Microsoft is determined to have a large amount of brand-name apps available for its Windows Phone app store and has announced a plan to persuade developers into making them.  Microsoft has come up with incentives to entice developers into creating apps for its devices, like offering developers free phones and promising prime spots in its app store and in Windows Phone advertising.  In some cases,... 

The lack of sales of personal computers during the holiday season had a significant impact on Microsoft’s income.  The growth in PC shipments worldwide dropped by 0.2% during the fourth quarter from the same quarter a year earlier.  PC shipments in the United States fell 5% during the 2011 fiscal year. The company reported net income of $6.62 billion for its second quarter, a decline from $6.63... 

It’s no secret that AT&T (T) has had some trouble keeping customers after it lost iPhone exclusivity nearly 2 years ago. However, as Android and Windows phones gain more market share, AT&T plans to bring its A-game to the first half of 2012 with a huge lineup of exclusive phones and tablets that will tout cutting edge hardware and new features. HTC, which supplies phones to all four major... 

Microsoft’s $8.5 billion purchase of Skype has been approved by the European Commission, with the commission saying that it has no objections to the deal.  The purchase will link the world’s largest software maker with the leading Internet communications service.  The assent from the European competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, resolves what was viewed as the last significant threat to... 

Individuals that own an Xbox 360 will now be able to do much more than gaming with their devices.  Microsoft has announced that it is partnering with Comcast Corp., Bravo, and HBO, among others, to bring a wide range of television shows and other content to the Xbox 360.  The content available will include both free and pay items. Bringing on-demand and live television content to the Xbox is not... 

A software maker in Italy has requested that European officials block Microsoft’s purchase of Skype, the internet phone service, unless it is removed from Microsoft’s Windows Office platform.  The $8.5 billion deal would be the largest in Microsoft’s history and the largest takeover in the technology sector this year. In addition to the request that Microsoft be forced to unbundle Skype from... 

Three of the largest technology companies in the world, Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL, have reportedly created a partnership deal where each company will sell advertising for the others.  Although these companies have traditionally competed against each other for digital advertising revenue, the new partnership allows the companies to increase revenue for each of them while challenging the digital advertising... 

5,000 Samsung tablet computers running a test version of Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 8 operating system were handed out to enthusiastic developers at Microsoft’s annual developer conference.  Hoping to create excitement for the new operating system, Microsoft distributed the tablets and gave developers outside of Microsoft their first chance to play with the operating system and see how it performs. ...