Deutsche Telekom outlook weighs on European phone sector
Investors fled European telecommunications shares Wednesday after Deutsche Telekom's update on its German fixed-line division - intended to reassure investors - was perceived as a profit warning.

U.S. auction raises record amount for new wireless networks
The U.S. government has closed the most lucrative government auction in history, with wireless companies bidding more than $19 billion for the rights to radio spectrum licenses.

Facebook creating new privacy controls
Executives said the changes would allow the social-networking site's users to control what is seen by their friends, and friends of their friends.

Intel and Microsoft finance effort on new computing systems
Research could enable development of new kinds of portable computers and help computer engineers tackle areas as diverse as speech recognition, image processing, health care systems and music.

Taking sound to a new level
It may be surprising to hear, but experts are already working on the next generation of audio.

Vodafone prepares for a new age
A decision by Vodafone to revamp its British work force to sell mobile broadband more aggressively shows the elusive holy grail of the wireless industry is finally coming into reach.

Bertelsmann exploring the sale of its book and music clubs
Net income at Bertelsmann fell more than 80 percent in 2007 to €405 million, or $640.4 million, largely on write-downs at the U.S. division of its Direct Group book business.

EU taking lead in broadband growth
The rate of subscriptions in European countries is higher than those of the United States and Japan.

Google loses another bid for a European trademark for its Gmail service
The Gmail name is too similar to German trademark, according to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market.
- Google sees rise in mobile Web activity

'Sex and the City: The Movie' and its brand name appeal
Skyy Spirits and Mercedes-Benz are among eight marketers - big, small and in between - that have agreed to be promotional partners for the New Line Cinema release, due out in the United States on May 30.

Yahoo says revenue outlook justifies higher bid from Microsoft
Yahoo said Tuesday that it expected revenue to increase at least 19 percent in each of the next two years. Shares of Yahoo had their biggest gain since Microsoft announced its $31-a-share bid on Feb. 1.

BSkyB wins right to broadcast most Champions League soccer games
BSkyB, which has broadcast Champions League games since 2003, is extending its bet on the richest soccer club competition in Europe.

Starbucks stumbles in music
Critics say that the music industry's ardor for Starbucks' support for the business has waned as the coffee chain has broadened the appeal of the CDs it is selling in its stores.

Deutsche Telekom agrees to buy 20 percent stake in Hellenic Telecom
The German company took a step Monday toward gaining control of the former state-owned Greek telecommunications firm.

As Wikipedia grows, scrutiny intensifies
Since Jimmy Wales helped create Wikipedia in 2001, the online encyclopedia has become one of the top 10 most visited Web sites. But with that success, questions have been raised about his spending and his relationship with a venture capitalist.

Siemens shocks investors with profit warning
The German engineering giant, which has been trying to put a huge corruption scandal behind it, disclosed that delays and canceled orders in its far-flung operations would cut its earnings by €900 million, or $1.4 billion.

Online 'casual' games for kids offer media firms new programming options
One of the big lures in casual games is the opportunity to attract advertising, including advertising from food companies that have gradually agreed to limit the nature and volume of television advertisements for children.