Webwire: Telcos baulk at EC fiber plot; Kindle Fire may sell at loss

EU telcos slam EC fiber proposal

Major European operators have acted fast to slam an EU proposal to stimulate fiber investment by reducing the amount operators can charge rivals to use their copper networks, stating that the plan would have the opposite to intended impact.

Reuters

Kindle Fire pegged to cost up to $250 to make

If there was any doubt that Amazon plans to rely on content and physical goods sales to make money from its new Kindle Fire tablet, the proof is in estimates that the $199 device costs between $150 and $250 to produce.

TIME

Ballmer bonus pared due to MS mobile lag

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer received only half his maximum bonus for the latest fiscal year, with the remuneration committee citing slow progress in mobile phones and tablets as a reason for the decision.

Reuters

Apple ships less iPhones to India than Norway

Despite India's huge population, Apple ships less iPhones there than it does to Norway – due partly to the popularity of RIM devices in the market, and to the nascent state of the nation's 3G networks.

Bloomberg

Telstra investors pot committed to NBN deal

Telstra investors are expected to accept the proposed $11 billion deal with NBN Co involving structural separation and migration of customers to the new network, even though regulator ACCC is unlikely to have reached a decision to approve the deal before the October 18 shareholder vote.

The Australian

AT&T loses bid for $500m tax refund

US operator AT&T has been unsuccessful in an attempt to recoup $500 million in taxes through a court challenge, with the Supreme Court upholding a lower-court decision to deny the refund.

BusinessWeek

Microsoft said to plan major Xbox TV deals

Microsoft is rumored to be close to announcing a tie-up with cable, telecom and media companies including Comcast, Verizon, NBCUniversal and HBO to provide live and VOD programming for Xbox Live.

Variety

Spotify responds to furore with private listening

Music streaming service Spotify has been forced to introduce a “private listening” mode, after a backlash over a new feature which automatically broadcasts listening habits in their Facebook pages (which users are now required to have).

Metro