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From the New York Post | Signs are emerging that RadioShack may be preparing to sell itself, with several private equity firms and retailer Best Buy among those interested. A RadioShack spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment. But sources said JPMorgan Chase is leading the sale process.
Get the full story: nypost.com
Sylvia Corcoran, center, asks a question of Sears salesperson Marian Pani. Corcoran and others took advantage of the federal cash for appliances program at a Chicago Sears store. (Alex Garcia/Tribune)
By Sandra M. Jones | The cash-for-appliances program that started at 8 a.m. in Illinois had
gone through half of its $6.5 million funds by noon, according to
officials.
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association reported more than $3 million
in the 15-percent appliance rebates was spent in the first four hours,
translating into more than $20 million in appliance sales.
“By late afternoon, we could be out of money,” said David Vite,
president of the trade group, which is administering the program.
(AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)
Associated Press | Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.’s hottest new product, the iPad,
citing concerns that the strength of its wireless receivers and
transmitters are incompatible with national standards and could disrupt
other wireless devices.
Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10
iPads since Israel announced the new regulations this week.
The blanket ban prevents anyone — even tourists — from bringing an iPad
into Israel until officials certify that the computers comply with local
transmitter standards.
From the Problem Solver | Samsung is alerting owners of 3D TVs in Australia that the 3D technology may pose a seizure risk to children with a history of epilepsy and strokes.
Read the full story: Samsung alerts children and teens of 3D TV danger
Dow Jones Newswires | Apple Inc. said it will postpone its international iPad sales launch by one month to the end of May because higher-than-expected U.S. demand will likely exceed its supply of the device for the next several weeks.
U.S. demand is “far higher” than it predicted, it said. The company delivered 500,000 iPads during its first week of availability. It has also taken a “large number” of pre-orders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April.
By Wailin Wong
| The Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. launched Monday a new stock index that tracks
companies involved in the smartphone industry.
Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc. is one of the 84 companies represented on
the Smartphone Index, which was created in conjunction with the
Consumer Electronics Association. The list spans companies specializing
in hardware, software and mobile networks. In addition to Motorola, the
index also includes technology bellwethers such as Apple, Nokia and
AT&T.
A Best Buy opening in New York in March 2010. (JB Reed/Bloomberg)
By Sandra M. Jones | The demise of Circuit City has been a boon to rivals Best Buy and Wal-Mart, according to a report released Monday from NPD Group.
Best Buy Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. combined captured two-thirds of Circuit City Stores Inc.’s total dollar market share from March through December 2009, after Circuit City went out of business, the report said.
Associated Press | Microsoft Corp. unveiled two phones Monday
that are meant for social networking-savvy teens and twenty-somethings,
in an attempt to revitalize its mobile business and regain ground on
iPhones and BlackBerrys.
Microsoft said its new touch-screen phones – a short, square-shaped
handset called Kin 1 and a longer, more rectangular one called Kin 2 –
will be sold exclusively in the U.S. by Verizon Wireless. They are
being made by Sharp Corp., which has produced Sidekick cell phones,
whose software comes from Microsoft-owned Danger Inc.
Japanese journalists wear 3D glasses to take a close took at images shown on Sharp Corp.’s 3-D TV during a demonstration in Tokyo, Monday. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Associated Press | Sharp is trying to play catch-up in 3-D TVs
with powerful rivals Samsung and Panasonic with displays the Japanese
electronics maker says are brighter and clearer. On Monday, the company promised 3-D TV sets this summer for Japan, and
before March 31, 2011, for the U.S., Europe and China. Sharp said it
will disclose prices and other details next month.
(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
From Bloomberg | BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion reported fourth-quarter sales and shipments that missed analysts’ estimates. The company spent 46 percent more on research last quarter, as it develops devices that can replicate the success of Apple’s iPhone or Motorola’s Droid.
Get the full story: businessweek.com.
Dow Jones Newswires | Apple’s upcoming iPhone, reportedly compatible with Verizon Wireless’
network, could help the carrier take the lead in its fierce two-horse
race with AT&T and have a domino effect throughout the smartphone
industry.
The nation’s two largest carriers are neck-and-neck each quarter in
nabbing the highest quality customers. But where Verizon Wireless has
done it with a myriad of products and its reputation for network
quality, AT&T has heavily relied upon its exclusive agreement with
Apple to sell the iPhone.
Companies that could be threatened if Verizon strikes a deal with Apple
include Motorola, which sells Verizon Wireless’s flagship Droid, and could struggle to create devices to match the iPhone’s hype. Motorola
shares rose 1 cent to $7.23 on Tuesday.
Dow Jones Newswire-WSJ | Apple Inc. is developing a new iPhone to debut this summer and also
appears to be working on another model for U.S. mobile phone operator
Verizon Wireless, say people briefed on the matter.
The people briefed on the matter said that the next iPhone is being
manufactured by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision
Industry Co., which produced Apple’s previous iPhones. The
other iPhone model that has CDMA capability is being manufactured by
Pegatron Technology Corp., the contract manufacturing subsidiary of
Taiwan’s ASUSTeK Computer Inc., these people said.
By Zoe Galland | What demographic is going to buy the iPad? According to market research firm The NPD Group, awareness of the iPad is high among Apple owners, people who make over $100,000, and 18-34 year olds. Among all consumers, 18 percent expressed an interest in buying an iPad, compared to 27 percent of 18-34 year olds and 24 percent of Apple owners.
Even if Apple owners and young adults are the ones most interested in the iPad, the 18 percent figure is still formidable. Investors are anticipating high sales for the iPad; by Monday’s market close, Apple shares had increased to $232.39.
Apple began taking preorders for the iPad on March 12, but Apple announced on Sunday that some online orders will take longer to arrive than expected — orders placed after March 27 will be shipped out on April 12. Customers can buy iPads right away in Apple’s stores on Saturday.
By Julie Wernau | Nokia has signed a deal to purchase a privately-held Chicago company that provides mobile internet platforms that can be used on smart phones. The move comes as cellular providers scramble for their share of the booming smart
phone market.
The company announced Friday that it will acquire 100 percent of the
outstanding shares of Novarra, Inc. — a 100-employee company that
provides browsing, search, applications, video and advertising platforms
for mobile devices — and expects the deal to close in the second
quarter. The deal would make Novarra a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nokia.
Financial details were not disclosed.
By Wailin Wong
| Sprint Nextel Corp. has lost its appeal to an advertising watchdog
because of its boast of being “America’s most dependable 3G network.”
The dispute stemmed from a claim against Sprint that rival Verizon
Wireless made in November to the National Advertising Division of the
Council of Better Business Bureaus. The NAD asked that Sprint
discontinue its claim, prompting the company to appeal the decision to
the National Advertising Review Board.
