Technology

FTC Said to Ask Google Rivals for Statement on AdMob, May Signal Challenge U.S. regulators are seeking sworn declarations from Google Inc. competitors and advertisers as part of their probe of the Internet company’s bid to buy AdMob Inc., indicating the government may challenge the deal, said people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Global Box-Office Sales Rose to a Record $29.9 Billion in 2009, MPAA Says Global box-office sales increased 7.6 percent to a record $29.9 billion last year, helped by 3-D movies and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

Elle Publisher Lagardere Falls Most in 10 Months After Media Profit Slides Lagardere SCA, the publisher of Elle magazine and the “Twilight” series of vampire-themed novels, fell the most in about 10 months after reporting 2009 profit that missed analysts’ predictions.

Battery Ventures Completes $750 Million Fund, Biggest So Far This Year Battery Ventures completed a $750 million venture-capital fund, the biggest so far this year, raising money to invest in computing startups and clean-energy deals.

Slim Overtakes Gates, Buffett for Top Spot on Forbes's Billionaires List Mexico’s Carlos Slim beat Bill Gates and Warren Buffett for the top spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of billionaires, becoming the first person from outside the U.S. to lead the rankings in 16 years.

MTN Says Profit Fell 3.9% to $1.98 Billion in Year Through December 2009 MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest mobile-phone operator, said full-year profit fell after South Africa’s rand gained, reducing income it earns from abroad when converted back into the local currency.

Telefonica's Vivo Ready to Offer High-Speed Internet for Half Brazil Price Vivo Participacoes SA, Brazil’s largest mobile-phone company, is ready to offer high-speed Internet services for less than half the current industry average if the government agrees to cut taxes, Chief Executive Officer Roberto Lima said.

NHN Said to be Among Final Bidders for Assets of Morgan Stanley-Owned LDH NHN Corp., the owner of South Korea’s biggest Web search engine, is among the final bidders for LDH Corp.’s Livedoor Co. Internet unit, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Telecom Italia Sees Increased Telefonica Synergies, Il Sole 24 Ore Reports Telecom Italia SpA expects “synergies” with one of its controlling investors, Telefonica SA, to increase in coming years, daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported, citing comments by Chairman Gabriele Galateri.

Solar Prospectors Chase `Gold Mine' Deals in Chinese, Israeli Subsidies Olivier de Vergnies quit managing family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008 to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap riches in solar energy.