ELECTRONICS

The top U.S. communications regulator praised recent moves by big wireless companies to open their networks and said he would work to overcome a looming shortage of airwaves used by the industry.

Electronics manufacturer Foxconn is building Apple's eagerly anticipated Tablet device, according to a report on the DigiTimes Web site.

BY Gabriel MadwayDell Inc plans to launch a smartphone with Google's Android mobile software on carrier AT&T's network as soon as early 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported, marking the PC maker's first foray into a cut-throat U.S. cellphone arena.

The top U.S. communications regulator praised recent moves by big wireless companies to open their networks and said he would work to overcome a looming shortage of airwaves used by the industry.

Dell plans to launch a smartphone with Google's Android mobile software on carrier AT&T's network as soon as early 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch has held talks with Japanese and South Korean firms, possibly sounding out potential partners to rival Amazon.com Inc's Kindle electronic reader, sources said on Wednesday.

Apple has selected Foxconn to build the company's anticipated tablet PC, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday, citing market sources. The report says the device will hit the market in Q1 2010, with initial shipments of 300,000-400,000 units.

AT&T Inc will open its third-generation wireless network to third-party Internet voice applications on Apple Inc's iPhone, clearing the way for services such as Skype.

Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Palm Inc stepped up efforts to bolster their smartphone line-ups, as the tech industry's key players increasingly move to challenge Apple Inc's popular iPhone.

While most retailers saw bleak sales this back-to-school season, consumer electronics chains saw renewed demand for notebook personal computers, according to a report from market research firm NPD Group.

Verizon Wireless said on Tuesday it will sell two mobile phones with Google Inc's Android operating system this year, part of a partnership that could boost Google's efforts to challenge Apple Inc in the fast-growing smartphone market.

The World Bank unveiled its $215 million Central African Backbone program on Tuesday, to bring reliable, high-speed, low-cost internet access to the region for the first time.

Microsoft Corp introduced new software for mobile phones on Tuesday, promising a range of devices to compete with Apple Inc's iPhone and Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry.

Cisco Systems Inc's overture for Norway's Tandberg puts U.S.-based Polycom Inc in play as it is the only public company now left in the video conferencing market.

Mobile subscriptions will rise to 4.6 billion by the end of this year, boosted by a continuing mobile phone boom in emerging economies, the International Telecommunication Union said on Tuesday.

Samsung Electronics' stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings forecast on Tuesday failed to impress investors, who are worried a fast recovering won and competition are starting to cut into profits.

Apple Inc on Monday became the latest company to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because the technology company disagrees with the business group's climate change policy.

U.S. network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc expects to continue on the acquisition trail after last week's agreed $3 billion offer for Norwegian videoconferencing company Tandberg.

Vonage Holdings Corp plans to offer discounted international phone calls to iPhone and BlackBerry users, as the Internet telephony company aims to expand beyond the residential market.

Apple could double its iPhone sales if it ended its policy of exclusive contract with mobile service providers, according to analysts.

Finland's Nokia can continue to use its Ovi brand in Brazil for now, a court ruled on Friday, but the legal battle over its new services brand continues in the largest telecoms market in the Latin America.