US-TECH Summary
Privately held Facebook sets up dual-class stock
SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook has established a dual-class stock structure to ensure voting control by existing owners, but has no plans to become a public company, it said on Tuesday. "We did introduce a dual class stock structure because existing shareholders wanted to maintain control over voting on certain issues, to help ensure the company can continue to focus on the long term to build a great business," said Larry Yu, a Facebook spokesman. "Facebook has no plans to go public at this time."
Mobile Web surge continues in October: Opera
HELSINKI - Global mobile data traffic continued to surge in October, growing at the fastest pace in seven months, Internet browser company Opera Software <OPERA.OL> said on Wednesday. Data traffic through Opera's mobile browser -- which packages up to 90 percent of the data to save network bandwidth -- rose 16 percent in October from September, the company said.
Google to put ancient Iraq museum collection online
BAGHDAD - Google <GOOG.O> is putting thousands of images of ancient artifacts at Iraq's National Museum online, the Web search leader said on Tuesday, part of a U.S. bid to entice foreign firms to invest in Iraq. What is now modern-day Iraq was once known as Mesopotamia a region considered by many as the "cradle of civilization." The museum houses one of the finest Mesopotamian collections in the world.
Microsoft CFO to leave, look for bigger job
NEW YORK - Microsoft Corp's <MSFT.O> Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell is to leave the company at the end of the year, indicating that he is looking for a bigger job at another company. Liddell, 51, has been CFO at the world's largest software company since May 2005, after joining from paper and packaging maker International Paper Co <IP.N>, where he was also CFO.
Filmed concerts come to iTunes in Live Nation deal
NEW YORK - Apple iTunes on Tuesday began featuring downloads of live concerts by about 20 artists who are promoted by Live Nation. iTunes will have a section featuring the concerts of singers and bands ranging from Jesse McCartney to Ziggy Marley, when the service begins, the companies said in a statement. They expect hundreds of more shows in the coming months. Prices will start at about $7.99.
Twitter eyes acquisitions, sees making money in 2010
TEL AVIV - Micro-blogging site Twitter is interested in making more acquisitions as it continues to grow in popularity, co-founder Biz Stone said on Tuesday. "That is something we are definitely interested in," Stone told a news conference in Tel Aviv. "We made an acquisition last year that turned out to be an outstandingly good decision."
Microsoft, News Corp weigh Web pact: source
NEW YORK - Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> has had talks with News Corp <NWSA.O> about a tie up, which would involve News Corp getting paid to take its news websites off Google Inc <GOOG.O>, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. News Corp, which owns such papers as the Wall Street Journal and the Sun, started the discussions, which were at an early stage, the source said.
"Jail broken" iPhones hacked by new virus
BOSTON - Hackers have built a virus that attacks Apple Inc's <AAPL.O> iPhone by secretly taking control of the devices via their Internet connections, security experts said. The virus has been detected in the Netherlands and can only attack iPhones whose users have disabled some pre-installed security features, according to analysts monitoring the progress of the virus.
EReaders, price war weigh on Barnes, Borders
NEW YORK - Top U.S. booksellers Barnes & Noble Inc <BKS.N> and Borders Group Inc <BGP.N> will pay a price for coming late to market with electronic book readers, analysts said. Barnes & Noble cut its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday on expectations of a tough holiday season and high costs associated with accelerating the production schedule for its Nook electronic reader. The largest bricks-and-mortar U.S. bookseller, reflecting supply chain management issues, said last week it had sold out of its Nook e-readers.
AT&T offers pay by day, week, month data options
NEW YORK - AT&T Inc <T.N> unveiled on Monday an offering that lets customers using its network for Web-surfing on laptop computers or netbooks avoid the obligation to sign a two-year contract with the operator. Instead of having to commit to paying $60 a month for two years, customers will be able to pay by the day, by the week or by the month, AT&T said.