2 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Mobile Archive

Archives for January 2024

Allison Johnson
Allison Johnson
5G, but in space.

AST SpaceMobile, which is building the first space-based cellular network, recently secured new investments from some familiar names: AT&T, Google, and Vodafone.

Adding up to $306.5 million, that’s a hefty vote of confidence in the company’s approach, which would harness a fleet of low-orbit satellites to make direct connections to smartphones — no special equipment required. Who knows? Space 5G could be coming to Android phones sooner than later.

A group of people in blue lab coats stand behind a very large satellite array.
Image: AST Mobile via Business Wire
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Verizon sees a future in streaming bundles.

Verizon already offers a Disney Plus package, along with its new Netflix and Max bundle, but the company plans on announcing “more bundles and perks this year,” The Information reports.

That includes bundles with “several services” and not just two. As more people cut cable for streaming, The Information notes Verizon is likely looking to act as a middle-man to help users manage their services — all while getting a cut of those subscriptions.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Oppo pays Nokia, setting the OnePlus 12 free.

Nokia — the telecom giant, not the logo on HMD phones — is still a smartphone force to be reckoned with. Oppo and its sub-brand OnePlus learned this the hard way after infringing upon Nokia’s patents and being forced to stop sales in Germany and other European countries. The new deal solves that, just in time for the flagship OnePlus 12’s release.

OnePlus 12 review: refreshingly basic

7

Verge Score

While Samsung and Google were busy shipping AI features as fast as possible, OnePlus doubled down on the essentials.

Allison Johnson
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
The phone that got the worst score in Verge history is still kicking.

ICYMI, we discovered the founder of Leia is using a Red Hydrogen as his daily driver. The phone was one of our flops of the decade, and made our list of the worst gadgets we’ve touched. But... the maker of its screen is not only alive, but thriving! Take a look:

Jon Porter
Jon Porter
HMD minus the Nokia bit.

91Mobiles has a render of what might just be the first smartphone from HMD Global to be branded as an HMD, rather than a Nokia, device. HMD Global CEO Jean-Francois Baril announced the new initiative last year, adding that the company plans to continue releasing Nokia phones alongside its HMD-branded devices.

An unnamed HMD phone from the front and back.
The phone has the model number N159V, but it’s unclear what its consumer name could be.
Image: HMD / 91Mobiles
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Will you let Bard write a text to friends?

9to5Google found code within the Google Messages app that suggests it’s going to add Bard to “help you write messages, translate languages, identify images, and explore interests.” The feature, codenamed “penpal,” will reportedly put Bard in a standalone chat where you can ask it to generate ideas, identify images, and make suggestions.