The US FTC has agreed to drop its probe into whether Google engages in anticompetitive search practices, after Google volunteered to allow companies to keep more content out of search results and to forego seeking injunctions on rivals' devices when patent agreements are in place.
SSTL to keep operating after licenses pulled
India's Sistema Shyam Teleservices has pledged to continue operating after January 18, the date its 2G operating licenses are due to be cancelled following the court decision last year. Besides seeking to challenge the license cancellation in court, the company's licenses in the Rajasthan circle will not be revoked.
Vietnam phone exports double to $12.6b
Vietnam exported $12.6 billion worth of mobile phones in 2012, nearly double the value of exports from 2011, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Hutchison closes $1.7b Orange Austria deal
Hutchison Whampoa has completed a €1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) takeover of Orange Austria, to become the nation's third largest mobile operator.
Dumbphones future of advertising: Jana CEO
Jana CEO and academic Nathan Eagle predicts that the future of mobile advertising lies in dumbphones, due to their ubiquity in emerging markets.
Ofcom proposes mid-contract change protections
UK regulator Ofcom has proposed new rules aimed at protecting mobile subscribers from unexpected contract term or pricing changes. Under the planned regulations, customers would be free to cancel their contracts without penalty if their provider changes the deal mid-stream.
France Telecom pays $40m for MVNO Simyo
France Telecom has acquired Spanish MVNO Simyo from Dutch operator group KPN for $40 million. Simyo has around 380,000 Spanish customers.
iPhone users gripe over “do not disturb” glitch
In another New Years' gaffe for Apple, a glitch in iOS's Do Not Disturb function prevented the setting – which blocks incoming calls and alerts for a preset time – from deactivating as scheduled after New Years' day.