Hasta La Gadget!

Just two weeks after researchers broke the encryption inherent to GSM networks comes word that another team has cracked 3G encryption.

The attack takes just a few hours on a typical PC, reports Ars Technica. That’s enough time to crack 3G’s KASUMI system, which is based on a simplified type of Fiestel encryption called MISTY (pictured; good luck with that.) MISTY uses multiple keys and a recursive, multi-round encryption process.

The “simplified” KASUMI algorithm was supposed to make it “faster and more hardware-friendly” without compromising security. But as the report indicates, it seems that’s no longer the case. This doesn’t mean that every AT&T and T-Mobile cell phone is suddenly insecure; a research environment is very different than the real world. But it’s food for thought nonetheless.

The Google Nexus One, the much-hyped smartphone that has recently been plagued by user complaints, sold only about 20,000 units in its first week of sales, according to analytics firm Flurry. In comparison, the Motorola Droid on Verizon Wireless–the other Android phone that had been buzzed about in November–sold 250,000 in its first week. The T-Mobile myTouch 3G, an earlier Android device, sold 60,000 units in its first week.

The most likely reason the Google Nexus One isn’t selling well has to do with the way in which it is being sold. The much-talked about model of selling phones–both unlocked and on contract from T-Mobile–directly from the Google online store has led to poor customer support and confusion about how to get service from T-Mobile. User complaints and the unflattering word-of-mouth could cause the phone’s sales to slow even further.

Here’s something that’s more than it appears. MetroPCS announced a new set of Wireless for All plans that offer nationwide service with no hidden taxes or regulatory fees.

What that means is simple (which we confirmed with a PR representative from the company): Four all-inclusive plans that offer unlimited talk, text, and Web services starting at $40 per month, with more expensive plans ($45, $50, and $60) offering additional options for international calling.

That sounds a lot like their old $40/month plans, except that the new ones *include* all those annoying taxes and other surcharges. That will save the average MetroPCS customer about 15 percent in federal, state, and local taxes and regulatory fees compared with before. All the more reason to check ’em out and see if the coverage is right for you.