Verizon outlines My Rewards+ program; Apple buys Novauris for Siri

Quick news from around the Web.

> Vine users can now send personal messages to each other. Article

> Verizon is now accepting submissions to its Powerful Answers contest for 2014. Post

> A new version of Facebook Messenger supports voice calling over Wi-Fi. Article

> Microsoft said its Office for iPad app has been downloaded 12 million times. Article

> According to Apple, Samsung made false statements during its opening argument in the companies' ongoing legal battle. Article

> Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference starts on June 2, where the company will likely unveil iOS 8. Article

> Mozilla's founder and CEO, Brendan Eich, resigned after an uproar over his opposition to gay marriage in California. Article

> Apple purchased Novauris as part of its efforts to improve the speech recognition capabilities of Siri. Article

> AT&T said it won't upgrade Leap Wireless' Cricket CDMA network to support text to 911 services. Filing

> Verizon introduced a new loyalty plan earlier this year focused on adding value for FiOS customers called My Rewards+, an initiative designed to recognize a customer's service choice and provide rewards for certain behaviors. Now it appears that it's paying off. Article

Telecom News

> TDS Telecom has put the final touches on a broadband stimulus project near Au Train and Chatham in Michigan, bringing service to nearly 1,300 homes thanks to an $8.6 million United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) grant. Article

> CenturyLink is going to dismiss 107 of its Communications Workers of America (CWA) union network and equipment installation technicians in eight states that made up Qwest's territory, reports The Denver Post. Article

Cable News

> Madison Square Garden Co. has agreed to sell music video network Fuse to the parent company of NUVOtv, the network backed by actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, for $226 million. Article

> Tribune Digital Ventures said that it acquired TV by the Numbers, the firm that has supplied its Zap2it program guide with editorial content since 2010. Article

European Wireless News

> Telecom Egypt will pay a hefty fee for a new unified operating license in the country, under plans revealed by telecoms minister Atef Helmy. Article

> Vodafone UK said it will open 150 new shops across the UK this year and create 1,400 jobs in the process, as part of plans to invest £1 billion (€1.2 billion/$1.6 billion) in the country in 2014. Article

And finally… Samsung is using a selfie that Red Sox slugger David Ortiz took with President Obama as a promotional tool. Article