Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Alliance for Broadband Competition forms to sway opinion against Verizon's AWS acquisition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/alliance-for-broadband-competition/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/alliance-for-broadband-competition/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/alliance-for-broadband-competition/#comments Alliance for Broadband Competition forms to sway opinion against Verizon's AWS acquisition

The effort to prevent Verizon Wireless from its purchase of AWS licenses from SpectrumCo and Cox just became a bit more intense, as several opponents to the deal have now banded together to form the Alliance for Broadband Competition. The coalition includes T-Mobile and Sprint, along with advocacy groups such as Public Knowledge, the American Antitrust Institute, the Rural Cellular Association and the Rural Telecommunications Group. Today, the newly formed alliance held a press conference in which it called on the FCC and Department of Justice to block the transfer, which it said would lead to an "excessive concentration of spectrum" held by Verizon Wireless. While it's not much of an olive branch, the group similarly suggested that it would support the deal if Verizon were to divest some of its spectrum holdings, establish roaming agreements and agree to a backhaul pricing structure. As you may recall, Verizon Wireless estimates that it'll exhaust its network capacity by 2014. Regardless of how this $3.9 billion proposal shakes out, it's rather clear that something's gotta give.

Alliance for Broadband Competition forms to sway opinion against Verizon's AWS acquisition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alliance for Broadband CompetitionAllianceForBroadbandCompetitionAmerican Antitrust InstituteAmericanAntitrustInstituteawscomcastcoxcox communicationsCoxCommunicationsdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojfccmobilepostcrossPublic KnowledgePublicKnowledgeRural Cellular AssociationRural Telecommunications GroupRuralCellularAssociationRuralTelecommunicationsGroupsalespectrumspectrumcosprintt-mobiletime warnertime warner cableTimeWarnerTimeWarnerCableverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelesswireless spectrumWirelessSpectrumMon, 14 May 2012 21:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/justice-department-clears-google-of-wifi-wiretapping/#comments Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations

Two years ago, Google drove its way into a fair amount of hot water when it accidentally (as was claimed) scooped up private data over WiFi while collecting Street View and location data. Now, the Justice Department has cleared the prolific mapsters of the wiretapping violations. The DOJ made its decision not to push for prosecution based on reports from employees and investigating key documents reports Wired. The Wiretap Act (which is the relevant one here) was argued to only pertain to "traditional radio services," by US District Judge James Ware, but neither the DOJ or FCC said they could find any evidence that Google accessed the date it snared. In an extra move of openness, the search giant has also released the entire FCC report on the Street View investigation (redacted to protect identities) which can be found in the more coverage link. So, next time you see the famous camera-topped wagons roll around, you can leave your tin hat in the closet.

Justice Department clears Google of WiFi wiretapping violations originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cleareddepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDOJFCCgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewJustice DepartmentJusticeDepartmentprivacyrulingsecuritysnoopsnoopingstreet viewStreetViewwardrivingwifiwifi snoopingWifiSnoopingSat, 28 Apr 2012 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Antitrust suit carries on against Intel, Apple, Google and others]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/antitrust-suit-carries-on-against-intel-apple-google-and-other/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/antitrust-suit-carries-on-against-intel-apple-google-and-other/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/antitrust-suit-carries-on-against-intel-apple-google-and-other/#comments Antitrust suit carries on against intel, apple, google and others

They can hope and pray all that they want, but Google, Intel, Apple, Adobe, Intuit, Pixar and Lucasfilm will soon be facing some serious accusations in a courtroom under the Sherman Antitrust Act and California's Cartwright Act. After years of trying to dodge legal action over an "informal agreement" to not pinch each others employees, and an effort to have the case dismissed, the seven defendants will have to stand trial as ordered by District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California. In her decision Koh said, not only was there evidence that these agreements were made at the highest levels of the company but, that six such deals were struck in secret in such a short time frame "suggests that these agreements resulted from collusion." There's still time for yet another deal to be struck, however, this time between the defendants and the DOJ. Otherwise it looks like all seven will have to stand trial in June of 2013.

Antitrust suit carries on against Intel, Apple, Google and others originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeanti competitiveAntiCompetitiveantitrustappleCalifornias Cartwright ActCaliforniasCartwrightActclass actionclass action lawsuitClassActionClassActionLawsuitdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojemployeegooglehiringindustryintelintuitinvestigationjudge lucy kohJudgeLucyKohlawlawsuitlucasfilmlucasfilm ltdLucasfilmLtdpixarSherman Antitrust ActShermanAntitrustActFri, 20 Apr 2012 10:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon selling 700MHz spectrum, but only if government approves its AWS purchase]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/verizon-selling-700mhz-spectrum-but-only-if-government-approves/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/verizon-selling-700mhz-spectrum-but-only-if-government-approves/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/verizon-selling-700mhz-spectrum-but-only-if-government-approves/#comments Verizon selling 700MHz spectrum, but only if government approves its AWS purchase

Seems odd that Verizon would decide to sell off some of it's wireless spectrum considering it told the FCC that it doesn't have enough space for its future LTE needs. Yet Big Red's doing just that, pledging to pawn off its 700MHz A and B licenses should its purchase of AWS spectrum from a contingent of cable companies be approved by the FCC and DOJ. Why would Verizon do such a thing? It appears that the 700MHz upper C band (where VZW's LTE service currently resides) combined with the new AWS licenses will provide Big Red the bandwidth it needs. Plus, selling off some of its other spectrum will surely grease the wheels with the governmental powers that be, and perhaps even assuage Verizon's competition arrayed against its AWS acquisition. Of course, the A and B licenses being offered for sale don't blanket the nation, but they do cover quite a few large metropolitan markets. Check out the full list after the break.

[Tower photo via Shutterstock]

Continue reading Verizon selling 700MHz spectrum, but only if government approves its AWS purchase

Verizon selling 700MHz spectrum, but only if government approves its AWS purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>700 mhz700 mhz spectrum700Mhz700MhzSpectrumdojfccmobilepostcrosssalespectrumverizonvzwwirelesswireless spectrumWirelessSpectrumWed, 18 Apr 2012 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple says e-book price fixing charges 'simply not true,' Macmillan also responds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/apple-says-e-book-price-fixing-charges-simply-not-true/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/apple-says-e-book-price-fixing-charges-simply-not-true/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/apple-says-e-book-price-fixing-charges-simply-not-true/#comments Apple says e-book price fixing charges Not that we were expecting Apple and Macmillan to simply fess up and say, "you're right, totally tried to circumvent the free market," but both companies have come out swinging pretty hard against the allegations of price fixing. Apple has rejected the charges, calling them "simply not true." A company spokesman, Tom Neumayr, went so far as to tell Reuters that Cupertino was actually fostering competition by "breaking Amazon's monopolistic grip on the publishing industry." John Sargent, the CEO of Macmillan, defended his company's behavior in blog post, saying the publisher had done nothing illegal and that the concessions sought by the DOJ in settlement negotiations were "too onerous." It looks like the next step for both is to face off with the US government in court -- a daunting task, no matter how large your war chest.

Apple says e-book price fixing charges 'simply not true,' Macmillan also responds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agency pricingAgencyPricingantitrustappledepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedoje booke bookse readere readerse-booke-book pricingE-bookPricinge-bookse-readere-readersjohn sargentJohnSargentJustice DepartmentJusticeDepartmentlawsuitmacmillanprice fixingPriceFixingFri, 13 Apr 2012 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Australia pondering joining e-book lawsuit bandwagon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/australia-pondering-ebooks-lawsuit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/australia-pondering-ebooks-lawsuit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/australia-pondering-ebooks-lawsuit/#comments Image
If Apple and the Big Five thought they only had to contend with a federal e-book lawsuit in the US, they'd better think again. Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission is inviting local businesses to raise formal concerns as it weighs up launching its own judicial broadside against the alleged cartel. The Commission refused to comment publicly on its plans beyond saying that it was "aware of the latest developments" and would listen to local resellers who had concerns about the Australian market. While Simon & Schuster, Hachette and HarperCollins made back-room deals with the DoJ yesterday, they'd still be involved (at least initially) with the second front of this conflict. Meanwhile, the threat remains of the European Union joining in: turning it from a spot of local trouble into a global courtroom battle for the future of e-book pricing.

Australia pondering joining e-book lawsuit bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACCCAntitrustAppleAustraliaCompetition and Consumer CommissionCompetitionAndConsumerCommissionDepartment of JusticeDepartmentOfJusticeDoJe booke book pricese bookse readere readerse-booke-book price fixingE-bookPriceFixinge-bookse-readere-readersEBookPricesHachetteHarperCollinsMacmillianPenguinSimon SchusterSimonSchusterThu, 12 Apr 2012 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's CEO has a plan for wireless pay-TV, if the government will allow it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/verizons-ceo-has-a-plan-for-wireless-pay-tv-if-the-government/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/verizons-ceo-has-a-plan-for-wireless-pay-tv-if-the-government/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/verizons-ceo-has-a-plan-for-wireless-pay-tv-if-the-government/#comments Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam doesn't quite have all of those SpectrumCo AWS licenses in his pocket just yet, but if he does get them he has a decidedly old school idea of what to flood the airwaves with: TV. The Wall Street Journal quotes him saying Verizon and its new cable friends could have "the beginnings of an integrated offering" out by the holidays, so pay-TV customers could watch video on their mobile devices. Even though many of the TV services are already streaming video to tablets, PCs and phones, currently most subscription services are limited to the space of the home's WiFi network, unlike the video on-demand seen above. According to McAdam the potential to negotiate rights for outside the home streaming and even busting open the bundles for à la carte programming exist -- provided the FCC and DOJ allow Verizon to complete the proposed $3.9 billion purchase. Of course, consumption based billing would still be on the table, so don't start planning your streaming schedule just yet. For now we'll wait and see if the pros of this arrangement outweigh the cons (and how its Redbox play is mixed up in this), or if the pie-in-the-sky NowTV-style elements of the plan are merely being floated to get the deal done.

Verizon's CEO has a plan for wireless pay-TV, if the government will allow it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a la carteALaCarteawscable tvCableTvdojfccfiosfios tvFiosTvhdpostcrossltemobilepostcrosspay tvPayTvpurchaseregulatoryspectrumspectrumcostreamingtvverizonverizon fiosverizon wirelessVerizonFiosVerizonWirelessThu, 29 Mar 2012 23:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Carpathia wants to delete orphaned Megaupload data, pay the bills]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/carpathia-wants-to-delete-orphaned-megaupload-data-pay-the-bill/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/carpathia-wants-to-delete-orphaned-megaupload-data-pay-the-bill/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/carpathia-wants-to-delete-orphaned-megaupload-data-pay-the-bill/#comments The Federal shut down of Megaupload did more than jail its founders, scare its competitors and worry its users -- it also left Carpathia Hosting footing a $9,000 a day bill. The outfit previously agreed to preserve Megaupload's frozen data, but now that the service's unpaid bills are piling up, it's ready to change its tune. In a emergency motion filed with the U.S. Federal Court in Virginia, Carpathia asked the court to either take the data off its hands, pay it for retaining the data or else allow it to delete the data altogether after allowing users to reclaim their files. The hosting service won't take action on its own, it says, as that might "risk a claim by a party with an interest in the data," such as the Motion Picture Association of America. With any luck, the matter will be settled in a court hearing next month. If not? Well, we'll just take it as a lesson: back up locally, you never know when your files might get wrapped up in the legal system.

Carpathia wants to delete orphaned Megaupload data, pay the bills originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carpathia hostingCarpathiaHostingcloud lockercloud storageCloudLockerCloudStoragedojeffelectronic frontier foundationElectronicFrontierFoundationfile sharingfilesharinglegalmegauploadMotion Picture Association of AmericapiracySci/TechUnited States federal courtsFri, 23 Mar 2012 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[US DOJ sues AT&T for improper IP Relay billing, alleges millions in false claims to FCC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/doj-sues-att-for-improper-ip-relay-billing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/doj-sues-att-for-improper-ip-relay-billing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/doj-sues-att-for-improper-ip-relay-billing/#commentsImageAT&T has violated the United States False Claims Act to the tune of "millions of dollars," according to a Department of Justice lawsuit filed this week. The DOJ alleges that the carrier intentionally neglected to authenticate users of the IP Relay service -- a tool utilized by hearing-impaired persons to type messages that communications assistants then read to callers. The service is also abused by individuals overseas to defraud U.S. businesses (think infamous Nigerian scams), which prompted the FCC to establish a law requiring telecom providers, including AT&T, to confirm the identity of registered users, which it apparently failed to do. This resulted in thousands of fraudulent users, representing some 95 percent of all calls, which AT&T received FCC payments for to the tune of $1.30 per minute. An AT&T spokesman was somewhat dismissive when speaking to the Associated Press, saying "as the FCC is aware, it is always possible for an individual to misuse IP Relay services, just as someone can misuse the postal system or an email account, but FCC rules require that we complete all calls by customers who identify themselves as disabled." But if the allegations are proven, there could be some pretty serious repercussions for Big Blue. DOJ PR is just past the break.

Continue reading US DOJ sues AT&T for improper IP Relay billing, alleges millions in false claims to FCC

US DOJ sues AT&T for improper IP Relay billing, alleges millions in false claims to FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojFalse Claims ActFalseClaimsActfccfederal communications commissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionIP RelayIP Relay serviceIpRelayIpRelayServicelawlawslawsuitlegalsuesuingsuitunited statesUnitedStatesThu, 22 Mar 2012 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[DOJ greenlights bid by Apple, Microsoft and RIM to buy Nortel patents]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/doj-greenlights-bid-by-apple-microsoft-and-rim-to-buy-nortel-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/doj-greenlights-bid-by-apple-microsoft-and-rim-to-buy-nortel-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/doj-greenlights-bid-by-apple-microsoft-and-rim-to-buy-nortel-pa/#commentsThe US Department of Justice didn't just give the go-ahead to Google's acquisition of Motorola today, it also gave the greenlight to a $4.5 billion bid on Nortel's patents from a consortium of companies including Apple, Microsoft and RIM (who have dubbed themselves Rockstar Bidco). Nortel's portfolio includes some 6,000 patents, and the DOJ says the approval comes after it received clear commitments from Apple and Microsoft to license so-called standard essential patents on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, as well as their commitments not to seek injunctions in disputes involving SEPs." To round things out for the day, the Justice Department has also given its clearance to Apple's acquisition of certain Novell patents, which have been held by CPTN Holdings pending approval. Its full statement can be found after the break.

Continue reading DOJ greenlights bid by Apple, Microsoft and RIM to buy Nortel patents

DOJ greenlights bid by Apple, Microsoft and RIM to buy Nortel patents originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquistionappledepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojmicrosoftnortelnortel networksNortelNetworkspatentpatentsrimrockstar bidcoRockstarBidcoMon, 13 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Google hires Apple exec to work on 'secret project']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/#comments
Google appears to have scored another coup in its ongoing rivalry with Apple, having reportedly lured one of the company's senior directors to its Mountain View headquarters. Simon Prakash, pictured above, has worked at Apple for more than eight years, most recently serving as the firm's senior director of product integrity. According to VentureBeat, however, that tenure has come to a close, now that Google has hired Prakesh to work on a "secret project." The report speculates that this project could be helmed by co-founder Sergey Brin, and that it may be mobile-related, though declarative statements were few and far between. Prior to arriving at Apple, Prakash served as director of engineering design validation at Cielo Communications, and held managerial positions at 3Com. VentureBeat claims he'll be starting work at Google today, though the company has yet to issue any statement on the matter. Once finalized, though, the hiring could help dispel some of those "no poach" accusations flying around federal courts.

Report: Google hires Apple exec to work on 'secret project' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3comallegationapplecielocompanycorporatecupertinodepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDOJemployeeexecgooglehiringindustrymobilemountain viewMountainViewpoachpoachingreportrumorsergey brinSergeyBrinsimon prakashSimonPrakashMon, 06 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Megaupload co-founder's bail appeal rejected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/megaupload-co-founders-bail-appeal-rejected/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/megaupload-co-founders-bail-appeal-rejected/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/03/megaupload-co-founders-bail-appeal-rejected/#comments Megaupload co-founder's bail appeal rejectedWhile users housing content on the troubled Megaupload site were given a two-week reprieve, one of its co-founders is having less luck. Kim Dotcom has lost his appeal for bail, with prosecutors fearing that he would flee from New Zealand and return to his native Germany, possibly making him safe from extradition. According to the BBC, the prosecution alleged that Dotcom -- formerly Kim Schmitz -- had multiple passports and bank accounts, and "a history of fleeing criminal charges." His next court appearance his scheduled for February 22nd.

Megaupload co-founder's bail appeal rejected originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailcarpathia hostingCarpathiaHostingcloud lockercloud storageCloudLockerCloudStoragecogent communicationsCogentCommunicationsdojeffelectronic frontier foundationElectronicFrontierFoundationfilesharingkim dotcomKimDotcomlegalmegauploadminipostFri, 03 Feb 2012 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Megaupload users' data to be kept another two weeks, EFF to help folks retrieve it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/megaupload-users-data-to-be-kept-another-two-weeks-eff-to-help/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/megaupload-users-data-to-be-kept-another-two-weeks-eff-to-help/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/megaupload-users-data-to-be-kept-another-two-weeks-eff-to-help/#comments Megaupload's digital doors may have been closed due to the presence of pirated materials, but there's still the matter of all that legal content residing on its servers. Naturally, folks want their files back, but now that the government's gotten what it needs, the hosting companies no longer need to keep the data around because Megaupload's no longer paying them to do so. Carpathia Hosting and Cogent Communications, however, have decided to preserve the data for another two weeks while a deal is brokered with the DOJ for its release. In the meantime, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has teamed up with Carpathia to create a website that puts folks in touch with EFF attorneys so users can try to retrieve their data. No word as to what legal wrangling the EFF can do to make it happen, but those affected can get the wheels of justice started at the source below.

Megaupload users' data to be kept another two weeks, EFF to help folks retrieve it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carpathia hostingCarpathiaHostingcloud lockercloud storageCloudLockerCloudStoragecogent communicationsCogentCommunicationsdojeffelectronic frontier foundationElectronicFrontierFoundationfilesharinglegalmegauploadTue, 31 Jan 2012 21:19:00 EST<![CDATA[In the wake of Megaupload crackdown, fear forces similar sites to shutter sharing services?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/in-the-wake-of-megaupload-crackdown-fear-forces-similar-sites-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/in-the-wake-of-megaupload-crackdown-fear-forces-similar-sites-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/in-the-wake-of-megaupload-crackdown-fear-forces-similar-sites-t/#comments The Feds put the smackdown on Megaupload and its whole executive team last week, charging them with criminal charges for copyright infringement and racketeering in addition to conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and money laundering. As a result, it appears that several other cloud locker companies have curbed their sharing ways to avoid similar DOJ entanglements. FileSonic and Fileserve have eliminated file sharing from their service menus, and Uploaded.to is no longer available to those of us in the US. Naturally, none of these companies have said that Megaupload's legal problems are the reason for the changes, but the timing suggests it's more than mere coincidence. Disagree? Feel free to speculate about the possibilities in the comments below, and let us know if any other online storage services have made similar moves while you're at it.

In the wake of Megaupload crackdown, fear forces similar sites to shutter sharing services? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud lockercloud servicecloud storageCloudLockerCloudServiceCloudStoragecopyright infringementCopyrightInfringementdojfile sharingfileserveFileSharingfilesoniclawsuitlegalmegauploadpiracyuploaded.toMon, 23 Jan 2012 19:42:00 EST<![CDATA[DOJ investigation yields fresh evidence against Google, Apple in antitrust lawsuit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/#comments
Back in 2009, a small controversy began swirling around Google and Apple, amid allegations that the two companies had struck an informal agreement to not poach each other's employees. The Department of Justice launched an investigation into the matter in 2010, but details of the case were only made public for the first time yesterday. TechCrunch was the first to sift through the documents, and has uncovered some ostensibly incriminating evidence against not only Google and Apple, but Pixar, Lucasfilm, Adobe, Intel, and Intuit, as well. According to filings from the US District Court for the Northern District of California, these companies did indeed enter "no poach" agreements with each other, and agreed to refrain from engaging in bidding wars. The documents also suggest that they collectively sought to limit their employees' power to negotiate for higher salaries.

Some of the most apparently damning evidence derives from archived e-mails, including one that Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen penned to Steve Jobs in May 2005. In the message, sent under the subject "Recruitment of Apple Employees," Adobe's SVP of human resources explains that "Bruce and Steve Jobs have an agreement that we are not to solicit ANY Apple employees, and vice versa." Pixar's Lori McAdams expressed similar sentiments in an internal e-mail from 2007, writing: "I just got off the phone with Danielle Lambert [of Apple], and we agreed that effective now, we'll follow a Gentleman's agreement with Apple that is similar to our Lucasfilm agreement." This would suggest, as the DOJ writes, that there's "strong evidence that the companies knew about the other express agreements, patterned their own agreements off of them, and operated them concurrently with the others to accomplish the same objective." The DOJ announced in September that it had reached settlements with the six implicated firms, but a class-action lawsuit is scheduled to get underway next week in San Jose.

DOJ investigation yields fresh evidence against Google, Apple in antitrust lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeanti competitiveAntiCompetitiveantitrustappleclass actionclass action lawsuitClassActionClassActionLawsuitdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojemployeegooglehiringindustryintelintuitinvestigationlawlawsuitlegallucasfilmpixarsilicon valleySiliconValleyFri, 20 Jan 2012 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Tech's biggest misfires of 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/techs-biggest-misfires-of-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/techs-biggest-misfires-of-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/techs-biggest-misfires-of-2011/#comments
The past 12 months have been a boon of technological innovation, particularly in the world of mobile devices, where top companies have been waging an arms race for the top of the smartphone and tablet hills. Not everything has been smooth sailing, however -- 2011 has also been dotted by delays, false starts, security breeches and straight up technological turf outs. Check out some of the lowlights from the year that was after the break.

Continue reading Tech's biggest misfires of 2011

Tech's biggest misfires of 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsappleattblackberryblackberry playbookBlackberryPlaybookcarrier iqCarrierIqcircle pad proCirclePadProciscodojduke nukem foreverDukeNukemForevere booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersfccflipflip camFlipCamfusion garageFusionGaragegrid10gridoshphp touchpadHpTouchpadhtchtc thunderboltHtcThunderboltiphone 4siphone 5Iphone4sIphone5jawbonejawbone upJawboneUpjoojooknokno tabletKnoTabletkobokobo voxKoboVoxnetflixnintendonintendo 3dsNintendo3dsnotion inknotion ink adamNotionInkNotionInkAdampalmplaybookplaystation networkPlaystationNetworkpsnqwiksterresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsonyt-mobiletablettabletsthunderbolttouchpadwebosThu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Justice Department antitrust division probing Verizon cable spectrum deals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/justice-department-antitrust-division-probing-verizon-cable-spec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/justice-department-antitrust-division-probing-verizon-cable-spec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/21/justice-department-antitrust-division-probing-verizon-cable-spec/#commentsLooks like AT&T isn't the only major carrier having issues with the guv'ment lately. Remember that 20MHz AWS spectrum that Verizon got from Cox Communications for a cool $315 million this month? How's about that juicy spectrum Big Red scored from Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House for $3.6 billion? Well, it turns out those deals are raising an eyebrow or two over at the Justice Department, which just launched an investigation into the matter. A spokesperson for the department confirmed the probe with Bloomberg News but declined to provide further details. A source familiar with the investigation, however, says the antitrust division is involved. Apparently, there's concern that the deal puts too much control of the airwaves in the hands of Verizon. For its part, Verizon declined to comment, saying it has yet to receive information about the investigation.

Justice Department antitrust division probing Verizon cable spectrum deals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anticompetitiveawsbright houseBrightHouseclearcomcastDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Justice inquiryDepartmentOfJusticedojgovernmentillegalinvestigationmobilepostcrossprobespectrumspectrumcotime warnertime warner cableTimeWarnerTimeWarnerCableverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 21 Dec 2011 09:18:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile USA and AT&T's seven-year UMTS roaming agreement gets detailed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/#comments Oddly enough, the main upside of the proposed T-Mobile USA / AT&T tie-up is coming to fruition, despite the fact that neither carrier will be merging into the other. We'd heard shortly after the breakup that both operators would be agreeing to a seven-year roaming deal, but hadn't noticed any specifics on it until now. According to T-Mob's parent company Deutsche Telekom, the two have come to terms on a UMTS roaming agreement for the US (read: no international deals here), which will "allow [T-Mobile] to improve its footprint significantly among the US population and offer its customers better broadband coverage for mobile communications services in the future."

The carrier's population coverage will increase from 230 million potential customers at present to 280 million. As a result of the deal with AT&T, coverage will be extended to many regions of America in which T-Mobile USA previously had neither its own high-speed mobile communications network nor the associated roaming agreements. As if that weren't enough, T-Mobile USA will also receive a large package of AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets (Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, Baltimore and Seattle). Oh, and Deutsche Telekom gets $3 billion in cash. #winning

Continue reading T-Mobile USA and AT&T's seven-year UMTS roaming agreement gets detailed

T-Mobile USA and AT&T's seven-year UMTS roaming agreement gets detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gagreementattawsbusinesscarrierDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomdojfccindustrymobilepostcrossnetworkroamroamingt-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaUMTSTue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T abandons T-Mobile merger plans (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/atandt-abandons-t-mobile-merger-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/atandt-abandons-t-mobile-merger-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/atandt-abandons-t-mobile-merger-plans/#comments AT&T has officially given up on its plans to buy out T-Mobile. In a statement, the company said it had agreed with Deutsche Telekom to cease pursuing a merger, which has come under increasing scrutiny from both the government and advocacy groups. The failed attempt to snatch up its smaller, German-owned competitor will ultimately cost Ma Bell $4 billion and it's not paying those dues without some grumbling. In the release the FCC and DOJ bear the brunt of AT&T's ire, which are accused of harming customers and exasperating the already looming spectrum shortage. Of course, this also hurts the carrier's ability to compete with Verizon which has been on a spectrum buying spree as of late. As a consolation prize Deutsche Telekom and AT&T have entered a roaming agreement, though the structure of that deal and whether it's purely international or domestic roaming remains to be seen. The complete press release from AT&T can be found after the break.

Continue reading AT&T abandons T-Mobile merger plans (updated)

AT&T abandons T-Mobile merger plans (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTbreaking newsbuydepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDeutsche TelekomDeutsche Telekom AGDeutscheTelekomDeutscheTelekomAgDOJFCCfederal communications commissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionma bellMaBellmergermobilepostcrosspurchasespectrumt-mot-mobiletmobileMon, 19 Dec 2011 16:42:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/atandt-asks-judge-to-stay-t-mobile-merger-court-proceedings-until/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/atandt-asks-judge-to-stay-t-mobile-merger-court-proceedings-until/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/atandt-asks-judge-to-stay-t-mobile-merger-court-proceedings-until/#commentsJust last week, the US Department of Justice indicated its desire to dismiss the lawsuit it filed to stop the union of AT&T and T-Mobile because of Ma Bell's withdrawal of the merger's FCC application. It looks like that's given the telco plenty more issues to ponder, so now it's asking Judge Huvelle to postpone further antitrust court proceedings until January 18. The folks at AT&T need the extra time to "evaluate all options" and "revise our current transaction to achieve the necessary regulatory approvals" for the merger. Because the DoJ has signed off on AT&T's petition, it seems likely the court will go along with the plan -- as opposed to killing the deal via a case dismissal at the hearing currently scheduled later this week. We'll have to wait and see if the Judge Huvelle grants the request, but if she does, this much is certain: Ma Bell's lawyers will be doing more work than merrymaking over the holidays.

Update: It looks like Christmas came early for AT&T&T, as the New York Times reports that Judge Huvelle has granted the stay.

Continue reading AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted)

AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustattdojjudge ellen segal huvellejudge huvelleJudgeEllenSegalHuvelleJudgeHuvellelawsuitlitigationmergermobilepostcrossstayt mobilet-mobileTMobileMon, 12 Dec 2011 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Judge to reconsider DoJ's AT&T antitrust suit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/judge-to-reconsider-dojs-atandt-antitrust-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/judge-to-reconsider-dojs-atandt-antitrust-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/judge-to-reconsider-dojs-atandt-antitrust-suit/#comments Late last month AT&T withdrew its application with the FCC to acquire T-Mobile, in an attempt, it said, to focus on winning approval from the Department of Justice, first. Now a district court judge is considering dismissing the US' antitrust suit against ole Ma Bell. According to Bloomberg, the DoJ is looking to either "withdraw without prejudice" or "stay" the suit, as a result of AT&T pulling its application from the FCC. Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle scheduled a hearing for December 15th to decide whether the deal is still possible in the proposed timeframe and the suit still worth pursuing. She had this to say:

We don't have any confidence that we are spending all this time and effort and the taxpayers money and that we're not being spun. The landscape has changed.

AT&T's lawyers remained steadfast, however, demanding the company's "day in court," and reiterating that approval from the DoJ would improve its chances of getting the thumbs-up from the FCC. For more sordid details on this legal ping-pong match, hit the source link below.

Judge to reconsider DoJ's AT&T antitrust suit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionantitrustattcourtdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomdistrict courtDistrictCourtdojfcchearinglawsuitmergermobilepostcrosssagasuittmobileFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T, Deutsche Telekom withdraw FCC application for T-Mobile merger, look toward DoJ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/atandt-deutsche-telekom-withdraw-fcc-application-for-t-mobile-mer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/atandt-deutsche-telekom-withdraw-fcc-application-for-t-mobile-mer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/atandt-deutsche-telekom-withdraw-fcc-application-for-t-mobile-mer/#comments
Now that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has called for an administrative hearing on AT&T's proposed buyout of T-Mobile, the two parties have decided to formally withdraw their application to the Commission. The confirmation came today, with an announcement from AT&T and Deutsche Telekom, which owns T-Mobile USA. In a statement, the two companies reiterated their commitment to the deal, adding that they're looking to receive final approval from the DoJ: "This formal step today is being undertaken by both companies to consolidate their strength and to focus their continuing efforts on obtaining antitrust clearance for the transaction from the Department of Justice." AT&T also reaffirmed that it would incur a $4 billion hit should the deal fall through, and that it expects to take out a pretax charge for that amount during the fourth quarter of this year. Of course, Genachowski's decision must still obtain approval from the full Commission, but it certainly looks like both parties are gearing up for a courtroom battle.

AT&T, Deutsche Telekom withdraw FCC application for T-Mobile merger, look toward DoJ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbusinesscarrierDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomdojfccgenachowskiindustryJulius GenachowskiJuliusGenachowskimergermobilepostcrossmoneypoliticsprovidert-mobiletelecomThu, 24 Nov 2011 04:27:00 EST<![CDATA[DoJ: Stingray cellphone tracking device falls under Fourth Amendment, but don't ask about it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/doj-stingray-cellphone-tracking-device-falls-under-fourth-amend/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/doj-stingray-cellphone-tracking-device-falls-under-fourth-amend/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/06/doj-stingray-cellphone-tracking-device-falls-under-fourth-amend/#comments
In 2008, federal authorities arrested David Daniel Rigmaiden on charges of spearheading a massive identity theft ring in Arizona. Rigmaiden allegedly led this operation from January 2005 to April 2008, harvesting some $4 million off of more than 1,900 fraudulent tax returns. He was ultimately nabbed, however, thanks in part to controversial, and somewhat mysterious tool known as a "stingray" -- a device that effectively acts as a fake cell tower, allowing authorities to locate and track a cellphone even when it's not being used to place a call. Since his arrest, the 30-year-old Rigmaiden has been battling the feds in the U.S. District Court of Arizona, on allegations that their tracking tactics constituted an unlawful search and seizure, thereby violating his Fourth Amendment rights. For more than a year, the Department of Justice has maintained that the use of stingrays does not violate the Fourth Amendment. When it comes to sending data from a mobile device, the DoJ has argued, users should not have a "reasonable expectation" of privacy. Recently, though, the judge overseeing the case has indicated that he will press the feds for more information on how stingrays actually work -- something the government clearly has no desire to disclose. Prosecutors are so reluctant, in fact, that they may be willing to sacrifice their case against Rigmaiden in order to safeguard the stingray's secrecy. Read more about the latest developments, after the break.

Continue reading DoJ: Stingray cellphone tracking device falls under Fourth Amendment, but don't ask about it

DoJ: Stingray cellphone tracking device falls under Fourth Amendment, but don't ask about it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arizonacell towerCellTowerconstitutioncourtcrimedavid rigmaidenDavidRigmaidendepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojFBIfederalfourth amendmentFourthAmendmentgovernmentidentity theftIdentityTheftlawlegallocationmemorandumsearchsearch and seizureSearchAndSeizurestingraytrackingVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelesswarrantSun, 06 Nov 2011 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T reportedly talking to rivals about asset sales in effort to save T-Mobile deal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/atandt-reportedly-talking-to-rivals-about-asset-sales-in-effort-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/atandt-reportedly-talking-to-rivals-about-asset-sales-in-effort-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/atandt-reportedly-talking-to-rivals-about-asset-sales-in-effort-to/#comments It's far too early to be writing it off, of course, but AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile is facing some fairly significant hurdles that could throw a big wrench in the companies' plans -- not the least of which is a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice. Now, according to Blooomberg, AT&T is proactively talking to a number of smaller rivals about selling some of its assets (namely, "spectrum and subscribers") in an effort to save the deal. While talks are described as "preliminary," AT&T has reportedly already reached out to MetroPCS, Leap Wireless, Dish Network, CenturyLink and even Sprint, although Bloomberg notes that any such sell-off may still not be enough to please the DOJ. As you might expect, all of those companies are remaining mum on the matter.

AT&T reportedly talking to rivals about asset sales in effort to save T-Mobile deal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionattcenturylinkdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojleapleap wirelessLeapWirelessmergermetropcsmobilepostcrosssell-offspectrumsprintt-mobiletakeoverMon, 19 Sep 2011 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T files response to DOJ suit, says regulators just don't understand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/atandt-files-response-to-doj-suit-says-regulators-just-dont-unde/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/atandt-files-response-to-doj-suit-says-regulators-just-dont-unde/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/atandt-files-response-to-doj-suit-says-regulators-just-dont-unde/#comments AT&T&T It's no secret or surprise that AT&T is unhappy with the DOJ's decision to try and block its merger with T-Mobile. But issuing public statements is one thing, officially filing papers in court is another. Ma Bell submitted a 25-page document arguing that the Justice Department's claims represent a misunderstanding of the market and dismisses competition from "innovative upstarts," like MetroPCS and US Cellular. AT&T's lawyers point out that T-Mo, currently the fourth largest provider, has been losing customers for years and it's German parent company may not be inclined to invest much in improving it. By contrast, AT&T has spent $30 billion over the last two years to boost network quality and capacity, yet still struggles to keep up with demand. We can't say the arguments are without validity, but the government's fear of a market dominated by just three companies with little incentive to innovate or drive down prices also seems well founded. Well, the pageantry officially gets underway on September 21st, when the US District Court hearings begin.

AT&T files response to DOJ suit, says regulators just don't understand originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argumentattblackcourtdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomdojgovernmentindustrylawsuitmergermobilepostcrossresponsesuitt mobilet-mot-mobileTMobileSat, 10 Sep 2011 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T may get a discount if T-Mobile bid concessions prove too expensive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/atandt-may-get-a-discount-if-t-mobile-bid-concessions-prove-too-ex/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/atandt-may-get-a-discount-if-t-mobile-bid-concessions-prove-too-ex/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/atandt-may-get-a-discount-if-t-mobile-bid-concessions-prove-too-ex/#comments When the DOJ blocked AT&T's deal to snatch up T-Mobile, did you think Ma Bell would end up shelling out some ridiculous sum to lock things up? Well, the opposite may be the case -- according to Bloomberg, the company can get a reduced rate if regulator's requests become too pricey. A discount of sorts would be available to AT&T if the remedy to-do list surpasses 20 percent of the deal's original $39 billion price tag (about $7.8 billion). Also of note here: the company could leave the proverbial table altogether if the concessions top the 40 percent mark, only owing a break-up penalty... and shelling out the $3 billion contingency fund to Deutsche Telekom AG.

AT&T may get a discount if T-Mobile bid concessions prove too expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustassetattbusinesscarriercompetitioncourtDOJgovernmentindustryjustice departmentJusticeDepartmentlegalmergermobilepostcrossmoneyproviderpurchaseregulationregulatorsettlementt-mobileUS department of justiceUsDepartmentOfJusticeTue, 06 Sep 2011 22:18:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T willing to make concessions to save T-Mobile merger, sources say]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/atandt-willing-to-make-concessions-to-save-t-mobile-merger-source/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/atandt-willing-to-make-concessions-to-save-t-mobile-merger-source/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/atandt-willing-to-make-concessions-to-save-t-mobile-merger-source/#comments
Now that the US government has moved to block its merger with T-Mobile, AT&T is gearing up for a long and potentially pricey legal battle with the Department of Justice. According to Reuters, however, the provider is also working on a settlement offer, in the hopes of bypassing the courtroom altogether. Sources close to the matter say AT&T will soon present its proposal to antitrust regulators, who are concerned that the company's purchase of T-Mobile may hinder market competition. Details on the proposal remain vague, though it will likely include promises to keep T-Mobile's low-cost data and calling plans, along with pledges to sell off some of its own assets. But some insiders say the carrier may have to sell up to 25 percent of T-Mobile's business in order to put regulators' minds at ease. AT&T has yet to comment on the report, though one of Reuters' sources claims that its lawyers are "pretty determined that they can find a solution, and they are pretty confident."

AT&T willing to make concessions to save T-Mobile merger, sources say originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustassetattbusinesscalling planCallingPlancarriercompetitioncourtdata planDataPlanDOJgovernmentindustryjustice departmentJusticeDepartmentlegalmergermobilemobilepostcrossmoneyproviderpurchaseregulationregulatorsettlementt-mobileUS department of justiceUsDepartmentOfJusticeFri, 02 Sep 2011 02:56:00 EST<![CDATA[US government files to block proposed AT&T / T-Mobile merger (update: companies respond)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/us-government-files-to-block-propsed-atandt-t-mobile-merger/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/us-government-files-to-block-propsed-atandt-t-mobile-merger/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/us-government-files-to-block-propsed-atandt-t-mobile-merger/#comments You heard right. Bloomberg is reporting that the United States government (!) just filed court papers in Washington, D.C. to block the much ballyhooed tie-up between AT&T and T-Mobile USA. Oddly enough, T-Mobile and AT&T promised this morning that a total of 5,000 jobs would be hand delivered to the US if the two telcos were allowed to become one, but it'll take a heck of a lot more convincing now. For what it's worth, this doesn't mean that the deal is or isn't happening -- it's just another step in the process -- but it most certainly doesn't bode well for proponents. Nor for AT&T's share price.

According to the report, the Justice Department feels that the deal would "substantially lessen competition" in the wireless space. In fact, it boldly stated the following: "AT&T's elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low-priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market." If things end up falling apart, it's important to remember that AT&T would be forced to pay Deutsche Telekom $3 billion as a break-up fee, which ought to make Tiger Woods' misfortunes look like an outright bargain.

Update: Full press release is now embedded after the break, and meanwhile, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has issued the following public statement: "Although our process is not complete, the record before this agency also raises serious concerns about the impact of the proposed transaction on competition."

Update 2: Wayne Watts, AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, issued the following statement (seen after the break)...

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading US government files to block proposed AT&T / T-Mobile merger (update: companies respond)

US government files to block proposed AT&T / T-Mobile merger (update: companies respond) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustattblockbreaking newsbusinessdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDOJfccindustrymergermobilepostcrosst-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaWed, 31 Aug 2011 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Google reaches $500 million settlement with DOJ over drug ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/google-reaches-500-million-settlement-with-doj-over-drug-ads/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/google-reaches-500-million-settlement-with-doj-over-drug-ads/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/google-reaches-500-million-settlement-with-doj-over-drug-ads/#commentsDepartment of JusticeWe had heard that Google irked authorities at the Department of Justice when ads advertising illegal and counterfeit drugs started popping up. But, we didn't realize just how expensive the offense would be. The government is expected to announce a $500 million settlement with the web giant later today that cut quarterly profits by 22-percent. Google told the New York Times that it had since banned the advertisers, but admitted they never should have been allowed in the first place. We'll just have to go back to getting our cheap Viagra where we used too -- our spam folder.

Google reaches $500 million settlement with DOJ over drug ads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500 million500Millionadvertisingdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojgooglegoogle adsGoogleAdsgovernmentsettlementWed, 24 Aug 2011 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Ramona Fricosu case to determine if decrypted laptop files are safe under Fifth Amendment]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/ramona-fricosu-case-to-determine-if-decrypted-laptop-files-are-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/ramona-fricosu-case-to-determine-if-decrypted-laptop-files-are-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/ramona-fricosu-case-to-determine-if-decrypted-laptop-files-are-s/#comments So far, we've pretty much decided that the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution covers those zany thoughts within your skull. But when it comes to more tangible things, it's hardly as clear. In the past, convicted persons have been forced to cough up keys to what eventually becomes evidence, and in the case of one Ramona Fricosu, the US Department of Justice is assuming that a computer passphrase is no different. But that assumption is causing shock waves throughout the tech community, as the decrypting of one's laptop files is arguably causing someone to become a "witness against himself." Of note, no one's asking that Ramona actually hand over the password per se, but even typing in the unlock code while not being watched results in effectively the same conclusion. The San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation is clearly taking a stance against the proposal, noting that this type of situation is exactly one that the Fifth was designed to protect. Only time will tell if Fricosu's offered immunity as a token for complying, but the precedents that are set here are apt to be felt for decades to come. Tap that CNET link for an in-depth report.

Ramona Fricosu case to determine if decrypted laptop files are safe under Fifth Amendment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtdecryptdecryptiondepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojlegalobamaRamona FricosuRamonaFricosurightssecurityus dojUsDojTue, 12 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Department of Justice probe eyes Sony's rechargeable battery business]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/department-of-justice-probe-eyes-sonys-rechargeable-battery-bus/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/department-of-justice-probe-eyes-sonys-rechargeable-battery-bus/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/department-of-justice-probe-eyes-sonys-rechargeable-battery-bus/#comments After the headache-inducing bout of hacking woes that beset the corporation in recent weeks, a new Department of Justice-led investigation into Sony's US electronics division may have the company emptying that aspirin bottle. Details of the inquiry are scarce at the moment, but with the company's cooperation confirmed, all signs lead to an alleged price fixing of its rechargeable battery business. Citing data from a Tokyo-based research firm, a Bloomberg report indicates that a 2010 market surplus had Sony Electronics (amongst others) lowering battery prices at the expense of less financially-cushioned players. The notorious sector of the multinational's operations has been in the hot seat before -- namely, for actual laptop explosions -- but this time 'round the judicial maypole, it seems the Japanese giant may have been partaking in some anti-competitive shenanigans. If the DoJ hammer does happen to fall on Sony's already bowed head, the company could be facing a very expensive slap on the wrist and a fundamental change to its business practices. Luckily for Sony, we happen to believe in a little something called "innocent until proven guilty."

Department of Justice probe eyes Sony's rechargeable battery business originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anticompetitiveanticompetitive practicesAnticompetitiveBehaviorAnticompetitivePracticesDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Justice inquirydepartment of justice investigationDepartmentOfJusticeDepartmentOfJusticeInquiryDepartmentOfJusticeInvestigationDoJDoj inquiryDojInquiryRechargeable batteriesrechargeable batteryRechargeableBatteriesRechargeableBatterySonySony ElectronicsSony Electronics USSonyElectronicsSonyElectronicsUsWed, 29 Jun 2011 16:41:00 EST<![CDATA[US DOJ greenlights Google's $900 million bid for Nortel patents; Apple, RIM also interested]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/us-doj-greenlights-googles-900-million-bid-for-nortel-patents/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/us-doj-greenlights-googles-900-million-bid-for-nortel-patents/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/us-doj-greenlights-googles-900-million-bid-for-nortel-patents/#commentsIt looks like Google will be able to bid on Nortel's patent portfolio after all, now that the Department of Justice has weighed in on the matter. According to the Wall Street Journal, El Goog's $900 million bid has passed a governmental antitrust review, just a few days ahead of next week's auction. Rivals like Microsoft, AT&T and Verizon had previously filed complaints with the DOJ, arguing that the sale of Nortel's 6,000 patents would give an unfair advantage to the auction's winner by providing it with a fresh arsenal for patent-infringement lawsuits. Google, however, claims it needs the portfolio to defend itself against legal challenges, since it has comparatively few patents to its name. The DOJ apparently sees nothing illegal with this argument, having determined that singular ownership of Nortel's intellectual property would pose no threat to market competition. This is obviously music to Google's ears, but the battle isn't over yet. Sources tell the Journal that both RIM and Apple are interested in filing their own bids for the patents, and have already begun discussing the matter with the Justice Department. None of the companies involved have commented on the story, but it'll all go down on June 20th, when the auction finally gets underway.

US DOJ greenlights Google's $900 million bid for Nortel patents; Apple, RIM also interested originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustappleattauctionbusinesscompetitiondepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojgooglegoogle nortelGoogleNortelgovernmentindustryinfringementlawlawsuitmarketmicrosoftmoneynortelpatentpatent auctionpatent infringementpatent lawsuitPatentAuctionPatentInfringementPatentLawsuitpoliticsRIMverizonWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:51:00 EST<![CDATA[The AT&T / T-Mobile senate hearing: deciphering the war of words]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/the-atandt-t-mobile-senate-hearing-deciphering-the-war-of-words/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/the-atandt-t-mobile-senate-hearing-deciphering-the-war-of-words/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/the-atandt-t-mobile-senate-hearing-deciphering-the-war-of-words/#comments Over the course of the next year, AT&T and its opponents will be in the ring, duking it out in a war of words in attempt to convince the government that a $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T should or should not take place. Consumers have the most to win or lose here, yet we are resigned to watching from the sidelines as both sides lob countless facts and stats at each other like volleys in a tennis match.

If you look at the merger process as a stairway to climb up, AT&T is still near the very bottom. Every rung will be full of intense scrutiny as it is: if the two companies are allowed to merge, the national GSM market becomes a monopoly, and the wireless industry as a whole would shift to only three national players plus a handful of less-influential regional carriers. The carrier's going to blow as much as $6 billion if the merger is not approved -- almost enough to buy Skype -- it can't just expect to put up some feel-good facts and stats to win the hearts of the decision-makers.

AT&T has to be absolutely sure it'll come out victorious in the war, else it risks losing the trust (and money) of its shareholders. But to accomplish such a feat, it has to be on top of its game. There was no better time to show off what it's made of than last week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing conducted by the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. When the Committee entitles a hearing "Is Humpty Dumpty Being Put Back Together Again?," it's either exercising a sense of humor or a preconceived notion of the merger due to the implication that Ma Bell is simply reforming. CEO Randall Stephenson appeared as a sacrificial lamb, going before Congress and his opponents to explain his side of the story, answer hardball questions, and endure a hard-hitting round of criticism. Continue reading as we take you topic by topic and examine what he -- and his opponents -- had to say about the merger.

Continue reading The AT&T / T-Mobile senate hearing: deciphering the war of words

The AT&T / T-Mobile senate hearing: deciphering the war of words originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionagreementattcellular southCellularSouthconsumer advocacyConsumerAdvocacyconsumersdan hesseDanHessedepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedeutsche telekomDeutscheTelekomdojFCCgigi sohnGigiSohnjudiciary committeeJudiciaryCommitteelarry cohenLarryCohenmergerphil hummPhilHummpublic knowledgePublicKnowledgepurchaserandall stephensonRandallStephensonruralsenatesprintstephensont mobilet-mobileTMobilevictor meenaVictorMeenaWed, 18 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's potential $500M fine linked to illegal online pharmaceuticals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/googles-potential-500m-fine-linked-to-illegal-online-pharmaceu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/googles-potential-500m-fine-linked-to-illegal-online-pharmaceu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/googles-potential-500m-fine-linked-to-illegal-online-pharmaceu/#comments When Google revealed it would take $500 million first-quarter charge ahead of "potential resolution of an investigation" by the United States Department of Justice, the company offered few details. A three-line non-explanation pointed the finger at "advertising by certain advertisers." Now The Wall Street Journal reports that the mysterious half-billion-dollar hit may stem from advertisements placed by "rogue online pharmacies" that break US laws. The DOJ investigation has focused on whether the search behemoth knowingly accepted ads from shady pharma sites, but it's unclear whether those sites sold counterfeit or expired drugs, failed to require doctor's prescriptions, or both. Obviously, if the company profited from illegal activity, it can be held liable -- a fact Google knows all too well after a 2007 settlement over ads for online gambling. The impending fine would rank among the highest paid to the US government; this news, by the way, did not come from Facebook.

Google's potential $500M fine linked to illegal online pharmaceuticals originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 May 2011 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojfinegooglegoogle adsgoogle adsenseGoogle advertisinggoogle adwordsGoogleAdsGoogleAdsenseGoogleAdvertisingGoogleAdwordsonline pharmaciesOnlinePharmaciesThu, 12 May 2011 21:33:00 EST<![CDATA[US DoJ approves Google's acquisition of ITA, but not without stipulations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/us-doj-approves-googles-acquisition-of-ita-but-not-without-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/us-doj-approves-googles-acquisition-of-ita-but-not-without-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/us-doj-approves-googles-acquisition-of-ita-but-not-without-sti/#comments The United States government may be dissolved tomorrow, but it's certainly taking care of one final piece of business before going into shutdown: this. If you'll recall, Google announced its intentions to acquire ITA for $700 million in July of last year, and as we cruise into the start of America's summer travel season, all signals are go. Today, the US Department of Justice approved Google's request to move forward with the buy, but rather than having the entire travel search market under its wing, El Goog's going to have to make a smattering of concessions in order to get the right signatures. For starters, the search monolith will allow ITA's existing client contracts to extend into 2016, and it'll let both current and new customers license ITA's QPX software on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms." No one's saying when the integration will be complete (or start, for that matter), but we're desperately anxious to see just how Kayak and Bing Travel react after this launches in earnest. Power to the searchers, as it were.

US DoJ approves Google's acquisition of ITA, but not without stipulations originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireacquisitionairlinebusinessdealdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojflightflightsgoogleindustryitakayaksearchsoftwareticketingtraveltravelingususaFri, 08 Apr 2011 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Senator asks DOJ and FCC to do their jobs, provide friction for AT&T / T-Mobile tie-up]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/senator-asks-doj-and-fcc-to-do-their-jobs-provide-friction-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/senator-asks-doj-and-fcc-to-do-their-jobs-provide-friction-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/senator-asks-doj-and-fcc-to-do-their-jobs-provide-friction-for/#comments There's always one. Back in the winter of 2009, Senator Kerry made public his request for Fox and Time Warner to keep the Bowl Games online, and one Chuck Schumer took to writing an open letter to Steve Jobs regarding the iPhone reception woes that eventually led to a dedicated press event (mostly) disputing the matter. Now, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is urging the FCC and DOJ to "take a close look at the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger," noting that the outcome would undoubtedly have a huge impact on consumer choice, price and service in the wireless industry.

Of course, it's not like these two wouldn't be doing just that in the coming months, but it's good to see a fire starting early in Congress to make sure due diligence is done. Having a carrier that provides service to 42 percent of all US wireless subscribers has the potential to seriously shift the economics of things, and potentially more interesting are the implications of a rejection. In fact, many are suggesting that AT&T will likely have to sell off major assets and promise expansion to rural / poor areas in order to gain approval, which ties in nicely to Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead's own comments regarding concessions. We're also hearing that regulators could take as long as 18 months to fully investigate, and you can bet we'll be following the play-by-play as it all unfolds.

Senator asks DOJ and FCC to do their jobs, provide friction for AT&T / T-Mobile tie-up originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireacquisitionantitrustattbusinesscarriercompetitiondealDepartment of JusticeDepartmentOfJusticeDOJFCCFederal Communications CommissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionindustrymergemergeroperatort-mobileTue, 22 Mar 2011 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[EU plans to end Apple antitrust investigation in light of relaxed iPhone rules]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/eu-plans-to-end-apple-antitrust-investigation-in-light-of-relaxe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/eu-plans-to-end-apple-antitrust-investigation-in-light-of-relaxe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/eu-plans-to-end-apple-antitrust-investigation-in-light-of-relaxe/#comments It seems like Apple's legal team is constantly embroiled in a pitched battle of some sort, but this weekend they might get to relax -- citing recent iPhone policy changes, the European Commission's decided to stop breathing down their necks. Though the EU originally joined the US Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in investigating why Cupertino chose to block third-party dev tools and ads earlier this year, the fact that Apple recently relaxed both restrictions (and created a repair program for iPhones purchased abroad) satisfied European regulators. "The Commission intends to close the investigations into these matters," it wrote earlier today. There's no guarantee that the US powers-that-be will exercise similar leniency, of course, but we wouldn't be surprised -- even inside Apple, the DoJ's got other fish to fry.

EU plans to end Apple antitrust investigation in light of relaxed iPhone rules originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustappleDepartment of JusticeDepartmentOfJusticedevelopersDoJEUEuropaEuropeEuropean CommissionEuropean UnionEuropeanCommissionEuropeanUnionFederal Trade CommissionFederalTradeCommissionFTCioslegalSat, 25 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple, Adobe, Google, Intel Intuit and Pixar: now free to cold call each other's employees]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/apple-adobe-google-intel-intuit-and-pixar-now-free-to-c/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/apple-adobe-google-intel-intuit-and-pixar-now-free-to-c/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/24/apple-adobe-google-intel-intuit-and-pixar-now-free-to-c/#commentsAttaboy, DoJ! Out of (almost) nowhere, the United States Department of Justice announced today that it was requiring six well-known technology outfits to stop entering into "anticompetitive employee solicitation agreements," and we're guessing you will have heard just a few of these names: Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit and Pixar. As the story goes, these six companies were all mixed up (but not all together, mind you) in agreements that forbid each other from cold calling employees from a rival firm in order to offer them a different job.

According to the DoJ, those arrangements acted as a "significant form of competition to attract highly skilled employees," and it has now filed a civil antitrust complaint today along with a proposed settlement that, "if approved by the court, would resolve the lawsuit." We're also told that some of the agreements were put into place as early as 2005, and they were "formed and actively managed by senior executives of these companies." Yikes. Hit the source link for the full report, and feel free to call back that "Unknown" caller that keeps hitting you up on your Adobe line -- it's probably Pixar with a seven-figure offer.

Apple, Adobe, Google, Intel Intuit and Pixar: now free to cold call each other's employees originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeanti competitiveAntiCompetitiveappledepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojGoogleintelintuitjobspixarususaFri, 24 Sep 2010 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[HP agrees to pay $55 million to settle investigation into illegal kickbacks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hp-agrees-to-pay-55-million-to-settle-investigation-into-illega/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hp-agrees-to-pay-55-million-to-settle-investigation-into-illega/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/hp-agrees-to-pay-55-million-to-settle-investigation-into-illega/#comments The company that kicked Mark Hurd to the curb for financial impropriety has today reported it'll pay $55 million in a settlement with the US Department of Justice relating to some fiscal delinquency of its own. HP was accused of greasing up the wheels of business, as it were, by throwing cash around to companies who would recommend its services to state procurement agencies. This particular set of allegations related to a federal contract obtained by HP in 2002, and the settlement also extinguishes investigation into whether or not the computer vendor had provided incomplete information to the US government. That's all well and good, but we have to question the size of these levies. Today's also the day that HP's announced a new $800 million supply contract with the US Air Force -- would a fine that's less than a tenth of the contract's value really deter HP's entrepreneurial spirit?

HP agrees to pay $55 million to settle investigation into illegal kickbacks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allegationscorruptiondepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojfederalfraudhpillegalkickbackslawlegalpayoutprocurementsettlementus governmentUsGovernmentTue, 31 Aug 2010 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[HannStar Display shells out $30m to settle LCD price fixing case]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/04/hannstar-display-shells-out-30m-to-settle-lcd-price-fixing-case/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/04/hannstar-display-shells-out-30m-to-settle-lcd-price-fixing-case/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/04/hannstar-display-shells-out-30m-to-settle-lcd-price-fixing-case/#comments Another day, another company pleading guilty to their role in a massive global price-fixing conspiracy surrounding the MSRP of LCDs. The Taiwan-based HannStar Display agreed (grudgingly, we surmise) this week to cough up a whopping $30 million for its role in the scheme, marking the seventh company to "plead or agree to plead guilty as a result of the department's investigation into the LCD industry." All told, the US Department of Justice has seen some $890 million paid out and 17 executives charged, with HannStar in particular being pegged for violating the Sherman Act during its participation in the conspiracy from September 2001 to January 2006. So, anyone up for being lucky number eight?

HannStar Display shells out $30m to settle LCD price fixing case originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustcompetitioncourtdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDisneyDOJHannStarHannStar displayHannstarDisplayillegallawsuitlcdpanelprice fixingprice-fixingPriceFixingscreenSherman ActShermanActsuesuitTaiwanSun, 04 Jul 2010 01:55:00 EST