VENTURE CAPITAL POST

On Thursday, the new market forecast said that global smartphone sales growth will cool to single digits for the first time amid the China's economic slowdown. IDC predicted the 9.8% increase in global smartphones shipment to a total of 1.43 billion units. Android dominates the market share with 81.2% with Apple holding only 15.8%.

Shares of credit bureau TransUnion TRU.N rose as much as 10 percent in their debut, valuing the company at about $4.5 billion.

China's smartphone market has reached saturation, according to a new study by industry analyst IDC that carries potentially significant implications for the global handset industry led by giants like Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS).

China has dropped some of the world's leading technology brands from its approved state purchase lists, while approving thousands more locally made products, in what some say is a response to revelations of widespread Western cybersurveillance.

Chipmaker Intel Corp (INTC.O) forecast current-quarter revenue and gross margins that disappointed investors, sending its shares down more than 2 percent in extended trading.

Chips from Taiwan's MediaTek Inc were mostly passed over by the big phone brands a decade ago, with the likes of Nokia and Motorola commanding legions of in-house engineers who could advise on electronics and circuitry.

From a rosier outlook for the PC industry in December, IDC changed gears and predicted a continuing decline for PC sales this year until 2018, TechCrunch reported.

New York, US-based tech giant IBM and Dallas, Texas-based telecom firm AT&T struck a strategic partnership that will create a simplified service that will help businesses deal with network security problems and other cyber threats.

The International Data Corporation released its forecast for the PC market worldwide, estimating a 10.1% plunge in 2013 sales, a 3.8% contraction in 2014, and a 300-million mark on an annual basis.

Reports said Nokia would roll out a tablet powered by Windows RT next month.

Analysts said the release of new iPhone and the 4G license grant for China Mobile might mean Apple and China Mobile's deal is looming.

Gartner confirmed the latest report from the International Data Corporation and said Android-based devices made up 79% of all the smartphones sold during 2013's second quarter.

Forrester Research predicted that the tablets' worldwide installed base would reach more than 900 million by 2017, up from 2010's 15 million users.

According to analysts, valuing BlackBerry right now is impossible considering the company's struggles.

The price cut in Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet would apply in several countries, but not in the UK.