Huawei Pulls Back on Network Side, but Still Hopes to Build U.S. Brand for Phones

Huawei EVP Colin Giles says the company doesn’t have an Apple- or Samsung-level marketing budget, but needs to somehow build its brand in order to compete beyond the entry-level phone market.

AT&T’s Aio Wireless Prepaid Unit Suffers Service Outage

The relatively new prepaid division was dealing with a service outage as of late Monday night. No timetable was given for when service would be restored.

Taking Aim at Cricket, T-Mobile Moves MetroPCS Into 15 New Markets

The company is also adding Nokia’s Lumia 521 and LG’s Optimus F3 to its device lineup as it looks to enter new territory.

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AT&T to Acquire Leap Wireless for $1.19 Billion in Cash

AT&T Inc. agreed to acquire prepaid-wireless company Leap Wireless International Inc., the company behind the Cricket brand, for about $1.19 billion in cash.

U.S. Cellular Gives In to iPhone Pressure, Says It Will Start Selling Apple Devices

After long maintaining that selling the iPhone didn’t make financial sense, the Chicago-based carrier says it will start selling Apple products later this year.

Leap iPhone Sales More of a Worrisome Hop

Unsold iPhones could become a problem for Leap Wireless.

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Leap Wireless to Spin Off Muve Music Unit

Leap, which offers service under the Cricket brand, launched the on-demand music service in January 2011. By creating a new company, Leap hopes to license the service to other carriers and has an agreement in principle with an unnamed international wireless carrier, spokesman Greg Lund said.

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Leap Wireless Left Out of the Telecom Consolidation, For Now

With potential acquirers preoccupied with other deals, any move involving Leap isn’t expected soon.

Global iPhone 5 Rollout Continues, Tight Supplies Be Damned

The iPhone 5’s aggressive rollout continues — 22 new markets and nearly a dozen new rural carriers.

News Byte

Leap Wireless Finalizes $120 Million Spectrum Sale to Verizon

Prepaid carrier Leap Wireless, which sells under the Cricket brand, said on Tuesday it had completed a deal to sell $120 million worth of airwave rights to Verizon Wireless. The deal covers spectrum in various U.S. cities and also involves Leap gaining some new frequencies in Chicago.