Latest business-technology news and information from the Canadian Press

ORLANDO, Fla. - BlackBerry (TSX:BB) says it will be able to make money off its BlackBerry Messenger service by opening it up to its rivals' smartphones.

SAN FRANCISCO - Google is expected to use its annual software developers' conference to showcase the latest mobile devices running on its Android software, while also unveiling other features in its evolving product lineup.

ORLANDO, Fla. - BlackBerry announced an expansion of its popular BlackBerry Messenger service to iPhones and Android devices this summer and a new smartphone aimed at emerging markets as it kicked off its annual technology conference Tuesday.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A planned Windows 8 update to address complaints and confusion with Microsoft's new operating system will be made available for free this year, the company said Tuesday.

SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft's disdain for Google doesn't extend to all of its rival's products.

ORLANDO, Fla. - BlackBerry will pull out all the stops this week as the company welcomes thousands of industry players for BlackBerry Live, its annual three-day conference which promises to offer some perspective into its future.

TORONTO - Imax Corp. (TSX:IMX) says it earned US$2.9 million in its latest quarter, up from $2.5 million a year ago.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Zynga Inc.'s surprise profit in the first three months of the year got overshadowed by a revenue decline, a drop in the number of users and a lower-than-expected second-quarter forecast.

WATERLOO, Ont. - Open Text (TSX:OTC) announced plans Wednesday to start paying a quarterly dividend to common shareholders even as the software services company reported lower profits in its third quarter.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Apple is opening the doors to its bank vault, saying it will distribute $100 billion in cash to its shareholders by the end of 2015. At the same time, the company said revenue for the current quarter could fall from the year before, which would be the first decline in many years.

TORONTO - For the BlackBerry loyalists who hoped the beleaguered company could redeem itself with another top-notch keyboard-based smartphone, there's good news: the Q10 doesn't disappoint.

TORONTO - BlackBerry says the keyboard version of its new smartphone will arrive in Canadian stores on May 1, and in the United States later the same month.

TORONTO - Softchoice Corp. stock (TSX:SO) soared to its highest level in years Tuesday in the first trading since it announced a friendly takeover offer from a Canadian private-equity firm that values the company at about $393 million.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - CBS Corp. says it has made a minority investment in Syncbak, a technology company that allows mobile device users to pick up signals from their local TV stations over the Internet.

TORONTO - Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. (TSX:CTC.A) has selected BlackBerry (TSX:BB) smartphones for its employees to use as their primary business device.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Microsoft's revenue and net income surged in the latest quarter, but much the gains were due to the recognition of sales that occurred before the launch of the latest versions of Windows and Office, the company said Thursday.

SAN FRANCISCO - Google's latest quarterly results provided further proof that the Internet search leader is figuring out how to make more money as Web surfers migrate from personal computers to mobile devices.

WATERLOO, Ont. - A technical problem that left some BlackBerry users unable to download content from its apps store has been fixed.

TORONTO - Some consumers may roll their eyes when they see vending machines stocked with expensive iPhones and iPads but one in three tablet sales in Canada are now impulse purchases, according to a report by the NPD Group.

MONTREAL - Using wearable computing devices like smart watches and smart glasses will appeal to consumers as an alternative to pulling out their smartphones, say technology experts.

SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo's Internet advertising revenue crumbled further during the first three months of the year, renewing doubts about the company's turnaround efforts despite a surge in earnings.

TORONTO - The new BlackBerry touchscreen smartphones are not being returned at an unusually high rate, despite suggestions to the contrary, according to an industry observer who has completed his own checks.

WATERLOO, Ont. - BlackBerry says a technical problem with its apps store may be preventing some of its users from downloading content.