North America

Verizon Wireless is reported to be planning the launch of 3G netbooks later this month, removing its much-hyped 'Hub' home media device from its retail stores in order to clear space for the new product.

TeleGeography, citing a Financial Times Deutschland report, notes that mobile operators Vodafone Germany and T-Mobile Deutschland may back down from their refusal to sell Nokia handsets with Skype's VoIP software included.

Verizon Wireless has confirmed it is to launch a 3G netbook on 17 May.

T-Mobile USA has become the latest US mobile operator to move to settle a class action suit brought against it concerning so-called 'Early Termination Fees' (ETFs), the charges levied on consumers who break their mobile contracts early.

Verizon Wireless this week provided further details on timescale for deployment of its LTE network.

A report from Unstrung reveals major technical issues that global operators Orange and T-Mobile believe need to be resolved before LTE can be commercially viable, suggesting the two companies are not anticipating their own deployment of the technology in the short- to medium-term.

Investor rumours in the US this week suggest that AT&T is mulling the acquisition of rival US operator Leap Wireless, a regional provider that specialises in low-cost mobile phone deals.