AT&T will invest $14 billion in the expansion of its LTE network. While AT&T is the second-largest cellular carrier in the US, it lags severely behind rival carrier Verizon in their deployment of LTE. While AT&T managed to sell a record-breaking number of iPhones with the launch of the iPhone 5, customers may decide to drop AT&T in favor of the more-robust Verizon network. The investment will be made over a three-year period, and would cover both wireless and wireline broadband networks. In a statement, AT&T said:

AT&T today announced plans to invest $14 billion over the next three years to significantly expand and enhance its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks to support growing customer demand for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud services. The investment plan – Project Velocity IP (VIP) – expands AT&T's high-potential growth platforms, helping drive continued increases in revenues from existing and new products and services, and earnings per share.

AT&T LTE is currently available in a limited number of cities, though the company plans to cover 250 million people with LTE by the end of 2013. This new plan would cover 300 million people by the end of 2014. With almost every new device, flagship or not, launching with LTE support, the expansion of these networks is critical to the long-term viability of any carrier. With AT&T lagging behind in deployment, investments like these are necessary to remain competative. The growth of AT&T's LTE network will also benefit iPhone users. Currently, the LTE capabilities of the iPhone 5 are not available to most of AT&T's customers. As LTE covers more areas, more customers will be able to take full advantage of the higher speeds, giving customers a better and more complete experience than they currently enjoy.

Source: AT&T

iOS 6 brings some welcome new features to the Phone app, including Remind me Later, which lets you safely avoid answering calls when it's inconvenient without having to worry you'll forget to return them later. As the name implies, Remind me Later ties the Phone app straight into the Reminders app, so it's really quick to use. Like the new, quick text-message replies, Remind me Later is accessible right from the Lock screen, and is only a swipe away.

How to set a location based alert with Remind me Later

1. When a call comes in, tap and hold the phone icon to the right of Slide to Answer control, and slide it upwards to reveal the new options panel.

2. Tap the Remind Me Later option.

3. Tap one of the location-based options, When I Leave, When I get Home, or When I get to Work.

4. If you haven't used location-based alerts before, you might get a popup requesting access to your location. Give your permission, or the alert can't work.

How to set a time-based alert using Remind me Later

1. When a call comes in, tap and hold the phone icon to the right of Slide to Answer control, and slide it upwards to reveal the new options panel.

2. Tap the Remind Me Later option.

3. Tap In 1 Hour.

iOS will now set an alarm and when one hour has passed, your alert will go off, reminding you to return the missed call.

Do not Disturb mode

iOS 6 also comes with a new Do not Disturb mode. If you're in a situation where you don't want to be bothered by calls for an extended period of time, don't want to have to dismiss them all manual, and don't care about being reminded to return them beyond the usual missed call notifications, Do not Disturb can be the better choice.

• http://www.imore.com/how-enable-do-not-disturb-notification-center-iphone-and-ipad

Just got an e-mail from Delta, offering up a free MacBook Air if I buy a Delta Private Jets card for the low, low price of $100,000. You know, "perfect for those who prefer to travel light," Delta says. (Probably with a sherpa.)

But you've got to read the fine print, right? Here's where it really gets insulting. You just dropped 100 large on access to private planes. The least Delta could do would be to spring for the good MBA. Instead, you're stuck with 128GB of SSD space. You might be flying like the 1 percent, but you'll computing like a chump.

Apple has been fined $368 million after their video calling feature, FaceTime, was found to infringe on patents owned by a company called VirnetX, a company that provides solutions for secure internet communications. A US court ruled that Apple's FaceTime product infringes on four patents by VirnetX. One of the patents at issue involved the ability to establish a secure communication link. Apple apparently has no option for appeal in this matter. VirnetX has also brought suit against a number of other larger companies over its patent portfolio. Natash Lomas of Techcrunch reports notes:

The BBC reports that the damages award is around half the amount VirnetX had originally sought. It also notes that VirnetX has previously secured a $200m settlement from Microsoft over similar claims.

The company, which has a patent portfolio of 20 U.S. and 26 international patents, has also brought cases against Cisco, Avaya and Siemens for allegedly infringing the same patents.

This is another in a recent string of legal defeats for Apple. Last week Apple was forced to amend a statement that had been ordered by a UK court that aknowledged that Samsung did not copy the iPad. A US judge also recently dismissed Apple's case against Motorola Mobility.

The VirnetX case might also shed some light on why FaceTime isn't open. When introduced in 2010, it was said that FaceTime would become an open standard. Many have speculated as to why that was. It may be that Apple found that they could not legally open FaceTime when some of the technology behind it was not industry-standard and under someone else's patents. While it seemed a longshot in the first place, with the VirnetX victory, the hope of an open FaceTime, appears to be gone.

Source: Techcrunch

After countless rumors, Microsoft Office is once again said to be on its way to the iPhone and iPad (and Android). Office for iOS will reportedly consist of separate apps for Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, and will require a Microsoft account to use. The basic Office apps will allow users to view their documents, but an Office 365 subscription will be required for editing. But it's not all good news according to Tom Warren of The Verge:

Microsoft will allow iOS users to purchase an Office 365 subscription within the app, or let organizations distribute codes to enable Office Mobile editing for users. The apps will allow for basic editing, but we're told this won't go very far in attempting to replace regular full use of a desktop Office version.

Despite the lack of advanced functionality, the arrival of Office on iOS will be welcomed by many. Developers have tried to fill this particular gap since the App Store first opened, but there are many customers that have held out for the true Microsoft Office experience.

Whether Office for iOS proves to be enough for users, or they look to other apps, we will have to wait and see. Microsoft Office for iOS is said to be arriving in March 2013.

Source: The Verge

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Sprint, the perennial #3 carrier in the U.S., has announced their intent to acquire spectrum and customers from regional carrier U.S. Cellular for $480 Million. The deal covers the midwest, and seems focused on Chicago and St. Louis. According to a press statement issued by Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse:

This transaction will enable us to strengthen our business and become a more robust competitor. Acquiring this spectrum will significantly increase Sprint's network capacity and improve the customer experience in several important Midwest markets including Chicago and St. Louis. We welcome the new customers in these markets and look forward to providing them with Sprint's unique combination of unlimited plans, an iconic device portfolio and unmatched customer service.

Sprint currently offers Apple's iPhone 5 and will be offering the iPad 4 and iPad mini when the cellular versions of those two devices ship later this month.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sprint will acquire 20 MHz of PCS spectrum in the 1900 MHz band in various Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind. and Champaign, Ill. and 10 MHz of PCS spectrum in the St. Louis market. In addition, the transaction involves approximately 585,000 U.S. Cellular customers. U.S Cellular will continue its business operations outside of these markets following the closing.

The deal still has to be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies, namely the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. If the DoJ and FCC don't have any major issues with it, Sprint expects the transaction to close in the summer of 2013.

Source: Sprint

Apple has begun sending out emails to inform iCloud users that @icloud.com email addresses have been reserved for them. These seem to be directed towards previous MobileMe users who had @me.com (or legacy @mac.com) addresses. I don't recall email addresses being reserved following the mac.com to me.com transition, and icloud.com, and there's no additional information or context provided. The email simply states:

All new iCloud Mail accounts now come with an @icloud.com email address. As an existing user, we'd like to offer you this new address as well. We have reserved [redacted] for you, and you can now use this address with your iOS devices and computers by following these simple instructions.

If you prefer, you can continue to use your current email address just as you always have.

No matter which address you use, you'll continue to receive all your mail, whether it's sent to your @me.com, @mac.com, or @icloud.com address.

Whether this has something to do with previous, additional MobileMe aliases or something else, I'm not sure. If you received an iCloud email reservation from Apple, let me know.

Thanks: @ichadman

Pixar, the makers of superb films like Monsters Inc. and more recently Brave has named its main office building in honor of the late Steve Jobs. The building which is part of the Pixar campus now proudly displays the sign "The Steve Jobs Building", the new comes from Pixar Times.

On Twitter, a Pixar employee shared an image taken by a friend, stating that the building had been named "The Steve Jobs Building." Peering in through the windows, you can clearly see the outline of Sulley, confirming that this is the main building that Steve Jobs himself played a major role in designing.

He came up with the idea that the building should be centered around a large atrium, which would lead to accidental collaboration that may not occur if everyone was stuck in their individual offices. I find this to be the perfect way to honor the legacy of Steve Jobs. Placing his name above the main building not only reminds those who walk through the entrance of his importance to the formation of the studio, but is also a meaningful representation of his influence on the famed building.

This is a well-deserved dedication as Pixar was in a lot of trouble before Steve Jobs stepped in and financed the work of the studio before it became profitable. He put a lot of his own money into Pixar's projects believing in the employee's ; he was right to do so. Without his help, we may never have had the chance to enjoy brilliant movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Wall-E; now that input will never be forgotten.

Source: Pixar Times

Easily access all of Mobile Nations, all with one account! You can now also register and login via Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft!

Your most-requested feature is finally here! Instead of having to maintain separate account logins and passwords for each and every one of our five communities -- Android Central, CrackBerry, iMore, Windows Phone Central and webOS Nation -- with Mobile Nations Passport you can now access all of your favorite sites with one easy login.

Now, don't worry! Even though we've unified our account management, we know and love the unique identities of each of our sites as much as you do, and we're not changing that. The power to control which sites you want your account to be associated with is still all in your hands -- we're making it easy, not automatic and certainly not mandatory.  We're also maintaining your individual post history and forum profile on a site by site basis, so you get the recognition you deserve for each and every platform.

The video above will give you a quick, two-minute run-down of how Mobile Nations Passport works. Watch it, and then register or, for existing members, simply login to activate your Passport now!

Microsoft's companion app for the Xbox 360 is now live for iOS, allowing users to remotely control the gaming console, view related content, type out messages, and otherwise complement everything you'd normally just do with the hardware controller. The new app has been rolled out as an update to the existing free My Xbox app for iPhone and iPad.

The recently-launched Xbox Music has its own dedicated SmartGlass dashboard with playback control and artist information, as does Movies. In addition to that, a few Xbox games provide tailored second screen experiences. Players can tweak their Xbox Live avatar and bio, as well as set Beacons so friends know what games you're looking to play online. Internet Explorer is controllable from the iPad as well, which is a little bizarre considering how polzarized Apple and Microsoft are, however handy it might be. Sports has an interactive element that allows those watching the game to vote on who they think is going to win, and see what the voting results are from everyone else online, not to mention see player stats and info mid-game. You can also summon a virtual gamepad that helps you get around the menu system with swipe and a few virtual buttons, but I wouldn't count on it for playing any games.

The biggest caveat with Xbox SmartGlass is that many of the features that are locked to Gold subscribers on the console trickle down to the iOS app as well. Really silly stuff like being able to type messages or use Internet Explorer require annual dues to Microsoft. For those that are already loyal Gold Subscribers, this limitation is a non-issue, but for those of us that aren't, it feels like petty nickel-and-diming. Xbox Music requires users to pay for an entirely separate music pass, though it provides access to a whole cloud-based music streaming service.

In any case, gamers, are you excited about the addition? Do you see yourself using SmartGlass for much more than games?

Free - Download Now

Rene already expressed the opinion that if Amazon, Google, et. al really want to come at the iPad mini based on price, what they're really doing is telling people to buy a $150 BlackBerry PlayBook. So, in the interest of science, I picked one up to put it's through it's paces.

First off, the iPad mini is incredibly light, almost too light. I toss my PlayBook around a lot and the iPad mini feels as though I may break it I tossed it too hard. It's also really thin. Almost stupidly thin. I get why Apple opted to go with the smaller bezels and they do look great but overall, I would have preferred something a little thicker to grab onto. Landscape is fine but portrait annoys me. Apple says there's software to reject unintentional touch events, but it's still a pain point.

Like the iPhone 5, the iPad mini has that slick anodized aluminum backing on it. It looks good but it doesn't feel particularly grippy. I prefer the softer finish on the BlackBerry PlayBook and even the Google Nexus 7.

The BlackBerry PlayBook has a 1024x600 screen at 169 ppi while the iPad mini has a 1024x768 screen at the original iPhone's 163 ppi. A lot of people have been complaining about the lack of Retina display on the iPad mini, especially compared to the higher density Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire now on the market. I'm not really bothered by it. Some stuff looks better on the iPad and some stuff looks better on the PlayBook. Text, in my opinion, looks better on the PlayBook. It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

While the iPad mini has stereo speakers, a first for an iOS device, and that makes it less likely your hand will completely cover up the sound while playing a game or watching a video, the sound levels are still way to low. On the PlayBook, even if you do cover up the speakers, their loudness makes up for it.

Check out the video above for some more hands-on impressions and a quick run through of the iPad mini vs. the BlackBerry PlayBook. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments, and if you're a PlayBook owner who's also picked up an iPad mini, let me know how you think they compare!

It's election day! If you're an American and haven't voted yet, GO VOTE! Once you're done, all that's left to do is wait for the results. Between the internet, television, radio, iPhones, iPads, and other devices, there's a countless number of ways to stay up to speed on the results, so iMore is here to narrow down your options for tracking results with your iPhone and iPad.

Pulse News for iPhone and iPad

Pulse News is a great way to follow your favorite news sources, in general, and it does not disappoint when it comes to election coverage, either. When adding a news source, Pulse has created categories for election news and election results making it really easy to find the best news for today's Presidential Election. As an app, Pulse News is very well made, has a beautiful UI, and runs like a champ. Of all the apps listed in this article, Pulse News is my favorite, by far.

• Free for iPhone - Download Now
• Free for iPad - Download Now

CNN for iPhone and iPad

The CNN app has an "Election Center" that includes a section titled "The Elections Report" and another called "Election Results". Both of these sections are great for following today's elections and include news stories, videos, polling results, live electoral college results, and more. You can also set up push notifications to make sure you don't miss out on any of the important news.

• Free for iPhone - Download Now
• Free for iPad - Download Now

2012 Map: The Presidential Election App for iPhone

With 2012 Map: The Presidential Election App you can view live maps that are updated daily with the newest polling and election data, "Historical" maps that detail every election, from 1789 through 2008, and a blank map that you can customize from scratch. You can tap states to change their colors or tap and hold to see their details including percentages for each candidate, electoral votes, and previous winners, and share your scenario on Facebook and Twitter.

• $1.99 - Download Now

Your favorite election apps?

This is just three of the different ways to follow today's election, but what's your favorite way to follow the election? Is it a different app? The television? Your favorite social network? Let us know in the comments below! While you're at it, let us know who you think is going to win!