Stories by John Blau

Microsoft and Siemens sign in-car IT deal

Microsoft’s in-car technology is getting a boost via a deal with Germany’s Siemens VDO Automotive division, which has agreed to collaborate on a next-generation communications and entertainment system.

Apple signs iPhone deals for Europe, report says

Apple Inc. has signed its first deals with mobile phone operators to offer its iPhone in three of Europe's largest markets, ending a period of intense negotiations, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper.

Skype says crash followed Windows security update

The widespread failure of Skype Ltd.'s Internet telephony service last week happened when millions of Windows users tried to log in to the system at the same time, after downloading a software update from Microsoft Corp. and rebooting their machines, Skype said Monday.

RealPlayer video beta

The growing popularity of video on the web has prompted RealNetworks to launch version 11, a beta version of its RealPlayer software that allows users to easily record and download videos to their PCs.

iPhone users will need iTunes account, Apple says

Consumers planning to buy the iPhone when it goes on sale in the U.S. later this month will need to have an iTunes Store account before they can activate the device, according to information on Apple's Web site.

Patent fracas blurs Nokia, Qualcomm management focus

Ongoing legal disputes over mobile phone patents between Nokia Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. are consuming much executive management time, generating substantial lawyer fees and, if they escalate, could affect handset development and prices, experts warn.

Qualcomm talks tough on patents, 4G and WiMax

The race to define and build next-generation broadband wireless networks is in full swing. And although Qualcomm doesn’t like to use the 4G (fourth-generation) term, the company — a key supplier of chip technology for today’s 3G (third-generation) networks — is already moving to stake its claim in the emerging market for super-fast wireless services.

Software piracy hits US$40B worldwide, says study

Efforts to curb software piracy in China are bearing fruit although the piracy rate remains high, costing vendors billions of dollars in lost revenue, according to a survey paid for by large vendors, including Apple and Microsoft.

Wi-Fi cloaks the City of London

The City of London is home to a new Wi-Fi network that is not only one of Europe's largest but also among the first to give users mobile coverage similar to a cellular network.

Vodafone takes hybrid approach to mobile VoIP

Vodafone demonstrated a service at the Cebit trade show, held in Germany last week, that allows mobile phone customers to call and exchange presence information with users of internet phone services such as Skype.

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