Webwire: France Tel profit dips; Changes at top for Yahoo

France Telecom has reported an 8.9% decrease in 1H profit to €1.91 billion, but revenue fell a more modest 1.9% as overseas growth offset weak market conditions in Europe.
 
Former Yahoo interim chief executive Ross Levinsohn is leaving the company. Levinsohn was passed over in favor of new chief Marissa Mayer in the search for a new CEO.
 
Google has delayed the launch of the Nexus Q media player, stating it needs more time to add new features, casting doubt about the company's fledgling hardware credentials.
 
Fujitsu, NTT DoCoMo and NEC will reportedly today launch a new joint venture focused on producing chips for smartphones. Fujitsu will own more than half the venture, with its partners taking a 20% stake each.
 
A Liberian tax court has ordered operator LiberCell to shut down, due to an alleged failure to pay around $1.5 million (€1.2 million) in license fees.
 
HTC will withdraw from South Korea, after failing to make an impact in a market dominated by domestic brands Samsung, LG and Pantech.
 
Etisalat's chief executive has told local media that the board will soon decide whether to allow foreign ownership of the UAE operator's shares, prompting a boost to the majority state-owned company's stock price.