Enterprise

Germany bans Apple for infringing on Qualcomm’s patents

Older models pulled out of market

Published

on

Recently, Germany revealed itself as a much-needed ally for the ailing Huawei. Whereas most others are considering a ban, the country allowed the company to build new infrastructure on their soil. Germany’s intelligence agency didn’t find any incriminating evidence to necessitate a ban.

Now, the country is in the limelight once again. This time, Germany made a controversial decision surrounding another corporate battleground.

Throughout the year, Qualcomm has gone on a legal and promotional campaign against Apple. The two have been at it in different stages, claiming patent violations against the other.

Weeks ago, Qualcomm earned a victory against one of the world’s top-selling smartphone makers. China banned Apple from selling their older products moving forward. Embattled, Apple is appealing the process and refusing to comply with the court’s decision.

While undergoing the rigorous appeal process, Apple is facing another battle elsewhere. Germany has made the same decision, ruling the battle in favor of Qualcomm. Like China, Germany found the company guilty of violating patents from Qualcomm. As a result, the country has ordered a similar pull-out of affected products from the market.

Instead of refusing, Apple will comply with the decision, pulling out its products from German markets. These include the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 generations.

However, the company is not happy with the decision. “We are of course disappointed by this verdict and we plan to appeal,” Apple said. As the appeals go on, the products will not be available in retail stores. However, the newer iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR will still be in circulation.

Of course, the pull-out is just a drop in the bucket for Apple. The company still enjoys steady income streams from other markets around the world. However, the decision is a huge victory for Qualcomm. The company has been a huge thorn on Apple’s side throughout most of the year.

SEE ALSO: Apple says bent iPad Pro out of the box isn’t a defect

Enterprise

Nintendo sues the United States

The Japanese company wants a refund for illegal tariffs.

Published

on

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? After a year of wrestling through tariffs from the current American administration, Nintendo has decided to sue the United States.

Last year, the Trump administration was trigger-happy with implement tariffs on countries everywhere. Though the controversy mostly circulated around geopolitics, major corporations also found themselves on the receiving end of Trump’s ire. All over the world, the tariffs sparked product delays and price hikes.

Nintendo is no exception. As a result of the fiasco, the company had to delay the launch of the Switch 2, in anticipation of disruptions caused by the tariffs. First reported by Aftermath, the Japanese gaming giant is now going after the American government over refunds associated with the tariffs.

Now, the tariffs aren’t a big issue anymore. Notably, the Supreme Court scratched off the White House’s implementations that the former found illegal. While a big sigh of relief for future business, corporations like Nintendo have already paid duties and deposits in the past. As a result, Nintendo is now looking for recompense for what they paid before.

Nintendo isn’t the first company to seek restitution over the illegal tariffs. Others, including FedEx and Revlon, are also asking for refunds. However, the Japanese giant is certainly one of the biggest names to cross the government’s path. After all, the company is notoriously litigious over anything it considers as an affront to its business, including small streamers using Pokémon on their broadcasts.

With all its global resources, Nintendo likely won’t just give up without a fight.

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is now Nintendo’s best-selling console ever

Continue Reading

Enterprise

Paramount wins bid for HBO Max, plans to merge streaming apps

It’s all part of the deal to acquire the Warner Bros. library.

Published

on

Last year ended with the bombshell announcement that Netflix might buy the entire Warner Bros. library. However, after some finagling and a rocky start, Paramount has now emerged as the main suitor for the lucrative library.

At the end of last year, it seemed all but confirmed that the gigantic Warner Bros. library was coming to Netflix as part of a huge buyout deal. This became even clearer when Warner Bros. Discovery rejected Paramount’s initial bid to counter Netflix. However, Paramount recently revised its offer to an astounding US$ 110 billion, or US$ 31 per share, which Warner Bros. Discovery signed off on. Netflix passed on the opportunity for a counteroffer, making Paramount the sole bidder.

Today, Paramount has announced that, if the deal pushes through, they will merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into one streaming service. This means that Paramount’s CBS, Comedy Central, and MTV will be under the same roof as DC, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and Mission: Impossible.

The value of the above names alone makes this into one of the most lucrative deals for Paramount. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The combined entity will reportedly carry US$ 79 billion in net debt for both purchasing Warner Bros. and refinancing the newly purchased property.

Currently, the deal is expected to go through regulatory approval ending in the second half of 2026.

Continue Reading

Enterprise

ACMobility Launches ChargeFleet: Seamless solution for businesses

B2B solution for corporate fleets and transport groups

Published

on

Ayala Group’s ACMobility has launched ChargeFleet, a new B2B digital solution for corporate fleets and transport groups.

The new service introduces a shareable digital wallet that streamlines charging expenses, reduces manual tracking, and improves cost control.

As more organizations explore electrifying their mobility operations, many continue to face operational challenges — including fragmented payment systems, reimbursement delays, and limited visibility over charging usage.

ChargeFleet addresses these gaps by introducing a centralized, shareable digital wallet. Here, fleet managers can allocate and monitor charging credits across multiple drivers across a single platform.

The system is a seamless process designed for long-term usage and easy deployment across any organization.

Once integrated, ACMobility assigns charging credits to the client’s fleet manager. The manager then can distribute these to multiple drivers. Meanwhile, the latter will be able to see and use their assigned credits via the Evro app.

ChargeFleet is available as a prepaid product through the ChargeFleet Store. Users can buy offers via GCash or credit card. No application process is required.

Looking ahead, ACMobility will continue to enhance the ChargeFleet experience with exclusive value-added perks integrated through Evro and Power on Wheels.

The upcoming features highlight ACMobility’s ongoing push to provide a future-proof support system for the evolving needs of their customers’ businesses.

Continue Reading

Trending