"There's a lot yet to come," Microsoft Windows unit CFO Tami Reller tells Reuters-- the company hopes for a boost in Windows 8 sales after a "solid" start as more W8 devices from Acer and HP should hit the market.

Reller continues "over the next couple of selling seasons we'll have [touch laptops and convertibles] across all form factors and all price ranges."

Microsoft says Windows 8 device sales were not hit by consumer preference to the alternatives (as in iPads or Android devices) or the current negative market outlook. Instead the company blames a limited device volume due to a constrained touchscreen component supply.

Mind, the Surface tablet still has to set the market on fire-- IDC estimates Q4 2012 Surface shipments total just 900000 (compared to 22.9 million iPads in the same period), even if the more business-friendly Surface Pro only launches this week.

"BlackBerry" is now more than just a smartphone name-- on the BlackBerry 10 launch Research in Motion renames itself to BlackBerry in a move to consolidate the company brand.

"As we launch BlackBerry 10 around the world, now is the right time to adopt the iconic BlackBerry name" CEO Thorsten Heins says.

Now the hopes of a renamed RIM (sorry, BlackBerry) lie in not one, but two smartphones running on the latest BlackBerry OS version-- the Z10 and the Q10.

The Z10 is the BlackBerry take on the iPhone concept, with a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 resolution touchscreen, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage (expandable via microSD slot).

Nokia returns to being a profitable business for the first time since Q1 2011 on Q4 2012 with operating profit reaching €439 million, an improvement from the €954m loss from the previous year. 

However mobile device sales are down by -24% Y-o-Y-- from 113.5m to 86.3m units-- while "smart device" sales drop by -66% Y-o-Y to 6.6m units as the company continues its shift from high-volume/low-cost Symbian smartphones to Windows Phone. 

This explains why the Nokia smart device average selling price (ASP) is up from €140 on Q4 2011 to €186 on Q4 2012. 

“We are very encouraged that our team’s execution against our business strategy has started to translate into financial results. Most notably we are pleased that Nokia Group reached underlying operating profitability in the fourth quarter and for the full year 2012," CEO Stephen Elop says.

2012 was a hard year for Nokia, with operating loss reaching €2.3 billion. As a result, the company is not making dividend payments for the year, the first time the company hasn't done so since at least 1871. 

Go Nokia Q4 and 2012 Interim Report

Cisco announces yet another acquisition-- Israel-based mobile network software developer Intucell, worth $475 million. 

Intucell makes self-optimised network (SON) software platforms for mobile carrier networks, and has expertise in software, radio management and optimisation technologies. According to Cisco Intucell SON software examines networks, identifies issues and manages network traffic in real time. 

"Through the addition of Intucell's industry-leading SON technology, Cisco's service provider mobility portfolio provides operators with unparalleled network intelligence and the unique ability to not only accommodate exploding network traffic, but to profit from it," Cisco says. 

Following acquisition the Intucell portfolio will make part of the Cisco Service Provider Mobility Group, with the team reporting to the Software and Applications Group. 

Intucell is the 3rd recent purchase for Cisco, following cloud networking developer Meraki and traffic management specialist Cardien. 

Go Cisco Announces Intent to Acquire Intucell