Huawei Jumps Into Wearables with the TalkBand

Huawei today announced the TalkBand B1, a smartphone accessory that doubles as a fitness tracker and a Bluetooth headset. The device has a 1.4-inch flexible OLED screen and relies on NFC and Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy to connect to smart devices. It is compatible with Android 2.3 and up, and iOS 5.0 and up. It includes a removable earpiece that's good for up to seven hours of talk time. The TalkBand wirelessly tracks the wearer's activity time, such as steps taken, miles covered, and calories burned. It also records sleep duration and quality, and it has its own alarm. The TablkBand B1 has a 90mAh battery that lasts about six days for tracking activity and sleep. Huawei didn't say when the TablkBand B1 will be available, nor how much it will cost.

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LG Says Not All Phones Merit OS Upgrades

LG today indicated its premiere devices will earn operating system upgrades, but it can't say the same for other phones in its roster. "We are definitely prioritizing upgrades for the G-series, looking at the G2, G Flex and G Pro first," said spokesperson Ken Hong in an interview with PCMag. "But beyond that, we aren't going to make a commitment to definite upgrades because it's not totally up to us." Wireless network operators play a large role in system updates, which need to be tested and verified before rolled out to customers. "Some carriers may not want the upgrade. If they want to do it, we'll definitely work closely with carriers to do it." LG will, however, launch new phones with the most up-to-date version of Android available. Other manufacturers, such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony, publish clear timetables about which devices will be updated and approximately when those updates will arrive.

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Facebook Messenger Coming To Windows Phone

Microsoft today announced Facebook Messenger app for Windows Phone. The app - previously only available for other OSes - is in final testing and will be available "soon."

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Hands On with Tizen OS

We spent a few minutes with a current version of the Tizen OS for phones. There's nothing surprising about it. It looks almost exactly like Android. But that in itself is interesting.

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Review: Nokia Lumia Icon for Verizon Wireless

Verizon finally gets the Windows Phone it deserves in the Lumia Icon from Nokia. The Icon has a full HD screen, 20-megapixel camera, and many other enticements. Phone Scoop put them to the test in this full report.

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Mozilla Sets Up Firefox OS for Growth

Mozilla today made a handful of announcements about the progress of Firefox OS, which is garnering more support from phone makers and carriers around the world. To start, the Firefox OS family has grown with the ZTE Open C and Open II, and Alcatel OneTouch Fire C (pictured), Fire E, Fire S handsets all making their debut in Barcelona. The devices are all running the latest version of Firefox, which has been sped up and performs better across the board thanks to new support from Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Notably, these devices offer a mid-range experience, unlike the first device, which was marketed as an entry-level handset. In addition to the hardware partners, Mozilla has won agreements from Telkomsel and Indosat, which join the list of 21 operators supporting Firefox OS around the world. Mozilla also said it worked with Spreadtrum to create a WCDMA and EDGE turnkey reference design for Firefox OS, and a $25 chipset for low-cost Firefox OS smartphones. Last, Firefox outlined changes headed to the operating system. It will add a new universal search function available from any screen on the phone. New navigation features in the user interface will make multitasking easier, such as swiping between full-screen apps. The OS will also make it easier to share content thanks to support for NFC, as well as LTE for markets with 4G deployments. Mozilla also talked up new support it has from developers, who've begun to write more apps for the operating system.

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Hands-On: LG G Pro 2 and G2 Mini

Here are our first impressions of the G Pro 2 and G2 Mini from LG.

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Opera Max Compresses Data to Save You Money

Opera today announced Opera Max, an application that Opera says can help reduce mobile data usage. Max is not a browser. It is a stand-alone app that compresses all the data that is sent from a phone over the network, such as social media. Once installed, Opera Max compresses data with its servers and reroutes the data through a VPN. It does not compress web sites and apps that use HTTPS connections. According to Opera, the app compresses data, but does not read it, which means users needn't worry about their privacy. It is specially tuned to help reduce the size of picture and video files, such as those shared on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Opera claims Opera Max can reduce data use over mobile networks by about 50%, which should allow people to get more out of their data plans for less money. Opera Max is available in limited beta beginning today, and only works with Android devices. Opera didn't say when Opera Max would become more widely available, nor when it might reach other platforms. Opera Max is free.

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LG to Expand Knock Code to Most 2014 Phones

LG today said that it will expand the availability of its Knock Code feature to most of its devices this year. Knock Code was first introduced on the G Pro 2, and is an evolution of KnockOn. Knock Code lets users both unlock and wake their LG smartphone using their own knock pattern. LG had already committed to bringing KnockOn to some of its devices, and is now expanding on that promise with Knock Code instead.

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Tizen OS Expands To TVs, Wearables

The Tizen Association today announced that it is promoting two new versions of the Tizen OS software. One is designed for televisions, and the other is targeted at wearables. Samsung is the using the wearable version in its new Galaxy Gear watches. Tizen previously had two versions: for phones and for vehicle information and entertainment systems.

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Samsung Refreshes the Gear Smartwatch, Adds Tizen

Samsung today announced the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, two new smartwatches that run Samsung's Tizen operating system rather than Android. Where the original Gear device relied on Android 4.2.2 and used select Android-based apps, both the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo adopt Samsung's home-grown, Linux-based platform. Samsung says that despite the OS switch, several dozen apps will be available for the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo at launch. Some apps that Samsung has developed include CNN, Expedia, eBay, Evernote, Feedly, Path, PayPal, and The Weather Channel. Both new watches appear similar to the original watch, but the camera has been moved from the strap to the body of the watch itself. They also feature swappable wrist bands, which are offered in several colors, and are water resistant. The watches include an IR port and can act as a remote for home theater equipment. The watches now include an on-board music player so they can be used to play music without requiring a smartphone to be nearby. They also include a handful of fitness apps and sensors to assist with exercising. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo each include a 1.63-inch touch display with 320 x 320 pixels, 1GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, and a 300mAh battery that's good for two or three days of use. The only difference between the two is that the Gear 2 Neo does not include a camera. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available worldwide in April. Pricing was not announced.

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Hands On with Alcatel's Idol 2 S & Idol 2 mini S

Alcatel's new Idol phones are slim and light, something the company is known for, but now have LTE. We check out these nice-looking, affordable Android phones.

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Huawei Intros the Ascend G6 with Dual UIs

Huawei today announced the Ascend G6, a premium Android smartphone that will be sold at a low price. It features a high-quality design that will be offered in metallic and pastel colors. The device runs Android, but Huawei is offering two separate user interfaces: plain Android and its own home-designed UI. The G6 has a 4.5-inch qHD screen and is powered by a quad-core 1.26GHz processor. It boasts NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, dual-band Wi-Fi, and LTE. The G6 includes an 8-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel, wide-angle, user-facing camera that offers a selfie preview panel. The G6 also packs a 2,000mAh battery. Huawei said the device will be available in April, though it didn't share plans to launch the device in the U.S. It will cost about $300.

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Hands-On: Huawei Ascend G6

Huawei envisions the Ascend G6 as the phone that will make its brand more globally recognized. We take a look.

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Alcatel Updates Idol Lineup

Alcatel today announced the Idol 2 S and Idol 2 Mini S, two thin and light Android phones. Both phones include 4G LTE, an 8-megapixel main camera, front camera, quad-core 1.2 GHz processor, NFC, and Android 4.3, ugrade-able to 4.4. The Idol 2 S sports a 5-inch 720p display and is 7.4 mm thick, while the Idol 2 Mini S has a 4.5-inch qHD display and is 8.5 mm thick. They both launch globally in the 2nd quarter of this year.

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Next Windows Phone Will Support Cheaper Phones

Microsoft today announced a handful of features of the next version of Windows Phone. The slate of changes announced center on supporting cheaper hardware and developing markets. The new software will support Qualcomm's newer low-end Snapdragon 200 and 400 chipsets. It will also reduce memory requirements and allow apps loaded on removable memory cards. Microsoft will also remove the requirement for three hardware buttons below the screen and a dedicated camera button. This is designed to allow manufacturers to re-use hardware designed for Android phones. Microsoft will also expand its driver support for common hardware parts used in Android phones, further making it easier for manufacturers to offer a phone in both Android and Windows Phone versions. Microsoft will also support dual-SIM phones in the new version. The company is expected to fully reveal the new Windows Phone OS at its upcoming Build conference.

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Sprint Pushing KitKat to Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Sprint today indicated via its support site that Android 4.4 KitKat is now available to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The system upgrade will be made available over the air during the next few days.

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Nokia's Treasure Tag Keeps Your Phone and Keys Close

Nokia today announced Treasure Tag, an NFC and Bluetooth powered fob that will alert users when their phone is too far away from their keys and vice versa. The device, which Nokia says is about the size of a matchbook, can be attached to a keychain (or other item the owner wants to keep close by) and then paired with a Lumia smartphone through a dedicated app. First-time users will automatically be prompted to download the app when they first pair their phone to the Treasure Tag with NFC. When the user moves one device too far away from the other, they'll both emit an alarm. Devices or tags that are lost can be located via HERE Maps. Lumia phones can support up to four tags, each of which can be identified with its own on-screen icon. Nokia said separate apps will soon be available for Android and iOS devices, as well. Nokia Treasure Tag costs $30 and will be available globally in April.

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Transit Wireless Enters Phase 2 of NYC Subway Project

Transit Wireless today announced that it has begun Phase Two of its project to bring cellular and Wi-Fi wireless service to New York City's subway stations. The first step of Phase Two is to light up service at 11 more midtown Manhattan stations, including those at Grand Central Terminal, 34th St. Herald Square, and Bryant Park. The bulk of Phase Two, however, targets 29 stations in Queens. Transit Wireless is building a hub in Queens to help manage the infrastructure from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. The Queens build out begins in March and should be complete by June. Transit Wireless has not said if or when it will offer subway station service in the boroughs of the Bronx or Brooklyn.

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Samsung to Update Wide Range of Galaxy Phones to KitKat

Samsung today announced that it plans to update a significant number of its U.S. Galaxy-branded smartphones and tablets to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The list of phones includes the Galaxy Note II and 3; the Galaxy S4, S4 mini, S4 Active, and S4 zoom; the Galaxy S III and S III mini; and the Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Light. Samsung will also update the Galaxy Note 8, Tab 3, Note 10.1, and Note 10.1 2014 Edition tablets. Samsung said the timing of the updates will vary by carrier, but they will begin today and continue to be pushed out for several months.

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Microsoft's SkyDrive Officially Reborn Today as OneDrive

Microsoft today launched OneDrive, a renamed and improved version of its SkyDrive cloud storage service. OneDrive is available to most devices, including Windows Phone handsets, Windows machines, and Android and iOS phones and tablets. OneDrive offers 7GB of storage for free, and allows users to score more storage by recommending friends to the service. Microsoft is releasing new versions of the OneDrive app today, and the Android variant gains automatic photo backups. Microsoft said people who use the automatic camera backup feature will earn an additional 3GB of storage. Microsoft also offers higher storage increments to those who need more than 7GB for small monthly payments. OneDrive is free to download from the Windows Phone Store, Google Play Store, and iTunes App Store.

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FCC Wants Better Indoor Location for Wireless 911 Calls

The Federal Communications Commission today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that it hopes will eventually make it easier for first responders to find people who make wireless 911 calls from within buildings. The FCC updated its E911 rules as recently as 2010, but says another change is necessary because more consumers are ditching landlines in favor of mobile phones. In the short term, the FCC wants wireless network operators to be able to locate both the building and the vertical information necessary to determine the floor from which a wireless 911 call is made. In the long term, the FCC wants operators to offer more granular location data so that the wireless 911 caller may be pinpointed down to the room, office, or apartment. The FCC also wants operators to provide location details to first responders faster. The FCC understands this effort may require new technologies and improved in-building coverage. It is seeking comments on the matter, but did not offer any sort of timeframe or end date for deployment. "The Commission emphasized that its ultimate objective is that all Americans – whether they are calling from urban or rural areas, from indoors or outdoors – receive the support they need in times of emergency."

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T-Mobile Takes Another Angle on BlackBerry Promo

T-Mobile today announced a new promotion meant to quell the anger it caused recently among BlackBerry users. Beginning Friday, T-Mobile is offering all BlackBerry users (even those on other carriers) $200 to bring in their old, working BlackBerry and trade it in for any smartphone currently sold by T-Mobile. This offer can be combined with T-Mobile's Contract Freedom promotion, which pays the Early Termination Fee associated with some contracts. That means potential customers can get up to $200 by trading in their old BlackBerry as well as have their ETF taken care of. Taking it a step further, T-Mobile is offering its own, existing BlackBerry customers an additional $50 (total of $250) if they upgrade from an old BlackBerry to a new BlackBerry Q10 or Z10 smartphone. The promotion rolls out to retail stores February 21. T-Mobile said that it will offer expedited shipping to customers for BlackBerries not stocked in its stores.

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BlackBerry 'Outraged' Over T-Mobile Promotion

BlackBerry CEO John Chen took T-Mobile to task today for a campaign it recently ran suggesting that BlackBerry customers drop their BlackBerry in favor of a different smartphone on T-Mobile. In a post to the company's blog, Chen thanked BlackBerry's customers for speaking out in protest of the "clearly inappropriate and ill-conceived marketing promotion." Chen said it is working on a special promotion for T-Mobile BlackBerry customers that it will reveal soon. Chen finished by saying, "I would like to remind [T-Mobile] that our long-standing partnership was once productive and profitable for both BlackBerry and T-Mobile. I hope we can find a way forward that allows us to serve our shared customers once again. Notwithstanding the current challenge, we remain very excited about BlackBerry’s future."

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Artemis Networks' pCell Promises Fast LTE for All

Artemis Networks today revealed pCell, or personal cell, technology that lets LTE device owners experience full-speed 4G even on congested cellular sites. According to Artemis, standard cell sites waste capacity by avoiding interference with neighboring cells. pCell technology uses the interference to its advantage, combining transmitted radio signals from multiple pCell base stations to synthesize tiny cells of wireless energy around each mobile device. Artemis claims that its technology gives each smartphone user on a given cell access to the full LTE speed of that cell, no matter how many other people are using it. The technology works with off-the-shelf consumer devices, such as the Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S4. In areas where pCells aren't available, the technology hands the devices off to the standard cell. Artemis is currently trialling the technology in San Francisco and is willing to license pCell to wireless network operators. It believes pCells will be effective in high-traffic, high-congestion areas, or spots where network operators want to bolster their network without using more expensive solutions. Artemis expects the first deployments to start before the end of the year.

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Google's Project Tango Aims to Create 3D Alternate Realities

Google today announced Project Tango, an initiative that involves an Android smartphone able to create 3D maps of the world around it. Google is offering adventurous app developers kits that include a 5-inch Android smartphone with a bevy of sensors on board that can track the full 3D motion of the device. The kit includes development APIs to provide position, orientation, and depth data to standard Android applications. Google wants some of the devices used for projects that explore indoor navigation, mapping, and single/multiplayer games that use physical space. The rest Google hopes will be used by developers who are "bold" and "creative" to write new apps not yet imagined. In order to get one of the 200 test kits, developers need to submit an application with proposal to Google. Google hopes to assign the 200 devices to testers by mid-March.

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LG Reveals G2 Mini with Ramped Down Size and Specs

LG today announced the G2 Mini, a smaller version of its flagship smartphone, that aims at the middle of the market. Like the G2, the G2 Mini places the volume and screen lock buttons on the back surface where LG believes it is easier to reach them. Compared to the G2, the G2 Mini reduces the display from 5.2 inches and full HD to 4.7 inches and qHD. The phone is powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor (for LTE markets) with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage. The phone uses an 8-megapixel/1.3-megapixel back- and front-camera configuration. The G2 Mini includes Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, and NFC. It supports microSD cards and has a 2,440mAh battery. The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat and will be loaded with user interface elements and apps/services from LG, such as Guest Mode, Capture Plus, and Clip Tray. The LG G2 Mini will be offered in several colors, including black, white, gold, and red. It will debut in select markets in March, with others to follow in April and May. LG did not specifically state plans to offer the G2 Mini in the U.S.

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Visa Taps the Cloud for New Mobile Payment System

Visa today introduced a cloud-based mobile payment system that can be used by retailers and financial institutions to add wave-and-pay functionality to their apps, services, and retail locations. Most mobile payment systems rely on the customer's financial data being stored in a secure chip on the phone, which is then accessed during sales transactions. Visa's new system stores the customer's financial details in its own cloud thanks to Android's Host Card Emulation (HCE) feature. According to Visa, "HCE allows any NFC application on an Android device to emulate a smart card" so the user can make tap-and-go payments. The new system works in conjunction with Visa's existing payWave terminals. Visa is releasing the initial standard for NFC cloud-based mobile payments today, and will add support for QR codes and in-app payments down the road. Visa eventually plans to release an SDK so its clients can write their own cloud-based payment applications. Separately, MasterCard announced a similar HCE-based initiative that it is working on with Capital One in the U.S. and Banco Sabadell in Europe. MasterCard expects to publish its standards by June. Both companies hope to expand the use of smartphones - rather than actual credit cards - to make retail payments.

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Samsung Announces Galaxy Core LTE

Samsung today revealed the Galaxy Core LTE, a mid-range Android smartphone with support for 4G networks. The device features a 4.5-inch qHD screen; dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM; 8GB of internal storage; a 5-megapixel/VGA camera configuration; and Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. The phone runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and offers the typical suite of Samsung apps and services, such as ChatON, S Voice, S Translator, and others. The Galaxy Core LTE will be sold across Europe, Russia, and other Asia countries. Samsung did not express plans to bring the phone to the U.S., nor did it discuss pricing.

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BBM for Gingerbread Now Available

BlackBerry today made good on its promise to deliver a version of BBM for older Android handsets. BBM for devices running Android 2.3 Gingerbread is now available in the Google Play Store. It can be downloaded for free.

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Canonical Names Hardware Vendors for Ubuntu OS

Canonical today announced that two smartphone makers have agreed to manufacture and sell devices running the Ubuntu mobile operating system. The two hardware developers include bq, based in Spain, and Meizu, based in China. Both companies committed to bringing devices to the market this year. Further, Canonical said it has support from several large network operators to sell the Ubuntu smartphones in various markets. No U.S. carriers have yet said they'll sell Ubuntu devices. Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth said in December that it had forged partnerships with hardware makers, but did not name them at the time. Ubuntu is a Linux-based operating system that Canonical has been working on for years as an alternative to Android and iOS. The most recent release, version 13.10, was distributed last October. Canonical said more details about the first two smartphones will be revealed during the Mobile World Congress trade show, which starts February 24.

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HTC Intros 'Advantage' Program for Repairs and Upgrades

HTC Americas today announced HTC Advantage, a new commitment to its U.S. customers that includes repairs and operating system updates. Under the terms of the program, HTC will offer a one-time free screen replacement to all One series devices sold after February 18, including the One, One mini, and the One max, during the first six months of ownership. The repairs will be performed in Houston. Further, the company is committing to provide all One series devices core system level updates for a period of two years after the initial launch date for each device. Timing of updates will vary depending on carrier, but HTC will deliver them as soon as it is able. HTC Advantage also offers customers free online storage for back-ups. Owners of One series phones will enjoy 25GB of Google Drive storage at no extra cost for a period of two years. Last, HTC is offering free backups through its own HTC Backup program. HTC Advantage is only available in the U.S.

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FCC to Rewrite Open Internet Rules

After being handed a defeat in court last month, the Federal Communications Commission will take another stab at implementing rules to keep the internet open. Tom Wheeler, FCC chairman, said in a statement Wednesday the agency will forgo further legal action against Verizon, which won its challenge to the rules, and will use Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act to create new rules that are clearer, more well defined, and backed by law. From a high-level point of view, Wheeler wants internet service providers to be open about their network management tactics, wants to prevent them from discriminating against certain types of traffic, and wants to prevent them from entirely blocking services. Wheeler hopes that by changing the argument behind the Open Internet Rules, the FCC will be able to establish them officially and in a manner that can be enforced. "The FCC must stand strongly behind its responsibility to oversee the public interest standard and ensure that the internet remains open and fair," said Wheeler. "The internet is and must remain the greatest engine of free expression, innovation, economic growth, and opportunity the world has ever known. We must preserve and promote the internet."

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Jolla Ready to Go Global, Preps Android Launcher

Jolla today announced that its Sailfish operating system and smartphone are ready to expand to more countries. The first Jolla smartphone has been available to most European countries since late 2013. Now Jolla is targeting more markets, including Russia, India, and Hong Kong. Jolla said the OS has been updated several times since its release last year, and a major update planned for March will add features and resolve performance issues. Specifically, the update will add extended landscape support, visual tweaks, camera functionalities, enhancements to the Jolla store, and general settings. Jolla plans to make available a version of the operating system that can run on certain Android devices. Jolla calls this the Sailfish OS experience, which will let Android users get a real taste of what Sailfish is all about. Jolla also plans to offer Android devices a launcher that mimics the top-layer user interface of Sailfish OS. The app will be available for download in the months ahead. Jolla also announced several new partnerships. It is working with F-Secure to improve the security of Sailfish, it is working with Tieto to make it easier for hardware makers to develop their own Sailfish devices, and it has partnered with Rovio for Angry Birds accessories for the Jolla smartphone.

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Opera Announces Sponsored Web Pass

Opera Software today announced what it calls Sponsored Web Pass. The system allows people to access the mobile web from their device after agreeing to view an advertisement. Opera says the usage allotments will be easy to understand, such as one hour of usage or one day of usage for viewing select ads. When the sponsored mobile web usage time expires, customers will be given the choice to watch another ad or make a payment to continue browsing or accessing the web. Opera's Sponsored Web Pass is a product for wireless network operators. It will be up to the carriers to decide if and how best to use it.

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BBM Gains Stickers Via BBM Store

BlackBerry today announced the availability of sticker packs in the BBM Store for BlackBerry devices. Stickers are sold in packs of 20 to 25, and are typically centered on a theme or character. The stickers can then be inserted into BBM chats to make them more lively and entertaining. The limited external beta for stickers and the BBM Shop begins today. BlackBerry didn't say how limited the beta will be, nor when it might expand to all users.

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Verizon Completes Vodafone Buyout

Verizon Communications today became the sole owner of Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless was launched as a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group. Verizon owned 55% and Vodafone owned 45%. Verizon proposed last year to purchase the portion of Verizon Wireless that it didn't own from Vodafone for $130 billion. The deal was given FCC approval in December and shareholder approval in January. The deal officially closed this morning. Verizon Communications now has full control over Verizon Wireless, and Vodafone, which is based in the U.K., has been reduced in value by about half.

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ZTE Says Grand Memo II LTE to Arrive in Barcelona

ZTE today revealed its plans for Mobile World Congress, which takes place in Barcelona beginning February 24. The company plans to show off the Grand Memo II LTE, an Android smartphone with a 6-inch display, and the Open C, a device running Firefox OS. The company also said it plans to show off a brand new user interface for its mobile devices called MiFavor 2.3, as well as a smartwatch called the ZTE Grand Watch. More details will become available during MWC.

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Microsoft Refreshes Bing Apps for Windows Phone

Microsoft today released new versions of Bing News, Bing Finance, Bing Weather, and Bing Sports for Windows Phone, as well as three new Bing apps. The new apps include Bing Food & Drink, Bing Health & Fitness, and Bing Travel. Bing Food & Drink caters to cooking enthusiasts and ties in content from Epicurious, Bon Appetit, and other recipe sites. It also helps people create shopping lists based on recipes. Bing Health & Fitness offers nutrition, fitness, and medical information, including workouts and a diet tracker, cardio tracker, and GPS tracker. Bing Travel makes it easier to plan and manage trips with destination guides, photos, and more. The app also lets people book travel, including flights, from within the app. Bing Finance has been updated with an investment tracker. Bing News was updated with new sources, including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Bing Sports was updated with live event coverage for NBA, NFL, and all major soccer leagues. All the Bing apps are free to download from the Windows Phone Store and seamlessly sync across devices with their tablet and desktop counterparts.

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Senators Propose Federal 'Kill Switch' Bill

Four U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would force handset makers to include a kill switch in all their devices. The Smartphone Theft Prevention Act was put forward by Senators Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Mikulski, Richard Blumenthal, and Mazie Hirono. It would require all phones sold in the U.S. to include a free-to-use kill switch that would allow device owners "to wipe their personal data off the phone, render the phone permanently inoperable to anyone but the owner, and prevent it from being reactivated on a network by anyone but the owner." The legislation follows a similar bill introduced in California. According to Sen. Klobuchar, the new bill has wide support from law enforcement officials. Lawmakers in California and New York worked with Samsung to develop a kill switch last year, but the network operators refused to implement it. Cell phone thefts have risen dramatically in recent years, and lawmakers believe device owners should be able to protect their data in such an event.

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U.S. Cellular Moto X Upgraded to Android 4.4.2

Motorola today released Android 4.4.2 KitKat for the U.S. Cellular variant of the Moto X. The update adds cloud printing, improves battery life, and resolves an email sync issue. The OS boost also includes several bug fixes. The update is free to download and install.

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T-Mobile to Let Customers 'Jump' to New Phones More Often

T-Mobile today said that beginning February 23 customers of its Jump early upgrade program will be able to upgrade more often than twice per year. "Whenever you're ready to upgrade, trade in your device and T-Mobile will pay your remaining device payments up to 50% of the device cost," said T-Mobile in a statement provided to Fierce Wireless. "There is no more waiting period or limit to the number of times you can upgrade per year." T-Mobile is requiring that customers pay off half the cost of their phone before upgrading, though. Many phones carry a full retail price of $600 or more. T-Mobile's Jump plans carry a $10 premium over regular plan pricing. The more frequent upgrades mirror those offered under Verizon's Edge plans.

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Nokia Confident Microsoft Deal Will Close by End of March

Nokia today said that it expects Microsoft to finalize its acquisition of Nokia's handset business by March 31. The company issued a statement regarding some tax difficulties it is facing in India that could complicate the sale. Nokia said the issues won't delay the deal, which it looks forward to closing in the weeks ahead. Microsoft and Nokia had previously suggested the deal would close by the end of the first quarter, so it is running on schedule. Microsoft first proposed to buy Nokia's handset business in September last year. The deal is valued at $7.2 billion.

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LG Debuts L Series III Smartphones

LG today announced the third-generation collection of L Series smartphones, the L90, L70, and L40. All three devices run Android 4.4 KitKat with LG's user interface enhancements. The hardware puts LG's minimalistic design esthetic to use. Shared features include support for HSPA+ networks, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.

• L90: This is the largest and most well-equipped version of the three new L Series III devices. It has a 4.7-inch qHD display, quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 2,540mAh battery, and an 8-megapixel/1.3-megapixel camera configuration.
• L70: The L70 steps the display down to 4.5 inches and 800 x 400 resolution, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 2,100mAh battery, and an 8- or 5-megapixel/VGA camera configuration.
• L40: This entry-level phone features a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 1,700mAh battery and a 3-megapixel camera.

LG did not release pricing or availability details for the L Series III smartphones, though it did say they'll target markets limited to 3G.

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LG Reveals the G Pro 2 With 13MP Camera

LG today introduced the G Pro 2, a successor to last year's phablet. The G Pro 2 starts with a 5.9-inch 1080p HD display that is surrounded by a minimal amount of bezel. LG's KnockOn feature has evolved into Knock Code, which can be used to unlock the screen, as well as power the device on, thanks to tens of thousands of different knock codes. The G Pro 2 has a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. The camera can record video at 120 frames per second for slow motion, or in 4K ultra HD. The camera also includes Magic Focus, which lets users adjust the depth of field after the image is taken, a more natural flash for better skin tones, and a "flash" for self portraits that works by reducing the viewfinder on the screen and filling in the rest of the space with white light. Other software features include Content Lock for securing files, photos, videos and memos; Mini View, which shrinks the display to a smaller size on the screen for easier one-handed use; and Dual Browser, which lets users interact with two open browser windows on the screen at the same time. The LG G Pro 2 is powered by a 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 3GB of RAM and it ships with either 16 or 32GB of internal storage. It supports a range of LTE networks, in addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and NFC. It has a 3,200mAh battery and a 1 watt amplifier powering the speaker for louder ringtones and speakerphone performance. Pricing and availability have not net been determined.

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Google Play Music Improves Offline Support

Google recently made a small update to its Play Music application available to Android devices. New features include microSD card support for offline music on KitKat devices, as well as the ability to shuffle all songs from a single artist when using All Access. The app also makes it easier to share links to songs, artists, or albums through social networks. Google Play Music is free to download and use, but All Access costs $10 per month.

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Motorola CEO Woodside to Depart In March

Dennis Woodside, who served as the CEO of Motorola while it was under Google's ownership, announced plans to leave the company next month. Woodside will step down on March 31. Google's Jonathan Rosenberg will step in as COO at Motorola Mobility as of April 1. "I'm excited about what the next chapter in Motorola's storied history will bring under the new ownership of Lenovo," said Woodside in a blog post. "While Google imbued simplicity and software sensibility into the company, Lenovo will bring it the scale it deserves. I have no doubt the two companies together will be a force for good in the mobile industry." Woodside will take the COO position with Dropbox after he departs Motorola.

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BBM for Android and iOS Gains Voice and Channels

BlackBerry today made an updated version of its BBM messaging product available to Android and iOS devices. The update is significant, and adds hallmark features such as BBM Voice and BBM Channels. BBM Voice lets users make free calls to other BBM users via Wi-Fi or cellular data networks. BBM Channels is a social network of sorts, and lets users subscribe to the channels of those who they find interesting. The update also makes it easier to share photos, videos, and documents; adds support for Dropbox for file sharing; and adds a wide array of new emoticons. BBM 2.0 for Android and iOS is free to download from the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store, respectively. BlackBerry is also making a small update available to the BlackBerry version of BBM, which adds Dropbox integration. It is free to download from blackBerry World.

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Verizon Ramps Up Data Allotments, Trims Prices

Verizon Wireless today unfurled new rate plans in response to recent offerings from AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The "More Everything Plan" increases the data in some pricing tiers and drops the cost for some Verizon Edge plans. For example, all Edge customers choosing data plans up to 8GB will see their prices drop by $10 per month. Customers who have data buckets of 10GB and higher will see their prices drop by $20 per month. Verizon's Edge plans allow customers to pay for their device over time. Further, Verizon is bumping the $40 500MB plan to 1GB, the $50 1GB plan to 2GB, and the $60 2GB plan to 3GB. These changes will be applied automatically. The more devices that are added to a single account, the more customers can save. The More Everything plans are available starting today.

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Skype Makes Improvements to Chat Sync

Skype today revealed improvements to its mobile applications that answer common customer complaints. Moving forward, Skype will more reliably sync chat threads across multiple devices, be they smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The service now offers synced read receipts, as well, so users know their messages were delivered and read. The app has also been improved so that it opens faster, resumes quicker, and conserves power better. Individual apps for Windows Phone, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry should become available in their respective app stores over the next few days.

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Marriott App Adds Ability to Check Out from Phone

Marriott today updated its mobile application for Android and iOS devices and added one significant new feature: the ability to check out of hotel rooms directly from the phone. As long as users agree to receive push notifications, they'll be alerted the day of check out that they can do so via the app. Marriott guests need to fill in their email address to receive the bill, leave the keys in the room, and can then bypass the lobby check out entirely. The app already lets users check in up to two hours ahead of their arrival. According to Marriott, mobile check out is available at 326 locations in North America starting today, with 22 international hotels to follow next week. Marriott said all 500 of its global properties will offer mobile check out by the end of the year. The Marriott application is available to Android devices via the Google Play Store and iOS devices via the iTunes App Store.

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Sony Pushing Android 4.3 to Handful of Xperias

Sony today said the Android 4.3 system update is now available to a smattering of its Xperia devices. Owners of the Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V, and Xperia SP will be able to update their devices soon, though exact timing will depend on carrier and region.

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Review: Nokia Lumia Icon for Verizon Wireless

Verizon finally gets the Windows Phone it deserves in the Lumia Icon from Nokia. The Icon has a full HD screen, 20-megapixel camera, and many other enticements. Phone Scoop put them to the test in this full report.

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