BY GREG BENSINGER Verizon Wireless is taking another step to snuff out unlimited data plans, a move that will likely lead to higher bills for millions of customers of the largest U.S. wireless carrier. A top executive from the carrier said Wednesday it will no longer allow customers to keep their unlimited data plans when they upgrade to its high-speed mobile network, known as 4G LTE. The switch means Verizon Wireless customers still on unlimited $30-per-month plans will likely have to shell out more to stream video and download photos and music to their devices. It wasn't clear when the change would take ...BY GREG BENSINGER Verizon Wireless is taking another step to snuff out unlimited data plans, a move that will likely lead to ... Continue reading →

By Greg BensingerFor Sprint Nextel Corp., now isn’t the time for a merger. “Clearly, the time is not ideal based upon where our shares are currently trading,” said Chief Executive Dan Hesse on a conference call with analysts on Wednesday. Still, Hesse said he thought regulators would be willing to consider wireless industry mergers, despite blocking the $39 billion tie-up last year of AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA. In February, Sprint nearly approved a deal to buy pay-as-you-go rival MetroPCS Communications Inc., and last year it considered buying Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile, according to people familiar with those discussions. Like its competitors, Sprint is seeking access to more of the wireless airwaves, or spectrum, that fuel customer and revenue growth. The Overland Park, Kan.-based carrier ... Continue reading →

BY GREG BENSINGER T-Mobile USA will pare 900 jobs, its second round of cuts in two months, following 10 consecutive quarters of contract user losses, even as some rivals are boosting their customer rolls. T-Mobile, with about 36,000 employees, in March said it would trim 1,900 jobs and close seven call centers to help preserve funds for a $4 billion network upgrade to a high-speed mobile broadband ...BY GREG BENSINGER T-Mobile USA will pare 900 jobs, its second round of cuts in two months, following 10 consecutive quarters of contract user losses, even as some rivals are boosting their customer rolls. T-Mobile, with about 36,000 employees, in March said it would trim 1,900 jobs and close seven call centers to help preserve funds for a ... Continue reading →

By Greg BensingerSprint Nextel Corp. defended to shareholders its deal with Apple Inc. to buy $15.5 billion in iPhones over the next several years, saying the commitment is necessary to compete with its larger rivals and will help keep customer turnover at bay. “We’re very glad” Sprint struck the deal with Apple, Chief Executive Dan Hesse said at the company’s annual meeting. “Carrying the iPhone will be quite profitable.” The company has said it won’t make an initial profit on the device until 2015. Apple is able to command some of the highest subsidies in the industry because of the iPhone’s popularity. As a result, carriers, including Sprint, have been pushing alternative devices, particularly smartphones that run on the next generation high-speed mobile broadband network ... Continue reading →

BY JACQUELINE PALANK LightSquared Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, hours ahead of the expiration of a deal to keep hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone's venture from defaulting on its debt. LightSquared reported assets and debts each exceeding $1 billion, ...BY JACQUELINE PALANK LightSquared Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, hours ahead of the expiration of a deal to keep hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone's venture from defaulting on its debt. LightSquared reported assets and debts each exceeding $1 billion, ... Continue reading →

BY MIKE SPECTOR AND GREG BENSINGER Hedge-fund manger Philip Falcone's LightSquared Inc. venture is preparing for a potential bankruptcy-protection filing, as negotiations with lenders to avoid a potential default faltered, according to people familiar with the matter. The two sides still have until 5 p.m. Monday to reach a deal that would keep LightSquared out of bankruptcy court, and there were some indications over the weekend that a final decision hadn't yet been reached on the company's fate. Still, the two sides remained far apart and people involved in the negotiations expected LightSquared to begin making bankruptcy preparations in earnest. Lenders ...BY MIKE SPECTOR AND GREG BENSINGER Hedge-fund manger Philip Falcone's LightSquared Inc. venture is preparing for a potential bankruptcy-protection filing, as negotiations with lenders ... Continue reading →

BY GREG BENSINGER AND SHARA TIBKEN T-Mobile USA said it lost more than a half million of the most lucrative customers in the first quarter, casting doubt on whether the company can regain momentum after regulators blocked its sale to AT&T Inc. The 15th straight quarter of contract customer losses puts the carrier further behind AT&T and Verizon Wireless in the race to lock users into two-year commitments. T-Mobile, the fourth-biggest U.S. carrier, watched its subscriber rolls shrink after putting its strategic plans on hold last year while awaiting government approval of the $39 billion buyout offer by AT&T. T-Mobile is the largest remaining carrier without ...BY GREG BENSINGER AND SHARA TIBKEN T-Mobile USA said it lost more than a half million of the most ... Continue reading →

BY GREG BENSINGER Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. on Tuesday posted a wider first-quarter loss after selling 4.3% fewer mobile devices compared with the year-earlier period. Motorola, which is awaiting approval to be bought by Google Inc. for $12.5 billion, sold 8.9 million smartphones, feature phones and tablet computers, down from 9.3 million. However, it boosted its ...BY GREG BENSINGER Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. on Tuesday posted a wider first-quarter loss after selling 4.3% fewer mobile devices compared with the year-earlier period. Motorola, which is awaiting approval to be bought by Google Inc. for $12.5 billion, sold 8.9 million smartphones, feature phones and tablet computers, down from 9.3 million. However, it boosted its ... Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--T-Mobile USA's chief marketing officer will leave the position later this month less than two years after being promoted, the carrier confirmed Tuesday. Cole Brodman, who held several posts over a 17-year career with T-Mobile, is stepping down effective May 25, though he will continue as a strategic adviser, ... NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--T-Mobile USA's chief marketing officer will leave the position later this month less than two years after being promoted, the carrier confirmed Tuesday. Cole Brodman, who held several posts over a 17-year career with T-Mobile, is stepping down effective May 25, though he will continue as a strategic adviser, ... Continue reading →

BY MIKE SPECTOR AND GREG BENSINGER Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone agreed to step aside eventually as the public face of his LightSquared Inc. venture, a concession that may keep the wireless-telecommunications company from defaulting on its debt, people familiar with the negotiations said. Mr. Falcone's compromise is expected to prompt LightSquared's lenders to approve a one-week extension on a debt-term violations waiver that expires Monday morning, the people said. If a deal is finalized, Mr. Falcone and LightSquared's lenders plan to continue negotiations for a longer extension of somewhere between 18 months and two years, the people said. LightSquared's board was deliberating Sunday on whether to ...BY MIKE SPECTOR AND GREG BENSINGER Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone agreed to step aside eventually as the public face ... Continue reading →