Michael Gartenberg

Nokia is the global cell-phone leader, with sales of 329 million units in 2009. Yet when it comes to feature-packed smartphones in some markets, including the U.S., analysts say Nokia is under threat from rivals Apple, Research In Motion, and Google.

Google's Nexus One may have gotten off to a rocky start with consumers, but the "superphone" is making fast inroads with wireless carriers. Google this week started selling a Nexus One that will run on AT&T's 3G network, and has also inked a deal with Sprint Nextel. Google previously struck deals with T-Mobile, Vodafone and Verizon Wireless.

Sprint hasn't announced pricing or the availability date, but the carrier is already priming the competitive pump with marketing messages that proclaim its network has twice the coverage of AT&T and 10 times the coverage of T-Mobile.

When your iPod battery dies, it's time to get a new iPod. Never a popular strategy for Apple, the company is moving to avoid the backlash of potential battery failures with its self-described "magical" tablet device.

Apple has issued what appears to be a guarantee replacement policy that could help it instill consumer confidence in the pricey iPad. If the iPad's battery doesn't last as long as the device itself, Apple will send you a new device. So instead of replacing the failing battery, Apple will replace the iPad itself.

Apple is now taking pre-orders for its much-anticipated iPad tablet device. Apple started selling the various versions of the devices in the Apple Store at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Eastern time.

The devices will begin shipping in April, with Wi-Fi versions promised for April 3, or April 5 for customers who don't have Saturday delivery. The Wi-Fi plus 3G model will not ship until late April. Apple is offering free shipping to customers who pre-order the iPad.

In a move to shake up the online gaming industry, OnLive has announced PC and Mac versions of its on-demand, instant-play games will roll out in June during the E3 2010 show. Here's the rub: Gamers don't have to buy a console, and they can get broadband speeds.

With the stakes high in Microsoft's bid to add its search engine to the iPhone, a few words of praise by the software giant's CEO have drawn a considerable amount of attention.

"Apple's done a very nice job that allows people to monetize and commercialize their intellectual property" in the App Store, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told a University of Washington audience last week.

Playing Bing-o

Japanese electronics giant Sony has been busy developing new handheld devices in an effort to better compete in the mobile market. Under way is a suite of new devices, including a PlayStation game-playing phone.

For decades Sony has kept its focus on consumer electronics. When the company wanted to compete in the mobile-phone market, it formed a joint venture with Ericsson. Now Sony is expanding its presence in the smartphone and portable-device market.

Microsoft is promoting alternative browsers to millions of Windows users across Europe -- and Opera is poised to pounce on the opportunity. With a brand-new, faster iteration of its open-source browser, Opera is working hard to gain the attention of Europeans looking for an Internet Explorer alternative.

Microsoft used to configure Internet Explorer as the default browser for its Windows operating system, but agreed last October to test-market measures to give European consumers an option to download and install competing browsers like Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox.

The number-crunchers at Apple aren't counting just profits these days. Less than two months after it announced three billion applications had been downloaded from its App Store, the computer giant boasted Thursday that its iTunes Store has sold its 10 billionth song.

The lucky music fan who won Apple's download contest -- which for months enticed iTunes users with a $10,000 gift card -- was identified as Louie Sulcer, who, perhaps appropriately, comes from a place called Woodstock (albeit in Virginia, not New York.) Apple didn't release his age or occupation.

Nintendo on Thursday revealed its next wave of products. The video-game maker is also planning to release Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M in the first half of 2010, but Nintendo DSi XL is taking the spotlight -- and entering the e-reader market.

The new DSi XL handheld system launches March 28 and will retail for $189.99. There are plenty of improvements, beginning with screen size. The screens are 93 percent larger than the Nintendo DS Lite and feature a wider viewing angle so friends and family can share the experience.