Motorola’s Moto G Might Stand for “Great” Budget Phone

Willing to sacrifice 4G/LTE? Moto G, at $179, is the mid-range, contract-free phone to beat.

Voices

Google’s Moto G Skating on Thin Margins

The Journal has a “teardown” analysis of Google’s new Moto G smartphone, and the results may not be good news for Apple or Samsung.

Katie Couric Deal to Become Yahoo’s “Global News Anchor” Set to Be Announced Monday

It looks like the deal that AllThingsD wrote about in August is finally happening.

T-Mobile Partners With Shakira as Part of Uncarrier 3.0 Launch in New York Next Week

The company is giving its customers thousands of free tickets to a Shakira concert in Bryant Park.

Is Ford’s Alan Mulally Now in the Lead to Be New CEO of Microsoft?

Can the car maker fix what ails the tech giant?

Exclusive: Yahoo Loses Its Media Head, as Mickie Rosen Ankles From Company

Will this move cause CEO Marissa Mayer to focus on media?

The Economics That Make T-Mobile’s Jump Program Possible — And Intriguing

So is T-Mobile’s new upgrade program a good deal for the carrier or the customer? Surprisingly, the answer may be yes, for both parties.

News Byte

Virgin Mobile Adds iPhone 5 to Prepaid Lineup

Virgin Mobile USA is bringing the iPhone 5 to its lineup of prepaid phones next week, offering it through its Beyond Talk plans, which start at $35 a month. Of course, the phone itself will range from $550 to $750, depending on storage size. Virgin Mobile is not the first brand to offer the iPhone 5 through prepaid options: Cricket Wireless and AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone brand also offer or support the iPhone 5, while T-Mobile sells the iPhone 5 starting at $580 without a contract, and Walmart sells the device through Straight Talk, sans contract, for $649.

Yahoo Hires Longtime McKinsey Exec DeVine to Head Global Ops

Exec ho! A new big hire at Yahoo.

AT&T on T-Mobile’s New Rate Plans: “Whatever”

Meanwhile, Sprint said its mix of contract and no-contract plans offers customers the best of both worlds.