Nov 1 (Reuters) – Cable operator Cablevision Systems Corp
said about half of its 3.3 million customers in the New
York, Connecticut and New Jersey area had lost power in the wake
of superstorm Sandy, causing widespread disruptions to its
service.

Cablevision said in a statement on Thursday that 1.6 million
of its customers were without power while 7,265 of the remaining
1.65 million customers who were not affected by power outages
still had no access to Cablevision’s service.

NEW YORK/SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp put its Surface tablet center stage at its Windows 8 launch event, hoping the sleek new device will spark a fightback against Apple Inc and Google Inc in the exploding mobile computing market.

With interest in traditional computers waning, the world’s largest software company is attempting to reinvent the Windows PC in a new format and directly challenge Apple’s all-conquering iPad.

NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp
launched its new Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet
on Thursday in a bid to revive interest in its flagship product
and regain ground lost to Apple Inc and Google Inc
in mobile computing.

“We’ve reimagined Windows and we’ve reimagined the whole PC
industry,” Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters
Television early Thursday ahead of the launch.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp launches its new Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet in New York Thursday, hoping to revive interest in its flagship product and regain ground lost to Apple Inc and Google Inc in mobile computing.

“We’ve reimagined Windows and we’ve reimagined the whole PC industry,” Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters Television early Thursday ahead of the launch.

By Nicola Leske

(Reuters) – Data-storage equipment maker EMC Corp (EMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) cut its full-year outlook on Wednesday, echoing peers also hurt by tight-fisted customers who are putting off spending amid slow economic growth and ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

EMC Chief Executive Joe Tucci said confidence in governments around the world to make decisions on issues such as deficit reductions and tax policies was at a low point.

By Nicola Leske

(Reuters) – Xerox Corp (XRX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) trimmed its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday and said it would take a restructuring charge of up to $100 million to account for a tougher economy as large companies tightened budgets and government had less funding for projects.

“By the time September rolled around, it was very, very clear that we were headed south from a U.S. economy,” Chief Executive Ursula Burns told analysts on a call.

Oct 23 (Reuters) – Xerox Corp trimmed its full-year
earnings forecast on Tuesday and said it would take a
restructuring charge of up to $100 million after third-quarter
sales were hurt by the strong dollar, weak economic conditions
in Europe and tight government budgets.

Xerox, historically known for its office copiers and
printers, said it plans to take a restructuring charge of $50
million to $100 million. It did not say what the charge was for,
but one analyst said it was in the business services operations.

By Nicola Leske

(Reuters) – Xerox Corp (XRX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) tightened its full-year earnings outlook and said it would take a restructuring charge of up to $100 million after third-quarter revenue was hurt by a strong dollar, weak economic conditions in Europe and tight government budgets.

Xerox, best known for its office copiers and printers, said on Tuesday that it planned to take a restructuring charge of $50 million to $100 million.

Oct 22 (Reuters) – The U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency (ICE) said it will end its contract with
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd in favor of
Apple Inc’s iPhone, dealing a new blow to RIM just
months before it launches a vital new device.

The agency said in a solicitation document posted last week
that it intends to buy iPhones for more than 17,600 employees -
a purchase worth $2.1 million.

By Ben Berkowitz and Nicola Leske

(Reuters) – Wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it has acquired a majority interest in Clearwire Corp (CLWR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) by buying a stake from the company’s founder.

A similar attempt by Sprint to take control of Clearwire last week was scuttled by a dispute with Intel and other investors.