How Verizon Plans to Sell 700MHz Spectrum

Verizon Wireless, one of the largest U.S. mobile network operators, announced Wednesday that it plans to conduct an open sale process for all of its 700 megahertz A and B spectrum licenses, covering dozens of major cities across the U.S. and smaller markets, according to a statement.

The 700MHz spectrum licenses that Verizon plans to offer for sale are in the A and B block in locations across the country, including in major metropolitan areas like New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Verizon Wireless said that this sale of 700MHz spectrum is contingent upon it gaining approval to purchase the airwaves spectrum from a group including Comcast, the largest U.S. cable provider, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cox, and Leap Wireless.[...] Read More...

How JPMorgan Chase earned $5.4 in Q1

On Friday, JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest bank in the United States by assets and market capitalization, reported quarterly net income of $5.4 billion and earnings per share of $1.31.

Analysts were expecting $1.16 per share. Revenue and profit declined at most of JPMorgan’s businesses, including investment banking.

“While several significant items affected our results, overall, the firm’s performance in the first quarter was solid,” Chairman and CEO James Dimon said in a statement.

JPMorgan Chase’s earnings also fell from the same quarter one year earlier with 3%, while its revenue grew 6% from last year to $24.4 billion, according to sources.

JPMorgan’s revenue at its investment bank was $7.3 billion, compared with $8.2 billion last year.

“However, with respect to our mortgage banking business, we expect to see elevated levels of costs and losses associated with mortgage-related issues for a while longer,” Dimon said.[...] Read More...

How Lexus unveiled LF-LC Car

Toyota’s Lexus unveiled its new LF-LC sport concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2012.

“This is one hot-looking car,” said Mark Templin, the head of Toyota’s Lexus brand in remarks at the introduction at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“And since it has our next-generation hybrid powertrain … it’ll push our hybrid leadership stake even deeper.”

The concept two-door vehicle features a front-engine, rear-wheel drive drivetrain layout, which incorporates a next-generation Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drivesystem, according to sources.

The hybrid LF-LC was produced as a design study for a driver-focused vehicle at the direction of the Lexus Center in Japan.

The vehicle’s exterior and interior styling was created at Toyota’s Calty studio in Newport Beach,California.[...] Read More...

How to unlock AT&T iPhone

AT&T changed finally its policy against unlocking iPhones, offering its customers who are out-of-contract the opportunity to unlock their iPhones by April 8.

The best way to unlock an AT&T iPhone is by using the company’s online chat or by approaching AT&T in-store. Apple is also one doing the unlocking.

To unlock an AT&T iPhone, customers must have completed their service contracts — most contracts last two years from the purchase of the iphone — and their accounts must be in good standing, according to sources.

Unlocking iPhone will give users the possibility to change their network provider.[...] Read More...

How U.S. Mortgage Rate Dropped This Week

The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgages dropped slightly to 3.98% this week staying below 4% for the second consecutive week.

According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, the average rate for 30-year loan remained practically unchanged this week, falling slightly to 3.98% from 3.99% last week as the cost of home buying and refinancing stayed near record lows.

A 15-year fixed mortgage also fell to 3.21% from 3.23%, according to sources.

U.S home prices are still falling from December last year, being an unexpected decline in housing market.

“Despite some positive economic signs, home prices continued to drop,” said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Indices.

The Mortgage Bankers Association announced this week an encouraging change for the housing market. The mortgage applications to buy a house are about 10% ahead of year ago levels.[...] Read More...

How Owners Changed the Impressions of the New iPad

Despite latest reports about the heating and poor Wi-Fi reception issues, the third generation iPad owners seem to be satisfied with the update Apple tablet.

According to a Change Wave survey, about 82% of the new iPad users are “Very Satisfied” with the new tablet, while 16% are “Somewhat Satisfied” and 2% said they are “Somewhat Unsatisfied”.

According to reports on the official Apple forum, many users were upset about the weak Wi-Fi reception in the new tablet. They complained that sometimes there was no Wi-Fi network signal on the new iPad.

Some users reported that the new tablet is uncomfortable to hold when certain applications are running for long periods of time.

Change Wave Survey shows that the new iPad owners appear to be more satisfied with the updated Apple tablet than ever.

The new device includes a high resolution Retina display, increasing to 2,048 x 1,536, which is significantly better than the competition’s displays at the moment.

It supports faster 4G LTE network from carriers AT&T and Verizon in the US
andCanada. It also comes with a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics capable of recording 1080p HD video.[...] Read More...

How Dunkin’ Brand Stockholders Will Increase The Shares Price

Dunkin’ Brand Group Inc. announced Friday that some of its stockholders will increase the number of shares priced at $29.20 apiece, in a secondary offering worth nearly $780 million.

The owner of Dunkin’ Donuts said that investors will offer $26.4 million shares at priced 29.20 apiece, compared with $25.6 million shares at $19 apiece.

Its underwriters are lead by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc, Morgan Stanley & Co LLC, and BofA Merrill Lynch, according to sources.

Underwriters also have the option to buy an additional about 4 million shares at the offering price in a 30 day option.

On Thursday, shares of Dunkin’ Brands closed at $30.06, according to reports.

Dunkin’ Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer. The company has more than 10,000 locations in 32 countries worldwide, which include more than 6,700 Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout the United States and more than 3000 international locations.

Last year, Dunkin’ Donuts earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for the fifth year in a row.[...] Read More...

How The New iPad’s Battery Life works

Apple, one of the world’s biggest technology companies, revealed that the new iPad recharges as well as other devices, even after its battery indicator status says it has 100 percent charges.

The company explained that it’s part of its software to continue charging and discharging the battery when it is reached 100 percent.

“That circuitry is designed so you can keep your device plugged in as long as you would like,” Apple’s Michal Tchao said on Tuesday. “It’s a great feature that’s always been in iOS.”

The new iPad has the same 10-hour battery life as old models.

The new tablet has also a higher screen resolution, increasing to 2,048 x 1,536. The current iPad supports faster 4G mobile network from carriers Verizon and AT&T. It comes with an improved camera with 5-megapixel sensor.[...] Read More...

How Sales of New US homes Declined

Sales of new houses in the United Statesdropped slightly in February for a second month, being an unexpected decline in housing market.

According to Commerce Department, the new home sales fell to an annual rate of 313,000 during the month.  That was a 1.6% decline compared with January’s 318,000 sales but 11.4% above last February’s 281,000.

Economists said that the housing market is a long way from fully recovering.

“Despite renewed hopes over the turn of the year for an imminent turn in housing, it appears that it is too early for such optimism to translate into a rapid pick-up in real activity,” said Yelena Shulyatyeva, an analyst at BNP Paribas.

Though new home sales represent less than 10% of the housing market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in tax revenue, according to the National Association of Home Builders.[...] Read More...

How French Police Negotiates with Suspect in School Shooting

Hundred of French police are surrounding a building in Toulouse and are negotiating with a 24-year-old gunman suspected in shooting of seven people, including a teacher, three children and three French paratroopers in recent days, according to French authorities.

Interior Prime Minister Claude Gueant said that the suspect claiming al-Qaeda links 4wanted to take revenge for Palestinian children killed in the Middle East.

Police officers evacuated the building and brought the suspect’s mother to the residence in the hope he would help convince him to surrender but she declined to speak to the suspect, Mr. Guéant said, adding that her son refused to listen to her in the past.

The 24-year-old man, identified as Mohammed Merah, threw a gun out a window in exchange of a device to talk to authorities, authorities said.

If the gunman suspected in seven killing will not turn himself into police they will force their way and will try to take him by force.[...] Read More...