News of the Day

• Vodafone submits winning bid for Hutchison Essar
  Vodafone came out on top of the bidding for Hutchison Whampoa's 67% stake in India's Hutchison Essar, which will give the operator an entry into the country's mobile market. As part of the $11.1 billion bid, Vodafone has agreed to work in partner with Essar. Bloomberg/ClipSyndicate (2/12) , The New York Times (2/12) , The Wall Street Journal (2/12) , Bloomberg (2/11)

Founded in 1923, Henkels & McCoy provides technology-based solutions for carriers, operating telcos, utilities, the government, the military, and private industry on a national level. It's an exciting time to be at the forefront of our nation's telecommunications construction business. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Business & Industry Watch

• AT&T, Verizon win California contracts
  AT&T and Verizon Communications were approved to deliver statewide telecom services in California, including voice and data services. The contracts are valued at $350 million a year. Government Computer News (2/9)

• McGrath tabs Dahldorf for MTV, BET affiliate division
  MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath promoted Denise Dahldorf to executive vice president of affiliate sales at MTV and BET Networks. Dahldorf, who's past titles at MTV included senior VP of cable sales, replaces Nicole Browning. Multichannel News (2/12)

• Google's YouTube to serve up classic TV Shows
  Google's YouTube firmed up its efforts to add more video to its Web site by inking a deal with Digital Music Group to post more than 4,000 hours of content. Digital Music Group will provide classic TV shows such as "I Spy" as well as music and film catalogs. The Wall Street Journal (2/12)

• Companies show Internet users how to collect content
  Online companies such as VodPod and Original Signal are allowing customers to aggregate the content that interests them the most off of the Internet. By creating their own online video channels, users can cut through the Internet clutter. CNNMoney.com/Business 2.0 (2/12)

• Microsoft officially launches Windows Mobile 6
  Microsoft's new mobile computing operating system, Windows Mobile 6, which adds PC functionality to mobile devices, will be available throughout Asia via partnerships with Japan's Softbank and South Korea's LG Electronics. Yahoo!/Agence France-Presse (2/12)

• Media companies allege Google benefited from film piracy
  Media firms, including Viacom, Walt Disney and Time Warner, allege that Google profited from the sale of private movies and provided support to two Web sites that are suspected of offering illegal downloads. Google has agreed to implement new piracy measures, but it has said its policy is to prohibit the sale of copyright-infringing materials. The Wall Street Journal (2/12)

• Cartoon Network GM resigns after Boston campaign scare
  Jim Samples has resigned as Cartoon Network's general manager following the failed marketing campaign in Boston. Blinking light boards were affixed to buildings and highway overpasses during the marketing campaign for Adult Swim, which led to responses from police and the FBI. The New York Times/Associated Press (2/10) , Los Angeles Times (2/10) , The Washington Post (2/10)

• The 2008 candidates on media
  Many of the leading 2008 presidential candidates are on the record expressing strong views on TV violence, campaign advertising spending, media ownership, broadcast indecency and a host of other issues that affect the media business. Broadcasting & Cable (2/12)

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Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by USTelecom dailyLead readers in the past week.

• Verizon outlines FTTH plans (Telecommunications)

• Google warns video strains the Net (USA TODAY)

• More TV available on PCs (The Seattle Times)

• Telecoms, cable operators eye quadruple play (Denver Rocky Mountain News)

• Internet service electrifies Embarq profit (MarketWatch)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Technology Trends

• Residential VoIP poised for growth
  Worldwide, VoIP subscribers are expected to reach 267 million in the residential space by 2012, according to ABI Research. Voice over instant messaging is seen as a source of competition for VoIP. TWICE (2/12)

• Mobile world points to content for growth
  Mobile-phone makers have identified features such as search engines and advertising as an essential aspect of increasing company revenue. The mobile-advertising market is expected to grow into an $11 billion industry by 2011, according to research group Informa Telecoms & Media. Yahoo!/Financial Times (2/11)

• Opinion: Marketers must cross digital gap to stay relevant
  Marketers must embrace the Internet and "on-demand" media if they hope to connect with emerging, young decision-makers. Those who are successful in reaching Gen X and Gen Y will grasp that media choices must be customized to reach individuals who are "digital natives." Key to bridging the generation gap is realization that online games, satellite radio, iPods and smartphones have elevated mobility, community and choice to higher positions. Mediaweek (2/12)

• Other News

• Yahoo! offers mobile-phone ads in 18 countries
  The Boston Globe/Reuters (2/12)

• AT&T selects Qualcomm's MediaFlo
  Reuters (2/12)

LeadQuote

Learning from experience is a faculty almost never practiced." --Barbara Tuchman, historian and author