Communications News

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) said its second quarter net profit rose an annual 10.1 percent, with the boost coming from strong contributions from regional mobile associates. Full Story »

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A settlement between mobile phone users and companies that charged them for downloaded ringtones and games they thought were free was approved by a court on Tuesday. Full Story »

Wireless broadband provider Clearwire had about 173,000 WiMax subscribers at the end of September and should be able to offer service to 120 million potential subscribers in the U.S. by the end of next year, the company said Tuesday. Full Story »

Logitech plans to acquire LifeSize Communications, a company that makes HD video communications equipment, for US$405 million in cash, the companies said Tuesday. Full Story »

Coughing into your cell phone may soon save you a trip to the doctor, says a Discovery News report citing new research by U.S. and Aussie scientists. The scientists hope to diagnose cold, flu, pneumonia or other respiratory diseases by analyzing coughs via phone-based software. The Gates Foundation has awarded grants to create such software for use in developing nations to the scientists based at Star Analytical Services, a Mass. firm, and Australia's Univ. of Queensland. Full Story »

Free Wi-Fi while you're waiting for your flight? Sounds like a great way to save money, and kudos to Google for offering it at many U.S. airports during the holidays. Unfortunately, Google's generosity may also lure identity thieves and nefarious hackers to the nation's terminals to prey on clueless travelers. Full Story »

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's two largest cellphone makers, Nokia and Samsung Electronics, unveiled on Tuesday their latest rivals to the iPhone as Apple became the top profit generator in the handset industry. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Google, Yahoo, eBay and Microsoft, competitors on the Web, all have the same idea for marketing themselves this holiday season: temporarily providing free Wi-Fi access in airports, airplanes and public places. Full Story »

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Google is giving the gift of free wireless Internet to travelers at a host of US airports this holiday season. Full Story »

Hoping to bring holiday cheer to harried travelers, Google is footing the bill for Wi-Fi access at 47 U.S. airports through mid-January, so that people can connect free to the Internet while they wait at airline gates and other areas. Full Story »

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are all trying to be the better Santa Claus this holiday season, offering free Wi-Fi in a variety of venues. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Investors in Clearwire Corp., including Sprint Nextel Corp. and major cable companies, Tuesday said they are pumping an additional $1.5 billion into the company so it can keep building out its nationwide wireless data network. Full Story »

On Tuesday, Google announced an early Christmas present for the traveling masses: Free Wi-Fi at major airports across the country. Google is teaming up with scores of airports, as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income, and others to offer the holiday gift starting Tuesday and running through Jan. 15, 2010. Full Story »

WAYNESBORO, Va. - NTELOS Holdings Corp., a wireless phone service provider, said Tuesday it plans to cut about 3 percent of its work force amid the economic downturn. It expects to book related charges of about $1.5 million this year. Full Story »

Google's gift of free holiday Internet access at 47 U.S. airports only points out how backward those airports are. Don't they understand Internet access in public places is supposed to be free? Full Story »

Call it an early holiday gift from Google to millions of airline passengers. Google said will be offering free Wi-Fi to travelers across the United States starting Tuesday at 47 airports. Google says the Wi-Fi will be available until January 15, 2010. Google says it will also extend the free Wi-Fi offer to Virgin America flights within the continental United States. Full Story »

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's two largest cell phone makers, Nokia and Samsung Electronics, have unveiled their latest attempts to keep pace in the battle with smartphone rivals like iPhone and Blackberry. Full Story »

Samsung appeared to announce a new mobile-phone OS today, but it didn't really. Bada is an extension of Samsung's long-time, proprietary feature-phone OS, but it's also open to developers. Full Story »