FCC restarts review clock for AT&T’s spectrum purchase, gives itself 180 days

Back in August, the FCC decided to freeze the 180-day review clock on AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Qualcomm’s 700 MHz spectrum, citing lingering concerns over the carrier’s ongoing T-Mobile saga. Now that AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have withdrawn their merger application, however, the Commission has decided to re-open the review period for the Qualcomm acquisition, giving itself a fresh 180 days to make a decision. In a letter published Friday, Wireless Bureau chief Rick Kaplan announced that the timetable would be reset, with a retroactive start date of November 29th — the very day that the FCC granted AT&T’s pullout from the T-Mobile deal. No word yet on when we can expect a decision, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for the latest developments. Read the letter in full at the source link below.

FCC restarts review clock for AT&T’s spectrum purchase, gives itself 180 days originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony posts $350 million loss in Q2 earnings report, forecasts full-year loss

Sony‘s Q2 earnings have just come in and, as you might guess, they’re not particularly glowing. A few days after announcing plans to buy out Ericsson’s stake in Sony Ericsson, the manufacturer posted a quarterly loss of ¥27 billion ($346 million) today, compared with a net income of ¥31.1 billion during the same quarter last year. Last quarter, the firm posted a net loss of ¥15.5 billion, or about $200 million. Sony attributed much of this decline to a stronger yen, lower TV sales and recent flooding in Thailand, which has disrupted its supply chain. On this basis, the company lowered its full year forecast, predicting a net loss of ¥90 billion ($1.2 billion), compared with a net profit of ¥60 billion that it had previously expected. It appears, then, that Sony’s TV division is primed to post an annual loss for the 8th straight year, which would certainly explain those plans for a forthcoming shakeup. Find the full report at the source link, below.

Sony posts $350 million loss in Q2 earnings report, forecasts full-year loss originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011

Boo! No, that’s not your doorbell ringing again, that’s HTC popping out of nowhere in order to toss a Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo in the direction of Samsung and Apple. Just days after Strategy Analytics published a global smartphone shipment report for Q3 2011, Canalys — another formidable name in the sector — has pushed out a report of its own. Not surprisingly, the global figures line up almost precisely with what we’d already heard, with Samsung’s Q3 numbers rising above those from Apple, Nokia and the rest of the industry. The difference here, however, is the focal point on the US of A. Here in the States, Taiwan’s own HTC is pulling rank; the aforesaid handset maker edged out Apple and Samsung by shipping 5.7 million smartphones.

All told, it owned “around a quarter of the market,” with Samsung (4.9 million) claiming the second spot and Apple (4.6 million) pulling in for the bronze. Conspicuously absent from the leader board? RIM, which saw its volume decline 58 percent from a year ago and its US market share sink from 24 percent in Q3 2010 to just 9 percent this quarter. Our take? HTC (and Samsung, from a global perspective) best enjoy it while the quarter lasts — as soon as the iPhone 4S and Nokia’s spate of Windows Phone devices start figuring in, we’re guessing that the top spots will be completely up for grabs all over again.

Continue reading Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011

Canalys: HTC nips Apple, Samsung to become top smartphone vendor in US for Q3 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cablevision reports Q3 earnings, sees profit fall by 65 percent, drop in video subscribers

It’s safe to say that Q3 2011 probably won’t be remembered as Cablevision‘s finest. According to the provider’s latest earnings report, profits declined by a full 65 percent over the year, with net income plunging to $39.3 million this quarter, compared with the $112.1 million it raked in during the third quarter of 2010. The company also reported a loss of 19,000 video subscribers during Q3, though it added 17,000 broadband customers and 38,000 telephone subscribers. Total customers, however, declined by 15,000 over the past three months. Revenue, meanwhile, increased by eight percent to $1.7 billion, though the New York-area operator lost about $16 million to Hurricane Irene — not to mention all those legal fees. Smell that? That’s a big platter of PR, sitting right there after the break.

Continue reading Cablevision reports Q3 earnings, sees profit fall by 65 percent, drop in video subscribers

Cablevision reports Q3 earnings, sees profit fall by 65 percent, drop in video subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung claims top spot in global smartphone shipments for Q3 2011, Apple slips to number two

On this edition of As The Smartphone World Turns…, we’ve got Samsung violently snatching victory from the jaws of Apple, claiming its spot at the top of global smartphone vendors once more. Dramatics aside, the latest shipment figures tallied up by Strategy Analytics are showing that worldwide smartphone shipments are up 44 percent year-over-year, reaching a staggering 117 million units in Q3 2011. Digging into that a bit, we’re told that Samsung has overtaken Apple from a units-shipped standpoint, with Sammy moving 28 million smartphones and claiming 24 percent of the market share. If you’ll recall, Apple briefly grabbed hold of numero uno last quarter, but has now fallen a rung with 15 percent of the global pie. Of course, things could be dramatically different when we see Q4 2011 figures roll out — remember, Q3 2011 was the last quarter in a long string with the aging iPhone 4 as Apple’s “newest” device. Stranger still, Nokia is slotted third with just 14 percent of the global share, representing a precipitous drop from 33 percent a year ago. Similarly, Nokia’s fortunes are apt to change with both the N9 finally out and its spate of Windows Phone devices heading out in short order. Hop on past the break for the full breakdown.

Continue reading Samsung claims top spot in global smartphone shipments for Q3 2011, Apple slips to number two

Samsung claims top spot in global smartphone shipments for Q3 2011, Apple slips to number two originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices

With prices sliding and uncertainty rising, China’s biggest producer of rare earth minerals has suddenly decided to suspend all operations, in a move that could strain already tense relations with the West. Baotou Steel, a miner, refiner and vendor located in Inner Mongolia, announced the decision in a statement today, explaining that it’s simply looking to “balance supply and demand” in response to a prolonged price slump within China. Since June, in fact, prices of neodymium oxide and europium oxide have declined by 34 and 35 percent, respectively, with many analysts attributing the drop to mounting economic uncertainty in the US and Europe. Earlier this year, the Chinese government announced plans to merge or close some 35 rare earths producers within the mineral-rich northern region of Inner Mongolia, effectively crowning Baotou Steel as the industry’s epicenter. Now, of course, that’s all changed, though the shutdown will only last for one month. It’s also worth noting that China still exerts rather considerable influence upon the market, accounting for roughly 97 percent of all production of rare earths — a group of 17 minerals used to manufacture gadgets like cellphones, flat-screen TVs and EV batteries, among others. And while new deposits and market projections may point to a transforming landscape, it’s unlikely that Chinese influence will wane anytime soon — much to the chagrin of Western free trade advocates.

Major Chinese supplier halts rare earths production in attempt to boost prices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IDC and Gartner: Lenovo leaps past Dell for second place, still trails HP for the gold

IDC and Gartner have come out with their latest Q3 rankings of the world’s PC manufacturers, which means it’s time for us to do some dissecting. Not much changed at the top of the heap, where, according to IDC, HP still rules the roost with about 18 percent market share (despite that whole PC biz spinoff thing). But the most dramatic shift came from Lenovo, which scurried past Dell for second place, with 13.7 percent market share (13.5, according to Gartner) — a 36.1 percent jump from the third quarter of 2010 (25.2 percent, says Gartner). Dell’s pie slice, on the other hand, shrunk slightly to 12 percent this quarter, down from 12.6 percent last year. On the global scale, meanwhile, PC sales increased by about 3.6 percent compared to Q3 2010 (3.2 percent, in Gartner’s books), though both research firms acknowledged that this figure was well below their respective projections. Why? IDC points to several economic factors, including the threat of a double-dip recession, while Gartner blames the rise of “non-PC devices,” including tablets. Surprise!

Continue reading IDC and Gartner: Lenovo leaps past Dell for second place, still trails HP for the gold

IDC and Gartner: Lenovo leaps past Dell for second place, still trails HP for the gold originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites ‘national security concerns’

The inability to win US government approval isn’t exactly an unfamiliar issue for Huawei, which by now must be conditioned not to expect a nod from major US telecom companies. But now, The Daily Beast reports that the U.S. Commerce Department has made it very clear that the Chinese company won’t have a role in building the country’s new dedicated first responder wireless network. A spokesman wasn’t shy about the reason, either, explaining that Huawei “will not be taking part in the building of America’s interoperable wireless emergency network for first responders due to U.S. government national security concerns.” And what about those national security concerns? Well, Huawei president Ren Zhengfei’s former role as a People’s Liberation Army technologist may have something to do with it, considering it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect that he still has some fairly close ties to Chinese government officials. We haven’t heard a peep from the feds regarding Huawei’s invitation for US officials to investigate the company earlier this year, but it’s safe to assume that the investigation either didn’t go very well, or more likely that it hasn’t happened at all. We imagine that whole corporate espionage debacle probably didn’t help the company, either.

Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites ‘national security concerns’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89

We’re very sorry to report that Robert W. Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, died this week in Chicago at the age of 89. Over the course of his nearly three-decade tenure at the helm, Galvin oversaw Motorola’s transformation from a mid-level radio and walkie talkie manufacturer into one of the world’s leading electronics makers. In the process, he cemented his legacy as one of the industry’s most forward-looking executives. The Marshfield, Wisconsin native first joined the company as a stockroom apprentice in 1940, and would go on to spend his entire career there (save for a tour of duty in World War II). He was named chairman and chief executive in 1959, following the death of his father and company founder Paul Galvin. Under the younger Galvin’s stewardship, Motorola expanded the depth and breadth of its operations, moving into emerging markets and focusing much of its efforts on the burgeoning cellular industry. Galvin spearheaded this transition, which saw Motorola introduce the first commercial cellphone in 1973, and the first cellphone network in the early 1980s. When he first took control, Motorola’s annual sales stood at around $290 million. By the time he retired as chairman in 1990, however, that figure had ballooned to $10.8 billion. Galvin went on to serve on the company’s board of directors until 2001 and, though he may have departed, his impact certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon. “We will continue to honor Bob Galvin’s legacy here at Motorola Mobility,” said current chairman and CEO Sanjay Jha. “He was committed to innovation, and was responsible for guiding Motorola through the creation of the global cellular telephone industry.” Robert “Bob” Galvin is survived by his wife of 67 years, four children, 13 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Continue reading Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89

Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012

It’s been a rough couple of quarters for Sony Ericsson, but things are looking slightly rosier, according to its Q3 earnings report. Today, the company announced break even year-on-year results for the third quarter of 2011, blaming the outcome on lower profit margins and higher taxes, which rose from €12 million to €17 million over the course of a year. According to the report, net profits fell to zero this quarter after reaching €49 million ($67.26 million) during Q3 2010, while sales dropped to €1.59 billion ($2.18 billion) from €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) last year. It’s not exactly an encouraging trend, but it’s certainly an improvement over the last quarter, when Sony Ericsson posted a net loss of €50 million. As far as its portfolio goes, the company says its Xperia smartphones now comprise 80 percent of all sales, with some 22 million handsets already shipped to consumers. President and CEO Bert Nordberg, meanwhile, confirmed that his company will focus on this market with even more intensity, next year: “We will continue to invest in the smartphone market, shifting the entire portfolio to smartphones during 2012.” You can dig through the numbers for yourself, in the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012

Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift ‘entire portfolio’ to smartphones in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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