Libyan rebels 'hijack' mobile network

Libyan rebels have access to a mobile phone network for the first time in a month, after a secret operation to hijack equipment formerly controlled by the Gaddafi family, says The Telegraph.

The network is helping rebel commanders on the front lines of the conflict, who had been forced to rely on a primitive system of flags to order their amateur army to advance or retreat.

Authorities in eastern Libya are also using their improvised mobile communications to forge international links as they seek to galvanise support for their war against Gaddafi.

Internet giant Google has reported a sharp rise in first-quarter earnings, the first figures with co-founder Larry Page back at the helm as boss, reports the BBC.

The world's leading search engine reported $6.54 billion in net revenue in the first quarter, up 29% from $5.06 billion the same time a year ago.

Google has about a 65% share of the US search engine market and about 90% in Europe. Announcing the results, Google CFO Patrick Pichette said: “These results demonstrate the value of search and search ads to our users and customers, as well as the extraordinary potential of areas like display and mobile.”

Apple's long-awaited white version of the iPhone may soon be on store shelves, after a delay of almost 10 months, notes Investor's Business Daily.

Checks indicate Apple's Taiwan manufacturing partner, Foxconn subsidiary Hon Hai Precision, has begun production.

That suggests a release date in about a month, sources said. The white iPhone will be available from AT&T and Verizon Communications by the end of April, Bloomberg reported.

Chinese networking solutions provider Huawei plans to double its headcount in the UK over the next three years, reveals Computing.co.uk.

The firm has committed to creating a further 500 roles in its enterprise and device business, to add to its existing 500-strong workforce, at its UK office in Basingstoke.

Huawei says it is expanding these divisions after seeing success in its network infrastructure business, and aims to step up its consumer business too.