Tech Roundup: Microsoft-Yahoo saga heats up, Sun disappoints

On the telecom side, Verizon Communications Inc. reported solid first-quarter earnings on Monday, helped by strength in its wireless segment.

Elsewhere in tech, "Grand Theft Auto IV" made its long-awaited debut on Tuesday, as gamers lined up to get their hands on the title. The game follows Eastern European immigrant-turned-gangster Niko Bellic on crime sprees around a fictional Liberty City. UBS analyst Benjamin Schachter expects the GTA IV to sell as much as 8 million units this year. He called its positive reviews "unprecedented" and said it could be the highest-rated console game in history.

Wednesday marked the day the game's publisher, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., previously said it was willing to start formal talks with potential buyers of the company. Larger rival Electronic Arts Inc. has launched $2 billion tender offer that expires later this month.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The NYSE asked Virgin Mobile USA Inc. to explain an unusual surge in its stock price Wednesday. The U.S. wireless unit of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which went public at $15 per share last October, told the exchange it does not comment on unusual market activity. The stock closed up 12 percent on Wednesday, but in intraday trading it was up as much as 39.6 percent.

Network equipment maker 3Com Corp., whose proposed $2.2 billion buyout fell apart earlier this year because of government concern over a Chinese company's role, named Robert Mao chief executive on Tuesday. Mao, a fluent Mandarin speaker, will be based in China, which 3Com sees as its biggest market.

COMING UP: A number of tech companies are scheduled to give their quarterly reports next week. Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc. is set to release its fiscal third-quarter results on Tuesday

Online travel company Orbitz Worldwide Inc. will release its first-quarter results on Wednesday, while competitor Priceline.com Inc. will report on Thursday.

Video game publisher Activision Inc. reports its fiscal fourth quarter on Thursday. Graphic chip maker Nvidia Corp. reports its fiscal first quarter that day, as well.

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Compiled by AP Business Writers Rachel Metz and Barbara Ortutay in New York.