The Dell Aero is a slim and light Android, though its custom Dell interface may have you thinking it's a less-complicated feature phone.
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Based on a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Clearwire plans to introduce new, pay-as-you-go WiMax service in the near future. The company, which called for a press conference on Monday, August 30, is building out a WiMax network in cooperation with Sprint. Sprint and Clearwire's WiMax covers 49 markets in the U.S., but still only a handful of devices -- including just two phones -- can access the network. The addition of a pay-as-you-go service model could help Clearwire and Sprint sign up new customers if the pricing is competitive enough.

Verizon Wireless has confirmed for Phone Scoop that the company will be pushing out the Android 2.2 Froyo update to the HTC Droid Incredible starting today, August 27. This update will include Flash Player 10.1 pre-installed, the 3G Mobile HotSpot feature, support for 720p video recording and more. Verizon will test the over-the-air update to a small set of users before beginning the full-scale update.

Mozilla today announced the availability of an alpha version of its Fennec mobile browser for the Android platform and for the Nokia N900 (which runs Maemo Linux). Mozilla says this latest version of Fennec makes use of new features -- "Electrolysis" and "Layers" -- to improve the user experience and make transitioning from the desktop version of Firefox to mobile Fennec more seamless. The Electrolysis technology allows the browser interface to run in a separate process from the one rendering Web content. This means the browser can react faster to user input.

A Samsung executive has said that MetroPCS plans to launch its Long Term Evolution network in September using Samsung networking equipment and will also launch the Samsung-made Craft LTE phone. Jaebeom Choi, vice president of systems research and development for Samsung Electronics, said that Las Vegas and Dallas would be the first two markets to see MetroPCS' LTE network. If MetroPCS launches LTE and the Craft in September, they would be the first LTE network and first LTE phone to launch in the U.S.

The National Association of Broadcasters has responded to criticism from electronics makers of its plan to mandate FM radios in all mobile devices. Speaking to Cnet, NAB executive vice president Dennis Wharton said, "There would be a public benefit to have free and local radio on all of these devices. I don't think it's a huge burden on cell phone manufacturers to add this device. We understand their opposition. They'd rather usage based pricing, to have FM over IP so they can charge for it.

Verizon Wireless recently filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission in order to acquire a block of 700MHz spectrum that covers the state of Alaska. The current owner, Triad, paid $1.8 billion for the spectrum license, though Verizon hasn't disclosed what price it is willing to pay for the block of spectrum. A Verizon Wireless spokesperson told Fierce Wireless that the license acquisition would make Verizon's 700MHz footprint over the U.S. complete.

According to a report from CNet, Microsoft will begin offering its Hotmail web-mail service with support for Exchange ActiveSync. This is significant because it will allow users of mobile phones and other devices to sync their email via ActiveSync protocols -- which includes push -- rather than POP3. Many phones support ActiveSync, and some can support multiple Exchange accounts. Microsoft's Dharmesh Mehta told CNET that Exchange ActiveSync and enhanced IMAP syncing will become available on Monday, August 30.

Leap Wireless has acquired the remaining portion of LCW that it didn't already own for $3.2 million. LCW is a small regional carrier in the Pacific Northwest that was a partnership between Leap and CSM Wireless. It covers about 3 million POPs in the Portland, Salem and Eugene, Ore., markets. Earlier this year, Leap has boosted its ownership stake in LCW with a $21 million investment.