The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Apple in the company’s patent lawsuit against HTC, which will result in an import ban of some HTC Android phones starting on April 19, 2012. HTC was found in violation of U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647, which turns an email address, phone number, or other types of information into a link that can be interacted with in a variety of ways. For example, you can tap on a phone number to dial it or an address to open it up with a maps application with directions.

Apple’s proactive approach to malware is focused on prevention, while Google’s plan is apparently to encourage creation of apps and deal with the problems as they occur, in reactive mode, which the professor says from a security perspective creates exactly the kind of environment in which malware gangs feel comfortable.

One of the criticisms leveled at Android is the problem of fragmentation: because Android is “open,” phone manufacturers are free to put it on any phone they like and sell it. They are not, however, required to include the latest version of Android, to offer upgrades in a reasonable amount of time, or to make upgrading an option at all.

NetMarketShare’s desktop operating system market share metrics for September 2011 show the Mac OS up significantly by more than a third of a point, Linux up a smidge as well, and Windows off by roughly a third of a point, most of which went to Apple’s OS. In the Mobile/Tablet category, iOS gained another point and a half of share, JavaME was still in second-place but down more than two points, and Android gained just over a quarter point.

Sprint lost about 114,000 postpaid (or contract) subscribers during the first quarter and have been losing more customers throughout this year since Verizon Wireless began selling the iPhone in February. The report on Wall Street Journal mentioned that if Sprint continues its course without selling the iPhone, it will struggle to keep relevance in light of larger rivals as Verizon Wireless and AT&T continue to offer the iPhone.

Some bad news for customers on Verizon’s unlimited data plan; like its competitor AT&T, Verizon revealed it has started throttling customers that it believes to be using an excessive amount of data. The carrier found that the top 5% of its data users were using 2 GB+ each month, and therefore those are the customers that this new policy will affect.

There’s been speculation that Microsoft Corp. might buy either RIM or Nokia to boost its profile in the smartphone game. In that light, it’s arguable that Apple should consider preemptively purchasing one or the other or both. Buying RIM would enhance Apple’s iPhone profile in the lucrative enterprise and institutional sectors, and secure the proprietary and popular BlackBerry messenger service (BBM) which offers a free alternative to texting (SMS), as well as preempting Microsoft (or KOrea’s Samsung) from acquiring the company.

For August, 2011, NetMarketShare has changed the way it calculates Operating System Market Share metrics, now separating Desktop and Mobile/Tablet OSs into two discrete categories. This change has of course altered the proverbial landscape considerably, with one consequence being that share percentages for the three significant Desktop OS players have all bumped up significantly from July’s figures.

After T-Mobile revealed last month that they had over a million iPhones on their network, despite the fact that users had to modify their SIM cards in order to be able to use their iPhone with the carrier, they have now officially released their Micro SIM cards, making the iPhone along with other GSM smartphones officially compatible with the T-Mobile’s network.

The iPad now accounts for over 1% of all web browsing in the world, and in the United States that number rises to 2.1% according to a NetMarketShare report. Lest you think this isn’t a very impressive number, keep in mind that on July 4th the iPad will have been available for only 14 months. Getting 2.1% of the U.S. market when there are many competitors is not easy to do.