USA Today, 6 June 2006

Tech companies such as Microsoft, Apple and eBay are plunging deeper into the telecom business as phones and phone systems become more like computers.

They're exploring many parts of the industry, including hardware and software for cell and landline phones. The market for one kind of back-end phone gear alone is supposed to jump from $2.7 billion in 2005 to $8.4 billion in 2010, says research firm In-Stat.