US-TECH Summary

Microsoft CEO sees Yahoo partnership outside U.S.

TOKYO - Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Thursday the company's search engine partnership with Yahoo <YHOO.O> would not be limited to the U.S. but would be introduced around the world, once it gets regulatory approval. Earlier this year Microsoft and Yahoo signed a 10-year global Web search partnership to challenge Google Inc <GOOG.O>, a pact that U.S. and European antitrust regulators are evaluating.

Beatles remasters heading to USB

LONDON - The Beatles remasters are coming out on a limited-edition apple-shaped USB drive in time for Christmas, marking the first time the Fab Four's catalog has officially been sold as digital files separate from the CDs. The USB version of all the albums will be released on December 7 in the U.K. and December 8 in North America. The USB is available for pre-order at the online Beatles store, priced at $279.99.

Walmart.com offers top 10 pre-order DVD movie titles at $10

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> is offering its top 10 pre-order DVD movie titles at just $10 and free home delivery on its entire assortment of DVD and Blu-ray titles in another move to win holiday sales. Walmart.com said on Thursday the offer includes popular movie titles such as "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" and "Julie and Julia".

Best Buy to install Google mobile applications

NEW YORK - Best Buy <BBY.N> is offering to install Google <GOOG.O> mobile applications on smartphones sold at its stores as the electronics retailer steps up services to lure shoppers and tackle competition. As part of the deal, associates at the mobile retail unit of Best Buy will install "Google Mobile App" on all compatible smartphones through the "Walk Out Working" program, which is a free in-store smartphone setup.

Microsoft cuts 800 jobs, completes layoff plan

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> said on Wednesday it is cutting a further 800 jobs across its operations, on top of 5,000 jobs already eliminated under a plan to reduce costs that was announced in January. A spokesman for the world's largest software firm said the latest job cuts are spread across the company's global operations, but about 200 are in and around its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Ericsson sees Nortel deal closing "very soon"

HELSINKI - Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson <ERICb.ST> expects to close its acquisition of key assets of bankrupt Nortel Networks Corp <NRTLQ.PK> very soon, a senior company executive said on Thursday. "We don't expect to see any hiccups. I think it will be closed very soon," chief technology office Hakan Eriksson told Reuters.

Rockers No Doubt sue Activision over "Band Hero"

LOS ANGELES - Rock band No Doubt sued video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc <ATVI.O> over the use of their likeness on its new "Band Hero" product, accusing the company of turning the rockers into a virtual karaoke act. No Doubt and Activision had a contract allowing the company to use the band members in the game, but Activision, which is based in Santa Monica, California, went beyond the agreement by allowing gamers to use avatars of the band performing songs from other rock groups, the lawsuit states.

Intel hit by NY antitrust suit, kickbacks alleged

NEW YORK - Intel Corp was sued by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who accused the world's largest chipmaker of threatening computer makers and paying billions of dollars in kickbacks to maintain its market dominance. The lawsuit accuses Intel <INTC.O> of violating state and federal antitrust law through a "systematic worldwide campaign" of bullying and coercion to monopolize the market for personal computer chips, at the expense of rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc <AMD.N>.

Playfish sees social games as industry driver

LONDON - The video games sector has yet to gain from a downturn where consumers stay home to play, but social games creator Playfish says the industry is just beginning a new growth spurt. The company that invented Pet Society, Restaurant City and Who Has The Biggest Brain? -- games played by tens of millions on sites such as Facebook and MySpace -- believes the $50 billion industry has many more converts to win.

Microsoft to set up cloud research center in Taiwan

TAIPEI - Microsoft Corp.<MSFT.O> and Taiwan's economics ministry said they plan to set up a research center on the island by next year, in the software company's first Asian foray into the budding cloud computing industry. Cloud computing -- the hosting and storage of services and data on remote centralized computers, is expected to cut costs and has quickly become the sector's buzzword. Many of the world's largest technology companies have jumped on the bandwagon.