Bringing Inexpensive Mobile Access to Researchers in Antarctica

A unique approach combines some of the benefits of walkie-talkies and satellite phones while using ordinary cellphones connected to a base station from startup Range Networks.

Voices

U.S. to Consider Cellphone Use on Planes

The Federal Communications Commission will propose allowing passengers to use their cellphones on airplanes, people familiar with the matter said.

FCC Chairman Wants Carriers to Start Unlocking Phones Pronto

Act by the holidays or face FCC action, Tom Wheeler says in a letter to the cellphone trade group CTIA.

Texting Can Be Good for Relationships (But Also Really Bad)

Also, men who rely on texting are seen as not taking the relationship seriously.

Nokia Unveils Lumia 1520, 1320 Phablets; Instagram Finally Coming to Windows Phone

OMG, the Instagram Windows Phone app is finally coming! Oh, and supersized Windows Phone devices.

News Byte

BlackBerry Q10 Finally Comes to Sprint August 30

Sprint customers who have been patiently waiting all summer for the BlackBerry Q10 will finally be able to get their hands on the physical-keyboard-equipped smartphone on Aug. 30. The cost is $200 with a two-year contract. The Q10 also offers a 3.1-inch touchscreen, international roaming and 4G LTE support. And while the Q10 has been available from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile since June, Sprint is touting its unlimited smartphones plans as an advantage (natch). You can read more about the Q10 in Katie Boehret’s review here.

T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Plans Promise Early Upgrades, but the Devil’s in the Details

Which carrier offers the best upgrade program?

Verizon Looks to Edge Out Competition With Six-Month Upgrade Program

Verizon joins AT&T and T-Mobile in offering a new phone-upgrade program.

Good News, Germaphobes: Corning Working on Bacteria-Killing Smartphone Screens

Eww. Your smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat.

Sony Xperia Z Coming Exclusively to T-Mobile

No pricing or release date yet, though.