Many of us take broadband Internet access for granted. But a new government survey paints a different picture of the nation. In a survey of more than 100,000 people in more than 50,000 households across the U.S., 40 percent reported no broadband or high-speed access to the Internet, while 30 percent said they have no …

BARCELONA, Spain–In addition to introducing two new Android phones, HTC revealed on Tuesday that it will release an Android 2.1 update for the HTC Droid Eris as well as the Sprint and GSM versions of the HTC Hero. The company said the devices should be getting most of the features of Android 2.1 as well as the enhanced HTC Sense …

BlackBerry users have been waiting patiently for years, really, for Skype to release a version of its VoIP client for BlackBerry smartphones. If that’s you, you’re in luck. On Tuesday, Skype announced at the Mobile World Congress a partnership with Verizon that will bring a 3G-capable Skype app to Verizon smartphones. That includes several BlackBerrys, like the Curve, both Storms, …

Motorola Cliq XT hands-on (photos) +4 more See all photos Now playing: Watch this: Motorola CLIQ XT 1:48 BARCELONA, Spain–Motorola made just one handset announcement at Mobile World Congress, but the new Cliq XT is holding its own. Also called the Quench in Europe–we don’t know where Moto came up with that one–the Cliq XT offers a functional feature set …

BARCELONA, Spain–During its press conference on Tuesday morning, T-Mobile revealed that it will ship the upcoming HTC HD2 with an array of entertainment applications to really take advantage of the smartphone’s 4.3-inch WVGA multitouch screen and 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and to provide users with a robust multimedia experience. To start, the HD2 will be the first handset to support Blockbuster’s …

HTC Legend Bonnie Cha/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–The HTC Legend is legen- … wait for it, wait for it … dary. Any “How I Met Your Mother” fans out there? No? OK, fine. What we’re trying to say here is that the HTC Legend is pretty awesome. Announced Tuesday morning at Mobile World Congress, the Legend is the next evolution of the …

T-Mobile’s Brodman speaks at the press conference. Kent German/CNET Editors’ note: Though T-Mobile is billing it as 4G technology, HSPA+ is a 3G technology based on existing 3G standards. BARCELONA, Spain–On a chilly morning at Mobile World Congress, T-Mobile USA promised that it would phase in a nationwide HSPA+ network in 2010. Speaking at a press conference at the carrier’s …

Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announces a free version of server software at Mobile World Congress. Marguerite Reardon/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is trying to hold on to business customers with a free version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announced here Tuesday during his keynote address to the Mobile World Congress that the company will offer …

Welcome to the 411, my column dealing with all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I’m stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at [email protected]. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know. Because of the Mobile World Congress 2010 coverage this week, I thought I …

Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao addresses Mobile World Congress. Marguerite Reardon/CNET BARCELONA, Spain–Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao warns fellow telecom executives that Google–and other companies that dominate parts of the mobile ecosystem–could be getting too powerful and suggests regulators need to get involved. Speaking at the GSM Association’s Mobile World Congress here Tuesday, Colao urged European and U.S. regulators to help ensure …

LG MWC open house +12 more See all photos BARCELONA, Spain–You might say that LG had a quiet Mobile World Congress–it didn’t announce new handsets and it didn’t have a presence on the show floor–but the manufacturer didn’t skip Barcelona entirely. In the modern setting of Barcelona’s Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, the company showed two handsets, the Mini GD880 …

BARCELONA, Spain–Google CEO Eric Schmidt extended an olive branch to wireless-network operators as he took the stage Tuesday afternoon here at the GSM Association’s Mobile World Congress. Schmidt delivered his speech hours after the CEO of the world’s largest mobile operator, Vodafone, suggested in his own keynote address that Google was getting too powerful in the mobile value chain. Earlier …

BARCELONA, Spain–On Tuesday, HTC announced three new smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2010: the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire, and the HTC HD Mini. The trio represents some of the first devices that really showcase the efforts of San Francisco-based design firm One & Co since it was acquired by HTC back in December 2008. In addition, they offer an …

WiMax appears to be a hit around the world–except for the U.S., according to deployment data released by the WiMax Forum Monday. WiMax, also known as 4G, now is offered on networks covering 620 million people in 147 countries, said the WiMax forum. By the end of 2010, 800 million people will be covered with 1 billion by the end …

Finally, Motorola has told us when exactly it’ll be releasing software upgrades to its Android phones. Well, sort of. We would appreciate a more specific date than just “Q1” and “Q2,” and three of the phone upgrades are still “under evaluation.” But at least it’s something. Here’s the breakdown: Phone Model Timeline DROID by Motorola (USA) The DROID by Motorola …