Quick news from around the Web.
@FierceWireless: RT@CNETNews AT&T sheds directories, advertising business for $750 million. Article | Follow@FierceWireless
> HTC posted its biggest profit drop in a decade. Article
> BTIG Research downgraded Apple's stock to neutral. Post (reg. req.)
> Even more executives have left Research In Motion. Article
> Sony will not attend the CTIA show in New Orleans. Article
> Sony reportedly plans to cut 10,000 jobs. Article
> Samsung is predicting a record first-quarter profit. Article
> Google's first branded tablet will reportedly launch in July. Article
> An LG executive said the company will rethink its smartphone efforts by making smartphones more intelligent. Article
> RingPlus will run an MVNO on Sprint Nextel's network. Article
> China said Australia's ban on Huawei is unjust. Article
Mobile Content News
> RIM said it won't support sideloaded Android apps on its PlayBook due to Android piracy "cesspool." Article
> Rockstar Games will bring its third-person shooter franchise Max Payne to Apple's iOS platform on April 12. Article
> AT&T introduced a free version of its data transfer app, Mobile Transfer, that is optimized for Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system. Article
> Microsoft is paying developers to write Windows Phone apps. Article
Broadband Wireless News
> Smith Micro Software says its client-centric middleware for cellular network offloading is picking up traction. Article
> Sierra Wireless is pushing LTE as a must-have for emerging high-speed M2M applications and says even some older apps will eventually migrate to LTE. Article
> AT&T is dabbling in an advertising-supported Wi-Fi network that will be unveiled at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in late summer. Article
European Wireless News
> Free Mobile has dramatically missed handset sales targets and requested that suppliers take back unsold stock, according to a report in French newspaper Les Echos. Article
> Mobile payments are expected to grow nearly 100 percent per year-over-year for the next three years, according to new research. Article
> Is the SMS stronghold being attacked by slick upstarts? Editor's Corner
And finally... A sushi-making robot. Article