Cellphones may take banking to the rural poor in the third world
Mobile devices allow banks in urban areas to provide services like microloans and savings accounts in rural areas, according to a report by Vodafone and Nokia.

Minnesota trial raises broad ethics issues for media
In a civil suit, MediaNews alleges that a former publisher violated noncompete agreements both personally and by hiring others from the paper he left, that he removed those noncompete agreements from the newspaper's files, and that he disseminated compe

Faces of terror suspects: Breaking the rules?
According to the British police, the photos never should have appeared in London newspapers. But critics say the restrictions seem increasingly out of step with global news flows.

From jokes to ring tones, Buongiorno still evolves
What started 12 years ago with jokes has become serious business in the world of providing ring tones, games, information and marketing services for mobile communications.

Apple's iPhone faces uncertain future in Europe, analysts say
Despite a tsunami of hype following the rollout of Apple's iPhone in the United States last week, analysts and market experts say the device will face greater obstacles in the fragmented European mobile phone market.
- Would-be iPhone resellers find few takers

Another consumer product disaster in China: exploding mobile phone batteries
Chinese regulators found Motorola and Nokia mobile phone batteries that were prone to explode under certain conditions.

Media baron criticized for rapprochement with Chávez
Three years ago, Gustavo Cisneros used his television network, Venevision, to help lead the opposition to President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. Today he has become a target of the same opposition he once championed.

EMI investors reject buyout bid
Terra Firma Capital Partners' £2.4 billion offer for EMI Group was rejected by shareholders, indicating that investors are holding out for a higher bid.

Microsoft to spend $1.15 billion for Xbox repairs
Microsoft on Thursday cited "an unacceptable number of repairs" to its Xbox 360 for the charge, and announced an extended warranty for the video game console.

Baidu has formed a partnership with a Chinese-language record label
The partnership with the record label Rock Music Group will provide an online music streaming service.

Europeans worry about Google's takeover of DoubleClick
Europe's major consumer group BEUC says it fears that Google's takeover of the online ad tracker DoubleClick will damage EU privacy rights and limit consumers' choice of Web content.

China says RIM can sell BlackBerries there
The company says it plans to serve corporate customers in key cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.