by Bob Kovacs

Earlier this month, both Sprint and Verizon had free activation periods. This is a few-day event where customers can save some serious money by having hidden activation fees waived. Since the activation fee is $36, getting that amount waived is a great deal.

Now it’s T-Mobile’s turn the offer a free activation period, and like the others, there is a definite end date. In other words, if you want to save, you will have to get your order in before the free activation period ends. For this free activation event, the good news comes to an end at midnight on Feb. 21, 2012. Free activation is good for new lines and add-a-lines — it is not applicable for phone/line upgrades. Read more…

by Bob Kovacs

If you love cell phones, you need to participate in Wirefly’s Fan Frenzy Sweepstakes. Going on right now through Feb. 29, 2012, the Fan Frenzy Sweepstakes will give away up to six great new phones. However, the number of phones Wirefly gives away depends on the number of new “Like” clicks we get on our Facebook page, so plan on telling your friends to visit Wirefly on Facebook and click the Like button for the Sweepstakes.

The sweepstakes works by “unlocking” phones when we reach various levels of Facebook Likes. The more Likes Wirefly gets, the better the chances that we will reach those levels and unlock more phones. Starting with a BlackBerry Bold, the prizes expand to include an HTC Rhyme, two Motorola DROID RAZRs and two Motorola DROID 4s. These are all nice phones that have plenty of fans, so join the Fan Frenzy Sweepstakes and get in on the fun! Read more…

by Bob Kovacs

It was major news in the cellular industry last year when AT&T announced it would acquire T-Mobile. This massive deal remained at the top of the news throughout 2011, and the headlines just got bigger as the acquisition attempt went down in flames by year end. All the coverage of the AT&T/T-Mobile non-deal obscured a second big merger in the industry, when Google announced last summer that it would acquire Motorola Mobility, a major manufacturer of cell phones and tablets.

There was some skepticism about the Google-Motorola deal, but it looks like the merger has passed its final governmental approvals and will happen shortly. Now the question is: What does this mean for cell phones and tablets in particular, and the cellular industry in general? Read more…