Quick news from around the Web.
@FierceWireless: Can Sprint tackle the last barrier to prepaid adoption? Article via @CNET | Follow@FierceWireless
> Nokia Solutions Networks is focusing on expanding sales after years of concentrating on cost cutting. Article
> AirWatch may be interested in buying Blackberry's services division. Article (sub. req.)
> Samsung Electronics expects to supply half of the smartphones sold in Africa this year and aims to double these sales by in 2014. Article
> BlackBerry's interim CEO, John Chen, says the company can work its way back to success. Post
> LG Electronics will reportedly be bringing its G Flex curved smartphone to the U.S. market. Article
> The Defense Department, which owns 470,000 BlackBerrys, is moving away from the vendor and launching a department-wide app store and a system for securing all mobile devices. Article
> Test equipment maker Anite announced that its Conformance Toolset for protocol and performance testing supports the highest number of validated protocol conformance test cases for TD-LTE. Release
> Google's Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets are getting the Android 4.4 KitKat update today. Article
> Cisco CEO John Chambers and Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will be among the keynote speakers at CES 2014 in Las Vegas next January. Article
> Research firm IDC says that 21 percent of smartphones shipped in third quarter had big screens. Article
> Verizon Wireless said that BlackBerry Z30 smartphone will be available online Nov. 14. Article
> Sprint will launch the 5.9-inch HTC One Max for $250 with a two-year contract, starting Nov. 15. Article
Telecom News
> Consolidated Communications is hungry to pursue new deals that allow it to diversify its revenue streams. Article
> A proposed online video bill by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) called Consumer Choice in Online Video Act has potential, but industry watchers say it will face protest from incumbent cable operators and the broadcast industry. Commentary
> Verizon said that where it is converting problem copper-based customers to the fiber-based service it's finding that customers like purchasing speeds of 50 Mbps and higher. Article
Cable News
> Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen said that over-the-top pay TV services will emerge, but that difficulties striking rights deals with programmers will impact how soon new virtual services from Intel and other players get off the ground. Article
> Subscriptions for FiOS Internet are outpacing FiOS TV sales, with popularity of over-the-top video services impacting subscription sales, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said Wednesday. Article
And finally… U.S. tech giant Apple is being investigated for tax fraud in Italy. Article