SoftBank promises $3B in annual savings via Sprint deal; HTC First drops to 99 cents

Quick news from around the Web.

@FierceWireless: RT@phonescoop: Huawei's First Windows Phone Hits Walmart this Month. Article | Follow@FierceWireless

> LightSquared financier Philip Falcone reportedly inked a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Article

> SoftBank argued that its offer to purchase 70 percent of Sprint Nextel would result in savings of $3 billion a year by 2017. Article

> The FCC moved ahead with a Qualcomm-backed proposal to free up satellite spectrum for wireless Internet service on airplanes. Article

> The HTC First Facebook phone on AT&T Mobility is now selling for 99 cents, down from $99. Article

> Apple is now asking for Android source code in its patent dispute with Samsung Electronics. Article

> China Mobile has delayed its TD-LTE 4G tender. Article

> Nokia Siemens Networks plans to cut 150 jobs in Finland. Article

> LG said it will offer TD-LTE phones in certain markets. Release

> Apple supplier Pegatron is increasing its workforce in China by 40 percent. Article

Mobile Content News

> Microsoft is offering $1 billion to acquire the digital assets of Nook Media, its joint venture with bookseller Barnes & Noble, TechCrunch reports. Article

> Facebook is on the verge of acquiring crowdsourced location services firm Waze for between $800 million and $1 billion, according to multiple reports. Article

> Facebook Home needs an extreme makeover. Editor's Corner

> Nokia unveiled an updated version of its low-cost Asha platform, promising developers an open, standards-based environment for creating applications targeting consumers in emerging markets. Article

> The head of Google Wallet is leaving the company. Article

Broadband Wireless News

> Nokia Siemens Networks' annual consumer survey reveals that globally the percentage of mobile customers likely to switch operators is 39 percent, and the result has jumped 20 percent in one year, surely a worrisome result for network executives. Article

> The board of the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet) approved the creation of a special review committee to investigate whether the board has complied with federal rules that apply to its hiring, sourcing and meeting practices in its efforts to set up the LTE-based National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). Article

European Wireless News

> Ericsson is one European equipment manufacturer hoping to win a slice of an upcoming bids for TD-LTE infrastructure agreements in China, and the Swedish vendor also expects to be able to gain a bigger share of the deals than in previous tender rounds. Article

> Yoigo said it will offer commercial LTE services to Spanish subscribers starting in July, making the TeliaSonera unit the first operator to provide the advanced mobile services in Spain. Article

> Telekom Austria said its earnings fell by 7.1 per cent in the first quarter due to price pressure in its key markets of Austria, Bulgaria and Croatia, and said mobile services competition in the Austrian market will remain fierce despite the recent market consolidation. Article

And finally… Staples will soon begin selling 3D printers. Release