Verizon may have competition in the 4G LTE space, but it’s still way out in front. Starting January 19, the nation’s largest LTE carrier added five new markets and built out three existing coverage zones. The lucky denizens of Glens Falls and Utica, N.Y.; Lawton, Okla.; and Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, will now start getting …

AT&T today said it plans to hike the data plan rates that are required with the purchase of any smartphone–including the iPhone–a reflection of the growing bandwidth demands the carrier faces. The company’s previous bottom-tier $15 plan will go up to $20, although the amount of data allocated also goes up to 300 from 200 megabytes. Likewise, the $25, 2 …

Sony has plenty of Android in store for consumers in 2012, including at least a dozen products in the first nine months alone. According to a newly leaked road map, the company already has code names, launch dates, and pricing for the 12 Android handsets. Starting with last week’s Sony Xperia S and running through September, the leak–should it prove …

Phone manufacturers and the aftermarket wage war against crappy battery life and Google does battle with poor app design on this week’s episode of Android Atlas Weekly. Now playing: Watch this: Ep. 81: We need more power! 51:22 Podcast Your browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320×180) | iTunes (640×360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320×180) | RSS (640×360) EPISODE …

Want to mount your iPhone on a tripod? There are lots of third-party accessories that can help, but few are as practical or affordable as the Kungl iPhone Tripod Mount. Lest you think it sounds crazy to connect a smartphone to a tripod, consider this: the iPhone 4 sports a 5-megapixel camera and can capture 720p video, while the 4S …

Nope, these patent lawsuits aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The latest comes from Apple, which filed a lawsuit this week against Samsung Electronics in Germany. Apple is seeking to ban the sale of Samsung smartphones in the country, according to a report by Bloomberg. The lawsuit is part of a broader legal war between Apple and Android partners, with Samsung …

Sprint is making good on its promise to eliminate the controversial Carrier IQ software from devices on its network. On Monday Android Central reported that the HTC EVO 3D, which runs on Sprint’s network, will get a new firmware update that will wipe the Carrier IQ software from the device. HTC confirmed on Tuesday its move in a statement to …

After iOS 5 was released alongside the iPhone 4S this past fall, Twitter accounts grew by more than 25 percent, largely because of its integrated place in Apple’s mobile operating system. Now, according to tech site iMore, iOS 5.1 could bring a similar integration for Facebook. Screenshot by iMore Not that Facebook really needs more users. But, it should come …

The LG Extravert is a prepaid phone on the Verizon network that’s perfect for text-messaging enthusiasts who don’t want anything fancy. Verizon That’s because the phone, which retails online for $79.99 with a two-year contract, sports a four-row QWERTY keyboard complete with navigational arrows and shortcut keys. If working the phone with a tactile keyboard isn’t really your thing, the …

Now playing: Watch this: Nexus battery woes, Xperia S, Lumia 710 hit UK in phone… 3:11 CNET UK made but one resolution this new year and that was to make sure none of our readers missed out on any of the hot happenings in the smart phone world. We pledged to bring you all the latest phone news squished into …