Sales of NFC-enabled devices are expected to accelerate from 2013 onwards, with the availability of a larger range of mobile NFC handsets and an improved contactless POS infrastructure, Click here for more.

Verizon Communications, parent company of Verizon Wireless, has filed an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hoping to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's decision to adopt net neutrality rules. The FCC published the rules in final form last week, are they are set to go into effect November 20. Verizon's general counsel said in a statement, "Verizon is fully committed to an open Internet. We are deeply concerned by the FCC's assertion of broad authority to impose potentially sweeping and unneeded regulations on broadband networks and services and on the Internet itself. We believe this assertion of authority is inconsistent with the statute and will create uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers." Verizon opposed the original draft of the net neutrality rules earlier this year, but its lawsuit against the FCC was tossed out of court on a technicality. Verizon's appeal of the net neutrality rules today was expected. This week, the Free Press also sued the FCC looking to prevent the net neutrality rules from becoming law.

Egypt's telecoms regulator, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has announced that its plan to increase the length of the current mobile numbers from 10 to 11 digits will come into effect from the 6th October 2011. Click here for more.

Sony Ericsson today announced that the Sony Ericsson Xperia ray is now available unlocked in the U.S. for $424.99. The Xperia ray features a 8.1 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera, a 3.3" Mobile BRAVIA display and ...

The Puerto Rico Department of Justice has added its voice to the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against AT&T. Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico, Guillermo A. Somoza Colombani, filed today in the Federal District Court in Washington, D.C. claiming that if AT&T is allowed to acquire T-Mobile USA, it would violate antitrust laws. "Through this action, the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico seeks to ensure safeguarding the benefit of a competitive market to Puerto Rican consumers. As the transaction is proposed, it would result in a substantial lessening of competition in the relevant geographic market for mobile telecommunications services, both in Puerto Rico, and the rest of the nation." Sprint was quick to commend the government of Puero Rico for its actions today. "Consumers in Puerto Rico, and indeed across the country, should welcome this news. After a comprehensive and thorough antitrust investigation, the Attorney General Somoza-Colombani has come to the same conclusion as these other law enforcement officials: AT&T's proposed takeover of T-Mobile will harm consumers and hurt competition in the wireless industry."

Digia -- which is a supplier to Nokia -- has announced that it is cutting 170 jobs, belonging mainly to the company's Mobile Solutions segment, from the sites in Helsinki, Jyv?skyl?, Oulu and Tampere. Click here for more.

Italy's 4G spectrum auction has ended, with the government raising EUR3.95 billion (US$5.4 billion), significantly more than the original estimate of EUR3.1 billion. Click here for more.

AT&T has asked the U.S. District Court to dimiss the lawsuit filed against it by Sprint. The Sprint lawsuit was filed in conjunction with the Department of Justice's lawsuit, which seeks to prevent AT&T from purchasing T-Mobile. Sprint has argued that the acquisition will hurt competition and raise consumer prices since the deal was first announced. These are the arguments also being made by the Justice Department. AT&T, however, says that Sprint has no standing in the matter. "Sprint cannot wrap itself in the cloak of wireless service consumers' interest because Sprint is not a consumer but instead a competitor in the sale of wireless services," the filing read, in part. AT&T is preparing to face the Justice Department in court on February 13. Vonya B. McCann, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Sprint responded to AT&T's filing. "AT&T's motion is without merit, and Sprint will respond to it next Friday and continue to cooperate with Judge Huvelle as she seeks to efficiently try both this case and the Justice Department's case against AT&T."

Sony Ericsson today announced that it is making the Xperia Ray Android smartphone available to buyers in the U.S. via newgg.com and other online retailers. The Xperia Ray Xperia Ray runs Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread and features an 8.1-megapixel camera with an Exmor CMOS sensor, face detection/recognition, autofocus, touch-to-focus, and 720p HD video capture, and a 3.3-inch Reality Display with the Mobile Bravia Engine. The Xperia Ray retails for $429.99 and is sold without a contract. it is compatible with AT&T's 3G network.

Cox Wireless recently announced that it has completed the roll-out of wireless services to its entire footprint in the state of California. It has added the markets of San Diego and Santa Barbara to its existing coverage in Orange County. Now, all Cox Communications cable/internet customers can also choose Cox Wireless cell service if they so choose. Cox also offers wireless services in a handful of other markets, including Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., Rhode Island; Hampton Roads and Roanoke, Va.; and portions of Connecticut and Cleveland, Ohio. Cox Wireless said it is on target to cover more than 50% of its cable/internet footprint with wireless by the end of this year. Markets planned for later this year include Topeka and Wichita, Kan., and much of northwest Arkansas.

Google today announced an update to its OnTheFly trip-planning application for the Android platform. OnTheFly 1.2 for Android adds flexible date search for up to 35 days out from the day the search is performed; the ability to save and access search history; and the ability to see price changes for saved itineraries. The software is a free update from the Android Market. OnTheFly 1.1 is available for the iPhone and BlackBerry devices via their respective app stores.

Sprint today announced via its official Twitter feed the availability of a new voicemail-to-text application for BlackBerry devices. The app translates voicemails into text messages and/or emails and then sends them to the customer's BlackBerry. The messages can then be read, rather than listened to, and easily responded to with a single click. The application is compatible with the BlackBerry Bold, Curve, Tour, Style and Touch. it is free to use for 30 days, after which customers will be charged $1.99 per month.

OtterBox today released The Reflex Series for iPad 2 case which has a slimmer design that is easy to install, use and carry. Here is more info on this new iPad 2 case from OtterBox: Pockets ...

Although Amazon has just launched an Android based tablet, the company is also reported to be mulling a bid to buy the former Palm OS owned by Hewlett-Packard. Click here for more.

Intel recently announced that it has signed an agreement to buy TelMap. TelMap provides end-to-end mobile local search, mapping, and navigation services. Intel plans to incorporate TelMap's technology and services into its mobile software offerings, and will also be able to provide AppUp developers with location APIs (application programming interfaces) that draw from TelMap's data. TelMap will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.