Technology

FTC Said to Ask Google Rivals for Statement on AdMob, May Signal Challenge U.S. regulators are seeking sworn declarations from Google Inc. competitors and advertisers as part of their probe of the Internet company’s bid to buy AdMob Inc., indicating the government may challenge the deal, said people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Global Box-Office Sales Rose to a Record $29.9 Billion in 2009, MPAA Says Global box-office sales increased 7.6 percent to a record $29.9 billion last year, helped by 3-D movies and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

Battery Ventures Completes $750 Million Fund, Biggest So Far This Year Battery Ventures completed a $750 million venture-capital fund, the biggest so far this year, raising money to invest in computing startups and clean-energy deals.

Telefonica's Vivo Ready to Offer High-Speed Internet for Half Brazil Price Vivo Participacoes SA, Brazil’s largest mobile-phone company, is ready to offer high-speed Internet services for less than half the current industry average if the government agrees to cut taxes, Chief Executive Officer Roberto Lima said.

Telstra Shares Rise After Morgan Stanley's `Too Cheap to Ignore' Comment Telstra Corp., Australia’s largest phone company, rose for a second day in Sydney trading extending gains in the period to the most in nine months after Morgan Stanley analysts said the stock was “too cheap to ignore.”

MTN Says Profit Fell 3.9% to $1.98 Billion in Year Through December 2009 MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest mobile-phone operator, said full-year profit fell after South Africa’s rand gained, reducing income it earns from abroad when converted back into the local currency.

NHN Said to be Among Final Bidders for Assets of Morgan Stanley-Owned LDH NHN Corp., the owner of South Korea’s biggest Web search engine, is among the final bidders for LDH Corp.’s Livedoor Co. Internet unit, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Telecom Italia Sees Increased Telefonica Synergies, Il Sole 24 Ore Reports Telecom Italia SpA expects “synergies” with one of its controlling investors, Telefonica SA, to increase in coming years, daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported, citing comments by Chairman Gabriele Galateri.

Console Challenger OnLive to Start $15-a-Month Web Gaming Service in June OnLive Inc., the Silicon Valley company creating a Web-based video-game system, said it will offer a $14.95-a-month subscription, challenging console makers Microsoft Corp., Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp.

Solar Prospectors Chase `Gold Mine' Deals in Chinese, Israeli Subsidies Olivier de Vergnies quit managing family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008 to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap riches in solar energy.