FTC

FTC unanimously approves Google-Admob deal

Apple's entrance into the mobile ads market with iAds is taken into consideration.

The FTC voted 5-0 to approve Google's $750 million purchase of mobile advertising company Admob.  The deal was seen as possibly being harmful to competing mobile platforms like Apple's iPhone.

The FTC first took a look at the deal in November and has been criticized inside and outside of Google (GOOG) for taking too long to reach a decision.

Apple's (AAPL) MORE

Apple buys Google time with Feds

A two-week extension in the government's investigation of the AdMob acquisition

A decision due this week on whether to prevent Google (GOOG) from purchasing the AdMob advertising network has been postponed because of complications created by Apple's (AAPL) aggressive foray into online advertising, according to a report in Wednesday's New York Times.

Google, which derives 99% of its revenue from online ads, announced in November its intention to purchase AdMob, one of MORE

Google-AdMob decision due next week

According to a report from Stifel Nicolaus, the FTC must move to block the Admob-Google merger by next week unless Google agrees to an extension in order to negotiate a settlement.

The Google Admob deal has been sitting in regulatory purgatory since Google wrestled the company away from Apple's clutches last year.  An analyst's report today says the wait might soon be over.

The Google (GOOG) Admob deal is seen as significant MORE

U.S. vs. Apple: Who would win?

Shades of the United States vs. Microsoft, an antitrust case that the government lost

A report in Monday's New York Post that two government agencies -- the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice -- are each considering launching an antitrust investigation against Apple (AAPL) puts me in mind of the case the DOJ and 20 states brought against Microsoft (MSFT) nearly a dozen years ago.

To many observers -- including MORE

Google increases lobbying spending by 57 percent

Google is ramping up its efforts in Washington to influence lawmakers according to a Consumer Watchdog  press release

Google (GOOG) started its 'goodwill mission to Washington' with the following statement in 2003:

"We established a Washington presence because we felt like it was important to give our users a voice in Washington.  Technology can be complicated. We absolutely believe taking the time to help people understand our business is a worthy MORE

Connected: Interview with Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang

In the latest installment of Connected, Fortune Senior Editor-at-Large Adam Lashinsky talks with Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jen-Hsun Huang about his company's strategy for tablets and smartphones, and its ongoing legal battle with Intel (INTC).

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Intel's latest headache: Nvidia

The chip giant settled with AMD. But another rival is making noise about anticompetitive behavior.

You'd think Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang would be happy.

After bumping along as low as $7 a share at the beginning of the year his stock is up near $14. Several months ago Apple (AAPL) began using his graphics chipset – a group of circuits designed to work together – across nearly its entire line of Macs, MORE

Antitrust inquiry: How Apple and Google compete

Given the looming presence of Microsoft (MSFT) on the PC desktop, we tend to think of Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) as corporate best friends united by a common enemy.

But the news Monday night that the U.S. government has opened an inquiry into the two companies' "interlocking directorates" under the Clayton Antitrust Act has prompted a fresh look at the extent to which Apple and Google are, in fact, competitors.

We MORE