By Jordan Robertson May 11, 2009
If the Obama administration is serious about more aggressively responding to antitrust complaints, some of technology's biggest companies could have to rethink their business strategies or expansion plans. The administration said Monday it has abandoned Bush-era policies that it criticized as too friendly to companies that dominate their markets. The Justice Department didn't call out any companies by name, and its shift in approach will affect all industries. But it raises the stakes for tech heavyweights whose practices have been questioned elsewhere more than in the United States. For instance, Intel Corp. could face a steep fine in Europe this week over its behavior in the microprocessor industry. An IBM Corp. competitor is accusing the company in Europe of manipulating the market for mainframe computers. Microsoft Corp. — a marquee antitrust defendant during the Clinton administration — has been battling other charges in Europe in this decade as well. Tougher antitrust enforcement could also focus on Google Inc., whose leading market shares in online search and advertising markets were already drawing scrutiny in the waning days of the Bush administration.
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Monday, May 11, 2009
Multi-Billion-Dollar EU Fine Possible Against Intel
By Antone Gonsalves May 11, 2009
The European Union this week could levy a multibillion-dollar fine against Intel, capping a nearly decade-long investigation of anti-competitive behavior. The EU is expected to issue one of its heaviest penalties ever against Intel during the weekly commissioners' meeting Wednesday, the Financial Times reported. Lawyers told the newspaper that the fine is likely to top the $1.36 billion levied against Microsoft for its anti-competitive practices. Intel declined comment Monday. "We have had no official notification from any authorities that a decision has been made," a company spokesman said. "So as far as we are concerned this is speculation and we will not comment." The Intel case stems from a complaint filed in 2000 by rival Advanced Micro Devices, which accused the larger Intel of unfairly trying to shut AMD out of the market.
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The European Union this week could levy a multibillion-dollar fine against Intel, capping a nearly decade-long investigation of anti-competitive behavior. The EU is expected to issue one of its heaviest penalties ever against Intel during the weekly commissioners' meeting Wednesday, the Financial Times reported. Lawyers told the newspaper that the fine is likely to top the $1.36 billion levied against Microsoft for its anti-competitive practices. Intel declined comment Monday. "We have had no official notification from any authorities that a decision has been made," a company spokesman said. "So as far as we are concerned this is speculation and we will not comment." The Intel case stems from a complaint filed in 2000 by rival Advanced Micro Devices, which accused the larger Intel of unfairly trying to shut AMD out of the market.
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New Palm Pre phone can be charged without wires
By Ryan Kim, May 11, 2009
While Palm plans a return to relevance in the technology world with its upcoming Palm Pre smart phone, the device is not the only hot-shot product the company is launching in the next month. Palm will be the first major phonemaker to integrate wireless charging into its products with the release of the Touchstone, an accessory charging pad for the Palm Pre. The move is poised to usher in an era of wireless charging and bring attention to a technology that is ready for takeoff. Wireless charging has been with us for years - think of electric toothbrushes that rest on chargers with no wires connecting them. The charging happens through magnetic induction.
An alternating current in a coil embedded in a charging pad generates a magnetic field which induces a voltage in the device's coil, supplying energy to the device's battery.
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While Palm plans a return to relevance in the technology world with its upcoming Palm Pre smart phone, the device is not the only hot-shot product the company is launching in the next month. Palm will be the first major phonemaker to integrate wireless charging into its products with the release of the Touchstone, an accessory charging pad for the Palm Pre. The move is poised to usher in an era of wireless charging and bring attention to a technology that is ready for takeoff. Wireless charging has been with us for years - think of electric toothbrushes that rest on chargers with no wires connecting them. The charging happens through magnetic induction.
An alternating current in a coil embedded in a charging pad generates a magnetic field which induces a voltage in the device's coil, supplying energy to the device's battery.
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Bill Aims to Turn Internet Flamers Into Felons
A little known bill is now causing a firestorm among free speech experts
By Michael Barkoviak - May 11, 2009
An internet bill re-introduced in Congress by Representative Linda Sanchez aims to turn internet flaming and harassment into a felony, with a growing number of Congressman and others becoming familiar with the bill. Specifically, H.R. 1966, originally filed on April 2, will make it a felony if the messages have "the intent is to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person." People using electronic means to harass others face possible fines or jail sentence up to two years, or both. To date, the bill has the support of Sanchez and 14 other members of Congress, with Sanchez continuing to rally support for the bill.
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By Michael Barkoviak - May 11, 2009
An internet bill re-introduced in Congress by Representative Linda Sanchez aims to turn internet flaming and harassment into a felony, with a growing number of Congressman and others becoming familiar with the bill. Specifically, H.R. 1966, originally filed on April 2, will make it a felony if the messages have "the intent is to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person." People using electronic means to harass others face possible fines or jail sentence up to two years, or both. To date, the bill has the support of Sanchez and 14 other members of Congress, with Sanchez continuing to rally support for the bill.
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