Internet connectivity

Just one day after Dell announced it was moving into the market of netbooks by introducing its new Inspiron Mini 9, which weighs less than 2.3 pounds and has an 8.9-inch LED display, the company said it is partnering with Vodafone to resell the Mini 9 in Europe.

The two companies said Friday that the Mini 9 would be sold with a Vodafone built-in mobile broadband connection, which supports High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Sales will be exclusively through Vodafone stores and online, and directly from Dell, later this month in key markets in Europe.

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said Tuesday that the dramatic growth of the Internet would eventually help eliminate "the last constraints we have" and spark a software-writing revolution.

Gates, speaking at a forum to mark the 10th anniversary of the software giant's Asian research arm, added that technology currently being developed would transform the way people use computers, expanding their ability to interact with the machines.

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said Tuesday that the dramatic growth of the Internet would eventually help eliminate "the last constraints we have" and spark a software-writing revolution.

Gates, speaking at a forum to mark the 10th anniversary of the software giant's Asian research arm, added that technology currently being developed would transform the way people use computers, expanding their ability to interact with the machines.

Mopar, Chrysler LLC's original-equipment parts manufacturer and distributor, said Thursday it will launch in-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge passengers in the U.S.

Dubbed Uconnect Web, the in-vehicle system is powered by Autonet Mobile and delivers continuous Internet connectivity to all vehicle passengers for entertainment and real-time information. The service will be available in August as a dealer-installed Mopar accessory.

Apple is making headlines with the new iPhone 3G, and the academic world is seeing some opportunities for business case studies.

The iPhone 3G has built-in GPS for expanded location-based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. It can run hundreds of third-party applications built with the recently released iPhone software developers kit.

Apple's iPhone got new competition Tuesday as HTC unveiled the 3G Touch Diamond. The new smartphone will be HTC's flagship model as it vies to grab market share from touchscreen competitors.

The Touch Diamond boasts a compact size, Internet connectivity and a 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. HTC hopes the phone will set a new benchmark for sophistication that shapes consumer expectations for how a phone can be used.

Apple's iPhone got new competition Tuesday as HTC unveiled the 3G Touch Diamond. The new smartphone will be HTC's flagship model as it vies to grab market share from touchscreen competitors.

The Touch Diamond boasts a compact size, Internet connectivity and a 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. HTC hopes the phone will set a new benchmark for sophistication that shapes consumer expectations for how a phone can be used.

Sales of Blu-ray disc players haven't been helped by maker Toshiba's capitulation over producing the rival HD DVD format, research firm NPD Group said Wednesday.

Toshiba announced on Feb. 19 that it would stop making HD DVD players, already doomed by Warner Bros. Entertainment's announcement Jan. 4 that it was dropping HD DVD to focus on Blu-ray.

Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding PlayStation 3 game consoles, dropped 40 percent from January to February in the U.S., according to NPD. Sales grew only 2 percent from February to March. The firm didn't release numbers of players sold.