Samsung’s Galaxy S II Celebrates 20 Million Sold, LG Unveils Optimus 3D Max Android Phone & Video Accounts For Half Of All Mobile Traffic

Samsung’s Galaxy S II Celebrates 20 Million Sold, Just in Time for MWC
After crossing the 10 million units moved threshold back in September, Samsung has joyously announced ahead of MWC 2012 that its Galaxy S II family of phones has sold 20 million since launching in April. According to Samsung, taking just ten months to hit the mark puts it ahead of the original Galaxy S (hovering around 22 million sold) by seven months.
Engadget

LG Unveils Optimus 3D Max Android Phone Ahead of MWC
LG continues to announce an array of new smartphones ahead of next week’s Mobile World Congress trade show. On Wednesday, the company unveiled its follow up to the original Optimus 3D, the Optimus 3D Max. The handset is equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 processor beneath a 4.3-inch 3D WVGA display that is protected by Corning’s second-generation Gorilla Glass.
BGR

Video Accounts For Half Of All Mobile Traffic; Android Biggest For Mobile Ads
Mobile video now accounts for half of all mobile traffic; and on some networks, that number is as high as 69 percent — a testament to the rise of smartphones and tablets as the mobile devices of choice for consumers, and their growing interest in using these devices to do a lot more than just make phone calls.
TechCrunch

Why One Startup Wants Your Mobile Carrier to Act Like Your Bank
Google, PayPal and major credit companies are all making land-grabs for the emerging mobile payments industry. Mobile carriers — used to controlling profits made from mobile phones — want to avoid being squeezed out. Now, thanks to a startup called BOKU, there’s a mobile payment solution that could satisfy all sides. The product, BOKU Accounts, works like a debit card issued by your mobile carrier instead of your bank.
Mashable

Last-Minute Apps to Make Valentine’s Day Sweet, Virgin Offers Up Free Voicemail, Call Display & Google-Motorola Deal Approved

Last-Minute Apps to Make Valentine’s Day Sweet
Valentine’s Day is a about celebrating connections. Whether it’s a loved one, a family member or a best friend, reconnect with the important people in your life with the great Valentine’s Day apps.
Amazon

LG Optimus 3D 2 Specs and Image Revealed Ahead of MWC Debut
Images of the LG Optimus 3D 2 have been published online ahead of the handset’s Mobile World Congress debut. The new Optimus 3D will be thinner and lighter than its predecessor, featuring a tapered case that shrinks from 11.9 millimeters down to 9.8 millimeters and a weight that has been reduced by more than 20 grams according to Electronics Times News.
BGR

Virgin Offers Up Free Voicemail, Call Display on All Talk and Text Plans
Two weeks ago Koodo Mobile started to include call display and voicemail into their plan, plus also increased the rate plans by $5 each. Effective February 14th, “back by popular demand”, Virgin Mobile will do the same. From the internal doc we received it states that Virgin is “rekindling an old flame” and giving free Voicemail 10 and caller display to all their Talk & Text plans (plus 50 Canada, US and International Text Messages – picture messaging is not included).
MobileSyrup

Google-Motorola Deal Approved By U.S. Department Of Justice
Just hours after the European Commission announced their approval of Google’s $12.5 billion Motorola purchase, the United States Department of Justice has announced that they too have given the deal their blessing. With this, Google is one step closer to closing the deal, although they’re still waiting on approval from China, Taiwan, and Israel before the transaction can officially be completed.
TechCrunch

Bell Adding 5 Hours of Mobile TV to the Fab 10, Corning and Samsung form Joint Venture & Motorola Wants 2.25 Percent of Apple’s iPhone Sales

Bell Adding 5 Hours of Mobile TV to the Fab 10 $60/Month Plan
Effective tomorrow, Bell will be changing their Fab 10 $60/month rate plan around. It’ll still have the same 200 minutes, 1 GB data, Unlimited nationwide talk to 10 numbers, Unlimited text, picture and video messaging, Call Waiting and Conference Calling and Unlimited local evenings, but will now welcome the addition of 5 hours of Mobile TV viewing. Just remember that any Mobile TV overage is $1/hr.
MobileSyrup

Corning and Samsung form Joint Venture to Combine ‘Lotus Glass’ with OLED Displays
Samsung and Corning — best known for its Gorilla Glass products — announced a new joint venture this week that will manufacture specialty glass substrates for OLED displays. The joint venture will be based in South Korea and will combine Samsung’s OLED display technology with Corning’s ultra tough Lotus Glass substrate.
BGR

Motorola Wants 2.25 Percent of Apple’s iPhone Sales in Exchange for Use of Its p]Patents
It has been customary lately to see Samsung and Apple battling it out in court, but Motorola vs. Apple has been gaining some serious momentum. According to some documents dug up by FOSS patents, Motorola wants 2.25 percent of Apple’s iPhone sales, in exchange for licensing patents that Motorola is claiming Apple uses.
SmartPhoneEnvy

Vimeo App Lands for Windows Phone, Lets You Upload Your Next Student Film Over 3G
Vimeo is here to stream all the HD student shorts your little Microsoft-loving heart desires. The official app doesn’t just let you browse, search and view clips on the site, though — it completely integrates with your account, allowing you to upload HD video, tweak the details of your uploads and even check stats.
Engadget

Sony Ericsson Rebrands as Sony Mobile Communications, DROID 4 Touted as Thinnest, Most Powerful 4G Smartphone & Lumia 710 and 800 headed to Canada

Sony Ericsson Rebrands as Sony Mobile Communications
Sony Ericsson will be rebranding its mobile division as Sony Mobile Communications. All devices released from now on will be launched under the Sony brand, as released by the Sony Mobile Communications division.
MobileSyrup

Nokia Lumia 710 and the Nokia Lumia 800 Signal New Smartphone Dawn for Nokia in Canada
The Nokia Lumia 710 will be available this February for $49.99 on select 3-year plans as part of Rogers’ Smartphone Lite lineup of affordable devices. The bold Nokia Lumia 800 will be coming soon only to TELUS in black, as well as cyan and magenta options for customers looking to stand out from the crowd.
CNW

2012 International CES Opens Show Floor Doors 10 a.m. PST Tuesday, January 10
The 2012 International CES opens its show floor doors at 10 a.m. PST on Tuesday, January 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More stories from the International CES and Exhibit Hours available.
CEA

DROID 4 Touted as Thinnest, Most Powerful 4G LTE QWERTY Smartphone
Motorola unveiled Monday at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show a new device it’s calling the thinnest and most powerful 4G LTE QWERTY smartphone.
Mashable