Filed under: Technology

Visit our Filed page for categories. To browse by specific topic, see our Inside page. For a list of companies covered on this site, visit our Companies page.

 

It’s official: Motorola to split into 2 companies

Motorola Inc. said Tuesday it will officially split into two companies on Jan. 4, 2011.

The separation is a long time coming, as the Schaumburg-based technology company first announced the decision in March 2008. The complexity of the break-up and the global recession had slowed the process, which involved dividing up not just employees, but assets such as intellectual property and ownership of the Motorola brand. Get the full story »

EU launches formal Google probe after complaints

European Union antitrust regulators launched a formal investigation on Tuesday into Google after several search service providers complained that the company had abused its dominant position. Get the full story »

Web site report: Google to buy Groupon for $2.5B

From VatorNews.com | Technology news Web site Vatornews is reporting Google has struck a deal to buy Chicago-based social coupon company Groupon for $2.5 billion. The report, citing one anonymous source, has not been confirmed by Groupon or Google. See the report >>

Apple buys HP land to accommodate growth

Apple is expanding the size of its Cupertino, California, home base, acquiring nearby facilities from computer pioneer and competitor Hewlett Packard Co. Get the full story »

Canadian deal to boost Tellabs in mobile Internet

Tellabs Inc. is acquiring a Canadian telecommunications equipment company to boost its research and development in mobile Internet technology.

Terms of the deal between Naperville-based Tellabs and Zeguma Systems Inc. of Richmond, British Columbia were not disclosed. Get the full story »

Amazon allows Kindle e-books as gifts

Amazon.com Inc. has begun allowing customers to give its Kindle e-books to others.

Before, customers could only give gift certificates to cover the cost of an e-book. Get the full story »

Analysts: Thinner iPad in works

Bloomberg News | Analysts say Apple is working on a thinner iPad for introduction next year with a camera for video calling and global wireless capabilities.

White House to push for tech policy action in 2011

The Obama administration on will push Congress next year to move ahead on critical technology policies, the White House’s technology chief said on Thursday. Get the full story »

MySpace to let users log directly into Facebook

In a sign of the companies’ divergent fortunes, MySpace says it will let its users log in to their Facebook accounts through their MySpace page. Get the full story »

Twitter considers raising over $100 million

Microblogging service Twitter is considering raising funding that would value the company at $3 billion, according to a popular technology blog.

Russian technology investment firm DST Global is seeking to lead the funding round, which would be larger than the $100 million that Twitter raised in September 2009, according to a report Wednesday on the blog TechCrunch. The report said that other investors are also eager to be involved. Get the full story »

Google, Hachette ink accord on book scanning

Google has signed an accord with France’s biggest book publisher Hachette Livre on the scanning and sale of out-of-print books, which grants the publisher wide control over pricing and content. Get the full story »

Google Voice app finally approved for iPhone

Google Inc.’s Voice calling application has won approval to be on the iPhone after more than a year of haggling with Apple Inc.

The breakthrough announced Tuesday resolves a stand-off that triggered a Federal Communications Commission inquiry into whether Apple and AT&T Inc., the iPhone’s exclusive U.S. service provider, were trying to stifle competition by keeping the app off the popular device. Get the full story »

Apple secures rights to digital Beatles music

(AP Photos/Tribune Illustration)

After years of anticipation, speculation and legal tussling, Steve Jobs’ Apple Inc., the Beatles’ Apple Corps and EMI/Capitol Records agreed to make the Beatles’ catalog, spanning 1962-1970, available for legal digital download.

Google working on phone with built-in payment tool

Google Inc. is taking another stab at designing a game-changing mobile phone, this time by including a built-in payment system that could eventually enable the devices to replace credit cards. The new phone got a brief preview Monday when Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the stage to kick off the Web 2.0 summit, a technology conference held annually in San Francisco.

Schmidt confirmed that Google has been working on a sophisticated new computer chip and an upgrade of its Android mobile operating system that will include a payment processing tool. He showed off the new phone with the device’s name and manufacturer concealed. Get the full story »

Discover, Telcos plan mobile payment venture

Mobile phone companies Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc and T-Mobile USA are poised to announce plans for a venture offering mobile payments services, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

Discover Financial Services and Barclays will also announce they are participating in the joint venture, which will allow consumers to pay for purchases with their cellphones, the people said. Get the full story »