Webwire: Microsoft posts a loss; Google spurred by online ads

Microsoft Corp reported its first quarterly loss in 26 years as the software giant took a previously announced hit for writing down the value of its ailing online unit.
 
Google on Thursday reported a surge in quarterly profit to $2.79 billion (€2.2 billion) thanks to rising online advertising revenue, beating Wall Street expectations.
AFP 
 
Ericsson’s 2Q profit slumped 63% 1.2 billion krona (€141 million), due to lower spending on carrier equipment and mounting losses at joint venture ST-Ericsson.
 
A UK court has ordered Apple to run notices on its UK website and in several publications detailing that Samsung's Galaxy Tab does not copy the iPad's design.
 
Russian parliament has approved a series of bills aimed at tightening controls on the internet, prompting a protest from the UN high commissioner for human rights.
 
Growing revenue from PayPal propelled parent eBay to a $692 million (€563 million) profit for the June quarter, up from $283 million a year earlier.
 
Verizon Communications reported a 13% increase in its second-quarter net income, as growth in its wireless business drove revenue and the telecom giant increased its overall subscriber base.
 
Vodafone investors are growing impatient with Verizon Wireless' lack of a regular dividend payout policy.