agreements

The Problem With Those Rumors of an AMD Buyout

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on February 16, 2011 at 7:30 am PT

Rumors are rumors, but the ones that emerged yesterday that chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices is ripe for a buyout don’t take into consideration the numerous complications that stand in the way of such a deal getting done. AMD’s relationship with Intel is a big one.

Apple and Samsung Hammering Out $7.8 Billion Display Deal

John Paczkowski in Mobile on February 14, 2011 at 7:32 am PT

With demand for its iOS devices growing, Apple is once again moving to secure vast storehouses of parts with which to build them. Cupertino is said to be finalizing a massive component contract with Samsung, one that would make it the company’s single largest customer.

Apple Using Cash to Secure Cache of Components

John Paczkowski in Mobile on January 24, 2011 at 4:55 am PT

Asked last October about Apple’s plans for the nearly $60 billion in cash it had on hand, CEO Steve Jobs suggested the company intended to allocate some to future big-ticket purchases. But was he talking companies or components?

Microsoft Adds Second Lawsuit to Motorola Fall Reading List

John Paczkowski in News on November 9, 2010 at 1:53 pm PT

A little over a month after suing Motorola for violating its mobile patents, Microsoft has slapped the company with another suit, this one over its Xbox 360. On Tuesday Microsoft sued Motorola, alleging it charged “excessive and discriminatory” royalties for some of the IP it licensed for use in the gaming console.

IPhone Exclusivity Added to Endangered Species List

John Paczkowski in Mobile on October 13, 2010 at 3:00 am PT

The iPhone exclusivity deals are fast becoming an anomaly, with Apple inking more multi-carrier distribution agreements in markets it first entered with a lone partner. The latest to undergo the transformation: Germany.

Google’s Nexus One Headed to Sprint

John Paczkowski in News on March 17, 2010 at 1:21 pm PT

Google’s direct-to-consumer sales experiment with its Nexus One smartphone may have gotten off to a slow start, but it could ramp up quickly given some newly announced carrier agreements. On Tuesday the company released an AT&T-compatible version of the device. Now comes news that it’s prepping one for Sprint as well.

Investors Wary of AT&VoIP

John Paczkowski in News on October 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm PT

A complete reversal of its earlier policy restricting Internet telephone services to Wi-Fi only, AT&T’s decision to allow iPhone owners to use such services on its 3G network has gone over well with consumers and with Apple. But it hasn’t gone over well with AT&T investors. Shares in the company slipped on news of the decision yesterday and they’re falling still further today.

Investors Wary of AT&VoIP

John Paczkowski in News on October 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm PT

A complete reversal of its earlier policy restricting Internet telephone services to Wi-Fi only, AT&T’s decision to allow iPhone owners to use such services on its 3G network has gone over well with consumers and with Apple. But it hasn’t gone over well with AT&T investors. Shares in the company slipped on news of the decision yesterday and they’re falling still further today.

Hell of a Way to Get Out of Your AT&T Contract, Varney…

John Paczkowski in News on July 6, 2009 at 12:15 pm PT

Earlier this year, Christine Varney, the new antitrust chief at the Department of Justice, said she planned to return the DOJ to a policy that led to landmark antitrust suits like the one against Microsoft in the ’90s. And she delivered on that promise in short order. Since her confirmation in late April, the DOJ has seen a sort of Trustbuster renaissance. It has begun inquiring into potentially anticompetitive recruiting practices in Silicon Valley. It’s opened an investigation into the Google Books settlement. And now it’s scrutinizing cellphone exclusivity deals, like the lucrative one between Apple and AT&T.

Hell of a Way to Get Out of Your AT&T Contract, Varney…

John Paczkowski in News on July 6, 2009 at 12:15 pm PT

Earlier this year, Christine Varney, the new antitrust chief at the Department of Justice, said she planned to return the DOJ to a policy that led to landmark antitrust suits like the one against Microsoft in the ’90s. And she delivered on that promise in short order. Since her confirmation in late April, the DOJ has seen a sort of Trustbuster renaissance. It has begun inquiring into potentially anticompetitive recruiting practices in Silicon Valley. It’s opened an investigation into the Google Books settlement. And now it’s scrutinizing cellphone exclusivity deals, like the lucrative one between Apple and AT&T.