Verizon: If You Want Your Unlimited Data Plan, You'll Have To Pay Full Price For Your Next Phone

After a bit of hemming and hawing on the topic, Verizon Wireless has finally released some concrete info on its plan to kill off grandfathered unlimited data plans as it moves customers from 3G to 4G LTE service. In a statement to the NY Times, Verizon explains that starts out promisingly enough: "Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so." Well that's awesome. Thanks VZW! Wait -- they weren't finished with the statement? Oh, please continue: - When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing. - Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan. - The same pricing and policies will be applied to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones. So as long as you continue using your 3G phone or are willing to pay up to hundreds of dollars more for your next phone -- and subsequent devices -- your grandfathered plan is just fine. Verizon Clarifies: Unlimited Data Plans to Die Slow Death [NY Times]

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Facebook Opens at $42, Valued at $116.6 Billion

Facebook shares started trading at $42 a share on Nasdaq around 11:30 a.m. Friday morning under the symbol “FB.” The company’s 421.2 million shares offered to the public will now raise $17.7 billion, bringing its valuation to $116.6 billion. The opening price comes after Business Insider reported earlier this morning that bids for the company’s stock were as high as €58.20, or $74 a share. Facebook’s stock had also occasionally traded higher in the secondary markets than its planned $38 opening price. >>FOR MORE FACEBOOK IPO COVERAGE, CLICK HERE<< 1. Mobile Mobile isn't just the future for Facebook — it's the present, with many studies showing Facebook leads all other social apps by far. However, the Facebook experience on smartphones and tablets is lacking. The service's iPad app doesn't even include Timeline, and the Android app doesn't scale well for tablets. Facebook clearly needs to build out its mobile platform, adding both functionality and marrying the experience better with every smartphone it has a presence on. That, and start monetizing it.Click here to view this gallery. More About: Facebook, facebook ipoFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

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Number of asteroids that pose risk to Earth is doubled

The asteroid-tracking NEOWISE mission reveals that twice as many asteroids as previously thought are on low-inclination orbits that could hit our planet

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Nasdaq Delayed Facebook IPO for 30 Minutes

Although Facebook was scheduled to go public at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, it didn’t officially hit the stock market until a half an hour later. A rep from Nasdaq declined comment on the issue. The IPO caused a series of issues for finance sites, including Nasdaq.com and etrade.com. Facebook started trading at $42 a share under the symbol “FB,” bringing the company’s worth to $116.6 billion. However, shortly after the stock made its debut, the price began falling to close to $38, its opening share price. SEE ALSO: Facebook Opens at $42, Valued at $116.6 The IPO was hit with a series of delays. The Wall Street Journal wrote on Twitter that traders were experiencing problems with changing and cancelling orders due to a high-volume rush, which pushed the launch back about 30 minutes. ?? RT @jgrprinceton: Hearing that 2 large market makers lost access to Nasdaq. May be one of the reasons. Over 70m shares to cross on open — Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) May 18, 2012 Others also took to Twitter to note that they couldn’t get onto E*Trade. Wow can’t get on to @Etrade. Their site is completely overloaded. Good to see they were prepared. #facebook — Mike Rotman (@mikerotman) May 18, 2012 Are you planning to buy Facebook stock? Are you having problems accessing trading sites? Let us know in the comments. Image courtesy of iStockphoto, blackred More About: Facebook, facebook ipo, trendingFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

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Zynga, LinkedIn, Yelp All Down After Facebook IPO Debut

Facebook‘s long-awaited IPO appears to have dragged down other social media stocks. A few minutes after Facebook’s shares started trading, shares of Zynga, LinkedIn, Yelp, Renren and Pandora Media were all tanking. Zynga appeared to be suffering the most; Its stock price was down 13.3%, to $7.17, and NASDAQ had halted trading. Meanwhile, LinkedIn’s price was down about 5%, Yelp’s fell 3.6%, Renren’s was down about 11% and Pandora’s fell 6.4%. More to come… More About: Facebook, facebook ipo, pandora, renren, yelp, ZyngaFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

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Mark Zuckerberg Worth $21 Billion on Facebook IPO Debut

In less than an hour, Mark Zuckerberg has jumped from number 29 to number 24 — and then back to 29 — on the list of wealthiest people in the world. Facebook set an opening share price of $38 on Thursday evening, which valued Zuckerberg’s 503.6 million shares and options at about $19.1 billion. Trading opened on Friday at about $42. That price would make Zuckerberg’s portion of the company worth $21.2 billion. The 28-year-old CEO would be not only more wealthy than Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, but also creeping into the territory of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who holds the number 23 spot. Shares dipped back to $38 almost immediately after the stock opened and will likely fluctuate — along with Zuckerberg’s net worth — throughout the day. The Wall Street Journal has set up a real-time “Wealth-o-Meter” for those interested in following along. Zuckerberg had planned to sell 30.2 million of his shares in the IPO, which would net him $1.3 billion at Friday’s opening trading price. According to Facebook’s filing with the SEC, he will use most of the proceeds to pay taxes associated with exercising 60 million stock options. >>FOR MORE FACEBOOK IPO COVERAGE, CLICK HERE<< 1. Mobile Mobile isn't just the future for Facebook — it's the present, with many studies showing Facebook leads all other social apps by far. However, the Facebook experience on smartphones and tablets is lacking. The service's iPad app doesn't even include Timeline, and the Android app doesn't scale well for tablets. Facebook clearly needs to build out its mobile platform, adding both functionality and marrying the experience better with every smartphone it has a presence on. That, and start monetizing it.Click here to view this gallery. More About: Facebook, facebook ipo, mark zuckerberg, trendingFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

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Clothbot climbs the wrinkles in your clothes

A small robot capable of climbing clothes could be a pet or even a moving phone – if that's what you really want

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Facebook Stock Traded at a Record-Breaking 2.7 Million Shares Per Second [Facebook Ipo]

The Facebook IPOcalypse continues, free falling first, now barely recovering. We don't know if it's going to be the most successful opening IPO in history but, right now, it seems they may have broken the record for the fastest traded record in history. More »

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Steve Jobs Dreamed of Developing an iCar

Steve Jobs had dreamed of one day taking Apple onto our public roadways with a sleek, well-designed car -- so said J.Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler at a recent business conference.

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Most Users Are App Freeloaders

When's the last time you treated yourself to a new mobile app? Okay, when's the last time you actually paid for an app? If you're like me, the answer was never. At least not until a few nights ago, when I sprang for an app called "Cholesterol Food Reference.” It lists different foods and their cholesterol content. Free apps are okay for following sports or movies, but this is a little more serious and, to me, worth the $2 asking price. [More]

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How to survive without an unlimited data plan

Mobile consumers are inching closer to a world where unlimited data doesn't flow as freely.The decision by Verizon Wireless to drop unlimited data plans is the latest move by carriers to get customers to pay a little extra for all those Web pages, songs and videos they're consuming.But with some careful planning, the impact might not be as significant as you think. Here are a couple tips for coping with life after an unlimited data plan.Wi-Fi is your best friend. Use reliable wireless broadband networks any chance you get. All data consumption via Wi-Fi will not count against wireless plans, so surf the Web or download apps freely.Get to know the data hogs. If you're Tweeting, updating Facebook, checking out websites or sending e-mails, there's usually little impact to your data plan. Heavier tasks such as watching videos, streaming music, uploading photos or using a device as a mobile hotspot will eat through a data plan quickly.Save the downloads for home. Unless it's urgent, don't snag that cool app or download a song or other media until you're near Wi-Fi.Track your consumption. According to the FCC, all four major wireless carriers -- AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon -- send customers alerts when they approach their data plan limits. Most also offer apps or options through their websites for users who want to inspect their consumption more closely.Of course, if you really don't want a tiered data plan, there's always the option of switching carriers. As our Verizon story notes, Sprint and T-Mobile both offer unlimited data plans.Readers, any other good tips for managing your data plans? Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin Wordpress | Android Forums | Wordpress Tutorials

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Smile! U.S. Troops Cover Up With New 'Facial Armor'

Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel "Starship Troopers" presents a futuristic war fought by heavily armored infantry, that when suited up, makes you look like a "big steel gorilla." Today, the U.S. Army and Marines are edging closer to the Mobile Infantry of Heinlein's world by reportedly taking an interest in armored face shields.

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Pain relief through distraction: It's not all in your head

Mental distractions make pain easier to take, and those pain-relieving effects aren't just in your head, according to a new report.

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When you eat matters, not just what you eat

When it comes to weight gain, when you eat might be at least as important as what you eat. When mice on a high-fat diet are restricted to eating for eight hours per day, they eat just as much as those who can eat around the clock, yet they are protected against obesity and other metabolic ills, the new study shows.

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Parents are happier people: Parents experience greater happiness and meaning in life than nonparents, psychologists find

Contrary to recent scholarship and popular belief, parents experience greater levels of happiness and meaning in life than people without children, according to researchers. Parents also are happier during the day when they are caring for their children than during their other daily activities, the researchers found in a series of studies conducted in the United States and Canada.

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What Is This Debt You Speak Of? Study Says Many Students Are Clueless About Student Loans

Student loan debt is the cause of plenty of headaches in this country, from aspiring nuns to the families of those straddled with a deceased loved one's payments. So it's a bit unsettling that a new study says many students are underestimating how much they owe -- and some don't even know they have debt in the first place. Shudder. A financial literary study conducted by Iowa State University faculty and staff found that almost 40% of their students underestimated how much they owed, and one in eight didn't even realize they had debt, reports the Des Moines Register. The researchers surveyed 801 undergraduate Iowans in fall 2010 in the process of coming up with these shocking figures. The study also found that 10% of those underestimating their debt were off by more than $10,000. Those who didn't take out any loans only accounted for 22% surveyed. Researchers think the results suggest a need for additional financial counseling so students can fully understand what they're getting themselves into, and that it will play a major role in their post-graduation lives. To that effect, ISU will send emails to all of its students showing how much they owe, for the first time, this summer. It'll also lay out their estimated monthly repayment upon graduation and a list of lenders, said Roberta Johnson, ISU director of student financial aid. Another helpful tool will be an online calculator from the federal government debuting this summer, that will show students how much their majors will likely net them, salary-wise, and measures the impact of monthly student loan payments after graduation. New study: 1 in 8 ISU students unaware of college debt [Des Moines Register]

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Toyota’s Mood-Reading Cars Can Help Avoid Accidents When You’re Angry

Toyota's upcoming intuitive car technology can help save your life whenever you wake up in the wrong side of the bed.

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Augmented Reality Lets Shoppers See How New Furniture Would Look At Home

Sayduck aim to solve the missing link between online and offline retail by letting customers visualize objects in their intended environment.

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"I Don't Know" Is One of the Smartest Things You Can Say [Mind Hacks]

When it comes to our brains, black is white and up is down. Any time we try to achieve a desired result, we end up doing the opposite. Such is the case with trying to be smart. We like to come off as intelligent, and so we often act like we know more than we do to achieve that effect. In reality, however, saying "I don't know" can be a whole lot smarter. More »

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Facebook Co-Founder: No, I Didn’t Leave U.S. to Dodge Taxes

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin denied Thursday that he renounced his U.S. citizenship and moved to Singapore to avoid paying capital gains taxes on his approximately $3 billion stake in Facebook. Saverin said in a statement following a press conference held earlier by two senators who accused him of “tax dodging” that his relocation decision was “based solely on my interest in working and living in Singapore, where I have been since 2009,” according to Reuters. The move has drawn ire from Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.), who accuse Saverin of taking advantage of the United State’s relative economic strength and stability, only to leave without contributing his fair share back to the country where he built his fortune. “Mr. Saverin has decided to ‘defriend’ the United States of America just to avoid paying his taxes,” said Sen. Schumer in a statement. “We aren’t going to let him get away with it so easily. “It’s infuriating to see someone sell out the country that welcomed him and kept him safe, educated him and helped him become a billionaire. This is a great American success story gone horribly wrong.” The senators introduced a bill under which any expatriate with either a net worth of $2 million, or an average income tax liability of at least $148,000, will be automatically presumed to be leaving the country for tax purposes — enabling the IRS to impose a tax on any investment gains that person makes in the future. Saverin, who was born in Brazil, denied any wrongdoing. He said he owes and is willing to pay “hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the United States government.” “I have paid and will continue to pay any taxes due on everything I earned while a U.S. citizen,” he said. “It is unfortunate that my personal choice has led to a public debate, based not on the facts, but entirely on speculation and misinformation.” Saverin filed to give up his U.S. citizenship in January of 2011, but the news didn’t surface until late last month when the federal government released the information in a routine report. According to Talking Points Memo, Saverin may be barred from re-entering the U.S. if authorities decide he left the country for tax reasons. What do you think Saverin owes to the U.S. — and to the IRS? Sound off in the comments below. More About: Facebook, facebook ipo, trending, US, World

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