WRAL Tech Wire

 AT&T Wireless gives up on lawsuit combating Verizon’s map campaign

 Holiday cheers and jeers – AT&T, Verizon squabble over ads in court

AT&T and Verizon, two offspring of Ma Bell, are getting more aggressive in their marketing, though it's not clear how much they are spending. Verizon and AT&T are both pulling away from their smaller rivals, so instead of competing with Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA, they're increasingly focused on each other.

 Review: Droid stacks up well against iPhone, beats other competition

Verizon introduces Motorla's Google-driven Droid smart phone today. Overall, it gets a good review, except for its flat keyboard.

 Next iPhone threat: Droid from Motorola on Verizon network, backed by Google

Verizon Wireless points out the Droid has features Apple Inc.'s iPhone lacks, such as a physical keyboard and the ability to run several applications at once.

The Droid

 Earnings preview: Analysts see Verizon matching profits from 2008

 Verizon Wireless hanging up on ‘Hub’ home phone device

 Verizon to support new e-book reader from iRex

 FCC chairman formally backs Internet neutrality rules

The proposals uphold a pledge Barack Obama made during the presidential campaign to support Internet neutrality and would bar companies like Verizon, Comcast or AT&T from slowing or blocking certain services or content flowing through their vast networks.

 Bankruptcy judge rejects Verizon’s effort to stop Nortel unit sale to Avaya

Avaya plans to hire 60 percent of North American Nortel Enterprise workers. Avaya will pay $915 million to buy bankrupt Nortel business unit.

 Courts clear Nortel business unit sale to Avaya, reject Verizon objection

In other developments, Canadian government says it won't block Nortel’s sale of its wireless business to Ericsson. Avaya plans to retain 60 percent of Nortel Enterprise workers in North America. RTP campus is one of two top locations for Enterprise group in U.S.

 As Verizon contests Avaya bid for Nortel unit, Ericsson offers some Nortel workers jobs

 FairPoint denies allegation it faked readiness to take over for Verizon

Charlotte-based telecommunications firm disputes claims made in e-mail sent to state regulators in New England.

  FCC votes to look into wireless competition

The Federal Communications Commission is taking a closer look at the practices of the wireless industry, potentially the first step toward more regulations intended to push down prices and increase choices for consumers.

 Verizon tests new, faster wireless network for first time

 Heavyweight wireless title fight – Verizon, AT&T trade blows in ‘most reliable’ dispute

‘Preposterous,’ says AT&T in a statement about Verizon’s downplaying of speed. ‘Without any support whatsoever,’ says Verizon abut AT&T’s speed emphasis. What do you think?