Huawei Ascend, the Huawei Ascend 2 for Cricket. The Ascend 2 updates its progenitor in almost every way. It’s sleeker, slimmer, and lighter in the hand. Gone is the trackball, and the hardware …

NPD Group Large-screen smartphones are proving a hot commodity among more consumers, according to a report released yesterday by NPD Group. The share of sales of the iPhone and other smartphones with screens of 3.5 inches to 3.9 inches has stayed about the same over the past year, according to NPD’s Mobile Track report. But new smartphones sporting screens 4 …