Quick news from around the Web.
"Confirmed: Sony Mobile Cuts 1,000 Workers In Sweden As Handset Maker Restructures http://on.tcrn.ch/l/DQmv via @techcrunch" --@FierceWireless
> The Senate approved legislation curtailing the federal government's sweeping surveillance of Americans' telephone metadata records, and President Obama signed the bill into law. Article
> Wireless software firm Synchronoss is reportedly exploring a sale and could be valued at more than $2 billion. Article (sub. req.)
> Sprint will reportedly soon launch an iOS application to let customers from Verizon, AT&T and later T-Mobile US determine the best and cheapest plan for them from Sprint. Article
> According to research firm IDC, vendors shipped a total of 11.4 million wearables in the first quarter, a 200 percent increase from the 3.8 million wearables shipped in the first quarter of 2014. Article
> A new Apple support document for the company's smart home HomeKit has now officially confirmed that the Apple TV will serve as a hub for HomeKit devices. The document confirms an Apple TV is needed if you want to control HomeKit accessories while away from home. Article
> The first products to take advantage of HomeKit technology were unveiled, just days before the start of the company's Worldwide Developer Conference. Article
> Magic Leap is getting ready to release its augmented reality software development platform. Article
> Samsung Electronics delayed the start of its mobile payments service from July until September. Article. The company will bring the service to markets such as China and Europe after an initial launch in South Korea and the United States. Article
> Gimbal is licensing its beacon firmware that will enable virtually any Bluetooth Low Energy device to act as a Gimbal beacon. Release
> Instagram is going to be adding more advertising to its service. Article
> Toyota and Ford Motor Co. may join forces to maintain control of their vehicle dashboards as Apple and Google introduce rival offerings. Article
> The RF front-end market will reach $19 billion by 2020, according to research firm Mobile Experts. Release
Online Video News
> The National Football League has finally followed up on its announcement, made in March, that it will live-stream one of its regular-season games in 2015. The good news: Yahoo will host the Oct. 25 stream of the Jacksonville Jaguars-Buffalo Bills game. The better news: it'll be available for free to viewers worldwide. Article
> Number-three SVOD service Hulu, ever talented at shaping itself to meet market changes, is reshaping itself yet again, taking the "Plus" out of its name in an apparent effort to decrease confusion between its subscription and free services. Article
Telecom News
> AT&T says that in order to keep up with the demand of non-traditional traffic sources, the service provider took a page from the web-based companies by taking what it calls a top-down network building approach--with software at its core. Article
> Frontier has launched a $450 million offering of its shares, and an offering of $1.75 billion of its preferred stock, par value 1 cents per share with the intention of raising $2.5 billion in cash to fund part of its acquisition of Verizon's wireline properties. Article
> Fresh off its 70 percent acquisition of cable company Suddenlink Communications, French telecom firm Altice may already be looking at its next U.S. target: Verizon Communications' residential wireline business, including FiOS TV. Article
Cable News
> In a broad-ranging address to shareholders, Liberty Media Chairman Tom Malone laid out the reasons he supports the proposed $56.7 billion merger of Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable, pointing specifically to the possibility of a Wi-Fi calling service as one outcome. Article
> After bumping product chief Charlie Herrin to the vitally needed customer service czar position in September, Comcast announced Wednesday that it has finally found a replacement for him to lead its product teams. Article
European Wireless News
> Ericsson CTO Ulf Ewaldsson said the telecoms industry would be making a big mistake if it does not realize the size of what it has started in terms of the Internet of Things. Article
> Telenor Norway's director of coverage said the operator's LTE network will match its 2G network in terms of coverage within five years, and that the operator is moving ahead with plans to launch Voice over LTE this year. Article
And finally… Microsoft accidentally unveiled for a short period of time a new app called Microsoft Wi-Fi that promises "hassle-free Internet access around the world." Article