Year: 2010

Intel (http://www.intel.com) has signed an agreement to acquire Texas Instruments’ cable modem product line. The agreement is subject to regulatory review and customary closing conditions.

It is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2010. All employees of Texas Instruments’ cable modem team received offers to join Intel at sites in their home countries, primarily Israel, and will become part of Intel’s Digital Home Group. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Apple is set to open its fourth direct retail store in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 19 at 5 pm. The shop will be in the Castle Towers Shopping Centre, Castle Hill.

The Apple Store will be the company’s 302nd retail store. Apple plans to open another 186 or so during this fiscal year, with about half of those outside the U.S.

Apple is facing some early challenges in its iAd mobile advertising foray, with some ad campaigns experiencing delays as agencies attempt to learn the new system amid Apple’s tight control over the creative process, ad executives have told the “Wall Street Journal” (http://macosg.me/2/pg).