Phone Scoop

AST SpaceMobile has signed new launch deals that will put a total of 60 new satellites into orbit over the next two years. This will complete its commercial network and enable the company to provide continuous cellular coverage from space over the whole United States, Europe, Japan, and other strategic markets globally. Blue Origin

The Boost Summit 5G is a very straightforward phone: it aims to be the most affordable 5G phone in the US, one that Boost can give away for free to new customers. In terms of features and specs, it has everything you'd expect this type of phone to have, and nothing you wouldn't. And yet there are a couple of things about this phone that might surprise you. Read on for our hands-on first impressions and rundown of what you need to know about the Summit 5G.

JLab has long made some of the most affordable Bluetooth accessories, but their new Go Pop ANC earbuds are something of a breakthrough. Never before have you been able to buy wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) for just $30. At that price, though, can they be any good? We took'em for a spin and have an answer for you with this quick hands- and ears-on report with our first impressions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) today finalized a rule to supervise the largest nonbank companies offering digital funds transfer and payment wallet apps, including Google and Apple tap-to-pay services. The CFPB will monitor companies handling more than 50 million transactions per year for compliance with federal law in three key areas: Privacy and Surveillance, Errors and Fraud, and Debanking. Affected companies will be required to make clear their data protection practices and provide adequate opt-outs for certain data collection and sharing practices. Affected companies must also properly investigate and address incorrect or fraudulent transactions. Finally, consumers will have protections against losing access to these services arbitrarily or without notice.

The FCC has approved a new Samsung phone that is almost certainly next year's Galaxy S25 flagship model. While the public approval documents contain little interesting detail and few surprises, they do confirm that the phone will include specific support for satellite service in the upper L-band (band 255). Verizon all but announced this capability when they recently

The FTC is issuing orders limiting how companies can collect and sell consumers' location data. Two companies — Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics Inc

The FCC is taking the final step in its plan to tackle the problem of nuisance and illegal robocalls once and for all. 2,411 voice service providers face being cut off from the US phone network as a result. These companies have failed to properly file certification in the Robocall Mitigation Database to demonstrate their level of

T-Mobile has launched a registration web page where any voice customer can sign up to potentially beta-test the company's forthcoming satellite coverage service. A limited number of spots are available in the program, so not everyone that signs up may be selected. The service enables two-way text messaging in areas where T-Mobile's land-based cellular network doesn't reach. It's powered by a constellation of 330 (and counting) new Starlink satellites that act like cell towers in space. Unlike some other satellite messaging services, it works with existing phones, doesn't require pointing your phone at a particular spot in the sky, and doesn't require a special messaging app. This step follows formal FCC permission to launch the service less than a month ago.