IBT Staff Reporter

Sales of individual copies of Microsoft Windows Vista during the first year of availability will far outpace the number of copies sold to businesses that buy the product in bulk, one analyst predicted.

Smartphone sales over the next few years will be driven by emerging applications a new study finds, with different world regions seeking different mobile functionality.

Wal-Mart's website was the most visited among all retailers on Thanksgiving Day, according to research released Monday.

While initial sales reports from Black Friday point to a better holiday season for retailers this year, companies will also find out if predictions of more online shoppers on Cyber Monday come true.

Mattel Inc. (MAT) voluntarily recalled 4.4 million Polly Pocket Play Sets on Tuesday after three children swallowed tiny magnets from the toys and required surgery.

As U.S. shoppers gear up for the Black Friday post-Thanksgiving shopping spree, retailers have been rushing to draw attention to promotions and aggressive price cuts.

Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) announced on Monday that it has formed an advertising distribution alliance with seven companies representing more than 150 newspapers across the United States.

An index of leading U.S. economic indicators rose in October, driven by growing optimism among consumers and gains in stock prices, a report released Monday said.

Despite being available in larger quantities in North America this weekend than its launch rival Sony PlayStation 3, one report indicates that eager consumers quickly snapped up all available Nintendo Wii game consoles.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, or Comesa, agreed to eliminate non-tariff barriers and end conflicts that weaken trade within the 21-member grouping, a statement issued at the close of a two-day summit of member countries said Monday.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) board unanimously rejected a $5.1 billion buyout bid by the Nasdaq (NADQ) exchange on Monday. LSE rejected the offer, saying it fails to recognise the value of the exchange. Nasdaq failed in an earlier attempt this year to take over the company.

Environment ministers from over 180 nations gathered on Friday in Nairobi to mark the end of a two-week UN climate summit. Delegates agreed to review the Kyoto Protocol in 2008 in order to expand the fight against global warming beyond 2012.

U.S. online apparel spending grew over 32 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago. Specialty retailers accounted for the largest share of sales, according to new research.

Sony Electronics unveiled a new optical recorder for medical professionals on Friday, allowing hospitals to record medical procedures in full high-definition resolution.

Strong consumer demand will push up global sales of semiconductors by nearly 10 percent for 2006, an industry association reported on Thursday.

Worldwide shipments of personal digital assistants (PDAs) ballooned nearly 32 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago, driven by rapid growth of cellular PDAs, new research finds.

Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo are uniting to build a common mechanism for website submission, simplifying the way webmasters notify search engines about their new sites.

Many consumers have expressed concern that Sony's new gaming console, the Playstation 3, is overpriced, with certain models costing nearly double that of the competition. Following an in-depth look inside the unit, however, one research firm believes the console delivers a great value.

It was the war between North and South, between slavery and freedom, between New York and ... itself. A new exhibit explores how slavery, while outlawed in New York state in 1827, continued to be an incredibly divisive issue, pitting the economic powerhouse of New York City's connection to the cotton trade against the moral outrage of white and free black New Yorkers disgusted by the institution.

Norwegian Statoil (STO) opened up its first exploration well on land in the Sahara Desert in Algeria, the company said on Thursday.

Qimonda AG achieved the strongest growth among the top-five DRAM suppliers in the third quarter of 2006, allowing it to hold on to its second place ranking, new research finds.

Game developer Activision said on Wednesday that it has successfully launched a number of titles across North America for the upcoming, next-generation game consoles to be released this weekend.

Semiconductor firm AMD had once hoped to develop low-cost personal computers for the developing world, however a new filing reveals that the company is abandoning its efforts.

Sony generated much fanfare last weekend with the debut of its Playstation 3 gaming console in Japan, but rivals Microsoft and Nintendo are preparing their own systems for lucrative holiday buying season.

Computer maker Dell Inc. said on Tuesday that it will begin offering new high performance computers and monitors aimed at enticing gamers and enthusiasts.

Microsoft Corp. could be fined again by the European Commission if it does not meet a November 23 deadline for turning in secret Windows protocols as required by the March 2004 anti-trust decision.

Apple Computer announced that it is teaming up with select airlines on Tuesday in a move to allow seamless integration between its venerable iPod and in-flight entertainment systems.

Anticipation is growing as Sony and Nintendo prepare for the North American releases of their latest gaming consoles. With Microsoft already set with the Xbox 360, and a strong offering from Nintendo, some experts believe that Sony will lose its tight grip on the worldwide gaming market.

Online retail traffic is up 6.2 percent for the two weeks ending November 11, compared to the same period in 2005, with popular online shopping site Amazon.com attracting the largest number of website hits, according to a new report released on Tuesday.