Financial Times, Wall Street Journal

VERIZON WIRELESS TO LAUNCH 4G
On Sunday, Verizon Wireless will launch its LTE network, FT writes. The launch will cover 110 million people in 39 U.S. markets and 60 airports. Monthly service plans will start at USD50 for 5GB of data. Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless said Verizon’s network would deliver superior performance over rivals that have begun marketing their services under the 4G name. “This is the real deal,” Melone said. Verizon aims to sell 4G compatible phones and service plans next year.

US CABLE GROUPS WIN GROUND ON NET NEUTRALITY RULES
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski on Wednesday endorsed "usage-based pricing" that would allow broadband providers to charge extra for providing heavy Internet users with high volumes of online video or data-heavy services such as online games. Genachowski’s support of pay-as-you-go pricing represents a victory for cable and telecom companies because it clarified whether broadband providers had the power to charge by what users consumed. The plan will allow mobile operators more freedom than regulators had originally proposed to prioritize some types of traffic on their networks over others. It would, however, prevent them from blocking services outright.

Wall Street Journal 

RIM SUES APPMAKER
RIM has sued Kik Interactive, whose instant-messaging service competes with RIM's BlackBerry Messenger. Last month RIM pulled Kik's app from its online store. RIM is now suing the start-up for alleged patent infringement and misuse of trademarks, and is seeking a permanent injunction banning the use of the app on its devices.

TT, Dagens Nyheter 

ERICSSON ACQUIRES ASSETS OF GUANGDONG NORTEL
Ericsson will acquire research and service operations assets from Guangdong Nortel for USD50 million. Under the deal, approximately 1,100 employees, half of which are research staff, will be transferred to Ericsson.

Dagens Industri 

CLEAR STRATEGY INCREASES CHANCES FOR PROFIT
In a ranking of 213 major European companies that have achieved the best effect from their communications work, only five Swedish-based companies, including Ericsson, qualified. The study from the Swiss business school IMD and the PR and communications firm Burson-Marsteller, entitled “Corporate Purpose Impact 2010”, shows for the first time that there is a direct connection between how well a company succeeds in communicating its message and values and its financial results, DI writes. A 17-percent difference in dividend yield was seen between the best and the worst companies over a five-year period, and an eight-percent difference could be seen between the best and worst companies in the same industry. Ericsson was ranked among the companies with a very high yield, while Nokia was placed in the top category. Energy, pharmaceutical, technology, and communications companies had the best rankings, while banks, insurance, and transport companies were at the bottom of the list.

Financial Times

AT&T AND BT IN TELEPRESENCE EXCHANGE
AT&T and BT have initiated the first network operator telepresence exchange, thereby setting an industry benchmark for using the technology and overshadowing other operators with similar plans, such as Tata and Orange. Together, AT&T and BT operate more than 2,000 telepresence rooms globally, including about 1,100 for corporate customers. The agreement will enable telepresence business customers on either network to schedule meetings and connect to any other telepresence user on the networks. Initially, this will require that users have Cisco’s CTS telepresence equipment. High-definition picture and sound technology that can create virtual meeting rooms with lifesize images of participants make telepresence systems an attractive way for companies to reduce their carbon footprint by travelling less. Widespread adoption of these systems has, however, been slowed by incompatible systems and the lack of interconnect standards. While traditionally considered a climate-smart option for intra-company meetings, analysts believe that collaboration between companies is the future of the technology’s application, writes FT. “Businesses are recognizing the value of telepresence as an effective global collaboration tool, and we’re seeing increasing adoption of our AT&T Telepresence Solution quarter after quarter by both small and large businesses across industries,” Kevin Peters, chief marketing officer of AT&T Business Solutions unit, said.

Wall Street Journal 

RACE IS ON TO 'FINGERPRINT' PHONES, PCS
BlueCava, a U.S. start-up company, has collected the digital equivalent of fingerprints from 200 million computers, mobiles, and TV set-top boxes. By the end of next year, BlueCava expects to have catalogued one billion of the estimated 10 billion devices globally, the company’s founder and CEO, David Norris, says. WSJ writes that Norris is creating a "credit bureau for devices", which he plans to sell to sell to advertisers willing to pay a premium for data regarding people’s online and shopping behavior, interests and activities.

Dagens Industri 

IPAD SALES BEAT EXPECTATIONS
DI writes that the launch of the iPad created an early Christmas rush at electronic chains on Tuesday. Initial sales of the device at Elgiganten’s 33 locations exceeded expectations, and Media Markt experienced the same demand. The media analysis company Mediavision estimates that 210,000 households plan to purchase an iPad in the coming year.