Technology

Microsoft Appeals $1.4 Billion European Union Fine for Antitrust Violation Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, asked a court to overturn or reduce a record 899 million-euro ($1.4 billion) European Union fine for failing to comply with an antitrust ruling.

Texas Instruments Chief Templeton Retrains Sales Team, Seeks Market Gains Texas Instruments Inc. Chief Executive Officer Rich Templeton said the chipmaker will retrain sales staff and win back orders lost to Qualcomm Inc., aiming to revive revenue growth and halt a slide in the stock.

Clear Channel Communications Profit Jumps on Outdoor Ads, Sale of TV Unit Clear Channel Communications Inc., the radio broadcaster trying to complete a $19.5 billion buyout, said first-quarter profit jumped almost eightfold on outdoor advertising and a gain from the sale of its television business.

Windstream Earnings Beat Estimates on New High-Speed Web, TV Subscribers Windstream Corp., the phone company serving rural areas in 16 states, reported a first-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates after adding customers for high- speed Internet and digital television.

Siemens' Former Chairman Faces Administative Probe, Prosecutors Announce Former Siemens AG Chairman Heinrich von Pierer faces an administrative probe by Munich prosecutors over his possible role in a bribery scandal at the company.

RealNetworks Jumps on Sales Forecast, Plan to Spin Off Online Games Unit RealNetworks Inc., owner of the Rhapsody online music service, rose the most in more than two years on the Nasdaq after announcing plans to spin off its games unit and forecasting sales that beat analysts' estimates.

Microsoft Dismisses Proposed Board Nominees After Abandoning Yahoo Offer Microsoft Corp. dismissed its slate of Yahoo! Inc. board nominees yesterday, making good on a pledge to walk away from an acquisition of the company, a person familiar with the matter said.

Liberty Media Asks Delaware Supreme Court to Review IAC Spinoff Decision Liberty Media Corp., owner of a 30 percent stake in the Internet company IAC/InterActiveCorp, appealed a court decision allowing IAC Chairman Barry Diller to split his firm into five parts.

Activision Rises Most In Four Years as Earnings Top Analysts' Estimates Activision Inc., the video-game maker combining with Vivendi SA, had its biggest jump in more than four years in Nasdaq Stock Market trading after fourth-quarter sales of ``Guitar Hero'' helped earnings beat analysts' estimates.

Leap Posts Narrower First-Quarter Loss After Winning Internet Customers Leap Wireless International Inc., operator of the Cricket and Jump pay-as-you-go mobile-phone services, reported a narrower first-quarter loss after adding more customers.