New touchscreen BlackBerrys being launched

Research In Motion Ltd unveiled five new BlackBerry phones with touchscreens, as it hopes to revive the line's dwindling appeal in the face of competition from the iPhone and Android smartphones.

The new phones had been expected earlier this year, but were delayed. Though the company is profitable and seeing growing sales, it is increasingly seen as a has-been that missed the chance to parlay the BlackBerry's popularity as a corporate e-mail device into mass-market dominance.

The Canadian company, which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, is updating its high-end Bold models to include touchscreens. It's also launching two Torch models with big screens but no physical keyboards, mimicking the basic design of the iPhone.

RIM launched a keyboard-less touchscreen phone called the Storm in 2008, more than a year after the first iPhone, but the Storm's quirky design and poor software made it a flop.

"The all-touchscreen Torch has been a while coming as a natural successor to the disappointing Storm, particularly when the smartphone market has gone touchscreen mad over the past 18 months," said Malik Saadi, an analyst at Informa.

The phones run a new version of the BlackBerry operating system, which RIM said is much faster, particularly for web browsing.

The Bold models will be the first BlackBerrys to include so-called Near-Field Communications chips, so they can be used in place of credit cards by swiping them across properly equipped payment terminals.

Many companies, including cellphone carriers like AT&T and web companies like Google Inc are promoting the idea of using phones as digital "wallets."

New touchscreen BlackBerrys being launched

Research In Motion Ltd unveiled five new BlackBerry phones with touchscreens, as it hopes to revive the line's dwindling appeal in the face of competition from the iPhone and Android smartphones.

The new phones had been expected earlier this year, but were delayed. Though the company is profitable and seeing growing sales, it is increasingly seen as a has-been that missed the chance to parlay the BlackBerry's popularity as a corporate e-mail device into mass-market dominance.

The Canadian company, which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, is updating its high-end Bold models to include touchscreens. It's also launching two Torch models with big screens but no physical keyboards, mimicking the basic design of the iPhone.

RIM launched a keyboard-less touchscreen phone called the Storm in 2008, more than a year after the first iPhone, but the Storm's quirky design and poor software made it a flop.

"The all-touchscreen Torch has been a while coming as a natural successor to the disappointing Storm, particularly when the smartphone market has gone touchscreen mad over the past 18 months," said Malik Saadi, an analyst at Informa.

The phones run a new version of the BlackBerry operating system, which RIM said is much faster, particularly for web browsing.

The Bold models will be the first BlackBerrys to include so-called Near-Field Communications chips, so they can be used in place of credit cards by swiping them across properly equipped payment terminals.

Many companies, including cellphone carriers like AT&T and web companies like Google Inc are promoting the idea of using phones as digital "wallets."

New touchscreen BlackBerrys being launched

Research In Motion Ltd unveiled five new BlackBerry phones with touchscreens, as it hopes to revive the line's dwindling appeal in the face of competition from the iPhone and Android smartphones.

The new phones had been expected earlier this year, but were delayed. Though the company is profitable and seeing growing sales, it is increasingly seen as a has-been that missed the chance to parlay the BlackBerry's popularity as a corporate e-mail device into mass-market dominance.

The Canadian company, which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, is updating its high-end Bold models to include touchscreens. It's also launching two Torch models with big screens but no physical keyboards, mimicking the basic design of the iPhone.

RIM launched a keyboard-less touchscreen phone called the Storm in 2008, more than a year after the first iPhone, but the Storm's quirky design and poor software made it a flop.

"The all-touchscreen Torch has been a while coming as a natural successor to the disappointing Storm, particularly when the smartphone market has gone touchscreen mad over the past 18 months," said Malik Saadi, an analyst at Informa.

The phones run a new version of the BlackBerry operating system, which RIM said is much faster, particularly for web browsing.

The Bold models will be the first BlackBerrys to include so-called Near-Field Communications chips, so they can be used in place of credit cards by swiping them across properly equipped payment terminals.

Many companies, including cellphone carriers like AT&T and web companies like Google Inc are promoting the idea of using phones as digital "wallets."

Hackers steal Citibank card data

About 200,000 Citibank credit card customers in North America have had their names, account numbers and e-mail addresses stolen by hackers who broke into Citi's online account site.

Citigroup Inc said it discovered that account information for about 1% of its credit card customers had been viewed by hackers. Citi has more than 21 million credit card customers in North America, according to its 2010 annual report.

The New York-based bank, which discovered the problem during routine monitoring, didn't say exactly how many accounts were breached. Citi said it was contacting those customers.

The bank said hackers weren't able to gain access to social security numbers, birth dates, card expiration dates or card security codes. That kind of information often leads to identity theft, where cybercriminals empty out bank accounts and apply for multiple credit cards.

That can debilitate the finances and credit of victims. Citi customers could still be vulnerable other problems.

Details about their bank accounts and financial information linked to them could be acquired using the e-mail information and account numbers hackers stole.

Federal regulators have taken notice and are asking banks to improve security.

The Citi data breach was the latest in a series of recent high-profile data attacks against a number of major firms.

On June 1, Google Inc said that the personal Gmail accounts of several hundred people, including senior US Government officials, military personnel and political activists, had been breached.
On May 30, broadcaster PBS confirmed that hackers cracked the network's website and posted a phony story claiming dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand.

On May 28, defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp said it had detected a "significant and tenacious attack" against its computer networks. The company said it took swift and deliberate actions to protect the network and the systems remain secure.

Worrisome
In April, media and electronics company Sony Corp's PlayStation Network was shut down in April after a massive security breach that affected more than 100 million online accounts.

Also in April, hackers penetrated a network operated by a data marketing firm Epsilon. The company handles e-mail communications for companies like Best Buy Co and Target Corp.

The number of data breaches in the last two months sets a "high water mark," said John Ottman, CEO of Application Security Inc, a New York-based firm that specialises in securing databases, the big repositories companies use to organise account information and other data.

"Attackers have realised that most organisations have not properly protected databases," Ottman said.

The fact that the Citi hackers only got a few pieces of personal data on customers may limit what crooks can do with the information, said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group.

"But any ID theft is worrisome for consumers," she said. She believes companies are responsible for protecting their customers' information from internal and external abuse.

In an e-mailed statement, Sean Kevelighan, a spokesman for Citi said the bank is contacting affected customers and enhancing procedures to prevent a similar security breach from happening again.

"For the security of these customers, we are not disclosing further details," he said.

Hackers steal Citibank card data

About 200,000 Citibank credit card customers in North America have had their names, account numbers and e-mail addresses stolen by hackers who broke into Citi's online account site.

Citigroup Inc said it discovered that account information for about 1% of its credit card customers had been viewed by hackers. Citi has more than 21 million credit card customers in North America, according to its 2010 annual report.

The New York-based bank, which discovered the problem during routine monitoring, didn't say exactly how many accounts were breached. Citi said it was contacting those customers.

The bank said hackers weren't able to gain access to social security numbers, birth dates, card expiration dates or card security codes. That kind of information often leads to identity theft, where cybercriminals empty out bank accounts and apply for multiple credit cards.

That can debilitate the finances and credit of victims. Citi customers could still be vulnerable other problems.

Details about their bank accounts and financial information linked to them could be acquired using the e-mail information and account numbers hackers stole.

Federal regulators have taken notice and are asking banks to improve security.

The Citi data breach was the latest in a series of recent high-profile data attacks against a number of major firms.

On June 1, Google Inc said that the personal Gmail accounts of several hundred people, including senior US Government officials, military personnel and political activists, had been breached.
On May 30, broadcaster PBS confirmed that hackers cracked the network's website and posted a phony story claiming dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand.

On May 28, defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp said it had detected a "significant and tenacious attack" against its computer networks. The company said it took swift and deliberate actions to protect the network and the systems remain secure.

Worrisome
In April, media and electronics company Sony Corp's PlayStation Network was shut down in April after a massive security breach that affected more than 100 million online accounts.

Also in April, hackers penetrated a network operated by a data marketing firm Epsilon. The company handles e-mail communications for companies like Best Buy Co and Target Corp.

The number of data breaches in the last two months sets a "high water mark," said John Ottman, CEO of Application Security Inc, a New York-based firm that specialises in securing databases, the big repositories companies use to organise account information and other data.

"Attackers have realised that most organisations have not properly protected databases," Ottman said.

The fact that the Citi hackers only got a few pieces of personal data on customers may limit what crooks can do with the information, said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group.

"But any ID theft is worrisome for consumers," she said. She believes companies are responsible for protecting their customers' information from internal and external abuse.

In an e-mailed statement, Sean Kevelighan, a spokesman for Citi said the bank is contacting affected customers and enhancing procedures to prevent a similar security breach from happening again.

"For the security of these customers, we are not disclosing further details," he said.

Hackers steal Citibank card data

About 200,000 Citibank credit card customers in North America have had their names, account numbers and e-mail addresses stolen by hackers who broke into Citi's online account site.

Citigroup Inc said it discovered that account information for about 1% of its credit card customers had been viewed by hackers. Citi has more than 21 million credit card customers in North America, according to its 2010 annual report.

The New York-based bank, which discovered the problem during routine monitoring, didn't say exactly how many accounts were breached. Citi said it was contacting those customers.

The bank said hackers weren't able to gain access to social security numbers, birth dates, card expiration dates or card security codes. That kind of information often leads to identity theft, where cybercriminals empty out bank accounts and apply for multiple credit cards.

That can debilitate the finances and credit of victims. Citi customers could still be vulnerable other problems.

Details about their bank accounts and financial information linked to them could be acquired using the e-mail information and account numbers hackers stole.

Federal regulators have taken notice and are asking banks to improve security.

The Citi data breach was the latest in a series of recent high-profile data attacks against a number of major firms.

On June 1, Google Inc said that the personal Gmail accounts of several hundred people, including senior US Government officials, military personnel and political activists, had been breached.
On May 30, broadcaster PBS confirmed that hackers cracked the network's website and posted a phony story claiming dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand.

On May 28, defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp said it had detected a "significant and tenacious attack" against its computer networks. The company said it took swift and deliberate actions to protect the network and the systems remain secure.

Worrisome
In April, media and electronics company Sony Corp's PlayStation Network was shut down in April after a massive security breach that affected more than 100 million online accounts.

Also in April, hackers penetrated a network operated by a data marketing firm Epsilon. The company handles e-mail communications for companies like Best Buy Co and Target Corp.

The number of data breaches in the last two months sets a "high water mark," said John Ottman, CEO of Application Security Inc, a New York-based firm that specialises in securing databases, the big repositories companies use to organise account information and other data.

"Attackers have realised that most organisations have not properly protected databases," Ottman said.

The fact that the Citi hackers only got a few pieces of personal data on customers may limit what crooks can do with the information, said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group.

"But any ID theft is worrisome for consumers," she said. She believes companies are responsible for protecting their customers' information from internal and external abuse.

In an e-mailed statement, Sean Kevelighan, a spokesman for Citi said the bank is contacting affected customers and enhancing procedures to prevent a similar security breach from happening again.

"For the security of these customers, we are not disclosing further details," he said.

Swapping wallets for smartphones

Google Inc is trying to nudge consumers and merchants into a world where the smartphone has replaced the wallet as the container for credit cards, coupons and receipts.

In Google's vision shoppers will touch their phone screen to select a card, then tap the phone to a credit-card reader in a store or restaurant. Google would make money by selling coupons and advertising that come along with the experience.

It's a goal shared by others. The Internet search and advertising company faces tough competition from cellphone companies, payment card issuer Visa Inc, eBay Inc's PayPal payment service and others. All of them want to play the central role of tying together phones, retailers and banks into a new payment system.

This isn't Google's first attempt at electronic payments. The company, based in Mountain View, California, introduced an online payment service called "Checkout" five years ago. It hasn't posed a serious threat to PayPal.


Google views its digital wallet as a way to sell advertising at a pivotal moment: When shoppers are in stores, ready to spend money and even more receptive to coupons and other discount offers.

Nick Holland, an analyst at Yankee Group, said that although all parties stand to benefit from Google's system, Google itself has the most to gain. That's because the Google Wallet would allow the company to "own" the market for advertising that's tied to the user's location.

Google said it's launching a Google Wallet trial in San Francisco and New York in co-operation with Visa rival MasterCard and Citibank. It will open up the system to consumers later in the summer. It then plans to expand across the country.

There has been talk of smart payment systems for years, and Google faces the same hurdles that have stifled previous trials.

One is that Google Wallet will initially work on only one smartphone, the Google Nexus S 4G carried by Sprint Nextel Corp.

Several smartphone makers, including Research In Motion Ltd, maker of the BlackBerry, are ready to bring out more phones with chips for so-called Near-Field Communications, or NFC, but it's uncertain if they'll work with Google's system.

Another hurdle is getting retailers to invest in terminals that can talk to the phones. Google Wallet will connect only to MasterCard PayPass terminals. There are more than 135,000 of those in US stores and restaurants, but that's only a small fraction of the total number.

Google's carrot is that retailers will be able to put loyalty cards and coupons in the Wallet, helping them track and engage with their customers. Partners in the trial include Macy's, RadioShack, Subway, Toys R Us, Duane Reade and Walgreens.

Hurdles

Yet another problem: Google needs to get cellphone companies on board. Its partner Sprint is the country's third-largest. AT&T Inc, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, the rest of the four biggest national carriers, have formed their own consortium to create a wallet that will compete with Google's.

The final obstacle is persuading consumers to take the leap. Phones might one day offer slightly faster checkouts, but the benefit would be small.

Google calls Wallet a "single-tap solution," but in a demonstration on Thursday at Google's New York office, a Google executive had to tap his phone twice to a terminal provided by retail partner American Eagle Outfitters Inc, then sign on the screen to get a purchase of a pair of denim shorts through.

Osama Bedier, Google's vice-president of payments, said it was up to the retailer to decide if the shopper has to sign on the screen.

"Consumers and businesses don't have a compelling need for changes in payment methods," a recent study by the Federal Reserve said. It nevertheless concluded that there are substantial benefits to reap for everyone involved if mobile payments become a reality.

One of the potential benefits is increased security compared to cards with magnetic strips, which can be copied surreptitiously.

The Wallet will initially work with a MasterCard from Citigroup Inc and with a prepaid debit card issued by Google, but the intent is to let the wallet accept any card.

"This is about creating a compelling model and asking folks to join," Bedier said.

Banks and payment processors such as MasterCard and Visa like the idea of mobile payments, but have their own designs on the space.

Visa already has announced plans for its own wallet. MasterCard is collaborating with Google but is working on its own projects.

"Today's announcement is another early salvo in what will be a long and hard-fought battle to change consumers' payment behaviour and, as a potential result, the makeup of the payments landscape," said Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin

Swapping wallets for smartphones

Google Inc is trying to nudge consumers and merchants into a world where the smartphone has replaced the wallet as the container for credit cards, coupons and receipts.

In Google's vision shoppers will touch their phone screen to select a card, then tap the phone to a credit-card reader in a store or restaurant. Google would make money by selling coupons and advertising that come along with the experience.

It's a goal shared by others. The Internet search and advertising company faces tough competition from cellphone companies, payment card issuer Visa Inc, eBay Inc's PayPal payment service and others. All of them want to play the central role of tying together phones, retailers and banks into a new payment system.

This isn't Google's first attempt at electronic payments. The company, based in Mountain View, California, introduced an online payment service called "Checkout" five years ago. It hasn't posed a serious threat to PayPal.


Google views its digital wallet as a way to sell advertising at a pivotal moment: When shoppers are in stores, ready to spend money and even more receptive to coupons and other discount offers.

Nick Holland, an analyst at Yankee Group, said that although all parties stand to benefit from Google's system, Google itself has the most to gain. That's because the Google Wallet would allow the company to "own" the market for advertising that's tied to the user's location.

Google said it's launching a Google Wallet trial in San Francisco and New York in co-operation with Visa rival MasterCard and Citibank. It will open up the system to consumers later in the summer. It then plans to expand across the country.

There has been talk of smart payment systems for years, and Google faces the same hurdles that have stifled previous trials.

One is that Google Wallet will initially work on only one smartphone, the Google Nexus S 4G carried by Sprint Nextel Corp.

Several smartphone makers, including Research In Motion Ltd, maker of the BlackBerry, are ready to bring out more phones with chips for so-called Near-Field Communications, or NFC, but it's uncertain if they'll work with Google's system.

Another hurdle is getting retailers to invest in terminals that can talk to the phones. Google Wallet will connect only to MasterCard PayPass terminals. There are more than 135,000 of those in US stores and restaurants, but that's only a small fraction of the total number.

Google's carrot is that retailers will be able to put loyalty cards and coupons in the Wallet, helping them track and engage with their customers. Partners in the trial include Macy's, RadioShack, Subway, Toys R Us, Duane Reade and Walgreens.

Hurdles

Yet another problem: Google needs to get cellphone companies on board. Its partner Sprint is the country's third-largest. AT&T Inc, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, the rest of the four biggest national carriers, have formed their own consortium to create a wallet that will compete with Google's.

The final obstacle is persuading consumers to take the leap. Phones might one day offer slightly faster checkouts, but the benefit would be small.

Google calls Wallet a "single-tap solution," but in a demonstration on Thursday at Google's New York office, a Google executive had to tap his phone twice to a terminal provided by retail partner American Eagle Outfitters Inc, then sign on the screen to get a purchase of a pair of denim shorts through.

Osama Bedier, Google's vice-president of payments, said it was up to the retailer to decide if the shopper has to sign on the screen.

"Consumers and businesses don't have a compelling need for changes in payment methods," a recent study by the Federal Reserve said. It nevertheless concluded that there are substantial benefits to reap for everyone involved if mobile payments become a reality.

One of the potential benefits is increased security compared to cards with magnetic strips, which can be copied surreptitiously.

The Wallet will initially work with a MasterCard from Citigroup Inc and with a prepaid debit card issued by Google, but the intent is to let the wallet accept any card.

"This is about creating a compelling model and asking folks to join," Bedier said.

Banks and payment processors such as MasterCard and Visa like the idea of mobile payments, but have their own designs on the space.

Visa already has announced plans for its own wallet. MasterCard is collaborating with Google but is working on its own projects.

"Today's announcement is another early salvo in what will be a long and hard-fought battle to change consumers' payment behaviour and, as a potential result, the makeup of the payments landscape," said Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin

Swapping wallets for smartphones

Google Inc is trying to nudge consumers and merchants into a world where the smartphone has replaced the wallet as the container for credit cards, coupons and receipts.

In Google's vision shoppers will touch their phone screen to select a card, then tap the phone to a credit-card reader in a store or restaurant. Google would make money by selling coupons and advertising that come along with the experience.

It's a goal shared by others. The Internet search and advertising company faces tough competition from cellphone companies, payment card issuer Visa Inc, eBay Inc's PayPal payment service and others. All of them want to play the central role of tying together phones, retailers and banks into a new payment system.

This isn't Google's first attempt at electronic payments. The company, based in Mountain View, California, introduced an online payment service called "Checkout" five years ago. It hasn't posed a serious threat to PayPal.


Google views its digital wallet as a way to sell advertising at a pivotal moment: When shoppers are in stores, ready to spend money and even more receptive to coupons and other discount offers.

Nick Holland, an analyst at Yankee Group, said that although all parties stand to benefit from Google's system, Google itself has the most to gain. That's because the Google Wallet would allow the company to "own" the market for advertising that's tied to the user's location.

Google said it's launching a Google Wallet trial in San Francisco and New York in co-operation with Visa rival MasterCard and Citibank. It will open up the system to consumers later in the summer. It then plans to expand across the country.

There has been talk of smart payment systems for years, and Google faces the same hurdles that have stifled previous trials.

One is that Google Wallet will initially work on only one smartphone, the Google Nexus S 4G carried by Sprint Nextel Corp.

Several smartphone makers, including Research In Motion Ltd, maker of the BlackBerry, are ready to bring out more phones with chips for so-called Near-Field Communications, or NFC, but it's uncertain if they'll work with Google's system.

Another hurdle is getting retailers to invest in terminals that can talk to the phones. Google Wallet will connect only to MasterCard PayPass terminals. There are more than 135,000 of those in US stores and restaurants, but that's only a small fraction of the total number.

Google's carrot is that retailers will be able to put loyalty cards and coupons in the Wallet, helping them track and engage with their customers. Partners in the trial include Macy's, RadioShack, Subway, Toys R Us, Duane Reade and Walgreens.

Hurdles

Yet another problem: Google needs to get cellphone companies on board. Its partner Sprint is the country's third-largest. AT&T Inc, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, the rest of the four biggest national carriers, have formed their own consortium to create a wallet that will compete with Google's.

The final obstacle is persuading consumers to take the leap. Phones might one day offer slightly faster checkouts, but the benefit would be small.

Google calls Wallet a "single-tap solution," but in a demonstration on Thursday at Google's New York office, a Google executive had to tap his phone twice to a terminal provided by retail partner American Eagle Outfitters Inc, then sign on the screen to get a purchase of a pair of denim shorts through.

Osama Bedier, Google's vice-president of payments, said it was up to the retailer to decide if the shopper has to sign on the screen.

"Consumers and businesses don't have a compelling need for changes in payment methods," a recent study by the Federal Reserve said. It nevertheless concluded that there are substantial benefits to reap for everyone involved if mobile payments become a reality.

One of the potential benefits is increased security compared to cards with magnetic strips, which can be copied surreptitiously.

The Wallet will initially work with a MasterCard from Citigroup Inc and with a prepaid debit card issued by Google, but the intent is to let the wallet accept any card.

"This is about creating a compelling model and asking folks to join," Bedier said.

Banks and payment processors such as MasterCard and Visa like the idea of mobile payments, but have their own designs on the space.

Visa already has announced plans for its own wallet. MasterCard is collaborating with Google but is working on its own projects.

"Today's announcement is another early salvo in what will be a long and hard-fought battle to change consumers' payment behaviour and, as a potential result, the makeup of the payments landscape," said Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin

Microsoft skewers Google in EU antitrust complaint

Microsoft Corp escalated its attack on Google Inc by complaining to European regulators on Thursday that its fiercest rival is an Internet bully that abuses its dominance of online search and advertising.

The allegations against Google crystallise the piecemeal gripes that Microsoft has been making about Google's business practices for the past few years.

It's also an ironic twist for Microsoft, whose control over how software operates on most personal computers has made it a frequent target of the types of complaints it's now making against Google.


This marks the first time that Microsoft has lodged a formal antitrust complaint with a government agency against one of its own rivals.

In doing so, Microsoft hopes to encourage the European Commission to dig deeper into an investigation opened four months ago into Google's business practices.

The European inquiry was spurred by complaints made by several smaller websites. They contended Google was unfairly burying them in search results and highlighting the company's own services instead.

The sites behind the initial complaints included Ciao, an online-shopping site owned by Microsoft, and Foundem, a price-comparison site that belongs to a technology trade association backed by Microsoft.

Given that, Google said Microsoft's latest complaint was unsurprising.

"We continue to discuss the case with the European Commission, and we're happy to explain to anyone how our business works," Google spokesman Al Verney said.

Although the specifics of Thursday's European complaint were confidential, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith outlined the basics in a blog posting.

Microsoft has made most of these accusations before in public statements or forums.

List of gripes

It contends Google is making it difficult for mobile phones that rely on its Windows software to access Google's YouTube video site. Google is promoting its own phones software, Android, and has been accommodating with Apple Inc's iPhone, according to Microsoft. Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apple's board when the iPhone was introduced in 2007.

Microsoft also accused Google of making it difficult for advertisers to transfer their data used to manage online marketing campaigns to rival search engines. And Microsoft said Google has programmed its search formulas in ways that drive up prices that its rivals have to spend to buy ads shown alongside Google's search results.

The complaint also paints Google as a hypocrite. Microsoft says Google has made it increasingly difficult for Microsoft's Bing and other search engines to index the videos on YouTube, an apparent contradiction to Google's crusade to make content openly accessible.

Google has been particularly critical of Facebook's refusal to open up data within its social network. Microsoft owns a 1.6% stake in Facebook, and Bing has been granted better access to Facebook profiles.

"Unfortunately, Google has engaged in a broadening pattern of walling off access to content and data that competitors need to provide search results to consumers and to attract advertisers," Smith wrote in his blog post.

Microsoft has a business incentive to undermine Google, which processes about two out of three every search requests in the United States. and an even higher ratio in other parts of the world, including many countries in Europe.

Partnership

After investing billions in its search technology during the past few years, Microsoft is desperate to close the market gap. Toward the end, Microsoft teamed up with Yahoo! Inc last year and, together, they now have nearly 30% of the US market.

To protect its search engine, Google previously has complained about the way Microsoft had set up its market-leading web browser, Internet Explorer, to make it less likely that people would install software known as toolbars from competitors.

"Antitrust has become a competitive weapon used by both companies," said Boston University law professor Keith Hylton, who specialises in antitrust issues. "This is troubling because you never know quite what to make of the complaints."

Previous complaints against Microsoft had thrust that company into a court battle with the US Justice Department in the late 1990s. European regulators have imposed heavy fines for anti-competitive practices involving its Windows operating system and Internet Explorer.

Google has been fined in France and admonished in Canada for inadequate privacy controls but so far hasn't been penalised in an antitrust investigation. If European regulators conclude Google engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, it could fine the company up to 10% of annual revenue, which is expected to surpass US$35bil this year.

Microsoft's move could exacerbate the legal and public-relations troubles already facing Google, which is based in Mountain View, California.

Bad time

The filing comes a week after a federal judge rejected a proposed legal settlement that would have given Google the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books. The judge concluded the agreement would have walled off its Internet search rivals from valuable content.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice is reviewing whether Google's proposed US$700mil acquisition of airfare tracker ITA Software would give it an unfair advantage in online travel.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, came out against both deals as part of broader coalitions. The state of Texas is also looking into Google's business practices.

Microsoft's decision to get involved in Europe's Google probe is a natural step, said Federico Etro, an economics professor at the University of Venice who has studied the case.

But he doesn't see this as merely another round in the jousting between two companies that don't like each other. He said online search is very complex market, with multiple consumer and economic issues to sort out.

Microsoft skewers Google in EU antitrust complaint

Microsoft Corp escalated its attack on Google Inc by complaining to European regulators on Thursday that its fiercest rival is an Internet bully that abuses its dominance of online search and advertising.

The allegations against Google crystallise the piecemeal gripes that Microsoft has been making about Google's business practices for the past few years.

It's also an ironic twist for Microsoft, whose control over how software operates on most personal computers has made it a frequent target of the types of complaints it's now making against Google.


This marks the first time that Microsoft has lodged a formal antitrust complaint with a government agency against one of its own rivals.

In doing so, Microsoft hopes to encourage the European Commission to dig deeper into an investigation opened four months ago into Google's business practices.

The European inquiry was spurred by complaints made by several smaller websites. They contended Google was unfairly burying them in search results and highlighting the company's own services instead.

The sites behind the initial complaints included Ciao, an online-shopping site owned by Microsoft, and Foundem, a price-comparison site that belongs to a technology trade association backed by Microsoft.

Given that, Google said Microsoft's latest complaint was unsurprising.

"We continue to discuss the case with the European Commission, and we're happy to explain to anyone how our business works," Google spokesman Al Verney said.

Although the specifics of Thursday's European complaint were confidential, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith outlined the basics in a blog posting.

Microsoft has made most of these accusations before in public statements or forums.

List of gripes

It contends Google is making it difficult for mobile phones that rely on its Windows software to access Google's YouTube video site. Google is promoting its own phones software, Android, and has been accommodating with Apple Inc's iPhone, according to Microsoft. Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apple's board when the iPhone was introduced in 2007.

Microsoft also accused Google of making it difficult for advertisers to transfer their data used to manage online marketing campaigns to rival search engines. And Microsoft said Google has programmed its search formulas in ways that drive up prices that its rivals have to spend to buy ads shown alongside Google's search results.

The complaint also paints Google as a hypocrite. Microsoft says Google has made it increasingly difficult for Microsoft's Bing and other search engines to index the videos on YouTube, an apparent contradiction to Google's crusade to make content openly accessible.

Google has been particularly critical of Facebook's refusal to open up data within its social network. Microsoft owns a 1.6% stake in Facebook, and Bing has been granted better access to Facebook profiles.

"Unfortunately, Google has engaged in a broadening pattern of walling off access to content and data that competitors need to provide search results to consumers and to attract advertisers," Smith wrote in his blog post.

Microsoft has a business incentive to undermine Google, which processes about two out of three every search requests in the United States. and an even higher ratio in other parts of the world, including many countries in Europe.

Partnership

After investing billions in its search technology during the past few years, Microsoft is desperate to close the market gap. Toward the end, Microsoft teamed up with Yahoo! Inc last year and, together, they now have nearly 30% of the US market.

To protect its search engine, Google previously has complained about the way Microsoft had set up its market-leading web browser, Internet Explorer, to make it less likely that people would install software known as toolbars from competitors.

"Antitrust has become a competitive weapon used by both companies," said Boston University law professor Keith Hylton, who specialises in antitrust issues. "This is troubling because you never know quite what to make of the complaints."

Previous complaints against Microsoft had thrust that company into a court battle with the US Justice Department in the late 1990s. European regulators have imposed heavy fines for anti-competitive practices involving its Windows operating system and Internet Explorer.

Google has been fined in France and admonished in Canada for inadequate privacy controls but so far hasn't been penalised in an antitrust investigation. If European regulators conclude Google engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, it could fine the company up to 10% of annual revenue, which is expected to surpass US$35bil this year.

Microsoft's move could exacerbate the legal and public-relations troubles already facing Google, which is based in Mountain View, California.

Bad time

The filing comes a week after a federal judge rejected a proposed legal settlement that would have given Google the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books. The judge concluded the agreement would have walled off its Internet search rivals from valuable content.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice is reviewing whether Google's proposed US$700mil acquisition of airfare tracker ITA Software would give it an unfair advantage in online travel.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, came out against both deals as part of broader coalitions. The state of Texas is also looking into Google's business practices.

Microsoft's decision to get involved in Europe's Google probe is a natural step, said Federico Etro, an economics professor at the University of Venice who has studied the case.

But he doesn't see this as merely another round in the jousting between two companies that don't like each other. He said online search is very complex market, with multiple consumer and economic issues to sort out.

Microsoft skewers Google in EU antitrust complaint

Microsoft Corp escalated its attack on Google Inc by complaining to European regulators on Thursday that its fiercest rival is an Internet bully that abuses its dominance of online search and advertising.

The allegations against Google crystallise the piecemeal gripes that Microsoft has been making about Google's business practices for the past few years.

It's also an ironic twist for Microsoft, whose control over how software operates on most personal computers has made it a frequent target of the types of complaints it's now making against Google.


This marks the first time that Microsoft has lodged a formal antitrust complaint with a government agency against one of its own rivals.

In doing so, Microsoft hopes to encourage the European Commission to dig deeper into an investigation opened four months ago into Google's business practices.

The European inquiry was spurred by complaints made by several smaller websites. They contended Google was unfairly burying them in search results and highlighting the company's own services instead.

The sites behind the initial complaints included Ciao, an online-shopping site owned by Microsoft, and Foundem, a price-comparison site that belongs to a technology trade association backed by Microsoft.

Given that, Google said Microsoft's latest complaint was unsurprising.

"We continue to discuss the case with the European Commission, and we're happy to explain to anyone how our business works," Google spokesman Al Verney said.

Although the specifics of Thursday's European complaint were confidential, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith outlined the basics in a blog posting.

Microsoft has made most of these accusations before in public statements or forums.

List of gripes

It contends Google is making it difficult for mobile phones that rely on its Windows software to access Google's YouTube video site. Google is promoting its own phones software, Android, and has been accommodating with Apple Inc's iPhone, according to Microsoft. Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apple's board when the iPhone was introduced in 2007.

Microsoft also accused Google of making it difficult for advertisers to transfer their data used to manage online marketing campaigns to rival search engines. And Microsoft said Google has programmed its search formulas in ways that drive up prices that its rivals have to spend to buy ads shown alongside Google's search results.

The complaint also paints Google as a hypocrite. Microsoft says Google has made it increasingly difficult for Microsoft's Bing and other search engines to index the videos on YouTube, an apparent contradiction to Google's crusade to make content openly accessible.

Google has been particularly critical of Facebook's refusal to open up data within its social network. Microsoft owns a 1.6% stake in Facebook, and Bing has been granted better access to Facebook profiles.

"Unfortunately, Google has engaged in a broadening pattern of walling off access to content and data that competitors need to provide search results to consumers and to attract advertisers," Smith wrote in his blog post.

Microsoft has a business incentive to undermine Google, which processes about two out of three every search requests in the United States. and an even higher ratio in other parts of the world, including many countries in Europe.

Partnership

After investing billions in its search technology during the past few years, Microsoft is desperate to close the market gap. Toward the end, Microsoft teamed up with Yahoo! Inc last year and, together, they now have nearly 30% of the US market.

To protect its search engine, Google previously has complained about the way Microsoft had set up its market-leading web browser, Internet Explorer, to make it less likely that people would install software known as toolbars from competitors.

"Antitrust has become a competitive weapon used by both companies," said Boston University law professor Keith Hylton, who specialises in antitrust issues. "This is troubling because you never know quite what to make of the complaints."

Previous complaints against Microsoft had thrust that company into a court battle with the US Justice Department in the late 1990s. European regulators have imposed heavy fines for anti-competitive practices involving its Windows operating system and Internet Explorer.

Google has been fined in France and admonished in Canada for inadequate privacy controls but so far hasn't been penalised in an antitrust investigation. If European regulators conclude Google engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, it could fine the company up to 10% of annual revenue, which is expected to surpass US$35bil this year.

Microsoft's move could exacerbate the legal and public-relations troubles already facing Google, which is based in Mountain View, California.

Bad time

The filing comes a week after a federal judge rejected a proposed legal settlement that would have given Google the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books. The judge concluded the agreement would have walled off its Internet search rivals from valuable content.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice is reviewing whether Google's proposed US$700mil acquisition of airfare tracker ITA Software would give it an unfair advantage in online travel.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, came out against both deals as part of broader coalitions. The state of Texas is also looking into Google's business practices.

Microsoft's decision to get involved in Europe's Google probe is a natural step, said Federico Etro, an economics professor at the University of Venice who has studied the case.

But he doesn't see this as merely another round in the jousting between two companies that don't like each other. He said online search is very complex market, with multiple consumer and economic issues to sort out.

Yahoo! to lay off 600 to 700 workers

NO HOLIDAY CHEER: Yahoo! is preparing to lay off between 600 and 700 workers in the latest shake-up triggered by the Internet company's lackluster growth. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! Inc's holiday trimmings will include 600 to 700 layoffs in the Internet company's latest shake-up triggered by lackluster growth.

Employees could be notified of the job cuts as early as today, according to a person familiar with Yahoo!'s plans. The person asked for anonymity because Yahoo! hadn't made a formal announcement.

The planned cutbacks represent about 5% of Yahoo!'s workforce of 14,100 employees. It will mark Yahoo!'s fourth mass layoff in the past three years.

The latest two housecleanings have come under the company's current CEO, Carol Bartz, a Silicon Valley veteran hired nearly two years, despite a lack of experience on the Web or in advertising - Yahoo!'s main source of revenue.

This week's round of reductions is expected to be concentrated in Yahoo!'s US products group, which already has been undergoing an overhaul since Bartz hired former Microsoft Corp executive Blake Irving to run the division last spring.

The job cuts won't come as a shock. News of the looming layoffs was first reported last month by two popular technology blogs, TechCrunch and All Things Digital.

Yahoo!'s feeble financial growth, stagnant stock price and recent management defections have raised questions about whether Bartz herself might be shown the door before her contract expires in January 2013.

The company's revenue had edged up by less than 2% to US$4.8bil (RM15.4bil) through the first nine months of the year, reflecting the difficulty Yahoo! has had selling ads while other Internet companies such as Google Inc and Facebook are thriving.

Google's revenue climbed 23% to nearly US$21bil (RM67.2bil) through the first nine months of the year. Privately held Facebook doesn't disclose its results but it is growing so fast that it had to move into larger headquarters earlier this year.

The malaise has spurred speculation that opportunistic buyout firms might put together a takeover bid for Yahoo!, possibly in partnership with another embattled Internet icon, AOL Inc.

Bartz, 62, has repeatedly insisted Yahoo!, which is based in Sunnyvale, is heading in the right direction, although she has cautioned it might be another year or two before there's a significant improvement in the company's financial results. - AP

Yahoo! to lay off 600 to 700 workers

NO HOLIDAY CHEER: Yahoo! is preparing to lay off between 600 and 700 workers in the latest shake-up triggered by the Internet company's lackluster growth. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! Inc's holiday trimmings will include 600 to 700 layoffs in the Internet company's latest shake-up triggered by lackluster growth.

Employees could be notified of the job cuts as early as today, according to a person familiar with Yahoo!'s plans. The person asked for anonymity because Yahoo! hadn't made a formal announcement.

The planned cutbacks represent about 5% of Yahoo!'s workforce of 14,100 employees. It will mark Yahoo!'s fourth mass layoff in the past three years.

The latest two housecleanings have come under the company's current CEO, Carol Bartz, a Silicon Valley veteran hired nearly two years, despite a lack of experience on the Web or in advertising - Yahoo!'s main source of revenue.

This week's round of reductions is expected to be concentrated in Yahoo!'s US products group, which already has been undergoing an overhaul since Bartz hired former Microsoft Corp executive Blake Irving to run the division last spring.

The job cuts won't come as a shock. News of the looming layoffs was first reported last month by two popular technology blogs, TechCrunch and All Things Digital.

Yahoo!'s feeble financial growth, stagnant stock price and recent management defections have raised questions about whether Bartz herself might be shown the door before her contract expires in January 2013.

The company's revenue had edged up by less than 2% to US$4.8bil (RM15.4bil) through the first nine months of the year, reflecting the difficulty Yahoo! has had selling ads while other Internet companies such as Google Inc and Facebook are thriving.

Google's revenue climbed 23% to nearly US$21bil (RM67.2bil) through the first nine months of the year. Privately held Facebook doesn't disclose its results but it is growing so fast that it had to move into larger headquarters earlier this year.

The malaise has spurred speculation that opportunistic buyout firms might put together a takeover bid for Yahoo!, possibly in partnership with another embattled Internet icon, AOL Inc.

Bartz, 62, has repeatedly insisted Yahoo!, which is based in Sunnyvale, is heading in the right direction, although she has cautioned it might be another year or two before there's a significant improvement in the company's financial results. - AP

Yahoo! to lay off 600 to 700 workers

NO HOLIDAY CHEER: Yahoo! is preparing to lay off between 600 and 700 workers in the latest shake-up triggered by the Internet company's lackluster growth. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! Inc's holiday trimmings will include 600 to 700 layoffs in the Internet company's latest shake-up triggered by lackluster growth.

Employees could be notified of the job cuts as early as today, according to a person familiar with Yahoo!'s plans. The person asked for anonymity because Yahoo! hadn't made a formal announcement.

The planned cutbacks represent about 5% of Yahoo!'s workforce of 14,100 employees. It will mark Yahoo!'s fourth mass layoff in the past three years.

The latest two housecleanings have come under the company's current CEO, Carol Bartz, a Silicon Valley veteran hired nearly two years, despite a lack of experience on the Web or in advertising - Yahoo!'s main source of revenue.

This week's round of reductions is expected to be concentrated in Yahoo!'s US products group, which already has been undergoing an overhaul since Bartz hired former Microsoft Corp executive Blake Irving to run the division last spring.

The job cuts won't come as a shock. News of the looming layoffs was first reported last month by two popular technology blogs, TechCrunch and All Things Digital.

Yahoo!'s feeble financial growth, stagnant stock price and recent management defections have raised questions about whether Bartz herself might be shown the door before her contract expires in January 2013.

The company's revenue had edged up by less than 2% to US$4.8bil (RM15.4bil) through the first nine months of the year, reflecting the difficulty Yahoo! has had selling ads while other Internet companies such as Google Inc and Facebook are thriving.

Google's revenue climbed 23% to nearly US$21bil (RM67.2bil) through the first nine months of the year. Privately held Facebook doesn't disclose its results but it is growing so fast that it had to move into larger headquarters earlier this year.

The malaise has spurred speculation that opportunistic buyout firms might put together a takeover bid for Yahoo!, possibly in partnership with another embattled Internet icon, AOL Inc.

Bartz, 62, has repeatedly insisted Yahoo!, which is based in Sunnyvale, is heading in the right direction, although she has cautioned it might be another year or two before there's a significant improvement in the company's financial results. - AP

Pac-Man play to stay at Google

HERE TO STAY: You can play Google's version of Pac-man anytime you like

Google made permanent a playable Pac-Man doodle posted in tribute to the classic arcade game's 30th birthday.

"We've been overwhelmed, but not surprised, by the success of our 30th anniversary Pac-Man doodle," Google vice president of search products and user experience Marissa Mayer said in a blog post.

"Due to popular demand, we're making the game permanently available."

The Pac-Man game, which spent the weekend incorporated into a logo atop the Google online search homepage, was given a new venue at www.google.com/pacman.

The game designed by Toru Iwatani was first released by Japan-based Namco into arcades on May 22, 1980.

The Google doodle Pac-Man comes complete with the arcade game's trademark music and sound effects, and an "Insert Coin" button where Google's "I'm feeling lucky" button usually is.

It was the first time Google made an interactive logo at its homepage, which routinely features artistic touches in keeping with holidays or special occasions

Pac-Man play to stay at Google

HERE TO STAY: You can play Google's version of Pac-man anytime you like

Google made permanent a playable Pac-Man doodle posted in tribute to the classic arcade game's 30th birthday.

"We've been overwhelmed, but not surprised, by the success of our 30th anniversary Pac-Man doodle," Google vice president of search products and user experience Marissa Mayer said in a blog post.

"Due to popular demand, we're making the game permanently available."

The Pac-Man game, which spent the weekend incorporated into a logo atop the Google online search homepage, was given a new venue at www.google.com/pacman.

The game designed by Toru Iwatani was first released by Japan-based Namco into arcades on May 22, 1980.

The Google doodle Pac-Man comes complete with the arcade game's trademark music and sound effects, and an "Insert Coin" button where Google's "I'm feeling lucky" button usually is.

It was the first time Google made an interactive logo at its homepage, which routinely features artistic touches in keeping with holidays or special occasions

Pac-Man play to stay at Google

HERE TO STAY: You can play Google's version of Pac-man anytime you like

Google made permanent a playable Pac-Man doodle posted in tribute to the classic arcade game's 30th birthday.

"We've been overwhelmed, but not surprised, by the success of our 30th anniversary Pac-Man doodle," Google vice president of search products and user experience Marissa Mayer said in a blog post.

"Due to popular demand, we're making the game permanently available."

The Pac-Man game, which spent the weekend incorporated into a logo atop the Google online search homepage, was given a new venue at www.google.com/pacman.

The game designed by Toru Iwatani was first released by Japan-based Namco into arcades on May 22, 1980.

The Google doodle Pac-Man comes complete with the arcade game's trademark music and sound effects, and an "Insert Coin" button where Google's "I'm feeling lucky" button usually is.

It was the first time Google made an interactive logo at its homepage, which routinely features artistic touches in keeping with holidays or special occasions