Mark Berniker

Consumer electronics companies Sharp Corp. and Texas Instruments say they are teaming up to accelerate the reference design for camera phones that work on GSM/GPRS-based networks. The move comes amid a market for camera phones that is proving bigger than originally expected. IDC recently said year-over-year growth in the camera phone market over the next […]

Enterprise software company SAP AG and Japanese electronics giant Sharp have teamed up in order to build applications that deliver real-time data across corporate networks to smaller mobile devices. The applications will be designed using open source operating system Linux and Java-based programming protocols, in an expansion of the companies’ support for non-Windows-based software and […]

Linux creator Linux Torvalds is bringing his top lieutenant, Andrew Morton, onboard with him at Open Source Development Labs (OSDL). Under an agreement between OSDL and Digeo, where Morton serves as principle engineer and senior architect of the firm’s Linux efforts, OSDL will support Morton’s role as maintainer of the stable Linux kernel while he […]

Microsoft Tuesday released new testing kits based on its Windows Server 2003 platform but targeted more at small businesses than mega corporations. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant says its Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 Release Candidate will let companies of about 100 employees or less provide security, while setting up software mechanisms for organizing […]

Sprint PCS has closed licensing agreements with two leading record labels in a deal that will offer mobile subscribers a few notes from their favorite songs as personal ring tones. The long distance and wireless carrier is also looking to go beyond ring tones by rolling out a music subscription service, which would enable subscribers […]

Instead of hanging up or slinging visceral insults at telemarketers, consumers now have a way out from the deluge of dinner-time calls pawning everything from lower mortgage rates to credit card offers. The Bush Administration, in association with the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, announced on Friday of the launch of DONOTCALL.GOV, […]

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday said it has concluded an action against UrbanQ, a New York-based Internet retailer, that forces it to pay $600,000 that it promised consumers but apparently did not deliver. The FTC said “UrbanQ and its principals told consumers who bought items from their Web site that they would receive the […]

Stamps.com has filed a lawsuit against PayPal and eBay for it says not living up to the legal obligations it has under an existing deal to sell postage stamps online. Stamps.com says that eBay interfered with a deal it had with PayPal, and it went onto say in court papers that PayPal, failed to assist […]

Although wireless Internet access via Wi-Fi is growing in popularity, AT&T Wireless is taking a slightly different approach with Dell Computer to offer wireless Web access via GSM/GPRS cellular networks. The Dell-AT&T Wireless offering, which is targeted at business customers, touts the use of cellular networks for wireless Internet access as a better way than […]

Amazon.com and Intuit Inc. are rolling out a new online boutique for QuickBooks-related apps. The two companies said they are looking to spur small businesses to consider QuickBooks Software Add-ons and to get involved with the Intuit Developer Network. The Amazon-style storefront will be selling a variety of different small business applications that will seamless […]

There should be no question that SBC Communications plans on targeting small businesses with low-priced, “all-you-can-eat” plans. The San Antonio, Texas-based telecommunications giant Friday said it’s offering a new unlimited local and long distance calling bundle for small businesses in California, which number in excess of one million. The new service bundle is called “Business […]

The National Association of Securities Dealers has decided it’s time to make certain that regulations are in place requiring financial services firms to save and store instant messaging conversations. The group, a non-profit self-regulatory agency funded by the securities industry, on Thursday issued a Notice to Members indicating that brokers and traders need to begin […]