Infamous technology manufacturing giant Foxconn Technology Group is considering expanding operations to the United States.
The Taiwanese company is a major supplier for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, so speculation has already begun that a move to the States would further solidify the companies’ already-strong relationship.
Foxconn Chairman Terry Guo, whose company has more than 1 million employees, described the U.S. as “a must-go market.”
Foxconn has had more than its shares of regrettable incidents, including riots and suicides.
To be fair, the company reportedly has made some progress on the workers-rights front.
[Source: Reuters]
Rare Nintendo Game Has Geeks Bouncing Off Walls, Opening Wallets
A rare, old, beat-up Nintendo game on eBay lured gameheads like moths to a flame over the weekend.
The opening bid on eBay was US$4,999, but the price ultimately peaked at more than $99,000.
That price, no doubt, has nothing to do with aesthetics — at least, not in the traditional sense. The game’s label was ripped, for starters, and the word “Mario” was written with a ballpoint pen.
The game, Nintendo World Championships, dates back to 1990 and contains a trio of Nintendo Entertainment System classics — Super Mario, Tetris and Rad Racer. It was part of a special event, and only 116 copies were produced.
NSA Implicated in Industrial Espionage
The National Security Agency partakes in its share of industrial espionage, Edward Snowden told a German TV station.
Snowden cited German engineering giant Siemens as an example of the NSA’s corporate meddling, adding that this brand of spying has nothing to do with national security.
The NSA has in the past denied obtaining intelligence in order to help out U.S. companies.
Germany was irate with NSA surveillance long before these allegations surfaced, but a little frustration is to be expected when your chancellor’s cellphone is being monitored.
Last summer, President Obama bemoaned Chinese corporate espionage for its negative impact on the U.S. economy.
[Source: CNET]
European Tech Firms Team Up Against NSA
SAP and Atos, a pair of Europe’s tech heavyweights, are at the center of the continent’s efforts to counter threats to privacy posed by the NSA.
SAP, from Germany, and Atos, from France, are working with the European Union to create standards for Web programs and data storage services. The goal is reportedly to devise labels that tip off users about which programs are safe.
SAP and Atos are each eyeing government cloud contracts, so they stand to gain by establishing themselves as European pioneers in safe storage.
[Source: Bloomberg]
Google, Samsung Strike Patent Deal
Google and Samsung have reached a global cross-licensing agreement.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the two sides reportedly struck a deal that covers all patents currently owned by the companies, as well as any filed in the next 10 years.
Samsung’s biggest patent rival is Apple, with which it is also engaged in patent negotiations.
Google and Samsung said the deal would foster “deeper collaboration on research and development” now and in the future.
[Source: The New York Times]
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