Sprint Nextel is nearing a deal to extend its current network-sharing agreement with Clearwire to three to five years, Bloomberg reported today. The deal would allow Sprint to tap into Clearwire’s network and wireless capacity to power its own services. For Clearwire, it provides a measure of confidence in the company’s long-term prospects. Sprint, meanwhile, …

In a splashy debut, the Finnish company launches its Windows Phone-based Lumia handsets, along with the Asha line for emerging markets. Nokia could definitely use a hit product or two. Can Nokia’s Lumia smartphones make it in the U.S.? Nokia announced its first Windows Phone smartphones this week. The new devices will debut first in Europe and Asia. But how …

Those of you paying for multiple data plans per mobile device or per family member may get some relief down the road as shared data plans become more prevalent. The number of mobile devices sold on shared data plans is projected to grow 89 percent per year over the next few years, hitting almost 187 million in 2015, says a …

Orange is going to be flogging the fresh-out-the-oven Nokia Lumia 800, and as a sweetener for existing customers it’s offering a 4GB Xbox 360 if you upgrade to the Lumia 800 on an 18 or 24 month contract. You can pre-order the Lumia 800 now on Orange’s website, which is probably a good idea if you want to secure that …

commentary If Hewlett-Packard is flip-flopping on the PC business, it should go all the way and bring WebOS and the mobile business back as well. After an evaluation of the business, HP said today that it would keep its personal systems group, aka its consumer PC business, calling it the best move for shareholders, consumers, and the company. The decision …

Motorola Mobility posted a third-quarter loss ahead of its acquisition by Google, but it beat Wall Street earnings estimates. The manufacturer of handsets and television set-top boxes posted a third-quarter loss of $32 million, or 11 cents a share. A year ago, when Motorola Mobility was combined with Motorola Solutions, the equivalent business posted a loss of $34 million. Revenue, …

Many a time we’ve found ourselves gazing sullenly at our smart phones, wishing they were just a little more bendy. But while every attempt we make at bending the Samsung Galaxy S2 ends in tears and a face full of Super AMOLED Plus shards, the Nokia Kinetic concept phone is actually designed to be twisted, bent and elsewise manipulated. Showcased …

Samsung Electronics surged past Apple in smartphone shipments in the third quarter, helped by the wide availability of its flagship Galaxy S II handset. Samsung controlled 23.8 percent of the global market for smartphones, according to a recent study released by Strategy Analytics. Apple, meanwhile, had 14.6 percent of the market. It’s been a rapid ascent in the smartphone world …

Angry BlackBerry owners have launched a legal attack over the disastrous failure of BlackBerry phones earlier this month. Class-action lawsuits have been filed in the US and Canada against Research in Motion, the company behind BlackBerry. Millions of BlackBerry owners all around the world were stuck without access to the Internet, online services and BlackBerry Messenger for the best part …

Sony has bought Ericsson’s half of the Sony Ericsson partnership. In a deal worth £918m, the Japanese giant will take sole control of the mobile phone business. Japanese mega-corporation Sony currently owns half the business, and the other half is owned by Swedish telecoms company Ericsson. The two created the joint venture in 2001. Sony gets to keep the phone …