AT&T Inc. and the Justice Department have agreed to put off their upcoming antitrust trial over the phone company's proposed acquisition of smaller rival T-Mobile USA while the wireless carriers determine the fate of the deal. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle quickly approved their motion Monday to cancel their February trial and set a Jan. 18 status hearing. AT&T must file its plans with the court by Jan. 12. The development comes as the $39 billion deal comes under increasing government opposition, with analysts now giving it a slim chance of going through. The Justice Department sued to block the merger on Aug. 31, saying the combination of the No. 2 and No. 4 cellphone companies in the country would reduce competition and lead to higher consumer prices.

It was not quite the “War of the Worlds” broadcast of a Martian invasion in New Jersey. Still a Verizon “emergency” alert that the company texted Monday to its wireless customers in three New Jersey counties jangled some nerves and triggered hundreds of calls from concerned residents to local and state offices. The company warned of a “civil emergency” and told people to “take shelter now.” Trouble was, the message was a test but it wasn't labeled as such. Verizon later apologized. In 1938, Orson Welles' “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast of a fake Martian invasion in Grovers Mill, N.J., touched off a panic among those who believed they were hearing a real emergency announcement.

Data on Google deal sought

European regulators have asked Google to provide more information about its proposed $12.5 billion acquisition of cellphone maker Motorola Mobility. The request is the latest sign that regulators in Europe and the U.S. are taking a hard look at the deal to ensure it doesn't give Google Inc. the means to stifle competition in the increasingly important mobile computing and advertising market. It's unclear whether the action will change the European Commission's timetable for issuing its decision on the proposed takeover of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. Google described the commission's request as a routine part of the regulatory review. “We're confident the commission will conclude that this acquisition is good for competition and we'll be working closely and cooperatively with them as they continue their review,” the company said in a Monday statement. The U.S. Justice Department also is reviewing what would be the biggest acquisition in Google's 13-year history. If regulators prevent the deal from being completed, Google would have to pay a $2.5 billion breakup fee to Motorola Mobility.