Lenovo

Chinese computer and smartphone maker Lenovo said it is in "preliminary negotiations with a party in connection with a potential joint venture transaction" related to its smartphone business, according to a filing the company made with the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Samsung Electronics maintained its momentum in the Chinese smartphone market by shipping 12.5 million smartphones there in the first quarter, capturing 18.5 percent of the market, according to data from research firm Strategy Analytics.

Sprint Nextel expects to launch an all-touch BlackBerry 10 smartphone in the second half of the year, according to an  AllThingsD  report. Meanwhile, takeover rumors once again swirled around BlackBerry after Lenovo's CEO said his firm might consider buying the company.

Chinese computer maker Lenovo was the No. 8 handset maker in the world in the fourth quarter of 2012, marking the first time the company cracked the top 10, according to ABI Research. The course of Lenovo's rise is part of ABI's ranking of the top 12 handset makers globally. Though most research firms only list the market's top five handset makers, ABI lists a full top 12 (and the firm is providing shipment numbers for all of the vendors listed). For a complete look at ABI's report, click here .