The BlackBerry PlayBook could run Android apps, if rumours are to be believed. Forthcoming BlackBerry phones and tablets could boast a feature that makes them compatible with software developed for Google’s open-source operating system. Boy Genius Report reckons BlackBerry-makers Research In Motion is planning to use the Dalvik virtual machine to run Java on future …

Forget fumbling for change or worrying about the weirdo behind you seeing your PIN — this summer, you’ll be able to pay for things with just an airy wave of your mobile phone. Orange and Barclaycard have teamed up to finally make contactless mobile phone payments a reality. After Orange kicks things off, contactless payments will be available to customers …

HTC is tipped to launch two Facebook phones at Mobile World Congress next month, putting your social feeds and contacts at the heart of the Android-powered handsets. UK newspaper City A.M. broke the news, claiming the two devices will be fully Facebook-branded, with status updates and messages pushed to their home screens. The phones will also let you call and email …

The internet is abuzz with rumors that Blackberry’s Playbook may run Android apps, hints that Nokia may adopt Android OS; and speculation that the T-Mobile Sidekick may resurface as a Samsung Android phone. Also, Justin Eckhouse and Antuan Goodwin go hands-on on with Android 3.0 Honeycomb in this week’s edition of Android Atlas Weekly. Now playing: Watch this: Ep. 33: …

Huawei and MetroPCS might have been tooting their horns when calling the Huawei M735 a “stylish” phone, but we’re inclined to agree. The predominantly white body is a nice break from the blah sameness of the slick, basic black phones we so often see. However, there is one feature we weren’t too excited about–the stylus. That means one more item …

Buffeted by ever more intense competition, Nokia saw its earnings fall for the final quarter of 2010, an ongoing downturn that has prompted the company to announce a major shift in strategy. Net profit for the quarter ended December 31 declined 21 percent to 745 million euros ($1.02 billion), compared with 950 million euros in the year-ago quarter. Sales were …

The Federal Communications Commission took two important steps this week to free up more wireless spectrum for wireless broadband services. On Wednesday the agency published a list of nine companies that have been granted permission to provide a database of unlicensed “white space” spectrum that can be used by device makers and service providers to offer a service that utilizes …

The PlayStation Phone has been more of a fact than a rumour for some time now, but to scotch any doubt, Sony Ericsson’s new Xperia Play is now finding its way into the hands of tech bloggers. Engadget has one, and has posted a lengthy preview of the new Android-based gaming smart phone. It confirms the basic specs of the …

Wireless subscriber growth has slowed for AT&T as the company prepares to do battle with rival Verizon Wireless. AT&T added 400,000 new contract customers in the fourth quarter of 2010. In the year-ago quarter, by comparison, the company added 910,000 so-called postpaid subscribers. And in the third quarter of 2010, it added 910,000 contract customers. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless, which reported …

Today’s podcast is a laugh riot. OK, not really, but it’s certainly action-packed. We kick things off by addressing the rumors of a Facebook phone and reports that the BlackBerry PlayBook will run Android apps. We also sort through the carriers’ confusing smartphone data plans and take a look at the phones from Motorola’s past, present, and future. All this …