News

• VMware launches dual persona feature for Verizon smart phones

  Through a deal with Verizon, VMware is going to offer the ability for employees to download a app that allows their companies to run a standardized corporate version of Android OS on their phones along side their personal version.

• Motorola's Android phones infringe Microsoft SMS patent, German court rules

  Motorola Mobility's Android phones infringe on a Microsoft text messaging patent, the Higher District Court of Munich ruled on Thursday.

• Ban on iOS push mail stays but patent used to get it likely to be invalid, German court says

  A patent that Motorola Mobility used to force Apple to turn off its iCloud push mail service in Germany is likely to be invalid, the Higher Regional Court in Karlsruhe said on Wednesday -- but the ban will not be lifted, a court spokeswoman said.

• Samsung fights dirty with misleading claims against HTC – who may have replied in kind

  Embarrassed Samsung officials were forced to apologize to rival HTC for a sneaky PR campaign that involved paying off Taiwanese students to write negative reviews of the latter company's products. In related news, I'm looking for a Korean and Mandarin translation of the word "astroturf."

• Google transfers license for 3LM Android security technology to MDM vendor BoxTone

  Mobile-device management software firm BoxTone says Google has transferred the license for the 3LM technology used to provide Android-based security capabilities to it under an arrangement in which BoxTone is given exclusive rights to 3LM features development.

• Nokia uses its patents to block Google's VP8 video codec

  Nokia said on Monday it is not prepared to license any of its patented technologies that might be essential to the VP8 video codec that is backed by Google.

• Progress report: Building, and managing, the 21st century data center

  Even if you've never heard of Flextronics you have probably used or benefited from one of the products this global digital equipment manufacturer has helped assemble -- a Microsoft Xbox 360, for example, or components that show up in everything from Cisco and Motorola devices to aerospace and automotive equipment.

• iPhone snares eighth straight top satisfaction ranking

  Apple's iPhone has again taken the top ranking in J.D. Power and Associates' smartphone customer satisfaction survey, the company said.

• Prominent Apple fellow goes to work for Motorola

  Guy Kawasaki, venture capitalist and former Apple chief evangelist, announced this week that he has taken on advisory work for Motorola Mobility - which is owned by rival Google.

• Cisco loses round in fight against patent troll

  Cisco's attempt to block a patent enforcement company -- commonly known as patent trolls -- from collecting licensing fees has been shot down by a federal court in Chicago.

• Motorola Solutions unveils MC45 mobile computer

  Motorola Solutions believes workplaces will find value in rugged handheld mobile computers that cost several times more than consumer-focused smartphones, but lasts much longer.

• 1

  Google X phone, tablet, spur speculation

  With speculation swirling that Google is preparing to come out with what's been called the Google X phone and a Google X tablet this spring, analysts say the company is pushing the hardware envelope.

• Case study: Bad WiFi setup cost Adelaide aged care facility

  Bethsalem Care suffered years of poor WiFi and IP telecommunications before learning that faulty configuration was to blame.

• Microsoft exec doesn't rule out Intel-based Windows Phones

  After Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a surprise appearance during a Qualcomm keynote at International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), some analysts wondered how married the company is to Snapdragon chips and the ARM-based ecosystem.

• Lenovo unveils K900 smartphone on Atom chip

  Lenovo's new IdeaPhone K900 smartphone, shown at International CES, is a big phone with a 5.5-in. display that's also very lightweight at 5.7 ounces.