News of the Day

Fighting back against Google
Google's dominance in search and search advertising is unquestioned, and the company is moving in directions that are encroaching on the turf of other companies, including video, radio and print advertising, business software and numerous other areas. However, the bold moves are prompting a growing backlash against Google on many fronts, according to this BusinessWeek cover story. BusinessWeek (4/9)

Business & Industry Watch

Verizon expands video service in N.Y.
The suburbs of Port Chester and Tuckahoe in Westchester County are the latest New York communities to be added to Verizon Communications' FiOS service. Verizon has the service up and running in 60 New York communities. Multichannel News (3/29)

Sprint misses out on government telecom deal
The U.S. government left Sprint Nextel out of its $48 billion telecom contract. Sprint has the right to protest the government's decision, but has yet to decide if it will do so. The Washington Post (3/30)

Bush, Clinton see wireless as key to global growth
Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton said telecommunications technologies, and more specifically wireless, could facilitate global unity and help foster global economic growth. eWEEK.com (3/29)

IDT, rivals plan standards for prepaid telephone cards
IDT has settled a fraud suit involving prepaid calling cards it filed earlier this month against Locus Telecommunications and Dollar Phone. The three companies also plan to work together to develop prepaid-card standards relating to disclosures and disclaimers. NJ.com/Associated Press (3/29)

Comcast serves up VoIP to Sacramento area
Comcast has launched its VoIP service in a seven-county region of Sacramento. Comcast will go up against AT&T and SureWest Communications for phone customers. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.) (free registration) (3/30)

Other News

• Indian regulators hold off on Vodafone-Essar decision
  Yahoo!/Agence France-Presse (3/30)

• AT&T officially takes wraps off video-calling service
  Telephony Online (3/29)

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Technology Trends

Broadband users opt for desktop access, survey finds
Of the more than 90 million broadband users in the U.S., 94% gain access to the Internet through a desktop connection, according to a Media-Screen Netpop/Pocket online survey. While 62% of broadband subscribers have an Internet-enabled wireless device, only 5% actually use the device to access the Web. MediaPost Communications (3/30)

Honestech connects broadband users to local TV
Honestech has rolled out MY-IPTV Anywhere, which it said could connect customers to their local television stations from a broadband connection anywhere in the world. The broadcasts can be seen on mobile phones, Windows-based Wi-Fi PDA devices or computers with an Internet connection. CED Magazine (3/2007)

Study: Market for multimedia content grows 22% globally
Wireless providers are turning to premium multimedia services to offset ARPU declines, according to iSuppli. Music, video, gaming and other multimedia services will see a big boost from the mobile industry. cellular-news (U.K.) (3/30)

IP Download

Granada VOD arrives in Japan
Gakken Index inked a deal with Granada International that will enable it to deliver 400 hours of programming via IPTV services in Japan. Gakken also intends to develop Japanese versions of new shows that will be made available on IPTV servers. World Screen News (3/29)

China Netcom adds A/V codec to IPTV network
China Netcom plans to make use of the Audio Video Coding Standard in an additional 20 cities where it is testing IPTV. The telecom also intends to test AVS in a planned TD-SCDMA trial. EE Times (3/29)

Consumer VoIP grows in Dutch countries
The Dutch consumer VoIP market reached nearly 1.8 million subscribers before the close of 2006, with KPN holding a 29.2% share of the market. DSL-based telephony subscriptions are on pace to pass cable-based numbers this year. Telecompaper (The Netherlands) (3/30)

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