Why Build a Cheaper iPhone? Because It’s Stupid Not To.

Not rocket science.
Rocket_science

Don’t Expect a Dirt-Cheap Smartphone From BlackBerry

“You will not see us getting into the $50 or $60 phone segment,” says CEO Thorsten Heins.
Thorsten_BB10

Baidu Builds a Mobile Browser for Emerging Markets, and Gets Orange to Pre-Install It

Baidu and Orange are announcing today a mobile browser partnership designed to address users in Africa and the Middle East.
Baidu_Browser

Nokia’s Low-End Asha Is Outselling Lumia Two to One

Rising shipments of Nokia’s low-end Asha smartphone bodes well for the company’s future in emerging markets.
Asha

Nokia Hopes Pair of Cheap Phones Will Help Regain Some Ground in Emerging Markets

The Nokia 110 and 112 both promise basic Internet access, free games, and connections to Facebook and Twitter, for under 40 euros.
Nokia 110

RIM Will Bring Budget BlackBerry to India, Indonesia

Worth a try, right?
BBCurve9220

IBM’s Rometty: That Extra $20 Billion? We’re So There, Almost.

IBM’s new CEO gives an optimistic update on the company’s ambitious growth targets for 2015.
ginny_rometty

News Byte

Peak Games Raises $11.5 Million for Social Games in Emerging Markets

Istanbul’s Peak Games has raised $11.5 million more in capital to continue to build social games targeting emerging markets, such as Turkey, the Middle East, South America and Mexico. Investors in the round include Earlybird Venture Capital and Hummingbird Ventures. The capital will be used to enter new markets, for game studio acquisitions — including the recent purchases of Umaykut and Erlikhan — and to hire more employees.

VeriFone Willing to Shell Out $1 Billion Annually to Grow Payments Network

As the largest maker of cash registers and other payment processing devices, VeriFone is willing to spend up to $1 billion a year on acquisitions to stay on top.
verifone_ipad checkout

Of Course Apple Is Planning a Cheaper iPhone 4 (Updated)

A new report claims Apple has developed a budget-friendly eight gigabyte iPhone 4.
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So Much for SAP's "Teutonic Solidity"