Technology Report: Amazon may benefit as digital goods sales jump

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	12/23/2011
Good afternoon Research In Motion, still smarting over having to change the name of its yet-to-come operating system, faces a similar trademark challenge to its popular instant-messaging service BlackBerry Messenger. The service, which allows BlackBerry users to send each other text and multimedia files and see when they are delivered and read, is widely known and even promoted by RIM via the shorthand BBM. That has proven an encumbrance to BBM Canada, which measures radio and television audience data and expects its day in a Federal Court against RIM by February. RIM seems determined to keep using the BBM name and not to pay BBM anything. "We believe that BBM Canada is attempting to obtain trademark protection for the BBM acronym that is well beyond the narrow range of the services it provides and well beyond the scope of rights afforded by Canadian trademark law," it said in an emailed statement. Facebook, Google and Yahoo, and other internet firms, have been ordered by two Indian courts to remove material considered religiously offensive, the latest skirmish in a growing battle over website content in the world's largest democracy. One court in the capital Delhi on Friday issued summons to 19 companies to stand trial for offences relating to distributing obscene material to minors, after being shown images it said were offensive to Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the PTI news agency said. Digital goods are the fastest-growing category online this holiday, led by e-books, suggesting Amazon.com Inc's strategy of blanketing the world with cheap e-readers and tablet computers may be producing some early gains. Sales of digital goods, which also include music and videos, are up about 30 percent this holiday season, compared to the same period last year, according to comScore data. AT&T Inc said late on Thursday that it won regulatory approval to buy wireless spectrum from U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Inc, a move that would boost the company's 4G network. AT&T is buying 700 megahertz (MHz) airwaves for about $1.93 billion, with the aim of countering criticism over iPhone service quality and competitive threats from rivals like Verizon Wireless. The backlash against twenty-four-hour connectivity has started. Carmaker Volkswagen has agreed to deactivate e-mails on German staff Blackberry devices out of office hours to give them a break. Under an agreement with labor representatives, staff at Europe's biggest automaker will receive e-mails via Blackberry from half an hour before they start work until half an hour after they finish, and will be in blackout-mode the rest of the time, a spokesman for VW said. LATEST NEWS Amazon may benefit as digital goods sales jump December 23, 2011 11:32 AM ET (Reuters) - Digital goods are the fastest-growing category online this holiday, led by e-books, suggesting Amazon.com Inc's strategy of blanketing the world with cheap e-readers and tablet computers may be producing some early gains. | Full Article Indian courts challenge Facebook, Google content: report December 23, 2011 12:53 PM ET NEW DELHI (Reuters) - U.S. companies Facebook, Google and Yahoo, and other internet firms, have been ordered by two Indian courts to remove material considered religiously offensive, the latest skirmish in a growing battle over website content in the world's largest democracy. | Full Article AT&T wins regulatory approval to buy Qualcomm spectrum December 23, 2011 08:14 AM ET (Reuters) - AT&T Inc said late on Thursday that it won regulatory approval to buy wireless spectrum from U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Inc, a move that would boost the company's 4G network. | Full Article Intel's smartphone guru angles for smooth landing December 23, 2011 01:10 PM ET SANTA CLARA, California (Reuters) - Mike Bell likens his new job at Intel Corp to piloting a glider. | Full Article Data lifts Wall St again, S&P up on year December 23, 2011 02:27 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 turned positive for the year on Friday as equities rallied again on a run of better-than-expected economic data, though volume continued to be seasonally weak. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Consumer, business spending point to slower growth December 23, 2011 03:45 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer spending was tepid in November and a gauge of business investment fell for a second straight month, suggesting the economy lost some of its recent momentum. | Full Article World economy to trudge on in 2012 despite Europe: poll December 23, 2011 01:37 PM ET LONDON (Reuters) - Europe faces another year of dismal economic performance in 2012 that will weigh on global growth, but emerging markets and the United States should at least keep the world economy moving in the right direction. | Full Article Banks downgrade threat remains despite ECB funds: S&P December 23, 2011 10:07 AM ET FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The half a trillion euros the European Central Bank pumped into the financial system buys hard-hit banks valuable time but will not in itself protect them from threatened rating downgrades, one of Standard and Poor's top executives said. | Full Article Analysis: As euro steadies, fund managers hedge bearish bets December 23, 2011 12:47 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - The European debt crisis roiled markets all year, producing the most volatile trading since the 2008-2009 meltdown. That is, except in one market -- the euro. | Full Article Congress punts hard payroll tax work to 2012 December 23, 2011 02:59 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension on Friday, capping a year of fierce partisan combat over taxes and spending that will resume in January and play heavily in the 2012 elections. | Full Article U.S. TOP NEWS Double car bombing kills 44 in Damascus In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul forecast "race war" Analysis: What's the plan if North Korea collapses? Insight: Trenches and fear divide heart of Syria protest NORAD's Santa tracking set to launch on Christmas Eve RELATED VIDEO UK Christmas tree shines light on pedi-power Sesame Street brings "playful learning" to Xbox Tech can help ease travel burden A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today. 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