​The MTA has released the full list of 31 subway stations that are in line to get cell phone service. It already exists in some subway stations for AT&T and T-Mobile customers, as you may have noticed if you've already fantasized about snatching some loudmouth's phone away and throwing it on the tracks. These are the next stations getting service (including major ones like Times Square and Columbus Circle):

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Asking for it.

​So far this year, over 40 percent of thefts in New York have involved cell phones. According to Sen. Chuck Schumer, it's because of all the fancy smartphones out there. "The use of iPhones and smart phones is exploding, but unfortunately so are thefts of these expensive devices," Schumer said yesterday. If the thefts continue apace, there will be over 11,000 phones stolen in New York City this year.

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SCAB!

​Forty-five thousand union workers for Verizon went on strike across the Eastern seaboard at midnight last night after labor negotiations faltered. Communications Workers America says that Verizon is demanding "more than 100 concessions from workers regarding health care, pensions and work rules." NBC reports more than 50 workers picketed the communications giant's headquarters at 140 West Street this morning. Verizon management assures that this will cause "limited disruption in service," so feel free to blame dropped calls on UFOs, the Illuminati or weak Trade Winds -- just don't blame the strike.

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Strange bedfellows.

​And lo, one crappy service provider acquires another. AT&T announced today that it's buying T-Mobile USA for $39 billion from Deutsche Telekom. If the two companies fully merge, the deal will give AT&T another 46.5 million customers in America, pushing it way past Verizon and leaving Sprint as the awkward outsider. So T-Mobile will probably get the iPhone, Verizon's gotten the iPhone, and us Sprint customers will soldier on with our BlackBerries. More >>

​Tech rumors are flying that BBM, the exclusive BlackBerry messaging service, will be headed to iPhone and Android phones within the next year. Engadget says that, "RIM intends to take its BlackBerry Messenger outside the cozy confines of the BB ecosystem and straight into its competitors' app stores." This brings relief to people everywhere faced with the life-altering choice of making the switch from a BlackBerry to an iPhone. Is it worth holding onto your pink Pearl?

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via Engadget

​The long-awaited day has finally come. Verizon has announced they'll start selling the iPhone early next month. Preorders start February 3. The phone will cost you $199.99 with a 2-year contract. It's expected that as many as 13 million iPhones may be sold by Verizon in the first year. And -- it can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot too! AT&T is pissed. [Bloomberg Businessweek, Engadget]

​Area codes! What do they even mean anymore? While once a "646" was undesirable, now it's become mainstream, and a "718" or "917" is practically vintage. Not to mention all the "foreign" area codes hailing from California or D.C. or wherever, which people don't even bother to change nowadays. Confusing, these modern times! And now, adding to the polyglot nature of telecom, some land lines and cell phones in the outer boroughs will get a new three-number prefix in April: 929.

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​Americans between the ages of 18 and 27 are more traditional than we thought! According to a new State of the Mobile Web report that surveyed 300,000 people, only 44% of the U.S. residents queried had asked someone out on a date via text. That percentage jumps to 84% for the Chinese and Germans, and 83% for Vietnamese. The study does not report how many of these dates were actually successful. Also, rather insanely, users in the U.S. were the least likely to have ever heard a busy-signal on their phones. Such innocents! [via the Observer][JDoll]

​According to a recent report from the International Telecommunications Union, which clearly has its modem full, the number of people who've found out about the World Wide Web will exceed 2 freakin' billion by the end of this year -- "an increase of 600 million in just the past year and double the number of only five years ago."

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​Have you ever wanted to play video games that Apple didn't sell on your iPhone?

Have you ever wanted to use apps that Apple didn't sell on your iPhone?

Have you ever wanted to switch carriers with your iPhone (because AT&T blows)?

Have you ever wanted to copy a copy-protected DVD?

Have you ever wanted to get that Dongle away from your iPhone?

Well, get this: Now, you can!

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