More wireless news from across the Web:
Google will take another shot at low-cost Android One initiative http://t.co/ML50UgMg2m via @verge
— FierceWireless (@FierceWireless) August 10, 2015
> Sprint today expanded its Direct 2 You service to Atlanta, Boston, Houston and Philadelphia. Release
> Apple removed the "store" tab on apple.com and added a "buy" button to product information pages, offering a direct purchase option. Wall Street Journal article
> HTC's market value is now below its cash on hand, meaning investors effectively think the smartphone maker's brand, factories and buildings are worthless. Bloomberg article
> Foxconn signed a deal with India's Maharashtra state to invest $5 billion over five years on a new electronics manufacturing facility. Reuters article
> Xiaomi, via a deal with Foxconn, is building the phones it sells in India in the country. Bloomberg article
> Microsoft recently updated the beta version of Cortana for Android and gave it the power to replace Google Now. The Verge article
> DirecTV launched a new promotion that will give customers who switch wireless carriers to AT&T $500 in credits. PhoneScoop article
Wireless Tech News
> Thanks to Sprint, T-Mobile, Bright House and others, Wi-Fi's Passpoint standard comes of age. Editor's Corner
> IPass announced a new resale deal with Devicescape that the company said will allow it to create the world's "largest commercial Wi-Fi network" that includes around 50 million hotspots. The agreement more than doubles the number of global hotspots available through iPass' aggregated Wi-Fi network. Article
European Wireless News
> Vodafone Italy and TIM will need to get creative in terms of their customer acquisition strategies to remain competitive when Three Italy and Wind complete a merger, an IHS Technology analyst said. Article
> Ericsson is working with Telenor Sweden to upgrade the operator's network to enable it to provide voice over LTE (VoLTE), Wi-Fi calling and richer communication services for customers. Article
Cable News
> Pay-TV execs are clearly 'disconnected from reality': Change isn't 5 years away, it's now. Editor's Corner
> With the number of original cable, broadcast and streaming series increasing from roughly 280 five years ago to more than 400 today, there is simply too much original programming relative to the amount of subscription and ad dollars needed to support it, said FX Network President John Landgraf last week. Article
Telecom News
> After the current contract ran its course on Saturday, 28,000 AT&T Southeast union employees could go on strike if a new agreement isn't reached. Article
> Satellite provider StarBand announced on Friday that was shutting down its broadband service effective Sept. 30. Article
And finally… U.S. watch sales fell the most in seven years in June, according to the NPD Group, perhaps a sign of how the Apple Watch is affecting sales. Bloomberg article