Google Acquires Mobile Device Typing Aid BlindType

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View, Calif. – Google (NASD: GOOG) has acquired BlindType, a developer
of technology that auto-corrects a user’s typing on a mobile phone.

San
Francisco-based BlindType announced the deal in a blog post; financial terms
were not disclosed.

"We know that typing on your mobile device can be a
frustrating experience, which is why we’ve worked hard to make touch typing
easier and faster than ever — the way it should be," BlindType said.

"We’re excited to join Google, and look forward to the great opportunities
for mobile innovation that lie ahead."

 

Related Links:
http://www.blindtype.com/blog.html?entry=temp

Microsoft Taps New Presidents for Mobile, Entertainment, Office

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) announced on Friday the promotions
of new presidents to several of its business groups, following the departure of
Robbie Bach and Stephen Elop in recent months. The company named Andy Lees
president of its mobile communications unit; Don Mattrick was named president
of interactive entertainment; and Kurt DelBene will become president of
Microsoft’s Office division.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/27stcpq

Google Launches Public Version of Goo.gl URL Shortener

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View, Calif. – Google (NASD: GOOG) has made its Goo.gl URL
shortening service available to the public, having previously reserved the
service for use within its News and Maps. The service will store links
shortened to a user’s Google account. Competitors in the space include TinyURL
and Bit.ly.

 

Related Links:
http://goo.gl

Motorola Faces Patent Suit From Microsoft Over Android Phones

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
3

Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft (NASD:  MSFT) announced on Friday that it has filed
a federal patent infringement lawsuit and complaint at the International Trade
Commission against Motorola (NYSE:  MOT), related to features on the company’s Android-based
smartphones. "The patents at issue relate to a range of functionality
embodied in Motorola’s Android smartphone devices that are essential to the
smartphone user experience, including synchronizing email, calendars and
contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal
strength and battery power," said Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft’s deputy
general counsel for intellectual property and licensing.

While Google (NASD:  GOOG) is not
named as a defendant, Microsoft’s patent claims related to its Android platform
come after similar suits filed by Apple (NASD:  AAPL) and Oracle (NASD:  ORCL) against makers of
Android-based devices.

"We have a responsibility to our customers,
partners, and shareholders to safeguard the billions of dollars we invest each
year in bringing innovative software products and services to market," Microsoft’s
Gutierrez added.

"Motorola needs to stop its infringement of our patented
inventions in its Android smartphones."

 

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/265pnhj

http://tinyurl.com/33zcf68
(WSJ)

Mobile Marketer Velti Acquires Mobclix Mobile Ad Exchange

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

San Francisco – Velti, an Irish developer of mobile
marketing and advertising technology with local offices in San Francisco, said
on Friday it has acquired Mobclix, developer of a mobile ad exchange network.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Velti said the acquisition
gives it a mobile exchange that connects more than 25 online, video and mobile
ad networks, including Millennial Media, Jumptap, InMobi, Traffic Marketplace,
Mojiva and Smatto.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Mobclix was founded in 2008 by as an
open, bid-based marketplace for mobile developers, advertisers, ad networks and
agencies.

The company’s embedded software developer kit is used by iPhone,
iPad, Android and Windows developers to develop applications, then sell, track
and manage the ad inventory on those apps.

 

Related Links:
http://www.velti.com/velti-acquires-mobclix

http://www.mobclix.com

After Outcry, EA Removes Taliban Mode in "Medal of Honor" Game

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
1

Redwood City, Calif. – After the U.S. military announced a
ban on sales of the game at its bases, video game publisher Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) has
decided to remove a controversial feature in its forthcoming "Medal of
Honor" title that allowed gamers to play as members of the Taliban.

The
company said it "received feedback from friends and families of fallen
soldiers who have expressed concern" over the Taliban feature, Medal of
Honor executive producer Greg Goodrich wrote in a blog post.

"We are
making this change for the men and women serving in the military and for the
families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice — this franchise will
never willfully disrespect, intentionally or otherwise, your memory and service."

The game is slated for release on Oct. 12.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/282pudh
(Medal of Honor blog)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20018276-17.html

Report: Facebook Tops Yahoo as No. 2 U.S. Video Site

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Reston, Va. – Facebook is now the second-largest online
video platform in the U.S., besting Yahoo (NASD:  YHOO) but still trailing market leader
YouTube, according to Internet audience measurement firm comScore’s Video
Metrix report. In August, a total of 178 million U.S. Internet users watched
video online — or 85.1% of all online Americans — engaging in more than 5.2
billion viewing sessions.

Google’s (NASD:  GOOG) YouTube counted 146.3 million unique
viewers, followed by Facebook (58.6 million), Yahoo (53.9 million) and Vevo
(45.4 million).

Google-owned sites, including YouTube, counted 1.9 billion
total viewing sessions in August, compared with Facebook (243 million) and
Yahoo (229 million).

Americans also viewed more than 3.8 billion videos ads in
August, while the Hulu video portal generated the highest number of video ad
impressions at 790 million.

Video ads reached 45% of the total U.S. population
an average of 28 times during the month.

 

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2fan456

Sirius XM Radio Raises Year-End Subscriber Forcast

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

New York – Satellite radio service Sirius XM Radio(NASD: SIRI) on Friday
again raised its year-end subscriber forecast, and now expects to close 2010
with an all-time high of 20.1 million subscribers.

The new projection implies
the company expects net subscriber additions of 1.3 million for the year.

In
July, New York-based Sirius increased its net subscriber add projections to 1.1
million.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2ejkxmk

http://www.sirius.com

Japanese Mobile App Developer Tonchidot Lands $12 Million

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Tokyo – Tonchidot, a developer of mobile "augmented
reality" services including the Sekai Camera app for the iPhone, has
closed a $12 million second round of financing.

Investors included mobile
network operator KDDI, Recruit Co., SPiRE, JAFCO and previous backers DCM and
Itochu Technology Ventures.

Tokyo-based Tonchidot launched its Sekai Camera app
for the iPhone in 2009, and an Android version earlier this year.

In July,
Tonchidot launched the beta version of "SoLAR," which it calls the
industry’s first augmented reality social gaming platform.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2vme3wp

http://www.tonchidot.com

Eniac Ventures Debuts $1.6 Million Seed Fund for Mobile Start-ups

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Los Angeles – Eniac Ventures has launched a new $1.6 million
seed investment fund, which will be spread among start-ups developing mobile
software and services, TechCrunch reported.

The company expects to make
investments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, and has already seeded firms
including Localytics, NearVerse and Philo.

Eniac will also mentor the companies
in which it invests, offering business development, marketing and fundraising
advice.

 

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2bpxfcx

http://eniacventures.com

1...1,1611,1621,163...1,457Page 1,162 of 1,457