eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Today’s topics include a report that Hewlett Packard Enterprise is in talks to sell software units, a new mobile chip from Qualcomm, the European Union readying new complaints against Google about anti-competitive behavior, and the new Alcatel Dawn $70 smartphone goes on sales with Boost and Virgin Mobile.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is reportedly considering selling off a handful of software assets, including Autonomy and Vertica Systems, as part of a move to streamline the company and cater more to evolving customer demands. This follows a strategic corporate split in November 2015, separating HPE from HP Inc., which focuses on marketing PCs and printers.
A Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources said that all businesses that have grown within HPE through acquisition over the past several years are under consideration, although the divestiture process is in the early stages. HPE’s spokespeople have declined to comment.
Six months ago, Qualcomm delivered the high-performance Snapdragon 820 mobile chip, which was a major improvement over its 810 predecessor. The chip is currently used in more than 115 premium smartphones and tablets made by Samsung, LG, HTC and others, according to company officials.
Now the company has introduced the Snapdragon 821. An incremental upgrade rather than an overhaul, the 821 is designed to complement its predecessor. It will run 10 percent faster and be more power efficient to extend battery life.
The Snapdragon 821 should begin appearing in devices starting in the second half of 2016, including virtual reality headsets, not just smartphones and tablets.
The European Commission is readying a formal anti-competitive charge against Google, according to the Wall Street Journal. EU regulators have asserted that Google’s “shopping service” has reportedly hurt rival technology companies by favoring its own services in the market.
The actual Statement of Objections, which may be made as soon as late July, builds upon complaints from Europe’s top antitrust regulators in April 2015.
The Commission released an unrelated statement in April regarding Google’s perceived attempt to strengthen its dominance in general Internet search on mobile devices.
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA, both prepaid wireless carriers, have added a new smartphone to their lineups. The Alcatel Dawn retails at $70, giving users a low-priced prepaid plan option.
The Alcatel Dawn is a 4G/3G LTE-capable smartphone with a 4.5-inch touch-screen display, 5-megapixel camera and quad-core processor. It runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and can be used as a mobile hotspot.