Apple selects AT&T over Verizon

Apple dealt Verizon Wireless investors and customers a blow by naming AT&T as the provider of wireless service for its iPad tablet computer, reports Business Week.

Verizon Communications stock fell as much as 2.2% after Apple confirmed AT&T would sell wireless plans for versions of the iPad that work with phone networks. The iPad may generate $100 million in earnings a year for AT&T, says analyst Chris Larsen.

“The choice to leave out Verizon was a surprise, given that AT&T has faced complaints from consumers that its network is overloaded by the iPhone,” says Allen Weiner, an analyst at Gartner. iPhone users typically consume twice the bandwidth of other smartphone customers, which has strained AT&T's network.

VeriSign has released its VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) Access for Mobile, a security application for Verizon customers, states CNNMoney.

The application transforms mobile devices into VIP authentication credentials that can protect customer's online data. The application displays a security code that customers use as a second factor of authentication in addition to usernames and passwords when accessing online accounts. The security code acts as a unique, one-time password that changes every 30 seconds.

"Bringing VIP Access for Mobile to Verizon customers dramatically broadens the footprint of VIP authentication and puts a powerful tool against identity fraud into the hands of mobile users," says Kerry Loftus, vice-president of user authentication at VeriSign.

HTC says the Nexus One will raise its global profile this year while the introduction of Windows Mobile 7 will lead to the development of more apps for Microsoft phones, according to Computerworld.

"We continue to believe both Windows Mobile and Android offer unique experiences to different consumer segments in their respective ecosystems," says HTC.

The company's most recent success was to work with Google on the Nexus One, the first Google branded handset. The company has partnered with mobile service providers, such as T-Mobile in the US and Vodafone in Europe.