CellPhone

Far too many customers aren't paying their phone bills on time, if you ask the phone companies. Three of the top four submitters to third-party collection agencies are major telephone carriers. And the reasons why should come as no surprise.

Cellphones are ubiquitous, and smartphones have basically put hand-held computers in our pockets. Sadly, though, our must-have mobile devices include a built-in, terrible component: human suffering.

Right now, Verizon is winning the war to grab cell customers from AT&T and Sprint-Nextel. But is its wireless network right for you? Even though they've all ratcheted up speeds, there are material differences between them. Here are tips on picking the right one for your habits.

Few people would willingly carry around a device that tracks their movements, records their conversations, and keeps tabs on all the people they talk to. But, according to documents recently released by the American Civil Liberties Union, cell phone companies are doing all of that -- and may be passing the information on to law enforcement agencies.

Hundreds of thousands of borrowers who are behind on their federal student loans could soon receive some unwanted -- and expensive -- attention. A provision in President Obama's deficit reduction plan would allow debt collectors to chase down delinquent borrowers on their cell phones.

Communication is increasingly moving off the grid and into the cloud. For cellphone users -- especially ones with smartphones -- there are a host of online tools and apps that can help reduce usage on carrier plans and save money. Here are a half dozen easy options.

The intellectual property battle between Samsung and Apple has grown a bit more serious: Samsung has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to block the importation of iPads, iPhones, and iPods into the United States for patent violations. It's not a hollow threat.

Based on Sprint's improving average revenue per user for mobile data service and the growth rate of its subscriber base, Trefis has raised its outlook for the telecom giant.

The news that the U.S.'s No. 2 wireless carrier, AT&T, is buying No. 4 carrier T-Mobile has squelched hopes that T-Mobile would join forces with Sprint. What else does this deal mean for the No. 3 carrier?

SprintNextel and T-Mobile USA are reportedly discussing another tie-up, as both companies seek to stop the flow of customers defecting to larger cell-phone service providers. In the past, the carriers have mulled a merger but haven't been able to agree on who would acquire whom.