Google Inc is working with recently acquired Motorola on a handset codenamed “X-phone”, aimed at grabbing market share from Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. Google acquired Motorola in May for $12.5 billion to bolster its patent portfolio as its Android mobile operating system competes with rivals such as Apple and Samsung. The Journal quoted the people saying that Motorola is working on two fronts: devices that will be sold by carrier partner Verizon Wireless, and on the X phone. [Source]
FoxConn buys into GoPro
GoPro cameras have become the go-to item for filming extreme sports. The small, high quality video cameras–made by the privately held Woodman Labs–can be strapped onto the bodies of surfers, skydivers and skiers to capture high-definition video footage like never before. The runaway success of the product has now turned Woodman Labs’ namesake and founder, Nicholas Woodman, 36, into a billionaire. [Source]
EU Issues Formal Objections Against Samsung For Patent Abuse
The European Commission has delivered a “statement of objections” to Samsung’s leadership, in which it claims that Samsung was abusing its standard-essential patents in preventing Apple from making use of the same. Providing written notice is the next step in the EC’s investigation of Samsung, which began due to the Korean company’s many injunction requests and lawsuits filed in EU member states against Apple, and which isn’t going away despite Samsung having dropped all of its injunction requests in EU countries. [Source]
EBay Slips Into Physical Stores
EBay Inc., owner of the world’s largest Internet marketplace, is teaming up with Macy’s Inc. and Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. as it goes after revenue from shoppers who are out and about, not just online, during the holidays. EBay is building mobile technology for retailers that helps consumers find and navigate stores and use discounts. The Macy’s application, for example, senses when shoppers enter a store, sends a mobile coupon and gives directions to the right department to make a purchase. [Source]
RIM’s Service Fee Changes Spurs Stock Decline
Research In Motion Ltd decision to scrap service fees for some users is threatening its most profitable source of revenue, ending the BlackBerry maker’s three-month stock rally.
Subscribers who want enhanced services, including advanced security, will continue to pay a fee, while others who don’t use such services “are expected to generate less or no service revenue,” Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Heins said yesterday on a conference call. Service fees accounted for about $982 million in sales last quarter, out of a total of $2.73 billion. [Source]