Canadian tech, telecom community offers support in wake of U.S. travel ban

More than 1,700 people representing a variety of tech and telecom companies have signed on to an open letter opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s weekend executive order blocking entry of citizens from seven countries and all refugees into the United States.

Reform tax laws, tweak CBC to bolster media landscape: PPF

Phasing out CBC/Radio-Canada’s sale of digital ads and tweaking tax laws to prevent companies from claiming exemptions for advertising on foreign digital platforms are among the recommendations put forward by the Public Policy Forum following a six-month study on the state of Canadian news media.

Tax deduction change would boost ad revenue $250-$450M: Friends

Removing tax deductions for advertising on non-Canadian online media outlets could help the beleaguered local media and news sectors, while saving the government money, according to a new paper from watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Avoid ISP tax, tweak CanCon rules, companies say in Heritage review

There isn’t much disagreement between some of the country’s biggest media and telecom service providers over whether foreign entities, such as over-the-top providers like Netflix Inc., should be making a contribution to the country’s cultural sector.

Overturn worldwide search result ban, Google asks Supreme Court

OTTAWA — Canada’s highest court heard arguments Tuesday on whether a court in Canada can order a worldwide ban on websites appearing on Alphabet Inc.’s Google search engine, with counsel for Google arguing that such a ban would infringe on its free expression rights to rank its search results and devalue the quality of its search results.

Canada part of int’l talks on taxing foreign digital services

OTTAWA — Canada is involved in international discussions about how to address the issue of foreign digital vendors not being subject to domestic sales tax, a parliamentary committee learned Thursday, as it prodded at a long-standing question of whether American companies such as Netflix Inc. are benefiting to the disadvantage of Canadian media companies.

CBC asks for 35% funding boost to go ad-free

CBC/Radio-Canada is asking the federal government for an increase in its funding so that it can eliminate advertising on its platforms.

In a submission made as part of a government review of Canadian content in a digital age, CBC asked for an increase of $12 per person in funding, to $46.

CBC, Facebook digital ad sales hurting newspapers, committee hears

OTTAWA — The Canadian government should review its mandate for CBC/Radio-Canada in light of the national broadcaster and foreign digital competitors taking away ad dollars from local newspapers, individuals representing the latter told the House of Commons standing committee on Canadian Heritage Thursday. 

Google not ‘grabbing’ media revenue, VP tells MPs

OTTAWA — Creating the oft-asked-for level playing field by making foreign digital services subject to Canadian sales tax would hurt smaller companies trying to break into the country’s market, a House of Commons committee heard Tuesday from a representative of Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada.

Corus launches History OTT service

Corus Entertainment Inc. has launched History Vault, a subscription over-the-top (OTT) service featuring programming from its History channel.

The service, which costs $5.49 a month, “features hundreds of hours of content within the [History] library, including series, documentaries, and specials,” Corus said in a Thursday press release.

Google halting fibre rollout amid changes

Alphabet Inc. announced it will pause its fibre rollout to potential cities amid changes that have claimed its broadband division’s CEO. 

Craig Barratt, CEO of Google Access, announced on the company’s fibre blog Tuesday that Google is undergoing changes to “refine our approaches” and will be pausing the rollout to additional cities. He said work will continue where they’ve already launched fibre or where it’s still under construction. 

Canadian publishers adopt new Google platform

Three Canadian media outlets will be able to display their pages faster on smartphones while using less data after adopting a new platform developed by Alphabet Inc.’s Google, according news articles by Corus Entertainment Inc.’s Global News, the Toronto Star and Postmedia Network Inc.

The three companies reported separately that they are adopting Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) platform in recent days.

Competition Bureau ends Google probe

The Competition Bureau announced Tuesday it is closing its investigation into Google Inc.’s advertising practices after finding evidence that it "used anti‑competitive clauses in certain types of contracts that negatively affected advertisers, with the intent to exclude its competitors."

Global wearable device shipments to grow 38.2% this year: IDC

International Data Corp. said Thursday that global shipments of wearable devices are expected to reach 110 million by the end of 2016, with a 38.2 per cent growth over the previous year, and to reach 237 million by 2020.

The research company said in a press release that “an expanding lineup of vendors combined with fast-growing consumer awareness and demand” accounts for the expected growth from 2015 to 2020.

Google can appeal B.C. court’s worldwide injuction: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Canada said Thursday it has granted Google Inc. leave to appeal a B.C. court decision that issued an injuction stopping Google from linking to a company in its search results.

The case began when the plaintiffs, Equustek Solutions Inc. and Robert Angus of Clarma Enterprises Inc., sued their former distributor for “unlawful appropriation of trade secrets, alleging that the distributors designed and sold counterfeit versions of their products,” according to a summary on the Supreme Court website.

Google folds Songza into new, free music service

Google Inc. is folding its music-streaming service Songza into a new ad-supported, free tier of Google Play Music.

Wendy Manton, a Google spokeswoman, said in an email that this is happening everywhere Songza had been available, including in Canada.

Mélanie Joly hires Leslie Church as chief of staff

Leslie Church, head of communications and public affairs at Google Inc.’s Canadian division, is Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly’s new chief of staff.

She said on Twitter Thursday that she was “very excited” to join Joly “to serve Canadians and our new [government].”

YouTube more popular with richer, educated Canadians: survey

A majority of Canadians reported in a survey this year they are users of Google Inc.'s YouTube video-streaming service, with the likelihood increasing among those further up on the income and education ladders.

Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio Canada, said in a report released Tuesday that 69 per cent of Canadians surveyed this spring reported having used YouTube at least once in the past month. That was up from 64 per cent in a survey done a year earlier and 57 per cent in the fall of 2011.

Napster launches music subscription service to Canadians

Rhapsody International Inc.’s music subscription service, Napster, announced Monday that its subscription service is now available in Canada.

It said in a press release that, for a limited time, Canadians can subscribe to the service and get the first three months for $1, after which it will be $9.99 per month.

Android-powered BlackBerry confirmed

BlackBerry Ltd. on Thursday confirmed that it will be releasing a smartphone that runs on Google Inc.'s Android system within the coming months.

It said in a press release that the device will be called the Priv and feature a slide-out keyboard.

BlackBerry said the new device will include "the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform." BlackBerry said the Priv will be available before the end of calendar year.

Rogers Radio teams with YouTube

Rogers Communications Inc. said Friday that its radio division will team with Google Inc.'s YouTube for a weekly show that will look at the hottest trends in music, fashion, entertainment and gaming.

Rogers said in a press release that this marks YouTube's first partnership with radio operations in Canada.

Android Wear now compatible with iPhones

Google Inc. said Monday that its Android Wear operating system for smartwatches can now work with Apple Inc.'s iPhones.

Google said in a blog that LG Corp.'s Watch Urbane is the first device the iPhone-compliant version of Android Wear is available on. It said all future Android Wear watches will work with iPhones.

Android Wear will work with devices as far back as the iPhone 5 that run on iOS 8.2 or higher.

Global smartphone sales growth slows

Worldwide smartphone sales in this year's second quarter grew at their slowest rate since 2013, largely as a result of the first year-to-year decline on record for sales of smartphones in China, Gartner Inc. said Thursday.

The research company said in a press release there were 330 million sales of smartphones in the second quarter, up 13.5 per cent from a year earlier. In China, sales were down four per cent from the year before, Gartner said.

Harper comes out against ‘Netflix tax’ in video

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday posted a video of himself on Twitter standing in front of a screen with a Netflix logo and criticizing calls for taxes on video-streaming services.

In the video, Harper said he is a fan of movies and TV shows, particularly Breaking Bad, which he notes is “even available on some online streaming services, if you’ve never seen it.”

Court upholds injunction against Google results for company

The British Columbia Court of Appeal this week upheld an injunction against a certain company turning up in Google searches because the company is alleged to be infringing on the rights of another company, according to report in the Globe and Mail.

An article published online Thursday said the court dismissed an appeal from Google Inc. to have an injunction against showing results for Datalink Technologies Gateways Inc. overturned.

BlackBerry declines comment on Android report

BlackBerry Ltd. declined Friday to comment on a report that it was considering using Google Inc.'s Android software in an upcoming smartphone.

Reuters reported Thursday that four sources with knowledge of the matter said BlackBerry was considering using the Android operating system as a way to shift its focus more toward software and device management, and less on creating the actual devices.

Google launches IoT platform

Google Inc. will launch a new Android-based platform that will allow companies to build connected devices, it said in a blog post Thursday.

Google said the platform, called Project Brillo, will include a communications protocol, called Weave, as well as “a set of developer APIs, a core set of schemas and a certification program to ensure device and app interoperability.” Brillo will launch later this year, it said.

Google taking self-driving cars to public roads

Google Inc. said Friday that the testing of its self-driving cars will move from its own track to public roads in its home base of Mountain View, Calif.

Google said in a blog post that cars on the public roads will not be able to drive faster than 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). Operators will be on board the vehicles to take over the controls if necessary.

DHX revenue almost triples over 1 year

DHX Media Ltd. said Thursday that revenue for its third quarter ended March 31 almost tripled from a year earlier to $85.6 million from $29 million, thanks to a major acquisition and gains in its distribution and production businesses.

Google launches Digital News Initiative in Europe

Google Inc. announced a new partnership with European news organizations on Tuesday called the Digital News Initiative.

The search and advertising giant said it will work with newspapers including the Financial Times, the Guardian, and Die Zeit, as well as the Global Editors Network and the European Journalism Centre, to establish a working group on the future of digital journalism.

SaskTel launches mobile-payment capabilities

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Thursday it has launched mobile-payment capabilities for wireless customers who bank with Toronto Dominion Bank and have certain devices.

SaskTel said the current service works with the mobile-payments app from TD, and other banks will be added in the future. It said it worked with EnStream LP, a partnership between BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp., to develop the technology for its mobile-payments service.

Google launches wireless service in U.S.

Google Inc. on Wednesday announced it has launched a wireless service in the United States, partnering with T-Mobile U.S. Inc. and Sprint Corp. for coverage on their networks.

A website for Google's new service, called Project Fi, showed it is available in most major markets across the U.S. Nick Fox, Google's vice-president of communications products, said in a blog post that text-and-talk service is available for $20 US a month, and data costs $10 US per GB. He said customers will get credit for unused data.

Comp watchdog seeking experts for Google case: report

The Competition Bureau is looking for experts in the fields of online search and advertising, and experts say it's likely related to its probe into Google Inc.'s advertising practices, the Financial Post reported.

Android updates smartwatch technology

Google Inc.'s Android division on Monday announced several upgrades to its smartwatch technology, including built-in WiFi, making apps visible even when devices are in energy-saving mode, and adding easier functionality for opening apps and sending messages.

David Singleton, director of engineering for Android Wear, said in a blog that watches running on its operating system will begin allowing apps to stay visible even when the energy-saving function kicks in, just not in full colour.

Telecom and broadcasting converge as legislation remains separate

A case involving BCE Inc.’s mobile-TV service that’s currently winding its way through the Federal Court of Appeal is just one example of how the lines between telecommunications and broadcasting are becoming blurred.

Google appoints Ruth Porat CFO

Google Inc. said Tuesday it has appointed Ruth Porat, formerly chief financial officer at Morgan Stanley, as its new chief financial officer.

Porat joined the bank in 1987, and led its investment in tech companies including Amazon.com Inc. and eBay Inc., according to a blog post on Google’s website.

Porat will begin her new position on May 26, the company said.

Competition Bureau says no Google decision coming Wednesday

The Competition Bureau on Wednesday disputed a report that a decision on an investigation it has been conducting into Google Inc.'s search and advertising businesses could be coming later that day.

The Globe and Mail had reported that the investigative phase of this proceeding, which started in December 2013, is complete and a decision could be issued as soon as Wednesday.

IDC downgrades tablet forecast for 2015

International Data Corp. has lowered its forecast for tablet and 2-in-1 hybrid shipments in 2015 following previous figures that showed the first ever year-on-year decline for this market in the fourth quarter of last year.

Patrick Pichette retiring from Google

Patrick Pichette, the Canadian chief financial officer of Google Inc., said in a web post Tuesday he will retire in the coming months to spend more time travelling with his wife Tamar.

Pichette, who is from Montreal, according to his Google profile, said in a Google+ posting that after seven years at Google and 25 to 30 years of "nearly non-stop work," he could "not find a good argument to tell Tamar we should wait any longer for us to grab our backpacks and hit the road."

RBC expects challenge from tech giants over mobile payments: report

The chief executive of the Royal Bank of Canada says his company is on a “collision course” with technology giants such as Apple Inc. and Google Inc. as the act of making payments with mobile devices becomes more mainstream, according to a report in the Financial Post.

The newspaper reported Dave McKay told an investors conference in New York Tuesday that the companies making mobile payment technology available might come between the direct relationship the bank has with customers through payment tools such as credit cards.

Google confirms wireless plans in U.S.

Google Inc. will enter the U.S. wireless market, senior vice president of products Sundar Pichai said Monday at the WorldMobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

He said the service would be small-scale and not meant to compete with large wireless carriers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The service “would be intended to demonstrate technical innovations that the carriers could adopt,” WSJ said, adding that Google will partner with other carriers to launch the new service.

Google announces work software for Android devices

Google Inc. said Wednesday it has a developed a program that will help utilize Android devices for business purposes in a way that ensures security for employers.

A blog post from Google said the technology is called Android for Work and will help "businesses bring more devices to work by securing, managing and innovating on the Android platform."

IPhone 6 Plus data usage double that of regular iPhone 6: report

Users of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 6 Plus are using twice as much data as those with the iPhone 6, according to a report from Citrix Systems Inc.

The U.S. provider of workplace mobility technology said in a press release earlier this month that the bigger, 5.5-inch screens of the iPhone 6 Plus — compared to 4.7 inches for the regular iPhone 6 — leads more video viewing. Its report said that data usage on the iPhone 6 Plus is 10 times that of the iPhone 3GS.

Twitter, Google reach deal to make tweets more searchable

Twitter Inc. and Google Inc. have reached a deal that will make posts on Twitter’s social media accounts easier to find through the Google search engine, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Quoting anonymous sources, the news service said posts will appear in Google searches as soon as they’re posted to Twitter, starting in the first half of 2015.

Bloomberg noted Twitter and Google previously had a similar deal in place, from 2009 to 2011.

Google deals with declining ad rates

Google Inc. said in its fourth-quarter results that the average “cost-per-click” for ads on its sites and those of its network members decreased by three per cent over the fourth quarter of 2013.

Cost-per-click for Google sites specifically was down eight per cent at the end of the three-month period ending Dec. 31, compared to a year earlier.

Revenues for the quarter were $18.1 billion US, up from $15.71 billion a year earlier, Google said, but below analyst expectations, Bloomberg noted Thursday.

YouTube to host own Super Bowl halftime show

For the first time, Google Inc.’s YouTube streaming service is hosting a live Super Bowl halftime show of its own that will stream during the break of the NFL championship game on Feb. 1.

Hosted by Harley Morenstein, Montreal-based creator of the Epic Meal Time web series, the halftime show will be live-streamed on the same Ad Blitz channel on which YouTube hosts its Super Bowl-related content, such as pregame and halftime advertisements from major brands as well as behind-the-scenes footage and other extra content.

Canada will wait longer for self-driving cars: report

Google Inc.'s director of self-driving cars says such technology will be in operation in two to five years, but Canada will have to wait longer due to its climate, according to a report by the Financial Post.

An article posted online late Wednesday quoted Chris Urmson, speaking from the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, saying that in cold climates ice could interfere with sensors on self-driving cars and snow could cover things that need to be sensed, such as stop signs.

TiVo OTA product gets full release in U.S.

TiVo Inc. said Wednesday it is widening availability in the United States of a PVR for capturing over-the-air programing, a product it released on a limited basis in the fall.

The TiVo Roamio OTA is meant for people who do not have a cable- or satellite-TV subscription but wish to have the same functionality as other TiVo devices for recording and finding their favourite shows, the company said in a press release.

Global smartphone sales up 20% in Q3: Gartner

Global smartphone sales to end users were up 20.3 per cent worldwide in this year's third quarter compared to a year earlier, technology research company Gartner Inc. said Monday.

The company said in a press release that smartphone sales amounted to 301 million in the third quarter. It said feature-phone sales were down 25 per cent, which made the overall mobile-phone market flat in the third quarter with 455.8 million sales.  A shrinking price gap between feature phones and Android-powered smartphones was cited as the reason for the trend.

Smartphone market growth expected to slow

International Data Corp. said Monday that growth in worldwide smartphone shipments is expected to drop from 26.3 per cent this year to 12.2 per cent next year, and even further in the years beyond that.

IDC said in a press release that it expects smartphone shipments to amount to 1.3 billion this year, rising to 1.4 billion in 2015. IDC research manager Ramon Llamas noted in a phone interview that these estimates were rounded off, thus not reflecting the full growth of more than 12 per cent in shipments expected in 2015.

Google launches new subscription advertising model in U.S.

Google Inc. is launching a new approach to Internet advertising in the United States that uses a subscriber model to replace ads on certain websites.

With Google Contributor, users can choose to pay a fee of $1, $2 or $3 US per month that will be distributed to participating websites as users visit.

“Today’s Internet is mostly funded by advertising,” the company said on its website. “But what if there were a way to directly support the people who create the sites you visit each day?”

Yahoo becomes default search engine for Firefox

Yahoo Inc. and Mozilla Corp. announced Wednesday they have reached an agreement that makes Yahoo the default browser on Mozilla's Firefox Internet browser in the United States for desktops and mobile devices.

The agreement takes effect in December, the companies said in a press release. The agreement replaced a 10-year arrangement Mozilla has had with Google Inc., according to reports in publications such as the New York Times.

‘Weak’ advertising market here to stay: experts

Canada’s largest media companies take it as a given that the current market for advertising on traditional broadcast media is weak, but experts say broadcasting is shifting to a new normal as online advertising becomes the dominant platform for advertising.

Report suggests declining momentum for Google Glass

Google Inc.'s wearable device, Glass, is seeing a decline in interest among the public and application developers, according to an article by Reuters.

The article, published Friday, said nine out of 16 app makers it contacted that were involved in projects for Google Glass have put on hold or completely abandoned their work for this device, mostly citing a lack of customers or limitations of the device. It said three others had stopped working on consumer applications in favour of those for businesses.

Deepak Khandelwal moving to Rogers from Google

Deepak Khandelwal will become new chief customer officer at Rogers Communications Inc., the company said in a press release Tuesday.

Khandelwal is currently vice-president of global customer experience at Google Inc. and will begin his new position on Nov. 10, Rogers said. He will be responsible for “overhauling the customer experience” at Rogers, the company added.

U.S. online industry group criticizes Canada

A coalition of some of the biggest Internet companies in the United States criticized Canada in a report released Tuesday for being a laggard in the usage and development of Internet technology to grow the economy.

CRTC to remove Netflix, Google input from Talk TV process

The CRTC said Monday it will remove all evidence presented by Netflix Inc. and Google Inc., including oral and written presentations, from the Let’s Talk TV process, following the companies’ refusal to provide the CRTC with information the regulator had requested.

“A company’s refusal to comply with requests and orders duly made at a public hearing is a serious matter,” it said in separate letters to Netflix and Google.

Google announces new smartphone for India

Google Inc. on Monday announced a new smartphone, known as Android One, it will make  available first in India and other developing countries in the near future.

Google said in a blog post that the new product represents the company's efforts to get smartphones to the approximately five billion people, mostly in less developed parts of the world, who do not yet have such devices.

Bloomberg reported that the phones will start at a price of 6,399 rupees ($115 Cdn).

Regulating OTT could set ‘dangerous precedent’: Google

GATINEAU, Que. — A move by the CRTC to regulate over-the-top (OTT) video platforms could set a precedent for regulators in other countries, a Google Inc. lawyer told the commission on the first day of its two-week Let’s Talk TV hearing on the future of television services in Canada.

“The extension of conventional broadcasting regulation to online platforms would certainly be a significant impediment to the development of the platforms,” Google Canada counsel Jason Kee told the commission.

Android makes up almost 85% of smartphone market: IDC

The dominant smartphone brands keep getting stronger as weaker brands, such as devices from BlackBerry Ltd., lose more ground, according to International Data Corp.

The technology research company said in a press release Thursday that worldwide smartphone shipments totalled 301.3 million in this year's second quarter, up 25.3 per cent from the same time a year earlier.

Web operators must pay SOCAN for music videos

Google Inc., Facebook Inc. and Netflix Inc. must pay Canadian songwriters and publishers for music videos viewed on their services, the Copyright Board of Canada ruled on Friday.

The board certified two tariffs from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) that cover both official music videos and user-generated content on the Internet viewed online from 2007 to 2013.

Google buys Songza streaming service

Google Inc. has bought Songza Media Inc., the music-streaming service said on its website Tuesday.

"Today, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re becoming part of Google," Songza said in the online notice, adding that "no immediate changes to Songza are planned, other than making it faster, smarter, and even more fun to use."

Though the price was not disclosed, the New York Times reported that Google paid more than $39 million US for Songza.

Google extends Android to TVs, cars

Google Inc. is extending its Android operating system to cars and television sets, the company said Wednesday during its Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco.

Customers can use the Android Auto service to connect their smartphone with a car, allowing them to access features such as “turn-by-turn navigation from Google Maps, your curated playlists and radio stations through Play Music, simple-to-use voice search, and reminders from Google Now” using the car’s controls, Google said in a Wednesday blog post.

CIBC payment app available for Bell wireless customers

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and BCE Inc. on Wednesday said that CIBC's mobile payment app will be available in the coming weeks for certain mobile phones on the Bell network.

In a joint press release, the companies said the app will be available for Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy S4, Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, HTC Corp.'s One (M7), and BlackBerry Ltd.'s Q10, Z10 and Bold 9900.

Google buys satellite company to improve Net access

Google Inc. said Tuesday it had reached a deal to buy satellite company Skybox Imaging Inc. and hopes it can help it improve Internet access in some areas.

Google said in a press release it is buying Skybox for $500 million US in cash.

Videotron’s new TV app ‘sign of what’s to come’: analyst

MONTREAL —Videotron’s new iPad application, which allows users to access live TV, free and paid video-on-demand (VOD) content and programming stored on a personal video recorder (PVR), in addition to a recommendation function and integrated social networking, is a sign of where "TV-everywhere" strategies are heading, said Alan Breznick, a media, telecom and technology analyst at research group Heavy Reading.

Rogers launches Sportsnet streaming service

Rogers Communications Inc. on Tuesday announced the launch of an online streaming service and mobile application for Sportsnet programing.

The company said in a press release the service is called Sportsnet Now, and for the time being is available as a "preview" to Rogers customers. Rogers spokesman Sebastian Gatica clarified in an email that this means those who subscribe to Sportsnet on Rogers cable.

Growing smartphone market won’t help BlackBerry: report

A new report says smartphone sales will continue to grow in the coming years, though the opposite trend will be seen with BlackBerry Ltd.’s handsets.

International Data Corp. said in a news release issued Wednesday that global smartphone sales are expected to rise 23.1 per cent to 1.2 billion units this year. In 2018, smartphone sales will reach 1.8 billion, representing average annual growth of 12.3 per cent between 2013 and then.

Apple to announce connected-home platform: report

Apple Inc. is planning on expanding into the Internet of Things and will announce a new connected-home platform next week, according to a report from the Financial Times.

The paper reported that the platform will unify the currently diverse connected-home app ecosystem and give Apple’s devices a one-stop control centres for lighting, home appliances and security systems, to be announced at the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco on June 2.

Google opens up Glass sales to U.S. public

Google Inc. said Tuesday any resident of the United States is invited to sign up for the opportunity to purchase its Glass technology, which is still in development.

“We’re still in the Explorer Program while we continue to improve our hardware and software, but starting today anyone in the U.S. can buy the Glass Explorer Edition, as long as we have it on hand,” the company said in a blog posting.

Google changes up Canadian leadership: report

Google Inc. has made a switch in the managing director’s position at its Canadian operations, the Financial Post reported Wednesday.

An article on the Post’s website said Chris O’Neill was leaving the post after 3 ½ years to head up business operations for the wearable product in development, Google Glass. He reportedly will be based at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Google Play Music available in Canada

Google Inc. announced Monday that its online music streaming service, Google Play Music, is now available in Canada.

Paul Joyce, product manager for Google Play Music, said in a Google Canada blog post that Canadians can try out the service at an introductory price for $7.99 a month with the first 30 days free. Those who decide to sign up after June 30 will pay $9.99.

Subscribers can have access to about 25 millions songs through a web stream and create personalized, ad-free digital radio channels based on artitsts or songs they like, the blog said.

Antitrust class-action lawsuit launched against Google

An antitrust class-action lawsuit in the U.S. has been filed against Google Inc., claiming the search engine illegally monopolized and stagnated the American market for Internet and mobile search.

Bell defends targeted ad program as ‘transparent’

BCE Inc.’s chief legal and regulatory officer told a Senate hearing on Wednesday night that his company’s targeted advertising program respects Canada’s current privacy laws.

Mirko Bibic repeatedly compared his company to Facebook Inc. and Google Inc., which he said have access to richer and more personal data than Bell, and said his company needs the targeted advertising program to compete with those “global players.”

Google working on smartphone with replaceable parts

Google Inc. on Wednesday finished a two-day developer conference about its plans for a smartphone with replaceable parts.

An article published Tuesday on the PCWorld website said the phone, dubbed Project Ara, will have removable parts such as a processor, a display, battery and camera.

An article appearing Wednesday on the website for Wired said having removable components could lead to longer lifespans for the smartphones. 

Google Glass available in U.S. for one day

Google Inc. will make its Glass wearable device available to the general public in the United States in a one-day sale on Tuesday.

The device will sell Tuesday for $1,500 US, the company said in a blog post last Thursday.

Since last year, the device has been available to a select group of developers, contest winners and invitees as the company tests the product ahead of its mass-market availability.

Wearables bring together techies in Toronto

There are a few hundred people in Toronto who are, in a manner of speaking, wearing their passion and belief in the potential of wearable technology on their sleeves.

A group, comprised largely of people in related professional areas, has started to gather on a monthly basis to discuss the potential, opportunities and issues that could arise in this emerging field.

The group, which initially started out in January as Wearable Wednesday with the idea of having a meeting on the last Wednesday of every month, has since rebranded itself as We Are Wearables.

Crack down on free online services: PIAC

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is calling on governments to do more to protect people from companies that offer so-called free online services.

In a press release issued Wednesday, it said consumers have little protection when they encounter problems or have disputes about issues such as privacy with companies that offer online services that entail no direct charges.

Ray-Ban maker to help manufacture Google Glass

Italian eyewear maker Luxottica Group S.p.A. said Tuesday that it has reached a deal with Google Inc. to collaborate on making its Google Glass wearable technology.

The company said in a press release that its main brands, Ray-Ban and Oakley, would be included in the partnership, which would combine Luxottica's expertise in eyewear-making with Google’s technological know-how “to design, develop and distribute a new breed of eyewear for Glass.”

Google brings Chromecast to Canada, launches Android Wear

Google Inc.’s Chromecast device — which allows users to play video and audio files on their televisions while controlling the content and playing options through their mobile devices or computers — is now available in Canada, Google said Tuesday.

Google to sell Motorola Mobility

Google Inc. said Wednesday it has reached a deal to sell Motorola Mobility LCC to Lenovo Group Ltd. for $2.91 billion US.

Google CEO Larry Page said in a blog post Wednesday that the smartphone business is “super competitive, and to thrive it helps to be all-in when it comes to making mobile devices.”

He said added that Motorola will be “better served” by Lenovo, a China-based computer manufacturer, which Page added “has a rapidly growing smartphone business.”

Google’s use of health information illegal: privacy commissioner

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said Wednesday that Google Inc. breached Canadian privacy law by using individuals’ health information to provide them with targeted advertisements.

The office said in a release that it launched an investigation after a man with sleep apnea complained that after doing online searches for medical treatments, he was “followed” by advertisements relating to his condition when visiting websites that had nothing to do with sleep apnea.

Google buys Nest for $3.2B

Google Inc. said Monday it has bought Nest Labs Inc. for $3.2 billion US.

Nest makes products such as a thermostat that learns the schedules of homeowners and programs itself, the company’s website says.

“Nest’s founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family. … We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams,” Google CEO Larry Page said in the release.

Android reaches 81% of global smartphone shipments: IDC

Phones running on Google Inc.’s Android operating system made up 81 per cent of all smartphone shipments worldwide in the third quarter of 2013, up from 74.9 per cent at the same time a year earlier, research firm IDC said Tuesday.

In its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, the company said Microsoft Corp.’s mobile operating system, called Windows Phone, accounted for 3.6 per cent of shipments and had volume growth of 156 per cent year over year.

SOCAN deal aims for more revenue from YouTube

Performing rights copyright collective SOCAN reached an agreement for its members to receive additional payments from the use of their music in YouTube videos, the collective said.

SOCAN said in a release Wednesday the deal allows SOCAN members, including unsigned musicians and songwriters or their record labels and music publishers, to collect money from fans who put their songs on YouTube, the online video service owned by Google Inc.

Android fueling growth of Chinese smartphones

Google Inc.’s Android smartphone platform has led to “vast opportunities” for new smartphone vendors and “new competitive pressures at the top of the market,” research firm IDC said.

Motorola opening Waterloo office

Google Inc. subsidiary Motorola Mobility is opening an office in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.

Derek Phillips, engineering director for Motorola Canada, said in an emailed statement that “Motorola is hiring in Waterloo, and we now have an office there.”

He added: “The wealth of mobile talent in the area makes it a natural place for us to establish a presence. In addition, a small group of Googlers in Waterloo recently transferred to Motorola and moved into the Motorola office space."

The next battle for OTT? Licensing

Television providers have had a few years now to get used to online competition from over-the-top streaming services, though they should brace for more. As early as this year, they will be facing a new generation of online competition.

Google Inc., Apple Inc., Sony Corp. and Intel Corp. are working on launching new over-the-top television services that may allow the viewer to flip through feeds from paid cable TV channels, including live programming.