Apple reported a monster first quarter last Tuesday that sent the company’s stock skyrocketing over the past week. Apple’s holiday quarter was the most profitable quarter ever reported by a technology company, and the second most profitable quarter reported by any U.S. firm. With a market capitalization that now sits in excess of $420 billion, Apple is currently the most valuable company in the world, and with more than $97.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of calendar 2011, Appl...

T-Mobile USA has been setting aside cash that it plans to use in an effort to keep its top employees on board should AT&T’s proposed $39 billion takeover of the firm gain U.S. regulatory approval. The carrier has reportedly already recorded $64 million in merger-related employee costs during the past two quarters. A spokesperson for T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that T-Mobile USA is indeed saving money to keep “top employees on boardR...

Samsung recently kicked off its “Time to Tab” video contest in which it’s giving away $15,000 in cash prizes. All you have to do is film a 60-second clip about how the Galaxy Tab 10.1 makes your life (or someone else’s life) better, or how you use the device during a 24 hour period. The top prize is $7,000, but you can also win $500 prizes for sharing videos about the competition. We could think of worse ways to win money (more…)

Earlier this month we heard reports from TechCrunch that TweetDeck had been acquired by Twitter for $50 million. CNN now says that Twitter has finalized its purchase of TweetDeck in a $40 million cash and stock deal, and that the paperwork was signed on Monday. Neither Twitter nor TweetDeck have confirmed the purchase, and Twitter’s PR team tweeted: “For all those who might be curious, we continue to not comment on rumors.” (more…)

Giddy over Apple’s consistent staggering growth — and seemingly giddier over the iPad — Formula Capital managing partner James Altucher believes that Apple is poised to become the first $1 trillion company. In fact, Altucher thinks Apple could already be a $2 to $3 trillion company. According to Altucher, Apple can basically do no wrong — he believes demand for the iPad 2 will continue to grow and then new products like the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 will send demand for Apple devices through the roof. H...

Reuters is reporting that Samsung Electronics has agreed to sell its hard drive business to Seagate Technology for $1.4 billion in cash and stock. The move is seen as two pronged: first, it will allow Samsung to exit an extremely competitive market and refocus its efforts on its successful memory-chip business. Secondly, it will allow Seagate to be more competitive with Western Digital — a company that has announced its intentions to purchase Hitachi’s hard-drive business for more than $4.3 ...

Aside from announcing a management change during this afternoon’s earnings call, Google also decided to go over its numbers for Q4 of 2010. Google raked in $8.44 billion in revenue, a 26% increase year-over-year, rewarding its investors with $7.81 earnings per share. Operating income for the quarter was $2.98 billion, or 35% of revenues — down from 37% last year — and 52% of total revenues came from overseas. Google reports $35 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities ...

Last month, we reported on the short-term liquidity problems on the horizon for WiMAX network operator Clearwire, and today, the company has announced measures aimed at rectifying its current situation. Clearwire plans to raise over $1.1 billion through the sale of debt securities in “private placement transactions.” As the press release reads:Clearwire Communications is offering $175.0 million first-priority senior secured notes due 2015, $500.0 million of second-priority secured notes due 2017 a...

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that U.S. wireless providers AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless are working on a joint project that aims to bring a mobile-phone payment system Stateside. Purportedly, the effort is being headed by General Electric executive Michael Abbott and will be financed by Barclays PLC and Discover Financial Services.“The rare showing of cooperation between three of the four national carriers creates a potentially large base of users for its mobile-payment system,̶...

Today, during their Q3 2010 earnings call, WiMAX network operator Clearwire announced that it would be slashing 15% of its workforce and instituting several “cash conservation measures” in an attempt to raise “short-term funding.” As the earnings brief reads:While the Company is cautiously optimistic it will resolve its short-term funding needs in the near future, there can be no assurances. Thus, it is implementing a series of significant cash conservation measures to reduce costs, in...

Today, AT&T and Nokia announced the “Calling All Innovators” contest for developers. The contests goal is to get more North American-centric applications into the Nokia ecosystem. Oh, and if your application happens to be picked by AT&T and Nokia as a winner… there is a cool $10 million in cash and prizes waiting to be given out. “Developers have until January 28th, 2011, to submit their applications in more than 17 categories. [...] Category prize winners receive USD 150K each...

Today, Intel announced that it would purchase antivirus maker McAfee for $7.68 billion in cash. The deal will see McAfee shareholders paid out at $48 per share, a 60% premium on the stocks current $30 price tag.  Intel CEO Paul Otellini had this to say: “In the past, energy-efficient performance and connectivity have defined computing requirements. Looking forward, security will join those as a third pillar of what people demand from all computing experiences.” Intel and McAfee were advised by Goldma...

Speculation is running rampant about the future of Palm after it lowered its guidance last week with analysts, pundits and bloggers alike offering up advice to the struggling company. One of the more unusual suggestions has Palm partnering up with Sprint to release a WiMAX handset, noting that the manufacturer and the carrier have had a close relationship in the past and the market for a WiMAX handset is brand new and wide open. Some analysts dismiss this idea, claiming that Palm would not risk its future on ...

Back in June we told you about the updated electronics recycling program Best Buy was piloting (above and beyond their efforts already in place) and we’re happy to see other big retailers jumping on board with programs of their own. RadioShack is jazzing things up a bit with it’s electronics recycling program and offering up cash for your unused gear. Well, not really cash, but you’ll get a gift card good at any Shack which is still pretty cool. The process is easy – hit the site, appr...