Reuters: Technology News

The Irish loophole behind Apple's low tax bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:22:25 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Apple's ability to shelter billions of dollars of income from tax has depended on an unusual loophole in the Irish tax code that helps the country compete with other countries for investment and jobs.

Microsoft unveils Xbox One with Spielberg, Activision tie-up

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:39 GMT

REDMOND, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp unveiled the "Xbox One" on Tuesday, its first new gaming console in eight years, and its strongest push so far to dominate consumers' living rooms with an array of exclusive media content.

Microsoft unveils Xbox One with Spielberg, Activision tie-up

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:22:34 GMT

UK opposition party leader says Google tax behavior 'wrong'

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:10:08 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Google Inc's tax affairs will come under renewed scrutiny in Britain on Wednesday when the leader of the opposition Labor party accuses the Internet company of wrongly going to "extraordinary lengths" to avoid paying tax.

Is Sony un-Japanese enough to entertain change?

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:04:55 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Few foreign activist investors have made much headway in forcing change in Japan, where a conservative corporate culture favors long-standing ties with banks, business partners and workers rather than shareholders seeking value.

PayPal to increase marketing this year for offline push

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:49:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PayPal, the online payment operation owned by eBay Inc, will increase marketing spending to support its push into physical stores, President David Marcus said on Tuesday.

Apple CEO makes no apology for company's tax strategy

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:31:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook made no apology on Tuesday for the iPad maker saving billions of dollars in U.S. taxes through Irish subsidiaries and told lawmakers that his company backs corporate tax reform, even though it may end up paying more.

Ireland rejects blame for Apple's low tax rate

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:10:36 GMT

CORK/DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland said on Tuesday it was not to blame for Apple Inc's low global tax payments and had no special rate deal with the company after the U.S. Senate said it paid little or no tax on tens of billions of dollars in profits stashed in Irish subsidiaries.

Some U.S. utilities say they're under constant cyber attack

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:47:43 GMT

WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Reuters) - Several power utilities say they face a barrage of cyber attacks on their critical systems, a report by two Democratic lawmakers found echoing warnings from the Obama administration that foreign hackers were trying to bring down the U.S. power grid.

Court revives lawsuit vs Electronic Arts over video game image

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:16:23 GMT

(Reuters) - A divided federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit against Electronic Arts Inc by a former Rutgers University star football quarterback, who accused it of using his image in a video game without permission.

Telecom Italia mulls mobile unit spinoff: sources

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:30:58 GMT

MILAN (Reuters) - Telecom Italia is mulling spinning off its mobile unit along with its fixed-line network to bring new investors on board, three people, including a senior political source, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Sony to assess spin-off proposal for entertainment business: Nikkei

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:59:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Sony Corp is considering evaluating a proposal from top shareholder Third Point LLC to spin off part of its movie and music business, Japanese daily Nikkei reported.

Intel CEO shakes up units, creates 'new devices' group

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:19:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp's new chief executive, Brian Krzanich, has launched a sweeping company reorganization and created a unit aimed at growing its market share in mobile technology.

France Tel to invest up to 50 million euro in Dailymotion: report

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:43:25 GMT

PARIS (Reuters) - France Telecom plans to invest between 30 and 50 million euros ($64 million) in its video-sharing website Dailymotion and begin a fresh search for a partner in the autumn, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

Yahoo's rise in Asia offsets risk from Tumblr bet

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:49:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc Chief Executive Marissa Mayer's $1.1 billion acquisition of blogging service Tumblr will be a test of her ability to revive the aging Web portal. Luckily for her, her performance may be graded generously.

Some U.S. power companies say they face constant cyber attacks

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:15:35 GMT

BOSTON (Reuters) - Several U.S. power utilities say they face constant cyber attacks on critical systems, according to a report by two Democratic lawmakers amid warnings from the Obama administration that foreign hackers are seeking to attack the electric grid.

BlackBerry shifting emphasis from smartphones to services

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55:37 GMT

TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry no longer owns the fast-paced, innovative smartphone world but the company, whose email-on-your-hip devices once revolutionized the industry, now aims to run it.

Sprint raises Clearwire offer, not enough for some

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:52:10 GMT

(Reuters) - Sprint Nextel Corp raised its buyout offer for wireless service provider Clearwire Corp to $3.40 per share, but the new bid was not high enough to impress some investors.

IT firm iGate sacks CEO over undisclosed relationship

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:23:14 GMT

MUMBAI/BANGALORE (Reuters) - IT outsourcing company iGate Corp sacked Chief Executive Phaneesh Murthy after a company sexual harassment investigation revealed that he had not disclosed a relationship with a subordinate.

Intel CEO shakes up divisions, creates 'new devices' unit -source

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp new Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich has re-organized key business groups and created a "new devices" unit, according to a source who has seen an internal email, shaking up the world's top chipmaker days after formally assuming control.

Yahoo buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion, vows not to screw it up

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:26:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc will buy blogging service Tumblr for $1.1 billion cash, giving the Internet pioneer a much-needed social media platform to reach a younger generation of users and breathe new life into its ailing brand.

Ericsson closes telecom cable manufacturing facility

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:39:30 GMT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Ericsson announced on Tuesday plans to shut its telecom cable manufacturing facility in Sweden and would take a 500 million Swedish crown ($75 million) charge as a result.

Iranians face new Internet curbs before presidential election

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:27:26 GMT

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranians are struggling with slower Internet speeds and limited access ahead of an unpredictable presidential election that has put hardline Islamist authorities on alert for possible unrest.

Vodafone keeps Verizon payout to make up for European slump

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:10:47 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone will reinvest a $3.2 billion dividend from its healthy U.S. arm to counter weakness in southern Europe that contributed to the largest ever quarterly fall in the group's main revenue measure.

Sprint receives SoftBank waiver to consider Dish offer

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:16:03 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sprint Nextel Corp said its Japanese suitor SoftBank Corp granted it a waiver allowing it to consider a $25.5 billion rival bid by Dish Network Corp, as pressure mounts on SoftBank to sweeten its offer for the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier.