Mobile Lowdown 9-19-11: AT&T; Google Wallet; Amazon Android Forking; Sony

By Ingrid Lunden Sep. 19, 2011, 3:41pm Comments Off
AT&T LTE Coverage Map, Detail

A look at some of the big stories today in mobile:

» AT&T (NYSE: T) has started to light up its LTE network. First online will be the cities of Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston in Texas; Atlanta, Georgia and Chicago. The aim is to cover 15 markets and 70 million Americans by the end of 2011. (AT&T release, coverage map)

» AT&T has approached smaller carriers like Leap Wireless, MetroPCS, CenturyLink, Dish Network (NSDQ: DISH), and Sprint (NYSE: S) to sell off assets to help secure its deal with T-Mobile. Meanwhile, seven states have joined the voices opposing the merger. (Bloomberg, Dow Jones)

» Google Wallet, the company’s foray into mobile payments, could be launching today. Meanwhile, Orange has launched the first phone equipped to be used with its new NFC service, the Samsung Galaxy S II. (TechCrunch, Orange)

» Looking at operating systems versions as “circles”, and what that says about Windows 8 from Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). (Asymco)

» Amazon’s alleged “forked” Android for its reported new tablet could be a good thing for the tablet market. (PCMag)

» The mobile phone “bonanza” is over, says Ovum. And demand in developing markets will not offset that. (Guardian)

» Apple is expected to open new stores in Shanghai and Beijing this week. (TNW)

» Sony’s new Reader app will work only on its new tablets. (via Eurodroid)