Republic Wireless to Refund Customers for Unused Data

Republic Wireless today announced Republic Refund plans, which will reimburse customers for unused cellular data each month. The company is offering a range of new plans with varying data buckets. Any cellular meizu m2 note  data that goes unused will be credited on the customer's next bill. Republic's business banks on customers' proximity to WiFi hotspots. The entry-level plan costs $5 per month and includes unlimited WiFi calling, texting, and data. This $5 plan does not include cellular network access at all.

The next step up costs $10 per month and adds unlimited calling and texting via cellular. The mid-range plan costs $17.50 per month and adds 500MB of cellular data. The $25 plan offers 1 GB of 4G data, and the $40 plan offers 2 GB of 4G data. Customers will be reimbursed and/or billed for mobile data at the rate of $15 per gigabyte. Republic says the vast majority of its customers use less than 1 GB of cellular data per month. Republic said its customers can keep their current plan or switch to the new Republic Refund plans if they wish.

Microsoft Releases Skype for Business App on Windows Phone

Microsoft today replaced its Lync 2013 corporate messaging app with Skype for Business for Windows Phone. The app has a refreshed user interface for messaging, more emoticons, and improved interactions with the server. Microsoft says Skype for Business better manages notifications for conversation threads, buy meizu mx5 and syncs them more consistently across other devices such as PCs and tablets. Users of Lync 2013 on devices running Windows Phone 8.1 will be updated to Skype for Business automatically. Microsoft said hardware running Windows Phone 8.0 and earlier should remain on Lync 2013 or Lync 2010.

HTC One M9 is for flagship seekers

It's probably best to think of the One M9 as the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5s carried over the iPhone 5's design almost exactly, but added new features. So does the M9 when compared to its predecessor, the M8. That means this year's phone from HTC is practically identical to last year's phone. I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing, yet.

The M9 is skinned in aluminum and glass. The metal has a two-tone finish, which is one of the few things that sets the M9 apart from the M8 visually. I can't say I’m a fan. The model we tested has a light champagne hue on the back and front surfaces, but the side of the phone is wrapped in a gaudy-looking gold band. The all-black version looks better, as the band doesn't stand out so much. The phone has the now-familiar BoomSound speaker grilles above and below the screen, as well as thin plastic bands that run across the back surface. These bands are purely functional; they serve the antenna design, just like similar bands on the iPhone. However HTC was able to incorporate them into the design in a tasteful way. The M9 is an elegant piece of hardware, to be sure.

The quality of the materials is quite good. I like the brushed aluminum back cover, which has just a bit more texture than last year's phone. It meets the side edges in precise corners. Together, these make the M9 less slippery. The phone is fitted together perfectly. It’s a bit on the heavy side, but that's to be expected in an all-metal phone. Since the M9 has a 5-inch screen, it isn't monstrously huge. I found it easy to hold and use. For example, my thumb was able to buy meizu mx5 reach the entire screen without requiring me to adjust my grip. The gentle curve of the rear surface helps it sit comfortably in your palm, but the band that circles the side edges has an annoying lip. The M9 slips into pockets with no problem.

Turing Phone Available for Preorder Starting July 31

Turing Robotic Industries today said it will begin accepting preorders for the Turing Phone on July 31, which is about three weeks later than originally planned. The company will make 10,000 units available initially. The phone, sold unlocked, will cost $610 for 16 GB, $740 for 64 GB, and $870 for 128 GB. Turing said it will announce three different colors on July 22 and release an SDK for oppo phones the phone in August. Turing did not say if it plans to stick to the original Aug. 10 shipping date. The Turing phone is molded from Liquidmorphium that the company claims provides greater tensile strength than either titanium or steel.

The handset has a fingerprint sensor built into the side edge for security and uses a magnetic charger to negate the need for ports. Turing says the Android-based handset offers completely secure phone calls and messaging. The device features a 5.5-inch full HD display and it is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor with 3 GB of RAM. The main camera has a 13-megapixel sensor and the front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor. The device has a 3,000mAh battery and supports a range of LTE networks around the world.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active for AT&T

I've always been a fan of Samsung's Active line of smartphones. The idea is simple: dress down the latest S smartphone in thicker, less fancy meizu cell phone  garb to make it more resistant to damage. The result is a beefier handset that still looks good and offers a killer spec sheet.

There's no denying the S6 Active takes on a masculine vibe. It has a chunky aluminum frame that forms the outer edges and a camo-patterned back surface. It's not dainty or delicate by any stretch. I'd call the design utilitarian. I can see the S6 Active serving action heroes like Jack Bauer or James Bond as they race around trying to save the world.

The corners are flattened out a bit, giving the phone a unique shape. The lines and patterns in the aluminum frame are pleasing and the plastic rear cover feels tough as nails. Samsung still managed to adorn the Active with some chrome accents, such as the grille for the earpiece, and buttons along the side edges. The chrome contrasts nicely with the matte finish covering the aluminum.

Boost Mobile Scores LG Volt 2 and Tribute 2

Boost Mobile today announced the LG Volt 2 and LG Tribute 2, updates to two of last year's big sellers for the prepaid carrier. Both devices share several hardware features, such as LG's signature rear-placed meizu cell phone buttons, 1.2 GHz quad-core processors, LTE, Bluetooth, and WiFi. They also boast similar software, such as Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG's Knock Code, QuickMemo, and selfie camera tools.

• Volt 2: The second-generation Volt (pictured) improves the screen from a 4.7-inch qHD display to a 5-inch 720p display. The main camera has an 8-megapixel sensor and the front camera has been improved from 1.3 megapixels to 5 megapixels. It has a 2,540mAh battery.
• Tribute 2: The less expensive of these two handsets keeps the screen at 4.5 inches, but improves resolution from 800 x 480 pixels to 854 x 480 pixels. The 5-megapixel main camera, VGA front camera, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of ROM are carried over from last year's phone. It has a 1,900mAh battery.

The LG Volt 2 and Tribute 2 are available from Boost's web site beginning today. The Volt 2 cost $149.99 and the Tribute 2 cost $99.99.

Kyocera DuraForce is another tougher-than-nails handset

The DuraForce breaks the mold a bit when it comes to rugged smartphones. It's not quite as chunky nor heavy as the ultra-rugged Sonim XP7, but it's more robust than Kyocera's own Hydro line, which are semi-rugged. meizu mx4 pro review For a hardened handset, it's quite approachable in terms of size and design.

Kyocera managed to craft a brutish beaut in the DuraForce. It's a slab-style device with rounded top and bottom edges, modest design elements, and solid construction. I like the use of silver and red accents mixed in with the matte black frame. Where many rugged handsets are blunt and unappealing, the DuraForce is more refined and less off-putting. It's just conservative enough that you could get away with toting it around for a night on the town and not betray its working-man aesthetic.

Thanks to the 4.5-inch screen, Kyocera was able to keep the overall footprint down to a manageable size. It's close in dimensions (length x width) to the Apple iPhone 6, though it's thicker than both in order to accommodate the rugged frame. I had no trouble gripping and holding it. It's not too heavy, either, making it comfortable to use for long periods of time.