provider

Shares of Verizon Wireless (VZ,) MetroPCS (PCS) and Leap Wireless (LEAP) are also up, as the wireless carriers could benefit from more stable and competitive landscape for wireless carriers, according to AP.

Baird's analyst rating on all four carriers have been lifted to "outperform" from "neutral."

AT&T, Inc. (T) is up 2.18% to $29.48 after Robert W. Baird & Co. upgraded its shares on increased confidence that the company's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA will win regulatory approval.

The second largest wireless provider in the U.S. is up 0.55% to $27.67 in mid-day trade.

The HTC Corp. Inspire smartphone will be on sale starting Feb. 13, three days after Verizon begins selling iPhones.

AT&T Inc. (T) will begin selling HTC smartphones for $99.99, the first mobile device its offered since Verizon Communications (VZ) garnered the rights to sell Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone. AT&T had been the sole provider of

Apple (AAPL) increased its Q1 global shipment goal for the iPhone to 20M-21M units from 19M units, Digitimes reports, citing sources with Taiwan-based component suppliers. The company's goal for WCDMA iPhones has been upped to 14M

CMCSA bid/ask gap remains wide so far this morning. GE is down 0.6% at last check.

According to the WSJ, Genachowski wants Comcast to observe ""net neutrality"" rules in giving competitors' videos the same treatment as its own for customers using its Internet service.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has told the FCC's other commissioners that he supports Comcast's (CMCSA) offer to buy a controlling interest in General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal, subject to certain conditions, the Wall Street