The Chat Room: Wikipedia Reaches One Million Edits
Do you think you work hard? A Wikipedia editor has done one million edits for the site, and is still pounding them out at an average of hundreds per day.
Meanwhile, five regional carriers are offering the iPhone, meaning customers in some parts of the U.S. don't have to go through the major companies to get their Apple fix.
Apple is also adding 500 people to its workforce in Ireland, while HTC is taking away its familiar QWERTY touchpad.
Finally, LightSquared, whose dreams of selling wireless spectrum fell flat, paid a huge past-due bill this week.
Wikipedia Editor Passes One-Million Edits Mark
Wikipedia editor Justin Knapp has become the first person to pass the million-edit mark on the website.
Since 2005, the 30-year-old has made about 385 amendments to Wikipedia every day, with each one taking about four minutes. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales congratulated the hard-working editor on his personal feed and Knapp was awarded the site's Special Barnstar medal and Golden Wiki award for his efforts.
He took the news with good humor, saying "being suddenly and involuntarily unemployed will do that to you."
HTC Finished with QWERTY
HTC says it's finished with keypads and plans to concentrate more on its on-screen keypad technology.
It doesn't mean HTC won't release another QWERTY phone in the future, but the company is shifting its development away from physical keys.
The entire smartphone market started moving away from keys after the iPad took hold, so HTC's decision wasn't unexpected. Even Research In Motion, which held onto its keyboard phones for some time, now has a touch screen model with its Storm line. When a phone's physical buttons are removed, the device can be made thinner and more stylish.
Apple Hiring 500 for Ireland Plant
Apple plans to hire 500 people at its Ireland headquarters, giving the indebted country's economy a boost.
The Cupertino, Calif.-basd company plans to add to the 2,800 people already working at the Cork facility. A company spokesman said the jobs will "support our growing business across Europe," but he did not say what jobs will be created. The Cork operation works in distribution, supply chain management and back office work.
Even though Ireland, like many European companies, is having severe financial problems, Dublin succeeded in attracting tech companies such as Google and Facebook offices, thanks to low corporate taxes and an educated, English-speaking workforce.
Regional Carriers Get the IPhone
The iPhone is branching out from its major carriers to reach five regional providers, selling for $50 less than AT&T, Sprint or Verizon offer it.
Appalachian Wireless, covering Kentucky and Virginia; Cellcom, covering Wisconsin and Michigan; GCI and Alaska Communications, both of which cover Alaska; and nTelos, covering Virginia, will all offer the iPhone. Buyers can opt for a range of voice and data plans, including individual, family, statewide, nationwide, and even prepaid.
LightSquared Pays Overdue Bill
LightSquared paid a late bill of $56 million owed to Inmarsat, with whom it had planned to build a mobile network using the British satellite firm's spectrum.
Inmarsat said it will suspend further payments until 2014, giving LightSquared some extra breathing room.
LightSquared planned to build out its wireless network in the U.S., but was foiled when the Federal Communications Commission stopped it after tests found the network could interfere with GPS systems.
Inmarsat, whose satellites provide communications for shipping and aircraft, suspended quarterly payments of nearly $30 million and an overdue payment of $29.6 million for two years.
