phone service

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Gaza Gets Back Some Power, Internet After Fuel Deliveries

Israel says it will permit 2 tanker trucks of fuel daily into Gaza, though UN says more is needed

(Newser) - Limited phone and internet services began working again Friday across Gaza after fuel was delivered to restart generators that power the networks, according to the Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel. Israel announced that it will allow two tanker trucks of fuel (about 15,850 gallons) into Gaza each day for the...

How Siri Could Hurt Everyone's Cell Service
 How Siri Could 
 Hurt Everyone's 
 Cell Service 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

How Siri Could Hurt Everyone's Cell Service

She's a giant 'bandwidth guzzler': Paul Farhi

(Newser) - Siri is knowledgeable, convenient, even funny—but she has a dark side. "Siri’s dirty little secret is that she’s a bandwidth guzzler, the digital equivalent of a 10-miles-per-gallon Hummer H1," writes Paul Farhi in the Washington Post . Indeed, the iPhone 4S, which brought us Siri,...

AT&T Reverses, Will Allow Skype on iPhones

(Newser) - AT&T has had a change of heart—perhaps prompted by an ongoing FCC inquiry into competition—and will now allow iPhone users to connect with Skype and other Internet phone services over its 3G wireless network. Previously, AT&T had allowed such services in only a limited capacity—through...

Bye-Bye Landlines, Hello New Problem
 Bye-Bye Landlines, 
 Hello New Problem 
analysis

Bye-Bye Landlines, Hello New Problem

(Newser) - Americans are gleefully dropping landlines at a rate of 700,000 per month without any regard for the long-term consequences, the Economist says. Few of us will weep for businesses that rely on landlines—telemarketers and pollsters come to mind—but emergency services like fire and police also need them....

AT&T Hacks 12,000 Jobs
 AT&T Hacks 12,000 Jobs 

AT&T Hacks 12,000 Jobs

The telecom says its mobile and broadband divisions are continuing to grow

(Newser) - AT&T is cutting 12,000 jobs, or 4% of its workforce, mostly in the landline segment that has lost market share to cell phones, cable operators, and Internet calling options, reports the AP. AT&T, which has cut more than 25,000 jobs so far this year, said it...

Service Lets Callers Dodge Conversation

Slydial users can sneak a message straight onto voicemail

(Newser) - A new phone service is a hit with people who want to make a phone call without actually talking to anybody, the New York Times reports. Slydial allows users to skip directly to leaving a message on voicemail without the recipient realizing they have an incoming call. Users say the...

Analog Service Hanging Up on Customers

Digital networks soon only option, but service has its kinks

(Newser) - Phone customers still dialing up using old analog networks will be out of luck—and service—beginning Feb. 18 when the nation’s wireless companies shut down the outdated technology and switch to digital. Of the quarter-billion American cell phone users, the vast majority use digital networks, but some 1...

Globetrotting iPhone Users Get Flat Rate Data Plan

Company responds to roaming rage

(Newser) - Traveling iPhone users rejoice: AT&T is offering flat rate international data plans for the trendy Apple handset starting at 25/month for 20MB of data, reports AppleInsider. That's after irate customers complained about running up huge bills from accessing the Web at roaming rates while overseas, when the iPhone automatically...

Google Phone Rumors Build
Google Phone Rumors Build

Google Phone Rumors Build

Consumers would trade free minutes for targeted advertising

(Newser) - Consumers may soon be able to trade free phone calls for targeted advertising, if Google gets its way. Industry experts speculate that the tech giant is quietly developing plans to market cell phones with an ad-based service in exchange for free minutes, BusinessWeek reports. The big wireless carriers, while privately...

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