August 2012

Samsung shipped about 50 million smartphones last quarter — about double the number Apple sold and, according to IDC, the largest number of units ever shipped by a handset vendor in a single quarter. But does it matter? No. Because when you look at the broader mobile industry, Apple — thanks to the higher gross margins of the iPhone and iPad — far outshines its rivals in both revenue and operating profits. Though it shipped only about 6 percent of the industry’s smartphones and tablets in the second quarter, Apple captured about 43 percent of the industry’s revenue, according to Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt. And it generated an astonishing 77 percent of the industry’s operating profits. This, even in a seasonally weak period for iPhone sales.

City, county, state and federal governments nationwide are increasingly embracing social media — everything from the standbys of Facebook and Twitter to the emerging technologies of Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and others.

Social media provide municipalities and government officials a quick, easy way to engage and interact with a wide swath of constituents, according to the International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C. "The utility," says Evelina Moulder, the association's director of survey research, "is to get actionable information out quickly." The U.S. Conference of Mayors, based in Washington, says social media allow government leaders to communicate more quickly and effectively with constituents than traditional channels allow.

Senate Republicans recently blocked cybersecurity legislation, but the issue might not be dead after all. The White House hasn't ruled out issuing an executive order to strengthen the nation's defenses against cyberattacks if Congress refuses to act.

“In the wake of Congressional inaction and Republican stall tactics, unfortunately, we will continue to be hamstrung by outdated and inadequate statutory authorities that the legislation would have fixed," White House press secretary Jay Carney said. "Moving forward, the President is determined to do absolutely everything we can to better protect our nation against today’s cyber threats and we will do that," Carney said. The White House has emphasized that better protecting vital computer systems is a top priority.

Verizon Wireless may need to agree to tough conditions to win approval for its deals to buy spectrum from cable companies and market each other’s products, according to three sources knowledgeable about the negotiations.

Negotiations with the Justice Department's Antitrust Division have been bruising, focusing on plans by Verizon Wireless and Comcast, the biggest mobile carrier and the biggest cable company, respectively, to market each other's products. There has also been concern about a plan for a joint venture to develop new technologies, such as one to allow consumers to move seamlessly between wired and wireless hookups. Critics say it could create cutting-edge products only available to the consortium. The path that the talks are on would lead to a consent decree that would forbid the cross marketing agreement where Verizon markets its FiOS product, according to the three sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record. Cross marketing in the rest of Verizon's footprint and the joint research and development project would be allowed but only for a limited period of time, the sources said.