5 things to know today …
1. Nokia has bought a Massachusetts startup to help it create smaller, more efficient base stations. Eta Devices of Cambridge, Massachusetts, makes power management technology Nokia said can reduce heat waste through the use of an amplifier that works like an automated gearbox by adjusting energy usage by constantly providing just the right amount of power required for a radio signal. Nokia said that Eta’s technology reduces the need for backup power, meaning that base station cabinets can be smaller.
The acquisition includes Eta’s intellectual property rights and its 20 employees, as well as a research center the startup owns in Stockholm. The purchase price was not disclosed.
2. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case involving design patents for the first time since the 1800s. The high court is set to rule on how much Samsung really owes Apple for copying certain parts of the iPhone design. The case has been going on for five years, and was decided in Apple’s favor in 2012. But Samsung has continually appealed the verdict in an effort to reduce the damages. More significantly, a favorable ruling for Samsung could set an important precedent. The Korean company is arguing that it should not be required to remit all its profits made from the phone that infringed Apple’s patent, since only some parts of the phone copied Apple’s iPhone.
Samsung heads to court this week amid more trouble related to its Galaxy Note 7 device. The company has reportedly halted production after some consumers experienced problems with the new models Samsung sent to replace the original Note 7 devices, which are considered unsafe because the batteries can catch fire. U.S. carriers have stopped selling the Note 7.
3. Facebook reportedly wants to bring its Free Basics service to the United States. The company will try to partner with U.S. carriers to offer low-income populations free access to online resources like news, weather and job openings. Free Basics could violate U.S. net neutrality rules because it prioritizes Facebook’s content over that of other providers.
4. Verizon Communications is encouraging developers to create drone applications for its LTE network. The company announced a new device certification process that sets forth requirements to enable access to wireless connectivity for drones on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. The company said it plans to launch services on its ThingSpace “internet of things” platform as soon as next year to help developers create applications for airborne LTE operations.
5. Shares of Twitter tumbled after the company’s potential takeover offers evaporated. Salesforce and Google were the two companies thought to be most interested, but both have decided against a bid for the social media giant.
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