AT&T to Throttle Heavy Data Users

Any AT&T users who still have an unlimited data plan soon may see their bandwidth speeds drop if they use too much data, the carrier said today. AT&T says it will begin throttling -- or slowing down the connection speed of -- its heaviest data users beginning on October 1.

AT&T discontinued its unlimited data plans last year, switching to a tiered model instead, but did give current customers (at the time) the option of continuing their unlimited plan if they already had one. Now, the top five percent of those users may see their connection speeds slow down.

AT&T isn't the first carrier to throttle connection speeds. T-Mobile recently announced new data plans that do the same thing. While T-Mobile calls its plans unlimited, they do restrict users' speed once a certain amount of data is used. Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, recently discontinued its unlimited data plans, but tells CNET that the company does use any "network management practices."

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Apple iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Smash Records

Well, that was fast: Pre-orders for the new iPhone 4S surpassed the 1 million mark in just 24 hours, Apple says. According to Apple, that's a new record, topping the 600,000 pre-orders received for the company's iPhone 4 in one day last year.

"We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in a statement issued Monday. "The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do."

The iPhone 4S will be available on Friday, October 14 in Apple stores and at carrier locations. For more information about ordering the new phone, see How to Pre-Order the iPhone 4S.

And for more information about Apple's new smartphone, see Apple iPhone 4S: A Complete Overview and How Much Does the iPhone 4S Cost?.

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BlackBerry Music Service Coming Soon?

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is preparing to launch a music service for its smartphones, multiple reports say. The new service, which reportedly will be offered as part of the BlackBerry Messenger instant messenger service, could be available as soon as early September.

The new service is not intended to be a full-scale music service to compete with the likes of Apple's iTunes and Spotify, a streaming music service recently launched in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal says. Instead, it will offer subscribers 50 songs for $5 per month, and is designed to attract younger users who want to customize their BlackBerry devices, the report says.

RIM itself has not confirmed the reports.

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Quick and Easy Texting Tips

These days, people are more likely to use their cell phones to send text messages than to make calls. That's because texting offers a quick, easy way to get in touch with someone, and it can be done when you need to communicate but can't talk.

If you're new to texting, it can be a little intimidating. From the speed of the communication to the lingo that many texters use, the whole experience can be overwhelming. But don't worry: we can help.

These two videos will help you learn the ins and outs of text messaging, and will help you get texting in a flash:

And if you're looking for a chuckle, check out this New Yorker piece, Text Slang for Baby Boomers.

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Google's Nexus S Comes to AT&T

Google's Nexus S smartphone has come to AT&T's network. An AT&T-compatible version of the Android-based device is now available from Best Buy, but is not being sold directly from AT&T at this time.

The Nexus S, which is manufactured by Samsung, debuted on T-Mobile's network last year and landed on Sprint's network this spring. The AT&T version features the same specs, which include a 4-inch touch screen, version 2.3 of the Android OS, a 5-megapixel camera, and an NFC chip, which will allow the phone to support the Google Wallet mobile payment service.

The Nexus S for AT&T is available from Best Buy for $99.99 when you sign a two-year service contract.

For more Android phones, see Today's Best Android Phones. And to find out which phone is best for you, take my Cell Phone Buying Guide Quiz.

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What Are Today's Best BlackBerry Phones?

It's easy to overlook BlackBerry phones. After all, they're usually not as flashy as the newer, speedier Android devices. And they don't get all the hype reserved for Apple's iPhone.

But BlackBerry phones are some of today's best smartphones. Find out which models have earned a spot on my newly-updated list of Today's Best BlackBerry Phones.

And if you're interested in the BlackBerry Torch, find out more about it by reading my complete review of the BlackBerry Torch 9810.

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What Are Sprint's Best Smartphones?

Shopping for a smartphone that runs on Sprint's network? You've made a wise choice: this carrier is one of the few that still offers an unlimited data plan. Sprint was also the first carrier in the U.S. to offer a high-speed 4G network.

If you want to take advantage of all of that unlimited, high-speed data, you'll need one of the carrier's best phones. So, which model should you choose? I can help: see my list of Sprint's Best Smartphones to find out.

Photo ? HTC

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