Corporate and legal

Google may build wireless networks in emerging markets, WSJ says

Google's bid to connect everyone to the Internet may have it entering the wireless service business.

The company is looking at building cellular networks and offering service to emerging markets such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, according to The Wall Street Journal. Citing anonymous sources, WSJ reported that the networks would be available outside of big cities, where service is spotty or not available. Google is reportedly working with local companies on a possible deployment and thinking up business models to support the networks.

Google is also looking at building low-cost phones using its Android operating system, considering … Read more

Sling, Belkin settle patent dispute over place-shifting tech

Sling Media and Belkin this week reached a settlement in their patent dispute related to place-shifting technology.

Sling on Monday asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to dismiss Belkin from its complaint filed in January.

Sling and Belkin declined to comment Friday.

Sling, a subsidiary of EchoStar, also has filed suit against other rivals, including Monsoon Multimedia. The company has accused its competitors of patent infringement related to technology used in its Slingbox, a device that allows users to watch and control their home television from anywhere. Belkin and Monsoon make products that compete with the Slingbox at lower … Read more

Nokia files new suits in patent fight with HTC, says reports

Nokia filed additional patent infringement claims against HTC on Thursday, according to reports.

All Things D reports that Nokia has filed a second complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as a federal suit in Southern California, against the Taiwanese handset maker.

The federal suit involves three patents related to "terminal, method and computer program product for interacting with a signaling tag," according to the court filing. It asks the court for a halt of the alleged infringement and unspecified damages.

Patents blog Foss Patents reports that the ITC complaint involves at least two patents, … Read more

AT&T adds 61-cent 'mobility' fee to wireless bills

AT&T customers should expect to pay a little more on their bill this month. The company has added a new 61-cent monthly administrative fee for all of its contract wireless customers.

The new "Mobility Administrative Fee," which went into effect May 1, applies to consumer and Individual Responsibility User (IRU) lines. The "below the line" fee appears with taxes and other surcharges at the bottom of a customer's phone bill, below the service charges.

While this may not sound like much, The Wall Street Journal reports that the fee could "bring in … Read more

In risky new tack, Microsoft stacks Surface against iPad

Microsoft's "iPad vs. Windows" campaign now includes iPad vs. Surface RT. Is Microsoft picking the right fight?

On the back of new ads that zero on the iPad's (purported) weaknesses, Microsoft has thrown up a comparison page that stacks the iPad against four Windows 8 tablets.

Microsoft isn't using the Surface RT in the anti-iPad ads. Rather, the Asus VivoTab is its weapon of choice.

But Surface RT is front and center on the comparison page. One small problem: the (highly-selective) Microsoft feature chart doesn't necessarily portray Surface RT as the clear winner (see … Read more

Microsoft cleared in Xbox patent spat with Google

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Thursday said it won't review a final ruling that found Microsoft to be in the clear of infringing on patents held by Motorola Mobility, which Google acquired last year.

The ruling (PDF) follows an initial determination in favor of Microsoft on March 22 of this year, as well as a final initial determination from last month from an ITC administrative law judge.

At stake were potential future sales of the console in the U.S., which could have been halted if Motorola had won.

"This is a win for Xbox customers … Read more

Ashton Kutcher on why Twitter is messed up and more

LAS VEGAS -- Ashton Kutcher is angry at the state of Twitter.

"Media kind of f*cked it up," Kutcher said during his fireside chat at the CTIA Wireless show here Thursday. "Companies and people constantly pitching crap."

During a lengthy Q&A session, Kutcher touched upon many facets of technology, including Twitter, but also on Facebook, the state of digital media, and mobile apps. And unlike his "That 70s Show" character, Kelso, he was smart and passionate about his comments.

Here are some of the highlights:

On Twitter: There's too much … Read more

EU plans $6.4 billion effort to boost chip manufacturing

The European Commission announced plans to spend 5 billion euros ($6.4 million) over the next seven years to try to spur microprocessor manufacturing in the European Union.

The funds, which the EC said will be matched by the same amount coming from the private sector, are designed to enable Europe to double its share of chip manufacturing and thereby help other industrial sectors that are embracing electronics.

"I want to double our chip production to around 20 percent of global production. I want Europe to produce more chips in Europe than the United States produces domestically," said … Read more

Bezos: Forget profits for now; we're still spending

SEATTLE -- Since its earliest days, Amazon has put investing in new business ahead of expanding its profit margins, often to shareholder chagrin.

At the company's annual meeting here today, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos repeated the mantra, and listed more than a dozen areas into which the online giant is pumping its resources.

"We are still thinking of this as day one," Bezos said of the company that first sold shares to the public 16 years ago and now has 88,000 employees and 209 million active customers. "In fact, I think the alarm clock is … Read more