Quick news from around the Web.
Why Samsung Ditched Google In Its New Smart Watch http://t.co/2ht9ThS9Og via @sai
— FierceWireless (@FierceWireless) March 3, 2014
> Microsoft's EVP of business development and evangelism, Tony Bates, and the company's EVP of marketing, Tami Reller, are poised to leave the company. Article
> Handsets running Windows Phone 8 alongside Android are expected to be released in June. Article
> Sprint's Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile brands will sell the Samsung Galaxy S5. Article
> Apple is reportedly hiring workers away from HTC and other Asian firms in an effort to speed up its product launches. Article
> Apple appears to be promoting the iPhone 5c on Tumblr. Article
> Samsung will reportedly sell the Galaxy S5 with $500 in apps. Article
> HTC's sales tumbled in February. Article
> A new scam appears to be targeting Verizon Wireless customers. Article
> Nokia's X Android smartphone has already been rooted. Article
Wireless Tech News
> NSN and Optus scored a 1.7 Gbps downlink using six bands. Article
> A top Alcatel-Lucent executives said the company "can't wait for the master blueprint." Article
Telecom News
> Windstream has lit up its fourth data center in Charlotte, N.C., giving it a total of 27 U.S.-based centers where it can offer a mix of colocation, cloud and managed services to its growing business customer base. Article
> FairPoint completed its New Hampshire broadband expansion effort. Article
Cable News
> Comcast has launched its Xfinity On Campus service at Lasell College, a small school in Newton, Mass., according to a Web site it has created for the IPTV product. Article
> The CEO of Charter Communications investor Liberty Media suggested that the company could consider the option of making another run at acquiring Time Warner Cable if Comcast fails to close its merger agreement. Article
European Wireless News
> Samsung and Vodafone inked a wide-ranging network infrastructure supply agreement covering the operator's 2G, 3G and 4G networks. Release
> Alcatel-Lucent said on Monday it has won a contract to extend the LTE network of United Arab Emirates-based operator Etisalat in an expansion of an existing relationship between the two companies that began in December 2011. Article
> Tele2 has appointed former Virgin Media marketing chief Jeff Dodds as the new CEO of its Netherlands-based unit, the Swedish group announced on Monday. Article
And finally… During her Oscars hosting duties, Ellen DeGeneres switched between Samsung and Apple phones, promoting Samsung on TV (as Samsung was a sponsor of the telecast) while using her iPhone backstage. Article