uk

Google back in U.K. crosshairs over tax issues

Google could be called back into questioning over its U.K. tax payments, according to a new report.

Speaking to Margaret Hodge, head of the U.K.'s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines government financial affairs, Reuters reported on Wednesday that Google representatives will be brought back to the U.K. for questioning on whether the company derives any of its income through the U.K., thus requiring it to pay more in taxes to that country.

Last year, Google vice president for Northern and Central Europe, Matt Brittin, said before the PAC that no one in his company … Read more

Apple's former retail chief ends lands at U.K. chain

Apple's unceremoniously departed retail chief John Browett has a new gig.

The former executive, who Apple said no longer worked for the company as of last October, has landed at U.K.-based retail chain Monsoon Accessorize.

In his new role as the chief executive, Browett will oversee more than 1,000 stores, The Financial Times reports (subscription required). That's more than twice the size of Apple's retail empire, which is currently at 400 stores.

In a statement Monsoon Accessorize founder Peter Simon said the company went through "an extensive search" to find a new … Read more

Early BlackBerry Z10 sales may not have been so hot after all

BlackBerry may not want to wave that victory flag just yet.

The early word is that sales of the new BlackBerry Z10 in the U.K. have been impressive, with some stores reporting sellouts. But Michael Walkley, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity, said that initial sales may be more mixed than they first appeared.

"Limited initial supply was cited as the reason for early post-launch stock-outs at some carrier stores versus overwhelming demand," Walkley said in a research note issued today.

With the success or failure of the BlackBerry Z10 weighing heavily on the fate of the company, … Read more

Kickstarter makes its way to the U.K.

Kickstarter, the site that lets budding entrepreneurs throw their ideas into the ring and raise money via crowdsourcing, is now available in the U.K.

Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler announced the launch yesterday to the BBC, saying that the U.S.-based service had raised over $340 million for projects. So far, there are about 200 projects specifically designed for U.K. audiences on the site. If the U.S. success is the guide, that number will increase quickly.

Kickstarter launched in 2009 and has grown rapidly in popularity. Over 70,000 projects have been pitched on Kickstarter. One of … Read more

From Cupertino with love: British prime minister declares iPad gift

The British prime minister has received a free iPad from Apple, the U.K. government disclosed today.

According to the "ministerial gifts list," a requirement by government to disclose items and gifts presented by foreign states and other friends of the United Kingdom, David Cameron was gifted an iPad by no less than Apple itself.

The device model is not known, but it was gifted to Cameron only a couple of weeks after the third-generation iPad with Retina display was announced by the technology giant in March.

While it is no secret that the British PM is a "huge" Angry Birds fan, … Read more

U.K. aims for the fastest broadband in Europe by 2015

The U.K.'s culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, wants Britain to have the fastest broadband in Europe by 2015.

Hunt reaffirmed the government's ambition for the U.K. to top the broadband league tables in a matter of years at an event yesterday in Google's London offices, the Guardian reports. The offices are close to Silicon Roundabout -- an area of the city home to a number of technology startups.

The culture secretary told attendees at the event:

"To really be the best you need to be the fastest. I am today announcing an ambition to be … Read more

UK's 4G mobile spectrum sale earmarked for the end of 2012

Ofcom has unveiled plans for the auction of spectrum that will pave the way for the launch of 4G mobile networks in the United Kingdom.

The telecoms regulator has now set itself a rough deadline for auctioning 4G spectrum in the U.K., saying the sale is "set to get under way by the end of 2012."

Once the auction takes place, operators are expected to establish 4G networks using the auctioned spectrum from the middle of 2013, and to start offering 4G services to consumers later that year.

The telecoms regulator also promised that 4G in indoor … Read more

Apple has to publish notice that Samsung didn't copy the iPad

A U.K. judge ordered Apple to publish a notice on its UK website and in British newspapers informing the public that Samsung did not copy the iPad's design, Bloomberg reported today.

Judge Colin Birss said the notice should explain the court's July 9 decision that Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablets do not infringe on Apple's design.

The notice is to be posted for six months and published in several newspapers and magazines to save Samsung's image. Apple's lawyer tried to argue that it would be like the company having to publish an advertisement for … Read more

Starbucks takes mobile payments to UK and Canada

Starbucks is expanding its Android mobile app access to the United Kingdom and Canada, the company announced today.

The app allows customers to pay with their phones, locate stores and check their reward points, just like the original app. Additionally, it has some new features, including a widget, the ability to use PayPal (in addition to any major credit card) to reload your card, pin code protection and a rewards history dashboard to see how many points you've earned. U.S customers can also access the features with an app upgrade.

"The expansion of our mobile payment footprint … Read more

U.K. regulator to investigate Facebook's bid for Instagram

Fearing a monopoly of the photo upload market, the U.K.'s competition regulatory agency wants to investigate Facebook's $1 billion bid to buy Instagram, the Guardian reported today.

The Office of Fair Trading is afraid the social network might stop picture uploads to other sites from the app, or restrict other apps' ability to upload to Facebook.

When contacted by CNET, Facebook said it's working with the U.K. agency, but didn't offer any other details.

"We'll continue to work closely with the OFT and look forward to answering any questions that arise," … Read more