01/06/11| Technology News and Gadgets Updates

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Microsoft developing Windows for phone chips

Microsoft Corp. confirmed Wednesday that it is developing a version of its main Windows operating system that will run on cell phone chips, providing an alternative for the first time in many years to the chips based on Intel technology.

The new version could take advantage of the power savings provided by cell phone chips, and give Microsoft a better chance of gaining a foothold in the emerging world of tablet computers. Apple Inc.'s hit iPad tablet runs on a cell phone-type chip, which is part of the reason it can last 10 hours on one charge.

Steve Sinofsky, president of the Windows division, demonstrated at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas prototype computers running Windows on chips designed by ARM Holdings, a British company whose technology goes into practically all cell phone chips.

Sinofsky didn't say when the new version of Windows would be available, but intimated that it might be one or a few years away.

ARM provides the core blueprints for the chips, but doesn't make chips itself. The chips used in Wednesday's demonstration were made by Qualcomm Corp., Texas Instruments Inc. and Nvidia Corp.

A key drawback to moving to another ``processor architecture'' is that programs created for the current version of Windows won't work on the new chips. Peripherals like printers won't work either, without new software aides, or ``drivers.''

``Under the hood, there's a ton of issues to work out,'' Sinofsky said. He demonstrated versions of Microsoft Word , PowerPoint, Internet Explorer and Media Player running under ARM, but didn't say how third-party developers would deal with the switch. Apple navigated a switch of processor architecture in the last decade, but Microsoft's task is far larger, since it works with far more partners, both on the hardware and software sides.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported on Microsoft's development of an ARM-based Windows version.

Microsoft already makes software called ``Windows'' for cell phones, but it has little in common with the software that runs on computers, and doesn't run the same programs.

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RIM announces 4G tablet, touts corporate interest

Corporate interest in Research in Motion's new tablet was "massive," the company said, as it announced plans to launch a 4G version of the device this summer with Sprint Nextel.

RIM for the first time on Wednesday provided a hands-on demonstration of the PlayBook, a seven-inch touchscreen tablet that will go head-to-head with Apple's iPad when the Wi-Fi-only version ships, likely in March.

"In large companies, they're talking deployment in the tens of thousands, right off the bat," said Jeff McDowell , senior vice president of enterprise and platform marketing for RIM.

He said corporations are viewing the PlayBook as a tool as essential to employees as a phone or a PC. "It's not something that they want to trickle in."

RIM's tablet is perhaps the most anticipated iPad rival in a sea of new competitors bent on challenging Apple and stealing a piece of a fast-growing market expected to top 50 million units next year.

McDowell said RIM decided to go with Sprint for its first high-speed wireless compatible tablet because it has most "ubiquitous 4G network at this point."

The choice of No. 3 U.S. mobile service Sprint as RIM's first carrier was an interesting one given that Sprint uses a high-speed wireless technology that is incompatible with networks being built by the top two U.S. mobile operators.

The PlayBook -- which sports a fast dual-core processor -- performed smoothly as it went through its paces, loading websites and applications quickly and playing Flash-based videos on the Internet with ease.

The PlayBook weighs less than one pound (400 grams) and is less than 10 millimeters thick, with a thin rubber coating.

Its software allows for multi-tasking and features a rotating "carousel" that shows all the programs that the device is running. A simple finger swipe up brings up the home screen, while a swipe out closes programs.

There has been plenty of debate in recent weeks about the PlayBook's battery life, a key point of competition in the tablet market. The 10-inch iPad boasts more than 10 hours of battery life.

McDowell said the PlayBook's battery will last as long or longer than other 7-inch tablets, although he declined to be more specific.

He said concerns about Flash programs draining battery life were "absurd generalizations." Apple has derided Flash as a battery hogging technology, and the iPad does not support the widely-used multimedia software.

TABLET WARS BEGIN

RIM is betting that its reputation for security and reliability will make the PlayBook a favorite in corporate IT departments.

But Apple CEO Steve Jobs has singled out the PlayBook for criticism, saying that seven-inch tablets will be "dead on arrival" when they hit the market.

McDowell said the PlayBook will launch with a library featuring "thousands" of apps available for download. When asked, he said RIM is looking at different screen sizes for the PlayBook, but declined to comment further.

The company has previously said it would sell the PlayBook for "under $500" but has not yet provided a specific price tag. The iPad starts at $499.

Analysts, on average, forecast RIM will sell fewer than 4 million PlayBooks in the 12 months after its launch.

Apple has sold more than 7 million iPads since launching the device in April and analysts predict that the company sold as many as 6 million in the December quarter.

RIM has plenty riding on the PlayBook. Once a darling of Wall Street, the company is having a hard time convincing investors that it is well-positioned to combat Apple and Google in the booming market for smartphones and tablets.

Shares in RIM spiked sharply in heavy volume in the last hour of Nasdaq trade to end the session 4.8 percent higher at $61.92. RIM's Toronto Stock Exchange-listed shares closed 4.4 percent higher at C$61.70.

TRANSPARENT CEMENT LETS IN LIGHT

Not many people would use the word "transparent" to describe cement. But transparent cement made its debut at the Italian Pavilion during the World Expo last year in Shanghai, and its qualities are pretty remarkable.

The complete process has not been revealed by manufacturer Italcementi, but the technology is based on a matrix of cement embedded with resins that are designed to allow a certain amount of light through without compromising the material's integrity.

The i.light material is cheaper than using optical wires embedded in the cement, which is what other builders of “transparent cement” have used. Moreover, the resins can let more light through than fiber optic wires and they mesh easily with the cement mixture surrounding them.

During the day and when viewed upon head on, the Italian pavilion appeared similar a normal cement building. But from the inside, at night or when viewed at an angle, the building takes on an ethereal quality not characteristic of concrete. Though i.light has so far only been demonstrated in this building, its relatively low cost and potential for energy saving points towards a promising commercial future.

Among all the other eco-friendly green building options presented in Shanghai (see this New York Times article for more), see-through cement -- from the right angle -- stands out.

Intel launches new range of processors

Global chip maker Intel today announced the launch of a new range of processors that deliver high quality audio-video capabilities, along with faster computing speeds.

Leading vendors like HCL, Wipro , HP , Toshiba and Dell are expected to launch over 500 models of devices with the new chips in the coming months.

"We have already started shipping the new processors to all leading OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and the machines should be available in the market soon," Intel South Asia Managing Director (Sales and Marketing Group) R Sivakumar told reporters here.

Asked about the price, Sivakumar said, "Initially, we expect the devices with the new chipsets to be available at a premium of about 20 per cent than the older versions."

But as these new chips become the mainstay, prices will go down, he added.

While HCL will unveils its range by end of this month, Dell will launch devices based on the new processors by April.

The new processors, including the new Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 processors, promise graphics features built right into the chips, which includes Intel Quick Sync Video, HD Graphics and Wireless Display 2.0.

With this, users like gamers and animation artists need to install additional video cards for improving graphics quality on their PCs. The integration of the graphics card will also make the devices, especially notebooks, sleeker and thinner.

"Today, the consumption patterns clearly indicate a shift towards heavy access to online audio and video content. The new range of products will address this growing need," HCL Infosystems Executive Vice President George Paul said.

Besides, the products based on the new family of processors will also receive a significant boost in battery life, he said.

AT&T to cut price of older iPhone in half

AT&T Inc will cut the price of an older iPhone model, the 3GS, to $49 from $99 ahead of the widely expected loss of its exclusive U.S. rights to sell Apple Inc smartphones.

AT&T, the No. 2 U.S. mobile provider, said the price cut would kick in on January 7 for the iPhone 3GS, which first hit stores in the summer of 2009. It said that in Apple stores the 3GS price would be determined by Apple itself.

Bigger rival Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, is expected to start selling a version of iPhone early this year.

The price-cut news follows AT&T's announcement at the Consumer Electronics show on Wednesday that it is planning to sell 20 new high-speed wireless smartphones this year to lessen its dependence on Apple.

Verizon executives are expected to announce product plans at CES later on Thursday.

CES - Motorola unveils tablet, several Google phones

Motorola Mobility unveiled a tablet computer and smartphone for Verizon Wireless's high-speed network and another two advanced phones, all based on Google Inc's Android software.

The company unveiled its new products to a packed room at the Consumer Electronics Show, in the company's biggest technology launch in the last several years.

However, the phone maker may have disappointed some attendees when Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said the Xoom tablet would not be ready for hands-on demonstrations at the show.

He also noted that the first version of the device, which launches in the first quarter, would support only Verizon's older, third-generation wireless network. It will be upgradeable to its fourth-generation service in the second quarter.

Verizon Wireless is a unit of Verizon and Vodafone.

Google planning digital news stand

Google Inc has approached several magazine publishers about creating a digital news stand, in a move that could open a new front in the Internet company's rivalry with Apple Inc, according to a news report.

The digital news stand would provide a way for media companies to sell versions of their publications designed for tablet PCs and smartphones based on Google's Android operating system, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources.

Google has discussed the venture with publishers including Time Warner Inc's Time Inc unit, Conde Nast and Hearst Corp, and has told some publishers it would take a smaller cut of revenue than the 30 per cent that Apple typically takes from iTunes sales, the report said.

Google has also offered to provide publishers with certain personal data of customers who purchase the digital versions of their publications.

The report said that Apple is also planning several changes with its iTunes online store, including making it easier for publishers to sell subscriptions -- in addition to single issue sales -- as well as the possibility of sharing more customer information with publishers.

Representatives of Google and Apple were not immediately available for comment.

The report said that the timing of Google's digital news stand remains vague and that it's possible the venture might not materialise at all.

Last month, Google, the world's No.1 Internet search engine, began selling digital books through an online store, entering a market dominated by Amazon.com Inc, and intensifying its competition with Apple, which also sells electronic books for its iPad tablet.

LinkedIn plans to go public in 2011 - sources

LinkedIn, the social networking site for professionals, plans to go public in 2011 and has selected its financial underwriters, three sources familiar with the process told Reuters.

Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and JPMorgan are among the book runners, these sources said. Bankers made their pitches to the privately-held company in November, one of the sources said.

"An IPO is just one of many tactics that we could consider," a spokesman for LinkedIn said on Wednesday. He declined further comment.

Internet companies such as LinkedIn and Zynga, a popular maker of online social games, are considering offerings well ahead of a potential IPO of Facebook, two sources said.

"Some of these companies want to go public because they want to beat Facebook and others out," said one of the sources. "If Facebook went public before Linkedin, do you think anyone would pay that much attention to Linkedin?" You might want to surpass the beast."

Zynga couldn't be reached immediately for comment.

Facebook is not expected to file for a public offering until late 2012, Facebook board member Peter Thiel told Reuters in September.

But that could change. Regulators are scrutinizing a $500 million investment and a commitment to raise at least $1 billion more in Facebook this week by Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies, one of the sources said.

The SEC is reviewing whether the number of shareholders in Facebook has exceeded a 499 limit in order to remain private. If the SEC decided Facebook has moved past the threshold, it could accelerate Facebook's timeline for an offering, the source said.

Facebook and Goldman have declined to comment.

The people familiar with the process said LinkedIn is hoping to attract investors on its reputation as one of the Web's fastest growing social network sites.

The site claims more than 85 million members.

The filing of LinkedIn's S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which contains the basic financial information of an issuer, could take months, said one of the sources.

"There are lots of things that are worked on that they could put on hold; they miss numbers; they want to grow a little more," another of the sources said.

Linkedin, which does not disclose financial results, makes money from advertising and premium services. The valuation of a Linkedin IPO was not given by the sources.

Sales of its stock on online secondary market exchange SharesPost gives LinkedIn an implied valuation of around $2.2 billion.

In an interview with Reuters in September, Chief Executive Jeff Weiner said the company has had discussions with bankers, but wouldn't "characterize it as being specific about discussing IPOs." He said that such conversations have occurred since he joined the company as interim president in early 2009.

LinkedIn's investors include Sequoia Capital -- the venture capital firm that has backed Yahoo, Google, Apple Cisco Systems and Oracle -- Greylock Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners and Goldman Sachs.

Google tech-head, Bluetooth inventor to address Mumbai students

Google's Chief Technology Advocate Michael Jones , Bluetooth inventor Jaap Haartsen , and constructor of the world's tallest building William Baker will address thousands of students at the 'Techfest' organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay starting Friday.

While Jones will speak about how Google developed Google Earth and Google Maps , Haartsen will talk about development of Bluetooth. A whopping 75,000 students are expected to participate in several events spanned over a period of three days starting Friday.

Exhibitions like the Leonardo Da Vinci Robotics, Tech Connect and Open Vibe will be organised to showcase indigenous research activities at IIT-Bombay.

"Genius that he was, Da Vinci had constructed mechanical flying birds during his last years. Reconstruction of two of his works will be exhibited for the first time at 'Techfest' by Niccolai-Techno Art Research Group from France," said Gajendra Dhaka, a student organiser.

Several competitions like Full Throttle - modelled on the lines of rally racing, and Robowars, the inter-college combat robotics, promise to keep the thrill of students alive and kicking.

Windows to Get New Chips

Microsoft Corp., feeling the heat from Apple Inc.'s iPad and other devices, demonstrated the next version of its Windows operating system and showed how it is being adapted to run on new forms of mobile gadgets.

The demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show here amounted to an early signal from the Redmond, Wash., company that it is doing more to make its flagship Windows operating system better suited to new devices like tablets.
Microsoft executives showed Windows running on processors designed by ARM Holdings PLC, a company whose chip designs are common in everything from mobile phones to the iPad to television set-top boxes.
Microsoft gave the demonstration hours before its chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer, was scheduled to kick off CES with a keynote speech focusing on the company's progress in consumer markets with products including its Kinect hands-free game controller.
ARM chips, manufactured by companies including Nvidia Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc., consume less power than traditional PC microprocessors, and they're essential for battery-powered devices including tablets. Microsoft also said the next version of Windows will run on new miniature chip designs from traditional PC chip makers Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
Bob O'Donnell, an analyst at the research firm IDC, said Microsoft is in danger of falling too far behind competitors and "is trying to stem this concern that they're not relevant in the tablet computer market."
By some analysts' estimates, Apple sold as many as 14 million iPads last year. New tablets running Google Inc.'s Android software, such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab, are also starting to hit the market in sizable numbers, including a wave of new devices being shown at this week's CES. Some analysts predict that world-wide sales of tablets could jump to as many as 50 million units in 2011.
Microsoft is also being pressured to respond more aggressively to tablets because of early signs from retailers and PC companies that tablets are eating into traditional PC sales, especially low-end laptop computers known as netbooks.

But Microsoft's CES demonstration left many questions about the company's strategy unanswered. Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division, made it clear that the software running on ARM processors didn't include the user interface people will see on the next version of Windows.
Analysts said Microsoft needs to do much more to make the Windows interface better suited to touch-screen devices such as tablets. The current version of the operating system, Windows 7, remains too dependent on traditional PC accessories including keyboards and mice to work well on tablets, analysts said.
Microsoft also didn't show the new ARM-version of Windows running on finished hardware during its demonstration. It said applications that run on current versions of Windows, based on the traditional x86 PC chip design, won't run on the ARM-based versions of Windows.
Mr. Sinofsky declined to say when the new version of Windows will be available. He reiterated that there is a two- to three-year development cycle on which the company has said it plans to release new operating-system installments. The current version of the software, Windows 7, came out in October 2009, which suggests a new version could be released late this year or next year.
"I don't think it's that long away," Mr. Sinofsky said of the next version of Windows.
At CES, Microsoft also showed a new version of Surface, a large touch-screen device intended to provide Internet access and other services in hotel lobbies, banks and other public places. The original version of Surface was the size of a big coffee table, while the new version is only four-inches thick thanks to new miniature components.

Chips Makers Target Everything But Kitchen Sink

Chip makers, already competing to get their products into computers and cellphones, are preparing for a wider battle as more devices connect to the Internet.
The stakes were underscored Wednesday by chip giant Qualcomm Inc., which confirmed it will spend $3.1 billion to buy Atheros Communications Inc., a fast-growing Silicon Valley company that specializing in making chips used in wireless devices.
Qualcomm's move comes as many companies at the giant Consumer Electronics Show here discussed plans to add processing power, networking and wireless Internet connections to devices including TVs, DVD players, TV set-top boxes and other consumer gadgets.
A key goal, said Qualcomm Chief Executive Paul Jacobs, is to allow many home devices to be controlled by smartphones or other mobile devices, which can act as a kind of universal remote control for many gadgets consumer use.
"All sorts of stuff is going to get connected," Mr. Jacobs said in an interview Wednesday. "It's probably the theme of the next five to 10 years in the industry."
Qualcomm's purchase of Atheros, its largest acquisition ever, fills major holes in its communication chip offerings. The San Diego-based company is now mainly known for chips that power cellphones and licensing such technology to handset makers.
Atheros, based in San Jose, Calif., is one of the most successful makers of chips that add Wi-Fi connections to laptop PCs and other products.
But it has added other communications technologies over the years, including the short-range technology called Bluetooth and another that sends data over power lines. Atheros also has a strong position in tablet computers, a market Qualcomm has been moving into.
Other chip makers discussing plans in the field at CES include Intel Corp., Broadcom Corp. and Mips Technologies Inc., Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and ARM Holdings PLC.
Intel's main attraction was a new line of PC chips. But CEO Paul Otellini also stressed that the company is adapting chips for cars, TVs, and other consumer electronics devices.
This past summer, for instance, Intel agreed to pay about $1.4 billion to buy a portion of chip-maker Infineon Technologies AG to gain technology for wireless devices.
Mr. Otellini said the addition of computing power and Internet connections to these new devices is "changing them and changing the world."
Broadcom, which already makes communications chips for set-top boxes and other products, is using CES to talk about developments such as wireless technology that can pass data between smartphones, TVs, camcorders and 3-D headsets.
The company on Wednesday promoted 11 new sets of chips for set-top boxes—including features to offer cable TV operators greater protection against video piracy—and said South Korea's LG Electronics has selected its chips for use in digital TVs and Blu-ray players that connect to the Internet and send TV signals around the home wirelessly.
Marvell, a Silicon Valley chip maker that uses ARM's technology, discussed plans to help accelerate a move of those chips from their stronghold in mobile devices into products for the home.
In one event Wednesday, Marvell and Verizon Wireless said they would collaborate on an effort called Control Point, which uses a device about the size of a power plug as a central connection point to let a smartphone user manage devices in the home such as security systems, lights, heating and air conditioning.
Mips, a Silicon Valley company that also licenses processor technology that is widely used in settop boxes, said it is stepping up plans to enter ARM's turf in smartphones and tablet-style computers.
Nvidia, meanwhile, moved toward larger devices.
The company, which specializes in chips that render images in videogames and other graphics-heavy tasks, said it would make a new class of microprocessors—which serve as the brains of computers—to power products ranging from PCs to servers and massive machines called supercomputers.
Like an existing processor known as Tegra, which is aimed at smartphones and tablet-style PCs, the new development effort is based on microprocessor designs licensed by ARM.
Nvidia executives said the initiative will help extend the technology into high-end systems where it is not widely used now.

Motorola Unveils Its First Tablet

Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. didn't wait long to make a splash as an independent company, unveiling its first tablet and several smartphones as it jumps on the 4G bandwagon.

The tablet, called Xoom, runs on the latest version of Google Inc.'s Android software. Chief Executive Sanjay Jha also unveiled a phone called the Droid Bionic, which will run on Verizon Wireless's fourth-generation network, and talked up the Atrix 4G, which will run on AT&T Inc.'s newly redubbed 4G network.

These devices will serve as a barometer for how Motorola Mobility will compete as a smaller, standalone company. Wednesday marked its second day as a public entity, as the company now faces off against other behemoths in the smartphone and tablet business, including Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., which last year became the top manufacturer of Android phones.

While Mr. Jha acknowledged that size does matter for a technology company, he believes the more important factor for success is the ability to continue innovating, he said in an interview.

Still, Mr. Jha said Motorola plans to sell fewer smartphone models than the 23 it released in 2010, and that he would focus on products with a broader appeal.

The Xoom will run on Google's "Honeycomb" version of Android. It will sell through Verizon Wireless as a 3G device in the first quarter, but Mr. Jha said the company plans to introduce a 4G version later on. Customers eventually will be able to take the 3G tablet back to Verizon Wireless stores to get it upgraded to a 4G connection.

Mr. Jha said the company hopes to sell the Droid Bionic, the latest device in Verizon Wireless's line of high-end Android smartphones, in the second quarter. It is the first of several devices Verizon Wireless is unveiling Thursday when it talks up its own 4G service. The other is the previously unveiled Atrix 4G, which Mr. Jha showed off during an AT&T event earlier Wednesday.

Both phones feature large screens and a dual-core Tegra processor from Nvidia Corp., promising higher speeds.

While much of the hype has been around the Xoom, Mr. Jha said that in the long run he believes the smartphone will still play a bigger role in the lives of consumers. "The most compelling device fits in your pocket," he said.

Over the next few years, he sees the ratio of product launches to be roughly four to five smartphones for every tablet released.

Qualcomm moves into tablet business with Atheros

Qualcomm Inc plans to dominate the supply of wireless chips for tablet devices such as Apple's iPad with its $3.2 billion planned purchase of Atheros Communications Inc.

The San Diego based company is already a major supplier of microchips that handle data and voice communication in phones. But until now, Qualcomm has made less progress on its own in developing chips that incorporate advanced networking functions in tablet devices such as the iPad.

With Atheros, it is buying a key producer of chips used in WiFi, Bluetooth and Ethernet networking, along with GPS systems.

The companies sell complementary products: Qualcomm is best known for supplying chips to the telecommunications industry for running mobile phone systems and modems. Atheros sells WiFi chips and other communications chips to makers of consumer electronics such as video games, tablets, televisions, printers and other devices.

"They are buying them to expand their business," said Philip Solis, research director for ABI Research.

Qualcomm is betting the deal will beef up its position in the market for new types of mobile devices, which is expected to explode in 2011 with tablet computer offerings to compete with Apple Inc's iPad. It will also grow as manufacturers of devices such as video games include chips to connect them to the same networks as mobile phones.

BIDDING WAR? Atheros shareholders will get $45 a share, a 22 percent premium to the stock's closing price on Monday, before talk of a takeover began to circulate. Analysts said the size of the premium leaves room for another bidder to emerge.

Intel Corp and Marvell Technology Group Ltd are potential suitors, said Roth Capital analyst Arnab Chanda.

"If you look at the purchase price, it is clear there were not multiple bidders," Chanda said.

Atheros shares traded below Qualcomm's offer at $44.53, suggesting investors were not holding out hope for a better offer.

Atheros is the No. 2 maker of WiFi chipsets, claiming 21 percent of that market last year, according to data from ABI Research. It was behind Broadcom, which commanded 26 percent of the market, which ABI estimates was worth some $2.6 billion.

Acquiring Atheros will help Qualcomm cement relationships with new customers.

Atheros' two biggest customers are Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd , which builds Mac computers and iPhones for Apple Inc , and Nintendo Co Ltd , according to its most recent annual report. Others include Dell Inc , Hewlett-Packard Co and Microsoft Corp.

Qualcomm, by comparison, lists its two biggest customers as mobile phone giants LG Electronics Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

Daniel Amir , an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets , pointed to three positives in the deal for Qualcomm: It could become a "big combo chip player in the handset or tablet" market; it gets access to Atheros' strong customer lineup; it quickly gets a shot to expand into new markets, including home networking.

Still, Amir said in a research note: "We recommend taking money off the table. With the shares trading at close to the $45 potential bid, the stock price has surpassed our fair value price target.

"We believe the risk-reward is balanced at these levels -- this is not a judgment on the quality of the bid. We are aware that there is potential for a bidding war if others make an offer and we may even see an offer of (around) $50."

In afternoon trading on Wednesday, Atheros shares were up 46 cents to $44.46 and Qualcomm shares rose $1.07 to $52.04.

Based on 71.6 million outstanding Atheros shares as of Oct. 20, the acquisition is worth $3.2 billion.

Qualcomm said the "enterprise value" of the transaction, or its market capitalization and debt minus cash, is $3.1 billion.

Craig Barratt , Atheros' chief executive, will become president of Qualcomm Networking and Connectivity following the acquisition.

Qualcomm expects the deal to close in the first half of this year and to add "modestly" to earnings per share in its 2012 fiscal year, excluding one-time items.

Police use hi-tech to stalk criminals

Security agencies are taking crime-fighting to the next level helped by sophisticated information technology solutions like predictive analytics. These solutions are helping crime-fighters predict, track and thus help reduce criminal activities. A month ago, Bangalore headquartered Oriental Software deployed their “intelligent” software solutions in a major city which has seen growing incidences of terror-linked activity. Police departments in other states are likely to follow suit integrating IT solutions to efficiently check criminal activity.

The firm’s predictive analytics solution, called Nostradamus, is capable of aiding enforcement agencies in crime investigation, detection and revealing crime patters and trends. Even as it is being evaluated by security agencies in India and abroad, Oriental Software recently demonstrated the capabilities of their “intelligent” solution to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The software has also been deployed the National Security Service in Armenia.

“Information technology is a powerful tool for law enforcement officials. The need of the hour is an advanced enterprise platform that provide crime-fighters with intelligent information, dug out and analysed from billions of historical records, call data records, and other transaction records from various disparate databases or sources,” said Amarnath G Bhat , managing director, Oriental Software.

The use of the solution was evident in a recent incident where following the controversy over the statue of historical personality; a political party had called for a citywide strike. On the day of the strike, the police was able to tap the mobile phones of the party leaders, get information on the nature of protests being planned and restrict the same. While the police refused to answer questions from the media about how they had zeroed in on the party officials and chose to tap their numbers, sources say this was possible because of the analytic software which tipped off the police.

“We are on the lookout for new solutions to prevent crime. Mobile phones and internet communication can be easily tracked these days. As the dynamics of crime keep changing, we need to upgrade technology too,” said MK Srivastava, additional director-general of police (modernisation). “The Bangalore city police tried the solution a couple of months back and have approved it. It is taking a while for us gather the pre-requisite data,” said another official who is involved in the implementation of the solution.

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