WEATHER ALERT
Phone deal for visiting fans at 2026 World Cup part of Verizon sponsor pact with FIFA
Read full article: Phone deal for visiting fans at 2026 World Cup part of Verizon sponsor pact with FIFASoccer fans arriving in North America for the 2026 World Cup have been promised help with their cell phone coverage.
Marketing exec wants to shift Verizon's transactional image into one more tied to people's lives
Read full article: Marketing exec wants to shift Verizon's transactional image into one more tied to people's livesVerizon Communications has long enjoyed its position as the leading provider of mobile services in the United States.
Massive cell phone outage makes you wonder: Are we too reliant on our mobile devices?
Read full article: Massive cell phone outage makes you wonder: Are we too reliant on our mobile devices?Thursday’s nationwide outage affected thousands of Americans as wireless carriers such as AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile and other providers scrambled to fix the issue.
AT&T's network is having problems: What you should know while navigating a phone service outage
Read full article: AT&T's network is having problems: What you should know while navigating a phone service outageCustomers of AT&T, the country’s largest wireless provider, are reporting widespread outages.
AT&T wireless service restored for all affected customers after hours-long nationwide outage
Read full article: AT&T wireless service restored for all affected customers after hours-long nationwide outageAT&T says the hourslong outage to its U.S. cellphone network appeared to be the result of a technical error, not a malicious attack.
AT&T wireless service restored after hours-long nationwide outage; company apologizes to affected customers
Read full article: AT&T wireless service restored after hours-long nationwide outage; company apologizes to affected customersA number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector.
Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to claim top spot on Billboard's country music chart
Read full article: Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to claim top spot on Billboard's country music chartBeyoncé is making history once again: The superstar singer became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart.
Beyoncé drops new songs 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages.' New music 'Act II' will arrive in March
Read full article: Beyoncé drops new songs 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages.' New music 'Act II' will arrive in MarchBeyoncé is back with two new country tracks — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”.
Verizon, AT&T delay some 5G service over airlines' concerns
Read full article: Verizon, AT&T delay some 5G service over airlines' concernsVerizon and AT&T won't power up some wireless towers near airports until next summer to give airlines more time to make sure the new service won't interfere with planes.
EXPLAINER: Why airlines fear 5G will upend travel this week
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why airlines fear 5G will upend travel this weekThe airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.
AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarm
Read full article: AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarmAT&T and Verizon say they will delay some new 5G wireless service after the airline industry raised alarms about potential interference with important systems on planes.
Biden says deal with telecoms avoids flight disruptions
Read full article: Biden says deal with telecoms avoids flight disruptionsTelecom giants AT&T and Verizon have agreed to postpone the launch of a new slice of 5G wireless service after airlines and aviation groups complained that the networks can interfere with systems on board planes.
Critical entities targeted in suspected Chinese cyber spying
Read full article: Critical entities targeted in suspected Chinese cyber spyingA cyberespionage campaign blamed on China was more sweeping than previously known, with suspected state-backed hackers exploiting a device meant to boost internet security to penetrate the computers of critical U.S. entities.
Buffett's firm reveals new investments in Verizon, Chevron
Read full article: Buffett's firm reveals new investments in Verizon, ChevronBuffetts company made major new investments in Verizon and Chevron and again trimmed its huge stake in Apple while making several other adjustments to its stock portfolio in 2020. – Warren Buffett's company made major new investments in Verizon and Chevron and again trimmed its huge stake in Apple while making several other adjustments to its stock portfolio last year. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said in regulatory filings Tuesday that it bought $8.6 billion worth of Verizon stock and picked up $4.1 billion worth of Chevron shares over the last six months of 2020. AdIn addition to those large new investments, Berkshire also revealed a new stake in professional services firm Marsh & McLennan that's worth roughly $499 million. In addition to the three new investments, Berkshire also added to its relatively new holdings in drugmakers Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbvie and Merck.
Widespread internet outages hit northeast U.S.
Read full article: Widespread internet outages hit northeast U.S.Users across the northeast U.S. reported widespread internet outages Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)Internet users across the northeast U.S. experienced widespread outages for several hours Tuesday, interrupting work and school because of an unspecified Verizon network issue. “An internet issue impacting the quality of our Fios service throughout the Northeast has been resolved," said spokesman Rich Young in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon. People posting on Twitter reported having issues connecting with various online services in the region stretching from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Comcast, another major internet service provider, said it had not observed problems with its network Tuesday.
BuzzFeed buying HuffPost from Verizon for undisclosed price
Read full article: BuzzFeed buying HuffPost from Verizon for undisclosed priceBuzzFeed is buying HuffPost from Verizon as part of a bigger deal that has the wireless giant investing in the digital-media company. Verizon will be a minority shareholder in BuzzFeed and the two companies will partner on content and ads. That Verizon Media business, which also includes tech blogs TechCrunch and Engadget as well as Yahoo, has struggled. Peretti said he wants “BuzzFeed News to be more BuzzFeedy and HuffPost to be more HuffPosty.”As part of the deal, Verizon will keep putting HuffPost stories on its Yahoo sites. Guru Gowrappan, the head of Verizon's media business, said the company is “fully committed to the growth of the media business” and has “no plans to sell” any other properties.
Verizon joins ad boycott of Facebook over hateful content
Read full article: Verizon joins ad boycott of Facebook over hateful contentWe have strict content policies in place and have zero tolerance when they are breached, we take action," New York-based Verizon said in a statement. Were pausing our advertising until Facebook can create an acceptable solution that makes us comfortable." In its own statement, Facebook executive Carolyn Everson said the company respected Verizon's decision and remains committed to purging hateful content from its services. Other advertisers who have pledged to stay off Facebook and other company services such as Instagram include three major outdoor gear companies, Patagonia, The North Face and REI. Common Sense, one of the boycott organizers, said other companies who have agree to pause their Facebook advertising include retailer Eddie Bauer, web browser maker Mozilla and and a movie studio, Magnolia Pictures.
Cellphone service not working? You are not alone
Read full article: Cellphone service not working? You are not aloneDowndetector was reporting that the four major cell phone providers — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon — had experienced outages. T-Mobile peaked with 119,138 users reporting problems, according to Downdetector. Users across social media had also been vocal about cell service issues. Sprint peaked at 1,794. LINK: Check mobile phone outages with Downdetector
Hollywood-backed Quibi thinks you'll pay for its video bites
Read full article: Hollywood-backed Quibi thinks you'll pay for its video bitesThe company behind this billion-dollar bet is Quibi (KWIH-bee), which is preparing to offer movies, shows and other short form video designed for viewing in short bursts on mobile devices. Company executives argued at CES that Quibi will offer the first entertainment platform designed exclusively for the phone. “'Paid premium short form' (video) has never been in the same sentence. Quibi executives at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas showed off technology on Wednesday designed to make video viewing on the phone easier. For instance, it will let you watch full-screen video whether you hold the phone upright or sideways.
People just received messages originally sent on Valentine's Day
Read full article: People just received messages originally sent on Valentine's DayPixabay(CNN) - Text messages received overnight on Wednesday caused confusion, misunderstandings and even alarm for some recipients. The messages appear to have originally been sent on February 14, Valentine's Day, but were received more than eight months later with Wednesday's time stamp. The issue occurred across all four major carriers in the United States and affected both Apple and Android devices. Some said they received text messages from ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends that led to awkward conversations. The person who originally sent the text should have a record of the message in their archives.
AT&T to pay $60M over claims about misleading 'unlimited' data plans
Read full article: AT&T to pay $60M over claims about misleading 'unlimited' data plansAT&T, which is CNN's parent company, allegedly started throttling, or slowing speeds, for customers with unlimited data plans in 2011, according to the FTC. In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission fined AT&T $100 million for similar allegations about misleading "unlimited" plans. The FCC found AT&T subjected unlimited data plan customers to slower speeds after they used more than a certain amount of data per billing cycle. "AT&T promised unlimited data without qualification and failed to deliver on that promise," FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith said in a press release. In July 2014, Verizon faced criticism from the FCC over plans to throttle the connections of unlimited data plan customers.
Verizon partnership aims to show how 5G will disrupt manufacturing
Read full article: Verizon partnership aims to show how 5G will disrupt manufacturingFor months, Verizon has been inviting leaders from various industries to test possible applications of 5G in specialized labs across the country. But in a new partnership with industrial manufacturer Corning, Verizon aims to demonstrate the real life impact of the technology right now, by deploying and testing the effects of a 5G network in one of Corning's largest manufacturing facilities. The companies will work together to test existing theories and develop new solutions for how 5G can make manufacturing more efficient, effective and safe. And it might need the boost Verizon has invested slightly less than its main competitor AT&T in 5G infrastructure. "There isn't a company in the world that doesn't want to talk to Verizon right now because they understand the power and potential of 5G," Erwin said.
Verizon to offer customers free year of Disney+
Read full article: Verizon to offer customers free year of Disney+NEW YORK - Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney's new video streaming service. It extends to certain new and existing unlimited 4G and 5G customers at Verizon, as well as the vast majority of new home-internet customers. Other streaming services are also offering free introductory periods in an attempt to ensure early exposure to a big audience. And AT&T, which will launch HBO Max next year, today throws in HBO free for wireless customers on unlimited plans. Netflix also teams up with T-Mobile to offer free service to its streaming service.
Tumblr to get third owner in six years
Read full article: Tumblr to get third owner in six yearsVerizon said Monday it has agreed to sell Tumblr to Automattic, the parent company of Wordpress.com. The move will make Automattic the third company to own Tumblr in just six years. "Tumblr is one of the Web's most iconic brands," Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg said in a statement. Yahoo acquired Tumblr for $1.1 billion in 2013, making it the largest acquisition of former CEO Marissa Mayer's tenure. In a statement Monday, Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan said the deal to sell off Tumblr was "the culmination of a thoughtful, thorough and strategic process."
DOJ approves T-Mobile's mega-merger with Sprint
Read full article: DOJ approves T-Mobile's mega-merger with SprintJustin Sullivan/Getty Images; Joe Raedle/Getty Images(CNN) - T-Mobile's mega-merger with Sprint can move forward, the Justice Department said Friday, paving the way for an unprecedented combination of America's third- and fourth-largest wireless providers. For weeks, Sprint and T-Mobile have been negotiating an agreement with the DOJ to address concerns that the merger may harm competition. Those airwaves could help rural Americans gain access to mobile Internet, according to the Justice Department. The Sprint and T-Mobile merger would help fulfill those goals, he said. The states, Sprint and T-Mobile have agreed to a trial date of Oct. 7 in federal court in New York.