Mobile Devices

Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week. But Chinese regulators attached a big condition: That Google's Android operating system for mobile devices remain available to all at no cost for the next five years. The approval brings the Internet search giant closer to sealing its biggest acquisition ever. Buying Motorola allows Google to expand into manufacturing phones, tablet computers and other consumer devices for the first time.

Here are some key developments in Google's Inc.'s planned acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.: Aug. 15, 2011: Google announces plans to spend $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. Google would get Motorola's lineup of cellphones, tablet computers and cable set-top boxes. More important, Google would get Motorola's more than 17,000 patents — a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and others to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for mobile devices.

Mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. reported a slightly larger net loss in the first quarter as expenses grew more than revenue. Google Inc. is in the process of buying Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, after the old Motorola Inc. split into two companies in January 2011. Motorola Mobility posted a net loss of $86 million, or 28 cents per share in the three months that ended on March 31. That compares with a loss of $81 million, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier.

IN THE UNITED STATES, physicians are as likely to tote a smartphone as a stethoscope, for communication and to help diagnosis. For veteran health care entrepreneur Donato Tramuto, it was clear that mobile devices could be a valuable tool for caregivers in developing countries. "This is the new frontier in improving patient care in remote regions of the globe that ironically, may have few hospital beds, but plenty of cellphones," said Tramuto, chief executive of Physicians Interactive in Marlborough.

Facebook is spending $1 billion to buy the photo-sharing company Instagram in the social network's largest acquisition ever. On the surface, that's a huge sum for a tiny startup that has a handful of employees and no way to make money. But the lack of a business model rarely dampens excitement about hot tech upshots these days. As Facebook has shown, itself without ads or revenue in its early days, money goes where the users are. Instagram lets people share photos they snap with their mobile devices.

LAS VEGAS - TV stations in Boston and 21 other cities will this year start broadcasting signals that can be received by mobile devices like cellphones, MP3 players, GPS units, and in-car entertainment systems, they said yesterday. Unlike current mobile TV services, the broadcasts would most likely be free, providing access to local news, weather, and traffic updates. They could also fill an important role in emergencies like hurricanes, since they don't jam up under heavy loads, as cellphone networks can. But will there be any gadgets on the...

Google is joining a crowd of companies packaging digital content in a magazine-like format for mobile devices. The Internet search leader released its version, called "Currents," Thursday. It works on smartphones and computer tablets running on Google's Android software, as well as Apple Inc.'s operating system and its iPhone and iPad. Currents is late to the competition. It will be trying to catch up to Flipboard, one of the most popular applications on the iPad, and Zite, which is owned by Time Warner Inc.'s CNN. Yahoo Inc. released a similar product called...

The E.W. Scripps Co. said Thursday that it will become the first TV station group in the nation to deliver live video programming to mobile devices. The launch will occur in nine markets: Detroit, Phoenix, Tampa, Fla., Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Tulsa, Okla. Users who download the mobile application for their local Scripps station will be prompted at certain times — such as during breaking news events or occurrences of severe weather — to view streaming content.

Here are some key developments in Google's Inc.'s planned acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.: Aug. 15, 2011: Google announces plans to spend $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. Google would get Motorola's lineup of cellphones, tablet computers and cable set-top boxes. More important, Google would get Motorola's more than 17,000 patents — a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and others to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for mobile devices.

Online deals company Groupon Inc. reported a smaller net loss and sharply higher revenue in its first quarter on Monday, helped by demand from a growing customer base. In a conference call following the report, CEO Andrew Mason answered an analyst's question about Groupon's mobile business. The mobile space presents a new hurdle for Internet-based companies such as Groupon. Even Facebook, gearing up for a hotly anticipated initial public offering this week, has been challenged on the mobile advertising front.

Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week. But Chinese regulators attached a big condition: That Google's Android operating system for mobile devices remain available to all at no cost for the next five years. The approval brings the Internet search giant closer to sealing its biggest acquisition ever. Buying Motorola allows Google to expand into manufacturing phones, tablet computers and other consumer devices for the first time.

Bradford Networks, a Cambridge network security firm, announced Monday the closing of a $3 million round of financing. Updata Partners led the round and was joined by Windspeed Ventures, Bradford Networks said. The investment will support Bradford's expansion into the health care and government markets, the company said. To date, the company has raised $15 million. Bradford helps its corporate customers provide secure network access for the mobile devices they issue to their employees.

Online deals company Groupon Inc. reported a smaller net loss and sharply higher revenue in its first quarter on Monday, helped by demand from a growing customer base. In a conference call following the report, CEO Andrew Mason answered an analyst's question about Groupon's mobile business. The mobile space presents a new hurdle for Internet-based companies such as Groupon. Even Facebook, gearing up for a hotly anticipated initial public offering this week, has been challenged on the mobile advertising front.

LevelUp , a program that offers both rewards programs and payment applications for mobile devices, said that starting Thursday, customers of the Boloco chain of burrito restaurants can pay for their orders with iPhones and smartphones that use the Droid operating system. Based in Boston, Boloco operates 18 restaurants. LevelUp is the mobile payments product from Scvngr, a Boston company. At Boloco restaurants, customers can now simply hold their smartphones up to LevelUp Scanners situated next to each register.

A federal jury in San Francisco is expected to deliver at least a partial verdict Monday in a copyright-infringement trial pitting Oracle against Google. The 12 jurors informed U.S. District Judge William Aslup that they have unanimously agreed on three of the four issues at stake in the opening round of the trial. The jury foreman says there appears to be an impasse on the remaining issue. Aslup was leaning toward accepting a partial verdict Friday until the foreman mentioned some jurors believe some of the holdouts could change their mind over the weekend.

Facebook, which said Thursday that it expects its initial public stock offering to price between $28 and $35 for a potential take of $13.58 billion, took the unusual step of posting its IPO "roadshow" online. A look at some facts about the social media phenomenon: — The former Harvard-only hangout now has 901 million total active users a month. — More than half a billion people (526 million) sign onto Facebook each day. — More than half of Facebook's monthly users (488 million)

IN THE UNITED STATES, physicians are as likely to tote a smartphone as a stethoscope, for communication and to help diagnosis. For veteran health care entrepreneur Donato Tramuto, it was clear that mobile devices could be a valuable tool for caregivers in developing countries. "This is the new frontier in improving patient care in remote regions of the globe that ironically, may have few hospital beds, but plenty of cellphones," said Tramuto, chief executive of Physicians Interactive in Marlborough.

Charlie Ergen, the billionaire who controls Dish Network Corp., has a 10-year plan to transform the satellite TV provider into a one-stop shop for Internet access, video and voice services at home and on the go. Ergen said that no major telecommunications company has figured out how to combine all those things in one package in the United States. Cable TV operators provide data, video and voice services in the home, but don't mimic that offering on mobile devices. Cellphone carriers are great at mobile data and voice, but have made only small inroads providing video signals to homes.

Charlie Ergen, the billionaire who controls Dish Network Corp., has a 10-year plan to transform the satellite TV provider into a one-stop shop for Internet access, video and voice services at home and on the go. Ergen said that no major telecommunications company has figured out how to combine all those things in one package in the United States. Cable TV operators provide data, video and voice services in the home, but don't mimic that offering on mobile devices. Cellphone carriers are great at mobile data and voice, but have made only small inroads providing video signals to homes.