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AP Technology NewsBrief at 3:08 p.m. EST
[January 22, 2013]

AP Technology NewsBrief at 3:08 p.m. EST


(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Reports: Microsoft may invest in Dell buyoutNEW YORK (AP) _ Microsoft has joined the negotiations to buy struggling computer maker Dell, according to media reports. Both CNBC and The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft Corp. may invest some of the money needed to take Dell Inc. private after 25 years as a publicly traded company. Tuesday's stories cited unidentified people familiar with the negotiations.



Pentagon researches new life for dead satellitesLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Call it space grave robbery for a cause: Imagine scavenging defunct communication satellites for their valuable parts and recycling them to build brand new ones for cheap. It's the latest pet project from the Pentagon's research wing known for its quirky and sometimes out-there ideas. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is spending $180 million to test technologies that could make this possible.

Verizon posts record 4Q loss on pension adjustmentNEW YORK (AP) _ Verizon strengthened its position as the top dog of the wireless industry in its latest quarter by raking in new subscribers and selling millions of iPhones, but also posted a record loss. The loss of $4.23 billion, or $1.48 per share, for the fourth quarter was mainly due to adjustments to the value of its pension funds and obligations, an annual routine for Verizon Communications Inc.


AT&T to buy Alltel operations for about $780MDALLAS (AP) _ AT&T said Tuesday that it has reached a deal to buy the Alltel U.S. wireless operations for about $780 million to boost its spectrum in rural areas. The Dallas telecommunications company is buying the licenses, retail stores and network assets, along with about 585,000 subscribers, from Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. The news sent the Beverly, Mass.-based company's shares up 9 percent to $42.74 in premarket trading.

Ahead of the bell: Google's 4Q to give ad insightsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Google's fourth-quarter earnings report should provide a barometer on how much more advertising shifted to the Internet during the holiday shopping season. The results, due out after the stock market closes Tuesday, will also give investors a better sense on how the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers is affecting the prices in the digital advertising market.

Atari US files for Ch. 11 to separate from parentNEW YORK (AP) _ Video game maker Atari's U.S. operations have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to separate from their French parent company, which is filing a similar motion separately in France. In a statement, Atari says the move is necessary to secure investments it needs to grow in mobile and downloadable video games.

Brazil police inspector removed from postRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) _ A Rio de Janiero police inspector has been removed for making disparaging remarks about female officers on his Twitter account. Inspector Pedro Paulo Pontes Pinho tweets that he has "14 women under my command and only one has the talent, courage and determination needed for police work." Kim Dotcom's Mega site struggles under mega demandSYDNEY (AP) _ Indicted Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom admits his new file-sharing site is struggling to keep up with massive demand. Dotcom launched the "Mega" site with a lavish party on Sunday, the anniversary of his arrest on racketeering charges related to his now-shuttered Megaupload. Dotcom says 500,000 users registered for Mega within 14 hours.

Telefonica: 'No involvement' with Cuba cableHAVANA (AP) _ Spanish telecom Telefonica denied Tuesday that it has anything to do with an undersea fiber-optic cable between Cuba and Venezuela, even as an analyst who monitors global data traffic noted an additional uptick in data speed to and from the island _ suggesting the cable is in full operation. In a brief statement to The Associated Press, Telefonica SA acknowledged that it provides service to Cuba's state-run phone company, ETECSA, but disavowed any connection to the ALBA-1 cable, which was completed in February 2011.

China's Huawei criticizes US security complaintsBEIJING (AP) _ Chinese tech giant Huawei on Monday criticized U.S. claims the company might be a security risk as trade protectionism that harms consumers. The comments came as Huawei Technologies Ltd., a maker of network switching gear and smartphones, disclosed details of its 2012 performance in an effort to show transparency and allay security concerns.

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