The battle for supremacy in the global smart-phone market is getting intense by the day. Now the matter has entered the courtroom. Yesterday, the largest smart-phone maker in the world, Nokia Corp. (NOK) filed a complaint against Apple Inc. (AAPL) with the Federal District Court in Delaware, alleging that Apple's legendary iPhone has violated as many as ten Nokia patents from 2007.   These ten patents related to technologies fundamental to making mobile handsets, which are compatible with one or more of the GSM (2G), UMTS/WCDMA (3G) and wireless LAN ( for Wi-Fi connectivity) standards. Technically these patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption for smart-phones. Nokia said that the company spent more than $60 billion in the last two decades to develop the wireless industry's strongest and broadest IPR portfolios, consisting of 10,000 patents. So far the company has entered into patent licensing agreements ...

  Yesterday in a speech, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski has recommended a new rule to apply net neutrality to all telecom and cable service providers. Net neutrality will prohibit internet service providers (ISP), especially the phone and cable companies, from discriminating against users or applications. ISPs must grant consumers equal access to all legal web applications and services. The rule was so far applicable to the wired services providers, but the new proposal from the FCC wants to bring the flourishing wireless industry under scrutiny. The FCC’s new proposal is, in general, bad news for large telecom and cable operators like AT&T (T), Verizon Wireless (VZ), T-Mobile, a division of Deutsch Telekom (DT) and Comcast Corp. (CMCSA). As of now, these companies can restrict any devices, applications, services, or contents from running through their respective networks that competes with their own ...

LM Ericsson Telephone Co. (ERIC) said it has been selected as one of two suppliers for AT&T Inc.'s (T) Wireline Access products and services. The deal is a major win for Ericsson's wireline business in North America. It will now provide full system solutions within AT&T's wireline access network, significantly accelerating the company's ability to bring new broadband-based products and services to market.

Ericsson will be able to firmly focus on its research and development, strengthen relationships with third-parties, streamline relevant business practices and ensure wireline access product integration to provide AT&T with the best and most innovative solutions available.

Already having approved Ericsson's GPON Fiber to the Home (FTTH) solution for general deployment, AT&T will now start integrating Ericsson's DSL portfolio for Fiber to the Node (FTTN) and IP DSLAM solutions to support its offerings like IPTV, High Speed Internet and VoIP over an all IP

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In last week's edition of Trading Tools, tween titan Aeropostale, Inc. (ARO) was analyzed after the Zacks Unusually High Option Volume screener revealed a strangle on the retailer. Employing the same filter for today's column, a different security caught my eye: wireless bigwig Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ).

< ?DART(15);?> Before we begin, let's explain the contrarian stance that makes Schaeffer's so unique. When searching for a bullish pick, we like to see heavy skepticism toward an outperforming stock, as this leaves ample room for upgrades or other positive catalysts to fuel the stock higher. When searching for a bearish pick, on the other hand, contrarians are looking for significant bullish sentiment toward an underperforming stock, as we believe an excess of optimism is a sign that everyone has already bought into the stock and sideline money is virtually tapped out.

However, keep in

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Last week, Tele Norte Leste Participações S.A. (TNE) posted disappointing results for the second quarter of 2009.

Its net debt increased 12.7% sequentially and about 278% year over year to R$21,638 million (US$10,353 million). This was due to higher capex expenses, including a third-generation service license for its 3G mobile set up in São Paulo and the takeover of Brasil Telecom Participações (BRP). During the quarter, the company acquired a 55% stake in Brasil Telecom for R$12.4 billion.

At the end of second quarter, net debt represented 2.2 times Tele Norte’s consolidated EBITDA in the last 12 months. We understand that rising debt will increase financial expenses in the short term and will have an impact on the company’s future earnings.

The company reported a quarterly net loss of R$146 million (US$69.9 million) compared with a net income of R$288.5 in the year-ago period. Its loss per

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold a meeting on Aug 27 to assess business practices in the U.S. wireless market. The telecom regulator will review various key aspects of the wireless industry including the competitive scenario, factors that stimulate innovation and investment and means to protect consumers from unfair practices.     A major issue that will draw attention is the exclusive handset agreements between the Tier-1 US wireless operators and manufacturers. The US antitrust regulators have reportedly initiated legal proceedings to examine whether large national carriers are involved in anticompetitive practices and abusing their market power by unduly restricting services through exclusive distribution agreements with handset vendors.    Exclusive handset agreements, which allow carriers to sell popular handsets at subsidized prices to attract customers is a common practice in the wireless industry. Most of the leading U.S. carriers are currently selling high-end smartphones through long-term distribution arrangements

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LAS VEGAS, Aug. 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A profile examining one company’s efforts in the intriguing realm of Abbreviated Dial Codes (ADC’s) and the monetization of this technology has been made available to investors of wireless communication companies Single Touch Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:SITO), AT&T (NYSE:T), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S), and Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT).

http://www.otcjournal.com/Single-Touch-Systems-Inc/SITO/af/profile/

From the report: "Imagine if you had the opportunity to invest in a small cap growth company that owned every 1-800 number back when toll free numbers appeared in 1967. Then, imagine your small cap company earned a fee every time a 1-800 number was dialed. You’d have made a fortune on that investment. Entire companies have been built around toll free numbers- 1-800 Flowers is one example. Today’s small cap growth company, Single Touch Systems, has a toll booth for the next generation of 800

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Streaming Advertising Patents Part of the Package

SAN DIEGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Single Touch Systems (OTC Bulletin Board: SITO) announces the acquisition of a patent portfolio (the Patent Portfolio). The Patent Portfolio contains multiple patents and patents pending related to mobility, including patents on streaming advertising media to mobile devices. The Patent Portfolio represents a managed media solution for building nationally scalable marketing campaigns for mobile devices across carriers.

With this strategic acquisition, Single Touch Systems, the wireless leader in Abbreviated Dial Codes, has positioned itself in the forefront to provide a first of its kind advertising and redemption system in the wireless industry.

‘Targeted advertising and redemption via wireless devices is a big part of what we do! The addition of these patents to our existing e-commerce related patent filings further strengthens our position in this growing sector,’ said Anthony Macaluso, CEO and President of Single Touch. ‘When you

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Brightpoint Falls Below Revenue Expectations Brightpoint Inc. (CELL), a leading distributor of mobile devices and logistic services to the wireless industry, declared preliminary estimates of its second quarter 2009 financial results. The company’s revenue projection of $722 million - $727 million is significantly below our expectation of $770 million.

We believe the global macro economic slowdown had a major impact on Brightpoint’s operational volume. Management has indicated that the company managed approximately 18 million-19 million mobile devices during the second quarter, which remains almost flat with respect to the previous quarter.

We expected around 22 million of wireless devices during the same quarter prompted by the solid global customer base of the company. Brightpoint has entered into agreements with large telecom carriers and handset makers, such as like Research In Motion (RIMM), HTC Corp, Garmin Ltd (GRMN), ZTE, Nokia (NOK), Verizon Wireless (VZ) and T-Mobile

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 7, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Telefonica (TEF), Deutsche Telekom (DT), Vodafone Group (VOD), France Telecom (FTE) and Apple (AAPL).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Battle for T-Mobile UK Heats Up

An intense bidding war for the number one spot in the British wireless industry is shaping up as Spanish telecom giant Telefonica (TEF) has been reportedly evaluating a potential acquisition of T-Mobile UK, the British subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (

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