Webwire: Taiwan NFC venture; IBM passes MS by value

Taiwan's three main mobile operators - Chunghwa, FarEasTone and Taiwan Mobile – have agreed to jointly set up a transaction verification company to support the development of NFC payment services.

IBM yesterday pulled ahead of Microsoft in terms of market value for the first time since 1996. IBM stock has gained 22% so far this year.

RIM has denied an analyst report claiming the BlackBerry maker is stopping production of its PlayBook tablet. Major US retailers had slashed the price of the device by up to $200, shortly after Amazon announced its $199 Kindle Fire.

Thailand's AIS plans to deploy 1,600 new 3G sites by April 2012 – close to doubling its total capacity – and has a goal of attracting 6 million total mobile broadband customers.

Malaysian regulators have published proposed new guidelines for allocating spectrum in the future - including the 2.6GHz and 700MHz frequencies due to be handed out shortly. The plan stipulates that spectrum can either be allocated via an auction, tender or fixed pricing method.

Saudi Arabia's KHC and Bahrain's Batelco have shelved plans to jointly buy a 25% stake of Zain Saudi Arabia for around $950 million. The reasons for the dissolution of discussions have not been disclosed.

Shanghai police have reportedly arrested members of a gang that had been assembling and selling counterfeit iPhones in unauthorized markets and the internet.

Reuters 

Studio Warner Bros will soon launch a new web series that integrates data from a Facebook user's pictures, music and profile information into the video.