Apple retained its dominance over the U.S. smartphone market, boasting strong fourth quarter profits, while Google upset government regulators, consumers and social networking sites with big policy changes.

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Apple Stays Strong, Continues Legal Battles with Samsung

Apple profits surged last quarter with the release of the iPhone 4S and continued demand for the iPad 2, and the company's momentum shows no sign of slowing. However, the competition is ramping up, and Apple will have to stay one step ahead to maintain dominance.

Apple and five of its publishing partners face increased scrutiny over their pricing system for e-books, which lawyers claim resulted in elevated prices for consumers. The U.S. Justice Department and the European Union Commission are also investigating the matter on suspicion the agency pricing model violates antitrust laws.

A new book title shares highly guarded secrets about Apple's design, development and marketing strategies. "Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired-and Secretive-Company Really Works," by Adam Lashinsky, portrays a company devoted to every last detail and the loyal consumers that flock to their products because of it.

In legal news, a Dutch court dismissed Apple's request for a ban on the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Apple claims the tablet infringes on its patented designs, but the high court ruled Samsung's tablet differs significantly enough from the iPad that the two can share the market.

Apple is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on patent lawsuits throughout the globe, many against Samsung and HTC. Increasingly, courts are siding with the opposition, calling Cupertino's aggressive legal tactics into question.

Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the company against allegations of poor working conditions in its manufacturing plants. The New York Times called conditions "unsafe," but Cook disagreed, saying such allegations are "patently false and offensive to us."

Google's New Privacy Policy Draws Scrutiny, Concern

Apple isn't the only company waging patent battles, however. Motorola filed a patent infringement suit against Apple, meaning Google, which is in the process of acquiring Motorola, will directly engage in a massive legal battle with the iPhone maker.

Google announced Tuesday it plans to roll out a new privacy policy March 1, combining information it collects about each user of its sites and services into a single profile. Once users agree to one of Google's service policies, their permissions are saved for other Google-based web features.

Google says the policy change will make things simpler for consumers, but the revamped agreement sparked privacy concerns from lawmakers who say users should be able to opt out of data collection. Google has until February 16 to respond, but said on its blog it is not collecting any more data than before.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company also added a Public Alerts feature to Google Maps. The service notifies users in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, and directs them to local hospitals and shelters. The service could prove vital to travelers unfamiliar with emergency services in the areas they're visiting.

Motorola Preps for Google Merger

Meanwhile, Motorola suffered heavy profit losses due to consumer uncertainty and increased legal costs over its proposed merger with Google. The partnership, expected to be completed in early 2012, will be profitable for both companies, however, and Motorola is likely to recoup any revenue it lost in the process.

RIM Looks Forward with New CEO

Research In Motion's longtime co-CEO's stepped down late Sunday after a dramatically difficult year for the BlackBerry maker. Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie faced mounting pressure from frustrated shareholders and investors to step down, and while the two men say that had no bearing on their decision, the company is looking to new leadership for a much-needed turnaround.

Newly appointed CEO Thorsten Heins said he plans to stay the course set by his predecessors, but bring new focus to RIM's marketing strategies and product turnaround time. Heins, who joined RIM in 2007, faces an uphill battle to repair the company's reputation, but he remains optimistic.

AT&T Gives Away Spectrum, Blames FCC for Losses

AT&T will transfer $1 billion in spectrum to T-Mobile as part of a $3 billion "breakup" bundle in the wake of the failed merger between the two carriers. T-Mobile lost thousands of customers while government regulators pondered the proposed acquisition, and AT&T's generous compensation will help the smaller carrier increase its broadband network to lure back customers.

AT&T also posted hefty fourth-quarter losses in the wake of the failed merger, largely due to the breakup fee. However, the carrier is focusing its energies on expanding its 4G network and promoting its new line of Nokia Windows phones.

The Dallas, Texas-based company blames the FCC, which failed to support the scrapped T-Mobile merger, for its significant loss of profit and spectrum. Last week, AT&T raised its data fees for consumers, and maintains that the FCC is at fault.

Verizon Sees Profit Loss, Makes Room for 4G Phones

Verizon also experienced diminishing profits last quarter, spurred mostly by increased expenses associated with the launch of the iPhone 4S and the carrier's expanding LTE network. Still, the Basking Ridge, N.J.-based carrier signed 1.2 million new users, and remains the number one provider in the U.S.

To make way for new hardware to accommodate its high-speed network, Verizon offered the HTC Thunderbolt for free with a two-year contract until yesterday. The Thunderbolt, launched last March, was Verizon's first-ever 4G LTE handset, but the company wants to stay ahead of competitors and focus on its newest offerings moving forward.

Nokia Bouncing Back with Windows Phones

Nokia shipped more than one million Lumia handsets last year, analysts estimate, signaling early success for the company's critical Microsoft partnership. Nokia is the top mobile phone maker in the world by volume, but struggled in recent years against the growing popularity of Apple and Android phones. Strong sales numbers bode well for the company, meaning it could be headed for a true turnaround.

The Finnish phone maker will reportedly offer the Lumia 900 for $100 when the phone launches in the U.S. this spring, at least half the price of other high-end smartphone. The move attempts to lure customers to the fledgling Windows operating system, and could prove a strong draw for consumers.

Nokia posted a 23 percent decrease in smartphone sales last quarter despite the Lumia's rampant success abroad, but CEO Stephen Elop says is still in the transitional process and expects to boost its profits in 2012.

Microsoft Ditches Point System, Tests Kinect

Microsoft is abandoning its digital points system and uniting its app and gaming platforms ahead of the release of the Nokia Lumia. Unifying its method for purchasing digital content will make it easier for customers to download apps across multiple devices, presenting a more synchronized experience.

Microsoft is also testing laptops with built-in Kinect technology, hinting at the company's potential plans for the Windows 8 platform.

Samsung Profits Clouded by Patent Battles

Samsung set a $42 billion sales record last quarter, but the good news is overshadowed by its costly patent battles with Apple. The South Korean phone maker also has an uneasy relationship with Google, and with the search giant's impending acquisition of Motorola, Samsung is nervously diversifying its offerings to protect itself.

HP Cautiously Releases WebOS

Hewlett-Packard announced it will release WebOS to the open-source community gradually over the next several months to sidestep potential patent problems. First up is Enyo 2.0, a developer's tool used for writing apps, as the tech giant cautiously proceeds with the ambitious project.

HTC Teams Up with IBM

HTC is working with IBM, running IBM business apps with a focus on security on its phones and tablets. The business sector, once dominated by RIM's BlackBerry, is increasingly divided among Android and Apple devices. The IBM brand, with its strong corporate affiliations and secure history, could prove attractive to frustrated former enterprise customers.

PayPal Debuts Mobile Payment System

EBay-owned PayPal rolled out its mobile payment system in U.S. stores this week, allowing users to make payments without sharing financial information. In-store customers give retailers their mobile number and PIN to pay with their PayPal account, removing the need to carry around a bank card.

FBI Mines Social Media, President Obama Chats on Google+

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that police must get a search warrant before using GPS technology to track criminal suspects, saying such maneuvers violate privacy protection provided by the Constitution's Fourth Amendment. State governments are struggling to balance the needs of law enforcement with individual rights, and the recent ruling makes a strong statement that could finally set a precedent.

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced plans to regularly scan social networking sites for possible domestic and global threats. The FBI's plans raise concerns over privacy and free speech rights, but social networking sites will have no choice but to comply with the government regulations.

The U.S. government is increasingly concerned about cyber attacks, and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich agrees, saying he believes cyber-espionage should be considered an act of war. Gingrich says he would take a tougher stance on cyber-terrorism, and that current laws are not enough to prevent a major attack from happening.

President Obama integrated tech into his own campaign, hosting a Google+ hangout following his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Obama answered questions from citizens via video chat, attempting to prove his strong connection with the younger, tech-savvy generation, a coveted voting block for the upcoming presidential election.

Abroad, the European Union issued new data-protection rules on January 25, amid concerns over how corporations handle Internet users' personal data. The new guidelines, which must be approved by several European governments including France and Germany, greatly impact tech titans like Google and Facebook.

Facebook, Twitter Team Up Against Google, Facebook Preps for IPO

Facebook and Twitter engineers tweaked Google's new algorithm, which prioritizes content published on Google+, with a "bookmarklet" called "Don't Be Evil." The change enables users to include information from their own sites, not just Google+, in search results, signaling the other social networks are ready to stand up against the internet search giant.

Facebook is a giant in its own right, adding $15.3 billion in value to the European economy last year alone, mostly through ad revenue. Thousands of companies make Facebook apps to connect with their consumers, and when the social networking site unveils its IPO later this year, those numbers are likely to increase.

Popular mobile game Angry Birds will make its debut on Facebook this Valentine's Day, as maker Rovio continues its quest to put the puzzle game on "every screen." Facebook will also gain millions of Angry Birds fans just in time for its IPO, which it continues to bolster with dozens of new apps and games.

Twitter Users Thwart McDonald's, Site Bows to Censorship Pressure

Twitter users capsized a recent McDonald's Twitter campaign, hijacking the fast food restaurants hashtag and relaying horror stories about the company's food. The move highlights the potential issues with social media campaigns, which users can corrupt if they so choose.

Meanwhile, under mounting pressure, Twitter announced plans to withhold tweets that violate censorship laws in specific countries, but vowed transparency about its actions. It plans to clearly mark tweets that are withheld, and only restricted them within affected countries.

News Under the Sun is a weekly column rounding up all the events in the mobile industry. Want the news but don't want it every day? Subscribe to our weekly Facebook or Twitter page.

NUTS: Apple Dominates Smartphones, Google Sparks Criticism Over Privacy originally appeared at Mobiledia on Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:07 pm.

A Dutch company is marketing high-tech, conductive gloves so wearers can keep their hands warm while using touchscreens, a solution that could find wide acceptance as people use their mobile devices in all kinds of weather.

The Mujjo Next-Generation Touchscreen Gloves allow wearers to "use all fingertips, knuckles and even the palm of the hand," providing the user with more options for interacting with their touch screen since all areas of the glove are usable.

The winter gloves work with all capacitive touchscreen smartphones and tablets by sensing the conductive properties of the user's skin. Touchscreens won't work with ordinary gloves, because they block the wearer's skin from directly touching the screen, but the Mujjo gloves use silver-coated nylon fibers knitted into the gloves' fabric to alleviate this problem.

More people than ever are using mobile devices, and the gloves will likely sell well among people who want to use their phones outside without getting cold, such as at sporting events or even on the streets. The gloves could also suit the military, as many troops are outfitted with iPads and other mobile devices while in the field.

Regular touchscreen gloves normally restrict use to one or two fingertips, but since the special fibers are woven throughout the Mujjo gloves, the wearer can use a whole hand or even a knuckle or palm to work their mobile devices.

The gloves cost $35 a pair and come in two unisex sizes, small/medium and medium/largem and are available on the Fountainhead International Group's website. The product may be worth the investment among people who need to keep their hands warm while using touchscreens out in the cold weather.

Cold? Use Gloves with That Touchscreen originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:01 pm.

Children with autism spectrum disorders enjoy screen time, underscoring an opportunity to use interactive devices to encourage social learning.

According to the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., children on the autism spectrum are twice as likely to spend lots of time in front of a screen as typically developing kids, and prefer to spend the bulk of their free time watching television or videos instead of engaging in social media. The study includes more than 1,000 13-16 year olds in special education programs.

Despite how much children who have autism enjoy the stimulation of a computer or mobile device, few engage in social media pursuits, such as emailing or chatting, researchers found. Nearly 90 percent of the children studied spend little time interacting with others or engaging in social media activities online, and more than half of them don't do it at all.

The researchers' results are somewhat expected, considering difficulty understanding social rules, trouble communicating, and lack of interaction with others are hallmarks of many disorders across the autism spectrum.

However, they also highlight a chance for parents, therapists and educators to capitalize on the pleasure many autistic children get out of sitting in front of a screen, and find ways to encourage more interactive, social activities.

Smartphones and tablets such as Apple's iPad especially suit this aim. The portability of mobile devices means then can go wherever needed, whether at home, in a classroom or in a therapy center. They also connect seamlessly to video chatting services, e-mail applications, and social media sites, providing opportunities for interaction for children who could find in-person encounters particularly difficult.

Plus, the super-sensitive touch screens on today's tablets and phones could help engage children who might find the world of touch and stimulation overwhelming, helping them develop fine motor and sensory skills as they refine social abilities.

Research shows the same features that make smartphones and tablets interactive, such as multi-touch technology, can double as therapy devices for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, transforming mobile devices from simple vehicles for entertainment to valuable tools for rehabilitation and learning.

A wide variety of social games and apps, several with an educational bent, also allow children with AMDs to socialize and play with others in a non-threatening, fun way, maximizing their screen time as a learning tool and not just a passive, solo activity.

The researchers acknowledge that as children with autism age, they spend more time e-mailing, chatting, and interacting on computers and devices, finding it more enticing as their social skills develop. The increasing availability of tablets and smartphones and a wide range of apps and games to encourage interactivity and fun could help children with AMDs get more out of their screen time.

Autistic Kids Use Tech for Social Learning originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:49 pm.

Microsoft is testing laptops with built-in Kinect technology, hinting at the company's potential plans for its Windows 8 platform.

The Redmond, Wash.-based company may choose to license its Kinect motion sensing technology to laptop vendors as well as offering Kinect hardware for Windows. The technology replaces a laptop's normal webcam and adds a row of sensors that track user's movements, according to the Daily.

Kinect for the Xbox 360 has been a destination spot for hackers and developers to experiment with the technology's capabilities outside of gaming, with the system hacked for everything from motion-capture animation to use in the surgical operating room.

Bringing the hardware to computers will allow developers to fully realize their visions, and in the process, Microsoft will be able to offer a unique experience with the Windows 8 platform that sets it apart from past iterations of the operating system.

Kinect technology in future laptops suggests motion controls will likely be a big part of Windows 8 and potential apps for the platform. If developers begin to feature the technology as a major feature of their future software, Windows 8 will develop an advantage over the Mac and the OS X operating system.

Microsoft's technology may allow users to control their laptops in a completely new way, but that innovation will likely come with a bigger price tag. Machines with Kinect built-in will be more expensive than others, potentially stalling user adoption and scaring developers away from making innovative software that supports the technology.

However, Microsoft's decision to also offer Kinect as a separate piece of hardware may help solve this problem. Users who buy computers without the technology built-in will have the option to pick up Kinect later if they want to tap into the full potential of Windows 8.

Analysts give early demos of Windows 8 positive reviews, calling the user interface clean and very similar to the design of its Windows Phone platform and Xbox 360 dashboard.

Microsoft will face challenges in how the company will integrate Kinect technology. It could very well be a feature that puts the operating system over the top, or else be a gimmick that most users consider an afterthought.

Microsoft Tests Kinect in Windows 8 Laptops originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:30 pm.

Motorola posted heavy losses due to merger costs and lagging sales, and anticipates changes in strategy once Google's buyout of the company completes.

Motorola's smartphone sales raised revenue this past quarter, but not enough to compensate for the overhead associated with its upcoming partnership with Google. Google bid on Motorola to establish its own line of mobile hardware, and based on the strength of its patent portfolio. Both Google and Motorola stand to benefit from its acquisition, but these assets will come with some challenges.

As both companies gear up for the merger, expected to complete in early 2012, Motorola will likely intensify competition with Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and other Android makers since the handset maker plans to develop hardware exclusively tailored for Google. This may help Motorola devices gain an edge against other Android handset makers like HTC and Samsung, which current dominate Android sales.

Motorola also intends to push fewer phones, placing emphasis on quality instead of quantity, a move set to distinguish the company from its competition.

Motorola and Google's partnership will also affect the ongoing patent brawl between Android OS and Apple. Although Motorola will operate as a separate entity after the acquisition, Google will sign off on any major decisions, including litigation.

Motorola recently filed a patent-infringement suit against Apple, marking the first time Google will directly face the Cupertino, Calif.-based giant in litigation. Apple is waging what many call a proxy war against Android by suing Samsung and HTC in a web of litigation around the globe. A string of patent victories in the U.S. and Europe bolsters Motorola's case. Once Google officially gains control over Motorola's expansive roster of patents, it will gain considerable ammunition against Apple in these court fights.

Google's buyout means that Motorola is likely to regain traction in the handset market, and its patents will help spur future patent litigation. In this way, Motorola could emerge as a key player in Android's viability and play a main role in how the OS survives future patent battles.

Motorola Preps for Google Sale Amid Losses originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:13 pm.

Two once-powerful tech companies took strong steps toward their comeback efforts, with Research In Motion replacing its co-CEOs and Nokia beginning its push of a new Windows phone.

The Score is a weekly column scoring controversial events in the mobile industry. Want to get to the point? We'll break it down and give you the score.

RIM Needs "Seismic Changes"
The Setup: RIM just couldn't catch a break last year. It started out on top, thanks to the BlackBerries everybody from politicians to movie stars couldn't put down. However, smartphones like the iPhone and all those Android phones moved ahead, and RIM kept postponing product releases and eventually got left behind.

It still offers the most-secure messaging and e-mail services of any provider, but that's little help when there are service outages among the people who just can't afford to be offline for even a minute.

When there's a downward spiral, everything gets caught in the vortex, and that's what happened with RIM last year. But think of it like a tornado -- it gets out of control and builds up speed, but when the weather pattern breaks, the cloud goes away and there are blue skies not long after.

However, RIM doesn't seem to be quite ready to break its pattern.

RIM's CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped down, which is code speak for when a company tells top officials "see you later, don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out." After a year of missteps, including their refusal to split their jobs despite stockholders' demands, it's probably too early to say if they're being missed yet. But somehow, we don't think RIM bought them a good-bye cake. RIM: 1,000 points.
Thorsten Heins moved up from his job as chief operations officer to take the former CEOs' jobs. He's been with RIM since 2007, so he was there during its good times as well as its bad, knowing the business well and working with software, hardware and sales. RIM: 500 points.
Heins, recognizing RIM has had a lot of problems with marketing in the past year, is already searching for a new chief marketing officer, who will have the huge task of rebuilding the company's profile, which is heavily battered at this point. RIM: 200 points.
That marketing officer might want to get together with the PR department, though, after Heins' next statement -- because he doesn't plan any "seismic changes" to RIM's overall strategy. This came on a day when shareholders might not want an earthquake, but maybe do want a tremor to shake things up a bit. RIM: -500 points.
Heins, though, is considering licensing BlackBerry 10 to other interested manufacturers, boosting RIM as a software maker based on its security and communication credentials. RIM: 200 points.
He won't be splitting up the company though, which should reassure stockholders who bought their shares two years ago when RIM was on top but would lose a great deal of money if the company is divided. RIM: 100 points.
RIM's U.S. market share dipped to less than 10 percent in 2011 due to its disappointing PlayBook tablet and lack of innovative new hardware. Further, the company didn't develop new products for most of 2011, allowing Apple to bypass it with both the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 and turning RIM into a dinosaur. RIM: -2,000 points.
Heins' openness to make the BlackBerry OS available to other phone makers may intrigue the industry, but WebOS couldn't compete against Apple and Google, and Windows Phone is pushing ahead for 2012. Will anyone even want the BlackBerry OS? RIM: -500 points.The Score: RIM: -1,000 points.

What it means: RIM took the right step by showing Balsillie and Lazaridis the door. While they were effective top executives in the past, the technology market passed RIM by, and they didn't take the steps needed to keep the company modern and solvent.

True, some of RIM's misfortunes, such as servers that quit working, probably would have happened with or without them, but CEOs who can't push technology forward these days likely will find themselves in the unemployment line.

It's understandable, though, that Heins is taking a conservative approach to turning RIM around. After all, it would be irresponsible for him to take the job and start reinventing the company before Balsillie's and Lazaridis' butt prints were out of their office chairs.

In the upcoming year, though, Heins may have to rethink his reluctance to make "seismic changes" for RIM. This is a company that needs some big changes, including smartphones that combine the company's still top-line security with technology that will entice an increasingly tech-savvy buying public.

Without a line of new devices, RIM could go the way of Palm and become one of those companies that was pretty good at one time, but just couldn't keep up -- and Heins could find himself having to give up his keys to the CEO bathroom as well.

---

Nokia Pins Hopes on Lumia
The Setup: Nokia, like RIM, at one time had the phones everyone wanted. However, the Finland-based company, also like RIM, stuck with the phones that put it on top instead of moving ahead to the future, and got left behind. True, Nokia sells a lot of its feature phones around the world. After all, not everyone wants -- or can afford -- a smartphone.

However, in a world where even the little children are clicking merrily away on their iPhones, phones that don't have a touchscreen just aren't as cool anymore -- and neither was Nokia.

That might be changing this year with one little device -- the Windows-powered Lumia line.
Nokia shipped more than one million Lumia handsets last year, analysts estimate, signaling early success for the company's critical Microsoft partnership. RIM: 1,500 points.
The Lumia 800 went on sale in Europe in mid-November, while the Lumia 710 launched in four Asian markets and Russia in December. The 800 got off to a strong start in the U.K., selling out in many locations and leaving Nokia scrambling to meet customer demand for it -- and that's not a bad problem to have. Nokia: 1,000 points.
Analysts project Nokia could nab third place in the global smartphone market if its Windows gamble pays off, with Lumia sales could top three million this quarter. Nokia: 500 points.
AT&T readies for launch of the Lumia 900 later this quarter, and to top it off, it's selling the new phone for $100, an unheard-of price for a top-of-the-line new smartphone. True, the Lumia will likely take some time to catch public attention. But it's Nokia's first LTE Windows phone and a Consumer Electronics Show award-winner, and it's already attracting attention. After all, there are always people who want to try the latest thing -- and the Lumia might just be it. Nokia: 2,000 points.The Score: Nokia: 5,000 points.

What it means: Nokia hasn't lost its place as the top phone seller by volume because a lot of the world still uses feature phones, but it's not making the money it once did because it's not competing with smartphones.

Nokia, though, is clawing its way back up with a well-planned device, not by playing around with its marketing department or trying not to shake things up. It plans to move full-speed ahead with a high-end, full-featured smartphone that could capture the attention of a buying public that wants another option. The Lumia is different enough to attract attention, and is a 4G LTE model, making it ready for the LTE expansions sweeping North America's carriers.

The Lumia likely won't beat out the iPhone or high-end Android smartphones, but it could come in at a respectable third place and plenty of them will likely be sold.

In today's market, it's all about the product -- and Nokia is banking on its Lumia phone to turn the tide. Perhaps RIM should give Nokia a call and get some good advice about what it will really need this year.




The Score: RIM, Nokia Offer a Tale of Two Comebacks originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:58 pm.

Twitter can now block content in specific countries without imposing worldwide restrictions, as the increasingly global social media site struggles under censorship pressure.

The site plans to withhold tweets that violate censorship laws in specific countries, but says it will provide transparency about its actions. It will clearly mark tweets that are withheld, and they will only be restricted within the affected country.

Twitter is partnering with anti-censorship site Chilling Effects on the initiative, and users can visit the Chilling Effects website for more information about specific tweet takedown requests and activity.

Twitter hasn't yet exercised its tweet-blocking ability, but its increasing global reach makes doing so a matter of time.

"As we continue to grow internationally, we will enter countries that have different ideas about the contours of freedom of expression," Twitter wrote on its blog.

The social site admitted there will be some countries where laws governing freedom of expression are so restrictive, they will render Twitter unable to exist there. However, in nations that regulate specific aspects of free speech, such as France and Germany, which ban pro-Nazi content, the new tool will allow Twitter to avoid being banned entirely for a few tweets containing objectionable content.

Twitter is trying to avoid the fate of Google's social network, Google+, which China blocked just one day after its limited release last summer. Under Twitter's new policy, specific tweets the Chinese government finds objectionable could be taken down and marked as blocked, while the country could still enjoy the rest of the site's content.

The company may also be headed down a slippery slope, however, particularly in countries looking to clamp down on social media access in order to minimize the role of tweets and social network postings in future uprisings similar to last year's Arab Spring.

In Syria, for example, protestors avoid Facebook and Twitter out of fear the government will track their posts to learn about planned protests or meetings and be there to arrest whomever shows up.

By giving governments the right to say what shows up on Twitter and what doesn't within their country's borders, Twitter could both hamper protesters' use of Twitter to organize their efforts and give nations that engage in censorship more power to restrict citizens' free speech. The result is a difficult balancing act between Twitter's desire for growth and critics that say the policy change colludes with repressive governments.

Twitter says its main goal is to "keep the tweets flowing." But, as the site continues to wrestle with foreign governments over freedom of speech issues, it may have to make exceptions to that rule in some areas to preserve greater global access and expression.

Twitter Bows to Censorship Pressure, Blocks Tweets originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:45 pm.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is trying to set the record straight on his company's approach to labor issues, in response to the bleak picture painted of how it treats employees in its supply chain.

Cook responded to a New York Times article calling the working conditions in the factories Apple build its products "unsafe." The article quotes both former and current Apple executives that assert the company takes shortcuts that put the safety of workers in jeopardy, something Tim Cook refuted completely.

"As a company and as individuals, we are defined by our values. Unfortunately some people are questioning Apple's values today, and I'd like to address this with you directly," Cook said in a letter to employees. "We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don't care is patently false and offensive to us."

Cook went on to say that he is unaware of any manufacturer in Apple's industry that is doing as much as the company is to ensure proper working conditions in its supply chain.

The CEO did not deny that there are problems in the supply chain or more issues could surface in the future, but Cook stressed that Apple would never "turn a blind eye" to them.

Reports of poor working conditions in Apple's supply chain overseas have recurred periodically in the past, including news of explosions in factories where iPads are manufactured.

The company recently joined the Fair Labor Association and performed 229 audits of its factories last year to uncover potential issues, but Apple has not clarified what plans it has to correct any lingering issues.

Cook's reaction to the article's portrait is not surprising. Protecting Apple's image is in the best interest of the CEO, one reason some may not just take his word at face value. Others will likely remain skeptical of what the full truth actually is.

Regardless of whether or not allegations against Apple are true, the article is likely to make the company work even harder to clear up any issues that surface as quickly as it possibly can, and could spur a more open dialogue about the labor practices that help build the mobile devices consumers buy.

Apple Defends Its Working Conditions originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:25 pm.

Wilmington, N.C. launched a test of white space wireless technology, indicating one solution to alleviate spectrum crunch.

The launch marks the country's first commercial deployment of white space spectrum, the unused frequencies between over-the-air television channels left over by the switch to digital television. Data can travel further and past more obstacles in these "Super Wi-Fi" white spaces, which gives it an edge over Wi-Fi, which is short range and has difficulty penetrating obstacles like trees.

The Spectrum Bridge company completed a year-long series of FCC-mandated "comment periods" and partnered with KTS Wireless' white space radio to link access points and cameras from various vendors. Visitors to the popular public park and garden can access the Internet on mobile devices free and view live-streamed broadcasts of the garden's flowers online, while the cameras provide security.

The launch coincides with last month's formation of the California-based WhiteSpace Alliance, or WSA, modeled on the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit, international organization organized in 1999 to promote and set standards for the Wi-Fi industry.

As the need for spectrum, which is a finite resource, continue to climb, several initiatives have included white spaces to boost airwaves.

For example, the Congressional debt "super committee" considered white spaces as part of government-backed spectrum auctions, even though it was unable to generate consensus on anything.

But white spaces use isn't without controversy. Legislators conflict over how to deal with the emerging technology, which companies like Google, Microsoft and others are exploring with FCC permission.

This summer, Microsoft, BT and Sky announced they were testing "white space" spectrum for a broadband mobile network in the U.K. The consortium of companies held trials on a new service that uses white space channels, potentially freeing up the shortage of spectrum affecting the wireless industry.

Unlike regular spectrum, which is regulated by owners, the Federal Communications Commission declared unlicensed spectrum free to use.

The launch and industry support may help boost wider adoption of the technology, as will the promise it holds to change Internet access in the U.S., especially for rural customers. The technology could be used to run connections to white space hotspots to link neighborhoods or whole communities.

If testing confirms the technology doesn't interfere with TV signals or cause other issues, it holds potential to potentially open up the log jam plaguing carriers, as they look for new ways to deliver high-bandwidth services to increasingly data-hungry customers.

Wilmington was chosen as the site of the first commercial network because its early shift from analog to digital TV gave it early access to white spaces. Since 2010, the city's topology and coastal location has provided a suitable testing ground for the technology.

"Super Wi-Fi" May Alleviate Spectrum Crunch originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:13 pm.

House of Representatives members are questioning Google's policy to share user data across its online services, raising concerns of its use of consumer data.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company said the change will make things simpler for consumers by providing better search results and a "more intuitive" experience across all its sites. However, eight lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Cliff Stearns of Florida and Joe Barton of Texas, and Democrats Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Henry Waxman of California, sent a letter raising their concerns to Google CEO Larry Page on Thursday.

"Google's announcement raises questions whether consumers can opt out of the new data sharing system either globally or on a product-by-product basis," said the letter to Google. "We believe that consumers should have the ability to opt out of data collection when they are not comfortable with a company's terms of service and that the ability to exercise that choice should be simple and straightforward."

Google has until February 16 to respond to Congress' concerns, but the company has already reached out to ease any fears of consumers. The software giant said on its Public Policy Blog the changes do not mean it's collecting more data on its customers, and its users will still have an option to do things like turn off search history or "go incognito."

If Google's response does not ease the government's worries about its new privacy policy, lawmakers will likely request the Federal Trade Commission initiate a probe of the changes. Google has faced privacy battles with regulators before, and Congress likely wants to set a precedent when it comes to user information and privacy concerns.

With its broad reach, Google is a relevant target. The software giant has more than 350 million users on its Gmail service, about 90 million on Google+ and more than a billion using the Google search engine. Although the company claims its decision to share data does not weaken its user security, the government will likely investigate the change as much as possible due to the sheer number of people affected.

Google said it felt it was being upfront by announcing the changes to its privacy policy for all its users, but lawmakers still want more answers from the company. If the software giant doesn't deliver, it may be forced to answer to the FTC.

Lawmakers Scrutinize Google Privacy Policy originally appeared at Mobiledia on Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:44 am.