Bharti Airtel acquires 100 percent stake in Qualcomm's 4G company, WBSPL

Telecom major Bharti Airtel Friday
announced it has acquired 100 per cent
stake in Wireless Business Services
(WBSPL), a company founded by US
chipmaker Qualcomm.

The company had acquired a 49
percent stake in WBSPL in May 2012
for USD 165 million.

At that price, the additional stake
purchase would have cost Airtel an
estimated USD 165 million, or Rs. 1,008.1
crore at today's exchange rate.
However, the company did not disclose
the financial details of the deal.

In a statement, Airtel said that it has
"completed the acquisition of 100 per
cent equity shares of Wireless Business
Services Private Limited, which holds
BWA Spectrum in the Indian telecom
circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Haryana and
Kerala".

Airtel acquired a majority stake in
WBSPL in July by increasing its stake
to 51 percent from 49 percent.
WBSPL has spectrum that can be used
for high-speed 4G services in New
Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala.
Airtel has the similar spectrum in
Punjab, Maharashtra, Kolkata and
Karnataka.

Airtel has already launched 4G services
in Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata,
Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.
Shares of Airtel were trading at Rs.
353.80, up by 1.46 percent, in the
afternoon session at BSE Friday.

iOS 7 experience on Android via iLauncher

Not all Android users give a hoot about
iOS 7, but we know there are a few of
you out there that may be a little
intrigued about Apple’s new operating
system. We have come across an
Android app called ‘iLauncher’, which
gives you the iOS 7 experience on your
Android.
This app is fairly decent, there is one
feature within iLauncher iOS 7 users
would love Apple to add to its next
update, a few iOS 7 users experienced
motion sickness when using the new
operating system, but this Android app
allows users to disable the zooming
function that makes iPhone users a
little sick.
iLauncher provides a similar experience
as iOS 7, same design with a few added
extras. Once you have installed this app
your entire Home screen will look like
Apple’s UI.
Main iLauncher Android app features
include smooth scrolling, the ability to
uninstall apps from the Home screen,
you can edit exit mode by pressing the
back button, support 5 rows mode just
like the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C. The apps
have rounded corners and gloss
effects; it also includes a dock bar
and so much more. The app does cost
just a little over $2, for more
information about iLauncher, please
visit the Google Play Store .
If you do decide to install the app you
must be aware that you may lose the
ability to add widgets to the Android
Home screen, shortcuts can be added
still.
Not sure why Android users would want
to add iOS 7 to their devices, but hey
we are sure someone would like to give
it a go. If you do decide to install
iLauncher please give another app some
thought, this Android app is called
‘Espier Launcher iOS7 ’ and unlike
iLauncher this one is free.
Would you like iOS 7 on your Android
device?

Qualcomm Completes $120 Million USD Investment in Sharp

Qualcomm has injected the second
half of its investment into Sharp.
Qualcomm has reportedly completed
its $120 million USD investment in
Sharp ( pdf), thus giving the company
3.53 percent ownership of the
struggling display maker. Qualcomm
initially only provided half of the funds
up front, saying that Sharp needed to
meet several conditions before the
investment balance was paid in full.
The deal to sink $120 million into
Sharp was made back in December 4,
2012. Qualcomm said that in order to
receive the second half, Sharp must
finalize specifications for a new
power-saving screen to be used in
tablets and smartphones by March 29.
Sharp was also tasked to generate an
operating profit of 100 billion yen ($
1.02 billion USD) in the second half of
its fiscal year.
However Sharp was unable to meet
the March deadline, and was given an
extension to June 30. But Sharp has
obviously met both requirements and
is now receiving its additional $60
million injection from Qualcomm.
They now plan to combine
Qualcomm's MEMS (Micro Electro
Mechanical System) display products
with Sharp's IGZO screens in a
number of upcoming devices with
varying sizes.
"The subscription payment was fully
made today as planned in respect of
the issue of new shares for the second
round which was resolved at the board
of directors meeting held on June 7,
2013," Sharp said.
Qualcomm is one of several investors
throwing Sharp a financial lifeline.
Samsung holds a 3.08 percent stake
in the company thanks to a $112
million (10.4 billion yen) deal back on
March 6, 2013. Sharp said the cash
investment will "further strengthen the
alliance" between Sharp and
Samsung, and continuously provide a
long-term, stable and timely supply of
LCD panels for large-size TVs and
small- and medium-size LCD panels
for mobile devices such as notebooks.
Sharp originally received a $4.4
billion bailout from banks back in
October 2012, but had to mortgage its
factories and offices to secure the
loans. It also planned to trim its
overall workforce by 10,000 and sell
off assets.
The company was also talking with
Foxconn for a $709 million investment
(66.9 billion yen), giving Foxconn a
9.9 percent stake, but as of March 26,
the deadline to reach an agreement
had passed. However Sharp said it
was still in talks with Foxconn
although as of June there has been no
word on the deal. However their
jointly-managed LCD plant Osaka
Prefecture reported a 7.4 billion yen
net loss for the April-December period.