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Consumer gear getting crushed

The consumer tech sector takes another hit as GPS gadget maker TomTom became the second outfit to warn of a big revenue shortfall. 

The No.2 navigation device maker says slumping demand and an escalating price war caused it to cut its first-quarter and full-year sales forecast. The company says it now expects first-quarter sales to be around $416 million, well below the $540 million range that was expected. For the full MORE

Microsoft hopes mobile update will help shed its all-business image

By Michal Lev-Ram

LAS VEGAS — While Apple's iPhone wants to attract business users, Microsoft is desperately trying to move away from its "all work and no play" image.

On Tuesday the Redmond-based company unveiled an updated version of its mobile operating system that it hopes will make it more attractive to everyday consumers. Among the new "consumer-friendly" features on Windows Mobile 6.1 is easier navigation capabilities, an enhanced Internet Explorer mobile MORE

Big Cable close to a WiMax deal

By Scott Moritz

Cable duo Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) could arrive at a WiMax deal as early as this weekend, according to people close to the discussions.

In the proposed deal, the cable companies would chip in some $1.5 billion toward a nationwide wireless network construction project led through a joint venture between Sprint (S) and Clearwire (CLWR). Comcast MORE

AT&T launching mobile TV service, but who will watch?

By Michal Lev-Ram

America is known as a nation of TV watchers, but viewers have not embraced the small screen as enthusiastically as they have the big one in their living room.

Just 4.6% of U.S. wireless customers have watched TV or videos on their cell phone, according to research firm M:Metrics. Verizon Wireless (VZ) has yet to release subscriber numbers for a mobile TV offering it launched last year, but Paul MORE

Million of households unprepared for digital TV

By Michal Lev-Ram

Couch potatoes, listen up: If you're still using an analog TV, you might find static instead of "American Idol" on your screen come Feb. 18, 2009. That's when the Federal Communications Commission plans to end a half-century of analog broadcasting.

This is the final step in switching to digital television broadcasting, which takes up less bandwidth and allows for high-definition pictures. With the government's auction of the old analog MORE

Wireless spectrum auction comes to a close

By Michal Lev-Ram

After nearly eight weeks and 261 rounds of bidding, the government's spectrum auction finally ended Tuesday.

In January,  the Federal Communications Commission began auctioning off the coveted 700MHz spectrum, which is particularly suited for broadband services and is the last major chunk of nationwide spectrum.  The FCC had hoped to raise at least $10 billion from the auction, but as the last bid came in late Tuesday the total MORE

FCC wireless auction nearing $20 billion

By Michal Lev-Ram

Despite worries that economic uncertainty would hamper bidding, the Federal Communication Commission's wireless spectrum auction has raised nearly $20 billion to date, well over the agency's minimum goal of $10 billion.

Out of five available portions of spectrum, the so-called C block -- whose airwaves are considered particularly suited for broadband Internet because they can travel long distances and penetrate walls -- has raised the most cash. A $4.7 MORE

Microsoft-Yahoo antitrust hearing canceled

By Michal Lev-Ram

Looks like the U.S. House of Representatives may have jumped the gun on Microsoft's bid for Yahoo -- a House committee spokesperson just confirmed its antitrust hearing on the proposed deal, originally slated for Friday morning, has been canceled.

Just hours after Microsoft (MSFT) revealed its $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo (YHOO) last Friday, the House Judiciary Committee, led by John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), announced its MORE

New phone morphs into multiple devices

By Michal Lev-Ram

While most phonemakers are trying to cram more and more features into one must-have device, newcomer Modu is taking a different approach. The Israeli company is launching a tiny, lightweight cell phone (also called Modu, see left) which will fit inside multiple gadgets -- including GPS devices, cameras, and even digital picture frames.

Here's how it works: Modu, a domino-like GSM cell phone 7.8 millimeters thick, has MORE

Motorola's spin on a spinoff

By Michal Lev-Ram

Turns out those rumors swirling around Motorola might be true after all -- or are they?

Late Thursday, Motorola (MOT) issued a press release saying it is "exploring the structural and strategic realignment of its businesses," and that the company's options may include the "separation of mobile devices from its other businesses." (Put it in plain English, Motorola is considering selling its flailing cell phone unit). But statement also MORE