Over a million Raspberry Pis to be sold
The folks at element 14/Premier Farnell announced today that they alone have now made and sold more than half a million Raspberry Pis. They’re only one of two official distributors; we don’t have completely up-to-date figures from RS Components yet, but Farnell’s news suggests that we’re well on the way to having sold our millionth Raspberry Pi. [Source]
Apple CEO Cook Returns to China Amid Falling Market Share
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook made his second visit to China in less than 10 months, as the company tries to revive its shrinking share of the world’s biggest mobile-phone market by subscribers. Cook is meeting government officials and partners, Carolyn Wu, a Beijing-based Apple spokeswoman, said by phone today, without elaboration. The officials included Miao Wei, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according to a government statement. [Source]
Vodafone Africa Becomes Profit Machine via Banking
Almost two decades after Vodafone Group Plc entered Africa, the region — where most people earn less than $2 a day and mobile phone towers run on diesel — is turning into one of the company’s biggest profit generators.
The rising powerhouse is helping make up for Europe’s slowdown after Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Colao last year had to write down $9.5 billion on the value of Vodafone’s Spanish and Italian units. [Source]
Google drops key patent claims against Microsoft
Google unit Motorola Mobility has asked a trade panel to drop two key patents from an infringement complaint that it filed against Microsoft, according to a filing at the International Trade Commission. The ITC has been considering accusations by Motorola Mobility, which has since been purchased by Google, that Microsoft infringed on its patented technology to make its popular Xbox.[Source]
Samsung seeks broader chip base as Apple cuts loose
Samsung Electronics Co is looking to supply chips to more Chinese and other emerging smartphone makers, the head of its system chip business said, to counter any fall-off in demand from Apple Inc, which is weaning itself off Samsung chips used in its iPhones and iPads. [Source]
