SMARTPHONE

Smartphone maker Palm Inc said it would offer 20 million common shares for $16.25 each, a discount of 5 percent to the stock's Tuesday close.

As Microsoft gears to roll out its retail stores, similar to that of rival Apple, the company is now also reportedly trying to poach Apple Store employees.

MetroPCS Communications Inc said it has selected the infrastructure and initial handset providers for its fourth-generation long term evolution broadband service, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2010.

Google Inc made its fortune on Internet search ads, but Wall Street is increasingly eager for signs that the company's other money-making bets will pay off.

Google Inc.'s YouTube is reportedly in talks with major movie studios about allowing users to stream movies on a rental basis, making it the sites first move towards charging for content instead of making it available for free with advertising, according to a media report.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Monday it would open an online store for smartphone applications on September 14 in Europe.

A 15-year-old Belgium boy is allegedly the latest victim in a series of mysterious iPhone explosions that have captured the attention of France's and the European Commissions' consumer affair watchdogs.

BANGALORE - Garmin Ltd (GRMN.O) has chosen a wireless carrier for its long-awaited navigation-enabled smartphone set for a fourth-quarter launch in the United States, but the navigation device maker stopped short of naming the company.

Japan's Sharp Corp said it plans to launch a paperback-sized mini mobile PC that features a quick start-up time, touch-screen display and full keyboard, targeting niche demand between smartphones and netbooks.

Taiwan's Asustek is pinning its recovery hopes on emerging markets such as China as the pioneer of netbooks struggles to compete with bigger rivals such as Hewlett-Packard and Acer.

Dell Inc. has chosen Foxconn, a major Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for its first smartphone Mini3i, Apple Daily Taiwan reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed source.

Dell has confirmed it's developing mobile devices for China Mobile, the world's biggest wireless operator by subscribers, igniting speculation that the computer maker is getting ready to make its debut into the already highly competitive smartphone market.

Facebook Inc. said it has acquired FriendFeed, a start-up that allow users to share links and status updates online, folding in a potential rival that struggled to take off.

HTC , the world's No.4 smartphone maker, plunged by its daily 7 percent maximum limit on Monday after it unexpectedly slashed its revenue forecast for this year.

Global handset shipments grew nearly 5 percent in the second quarter, the first quarter- on-quarter growth in 9 months, marking a reversal of course for the struggling market, researchers at iSuppli said on Friday.

Motorola Inc posted a bigger quarterly profit in the second quarter as it cut costs and shipped more cell phones than expected, sending its shares up 7.6 percent.

Motorola Inc posted a bigger quarterly profit in the second quarter as it cut costs and shipped more cell phones than expected, sending its shares up 7.6 percent.

Palm Inc has fired another volley at Apple Inc in their smartphone war, as the two rivals tussle over whether iTunes should be compatible with Palm's new Pre smartphone.

Research In Motion looks like an odd suitor for Nortel Networks' mobile network equipment unit but the deal could help the BlackBerry smartphone maker plug gaps in its technology patent portfolio.

Research In Motion Ltd said on Monday Nortel Networks had effectively blocked the BlackBerry maker from bidding potentially $1.1 billion for the bankrupt Canadian company's wireless business.

The world's top cellphone maker Nokia cut on Thursday its forecast for second half profitability and 2009 market share at its key phone unit, sending its shares sharply lower. Nokia said its second-half underlying operating profit margin at its key phone unit would be at the first-half level of 11.3 percent. It had earlier forecast a second-half margin of 13-19 percent.