Google buys Frommer’s travel to stay a step ahead of Siri [THE NEXT WEB]

With Frommer’s and Zagat content, Google will provide the same kinds of rich results once you get to your destination. Google+ Local incorporates these professional reviews with check-ins and comments from Google users. Google wants to provide as much information about the world around you as it can directly, right on the search page. Results for travel, shopping and local business are among the most valuable, since they provide ideal opportunities for targeted local advertising.

iPhone 5 pre-orders planned for September 12, second release wave for first week of October [iMORE]

We’ve since learned that iPhone 5 pre-orders are currently planned to begin that same day, at least in the U.S. Release is still planned for 9 days later, on September 21, 2012. We’ve also learned that the second wave of iPhone launches, the ones in international markets, will begin in the first week of October, likely October 5.

Apple expert shines light on Samsung sales in U.S. [REUTERS]

Apple Inc is claiming that more than a quarter of Samsung Electronics’ $30.4 billion in U.S. smartphone and tablet sales result from copying of the iPhone and iPad or infringe on other patents, a damages expert for the U.S. company said on Monday. The Silicon Valley company is demanding up to $2.75 billion of damages from its Korean rival, which includes lost profits.

Groupon posts stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings: $568.3 million revenue, $28.4 million net income [TECHCRUNCH]

While at the top-line Groupon’s results were lower than analysts expected — the average of analyst expectations for Groupon’s revenue was $574.8 million — the company had a stronger-than-anticipated performance at the bottom line. Groupon’s net income for the second quarter was $28.4 million, or $0.04 per share — which is a boost from the average of its Wall Street analysts’ estimates for the quarter which was $0.03 per share.

Gartner: Global mobile sales down 2%, smartphones surge 43% [TECHCRUNCH]

Worldwide, there were 419 million phones sold to end users, is down 2.3% compared to a year ago, Gartner says. Just over one-third (36.7%) of all devices sold were smartphones, which continued to grow well even as the wider market (which includes feature phones) declined. Sales of smartphones were up by 42.7% to 154 million units, with Apple and Samsung together accounting for 83% of all smartphone sales.