Tech Business Update: Verizon’s VA Outage, Microsoft’s Travails In China

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) reports that it is making progress in restoring landline phone service to its customers in the eastern part of Hanover and Henrico counties in Virginia served by its Sandston central office; technicians are committed to work in 24/7 shifts until service is completely back. Area customers could have difficulty completing and receiving landline calls, but wireless calling, DSL, service, FiOS Internet, FiOS TV and FiOS Digital Voice customers are not being affected, along with 911 service. There is no estimated time of overall restoration at this point, but Verizon will provide another update again on Friday.

Don’t Miss: Are Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard Part of Romney’s 47 Percent?

Samsung (SSNLF.PK) and Motorola Mobility (NASDAQ:GOOG) win one in a German court, which decided that their phones do not infringe an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patent which covers the disabling of multi-touch on certain parts of a display, preventing unwanted input. Android implements this feature in a different way than iOS, says Macworld. However, last week, a German court ruled that Motorola is infringing Apple’s “overscroll bounce” patent.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) claims that 4 government-owned Chinese firms are using pirated copies of its software, and thus has requested the government to cause the activity to cease. The company says that some 84 percent of China Railway Construction’s copies of Office are unlicensed, along with 97 percent of its Windows Server copies. China might be the world’s largest PC market, but rampant piracy has made it difficult for Microsoft to profit there.

Are these stocks a buy or sell? Let us help you decide. Check out our Wall St. Cheat Sheet Stock Picker Newsletter now >>