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Apple, Cisco reach terms over iPhone name

Apple and Cisco Systems have settled a legal dispute over the iPhone name, clearing the way for Apple to launch its iPhone in June. The companies have agreed to explore the possibility of interoperability between their products.  Bloomberg/ClipSyndicate (2/22) The Washington Post/Associated Press (2/22) Bloomberg (2/22)

Business & Industry Watch

Embarq sweetens e-mail offering
Embarq plans to offer subscribers in North Carolina access to eight e-mail boxes for the price of one and unlimited e-mail storage, among other features as it switches its North Carolina customers' e-mail addresses to end in embarqmail.com. The company plans to hold a sweepstakes in conjunction with the switchover. The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (2/22)

Motorola CFO expects improvements in the second half
Motorola does anticipate the first half of the year to present some challenges, but CFO David Devonshire expects a recovery in the second half of 2007, the Associated Press reports. America's Network (2/22)

AT&T bolsters bottom line with $1 billion GM contract
AT&T landed a five-year deal with General Motors that is worth close to $1 billion. The new pact, which includes telecommunications and IT services, extends an existing contract the two had in place. It is one of AT&T's largest commercial deals. CNNMoney.com/Reuters (2/21)

Telecoms defend patents in court
Verizon Communications and AT&T are defending their patents, with Verizon challenging Vonage, asserting the VoIP provider has infringed on several of its patents. AT&T is taking on Microsoft over speech-coding technology. Red Herring (2/21) The Wall Street Journal (2/22)

Technology Trends

Windstream sees a future in broadband
Since being spun off from Alltel, Windstream has made good progress in the fixed-line business, said CEO Jeff Gardner. But Gardner said the company planned to make acquisitions and aggressively recruit customers to increase its presence in the broadband space. The company will also focus on regulatory issues such as the Universal Service Fund. Telephony Online (2/21)

Google makes video anti-piracy tools a top priority
Google CEO Eric Schmidt said his company was committed to offering copyright-protection technologies to help all copyright holders battle unauthorized video sharing. Google-owned YouTube has previously said it would provide anti-piracy tools only to companies that it is doing business with. CNET/Reuters (2/21)

• With software offering, Google goes gunning for Microsoft: Google is taking on software clients, offering a suite of online communication and document applications for business use. The package includes online disk space and support -- all for a cost that dramatically undercuts the per-user cost of Microsoft Office and Exchange. NYTimes.com (2/21)

A guide to IMS
Moriana Group CEO Mac Taylor pens an executive guide to IMS designed to flush out the technology's drivers as well as paint an overall picture of IMS and how it relates to other technologies. America's Network (2/21)

Regulatory & Legislative

Cable-competition bill passes in Missouri Senate
Senators in Missouri approved a bill that would make it easier for telecoms to provide video service in the state. Forbes/Associated Press (2/21)

FCC examines open-access rule making
The FCC has opened the rule-making process on whether cable operators have to continue selling video-programming services to satellite and telecom competitors. The federal program is set to expire Oct. 5 unless the FCC decides to extend it. Multichannel News (2/21)

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