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From iPhones to mergers to patent wars, it has been quite the year in the world of telecommunications. Despite all the big industry news swirling around this year, the public was left with very few answers.

Early adopters, this is the battle you've been waiting for. Samsung Focus S and HTC Titan are two of the best smartphones out there with the Microsoft system running their insides. Windows Phone 7 replaced Windows Mobile as Microsoft's mobile operating system in 2010. Now, with an updated 7.5 version, called Mango, the Windows Phone system is ready to duke it out with the likes of Android and Apple.

AT&T Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp asked a U.S. court on Tuesday to delay hearings in their private litigation over whether the telecommunications giant can buy T-Mobile USA, and the judge promptly agreed.

Raymond James has lowered its profit estimates of telecom giant AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), which is facing several regulatory roadblocks in its $39 billion deal to acquire T-Mobile USA, a subsidiary of Germany's Deutsche Telekom.

AT&T and Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile's parent company, asked Judge Ellen Huvelle of the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. Monday to delay the trial with the U.S. Department of Justice over the proposed $39 billion merger, which she has granted.

The Justice Department and AT&T asked the judge hearing a lawsuit aimed at stopping the telecommunications giant from buying T-Mobile USA to stay the court fight on Monday, another blow to an already troubled deal.

AT&T seeks a review of the FCC decision on the grounds that it exceeds the Commission's authority; is contrary to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise contrary to law.

Washington D.C.-based District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle on Friday called for an additional hearing next Thursday to determine the status of the U.S. Department of Justice's case against the AT&T/T-Mobile USA merger.

The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it would seek to stay or dismiss its lawsuit to stop AT&T Inc's purchase of T-Mobile USA because AT&T withdrew its application with the Federal Communications Commission, which must approve the deal.

The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it would seek to stay or dismiss its lawsuit to stop AT&T Inc's purchase of T-Mobile USA because AT&T withdrew its application with the Federal Communications Commission, which must approve the deal.

The Justice Department said on Friday it would seek to postpone its legal challenge to AT&T's $39 billion proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, dealing another blow to the fragile deal.

The U.S. Department of Justice doesn't want to go to trial until the companies reapply for merger with the Federal Communications Commission.

Speaking at Bloomberg's Captain of Industry series, Stephenson said AT&T's capacity to keep up with wireless demand has been strained and Congress hasn't adequately addressed antiquated policies regarding the wireless industry.

With the millions of iPhones, BlackBerrys and Androids sold in the U.S., the massive demand for data use is far exceeding the supply of spectrum - the range of all possible frequencies through which signals can be transmitted.

AT&T, the second largest U.S. wireless carrier, is on track to smash record smartphone sales in the fourth quarter as the company revealed on Wednesday that it has already sold six million smartphones in the first two months.

The battle between smartphones with near identical specifications is getting more intense day-by-day. Among those phones with similar features are the HTC Vivid and the LG Nitro HD. However, the Nitro HD outshines the Vivid, with a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor and its True HD AH-IPS display.

U.S. telecom giant AT&T, Inc. (NYSE:T) said it sold about 6 million smartphones in the first two months of the fourth quarter and expects to break the previous single-quarter smartphone sales record of 6.1 million, thanks mainly to Apple iPhone 4S.

AT&T's Web site lists the HTC Vivid at $100 on contract and the LG Nitro HD at $150, and both devices have 4.5-inch screens to go along with AT&T's new LTE network. They both also feature eight megapixel cameras with 1080p video capture and speedy dual-core processors. While the Vivid is only a few weeks old, the Nitro is brand new, and just squeaks past the Vivid on a few key items

AT&T Inc plans to forge ahead with its deal to buy Deutsche Telekom's U.S. wireless unit despite fierce regulatory opposition, and it has the financial resources to close the acquisition quickly, a top executive said on Wednesday.

The LG Nitro HD smartphone, made available on AT&T's networks on Sunday, is expected to face immense pressure from Samsung's Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, which, along with the HTC Vivid will be the first AT&T 4G LTE-capable smartphones.

Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is steadily making progress on its ambition to enter consumers' living rooms, via its own television sets called iTV, which are expected to be launched in the first half of 2012.

HTC Corp has no plans for now to change its fourth-quarter sales guidance, as shares in the world's No.4 smartphone maker tumbled nearly 7 percent on Wednesday on worries that a 30 percent drop in monthly sales may point to worse times ahead.

AT&T and Sprint Nextel Corp. agreed in separate court filings Tuesday that Sprint's legal case against the $39 billion AT&T/T-Mobile USA merger should begin after the trial with the U.S. Department of Justice is complete, Bloomberg reported.

Verizon Wireless was the best-ranked provider in overall satisfaction out of the four major U.S. cell carriers. AT&T was at the bottom of the list for the second year in a row.

Charter Communications CEO Michael Lovett said the St. Louis-based cable company may be interested in forging an agreement with Verizon Wireless, according to Bloomberg. No other details were released regarding the plan.

Holiday shoppers may have taken a breather after busy Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. However, the traffic in big box retailers, smaller format stores and carrier stores was strong.

LG Nitro HD smartphone, made available on AT&T Sunday, is expected to feel lots of burden from Samsung Galaxy S2, which is considered to be the best Android smartphone yet.

AT&T is adding another device to its growing LTE network lineup, but the LG Nitro HD will have to hit the turbo chargers to take down the Ice Cream Sandwich powered Galaxy Nexus. While the world waits for Verizon to release the Galaxy Nexus, Dec. 4 will see the launch of the LG Nitro HD, a 4.5-inch screen speed demon.

AT&T said Monday that Nitro HD smartphone from LG would be made available through its stores and online from Dec. 4 for $249.99 with two-year contract. LG Nitro HD is expected fell immense pressure from Apple iPhone 4S.