Motorola Backs Mobile Barcode Firm Scanbuy

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Schaumberg,
Ill. – Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Ventures on
Tuesday announced that it has made an investment in Scanbuy, a developer of
mobile barcode technology and services.

Financial details of the investment — which
also included participation by Masthead Venture Partners, Hudson Ventures and private
investors — were not disclosed.

New York-based Scanbuy’s ScanLife platform
lets advertisers include barcodes on their product packaging or in various
print media, which users can then scan using their camera phones and receive
product reviews, price comparisons, coupons or other content.

ScanLife said
that millions around the world are using its service, on Android-, Java- and
Symbian-powered devices, BlackBerry and the iPhone.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u96c1

http://www.scanlife.com

Vivox Lands $6.8 Million for In-Game Voice Services

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Natick, Mass. – Vivox, a developer of voice services
for online games, virtual worlds and other applications, announced on Tuesday
that it has secured $6.8 million in a third round of equity financing, led by
IDG Ventures.

Previous backers Benchmark Capital, Canaan Partners and
GrandBanks Capital also participated.

Natick,
Mass.-based Vivox’s voice platform is used by game publishers including Electronic
Arts, NCsoft, Sony Online Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast, and in Linden
Lab’s "Second Life" virtual world.

The company said its platform
counts over 20 million users, and is delivering over 2 billion minutes of voice
each month.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u967o

http://www.vivox.com

Live Video Streaming Firm Ustream Nabs $75 Million

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View, Calif. – Ustream, a provider of live video streaming
services, announced that it has closed a $75 million, second round of funding
led by Japan’s
Softbank.

Under the terms, Ustream will receive $20 million now, and Softbank
has the option to invest another $55 million by July 2011.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Ustream
counts about 50 million unique monthly visitors to its site, which facilitates
the distribution of live video streams.

The company said 3.8 million viewers
watched its stream of President Barack Obama’s inauguration, and 3.4 million
watched its live pre-show coverage of the American Music Awards.

Ustream will use the funds to help fuel growth in the U.S.
and Asia Pacific, specifically in Japan,
China, Korea and India.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u963t
(PaidContent)

http://www.ustream.tv

Sony Producing Reality Series for PlayStation Network

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Foster City,
Calif. – Sony (NYSE: SNE) Computer
Entertainment America on Monday announced plans to release the first reality
series produced exclusively for its PlayStation Network, which provides
downloadable content for PlayStation 3 and PSP owners. "The Tester"
will see 11 gamers compete to win a job as a game tester with Sony and a $5,000
signing bonus. The first episode of the weekly series will become available for
free download on Feb. 18.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8vd8

http://www.thetester.com

Live Nation Execs Get $6.5 Million in Post-Merger Bonuses

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Los Angeles
– The top executives at concert promotion giant Live Nation and Ticketmaster
received hefty bonuses after a merger of the two companies was recently
approved, Hypebot reported, citing an SEC filing. According to the filing, new
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) CEO Michael Rapino received $3 million; executive
chairman Irving Azoff got $2 million; executive vice president Kathy Willard
received $1 million; and executive vice president and general counsel Michael
Rowles was given $500,000.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8v3l
(Hypebot)

Netflix Signs Instant Streaming Deals with Indie Distributors

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Beverly Hills,
Calif. – Online DVD rental
service Netflix (NASD: NFLX) on Monday announced deals with a number of independent film
distributors that will increase the size of its library available for instant
streaming to its subscribers. The new deals with The Criterion Collection,
Gravitas Ventures, Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, Oscilloscope Laboratories and
Regent Releasing will make around 300 new titles available for instant
streaming.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8vbi

http://www.netflix.com

Microsoft to Offer 250GB Xbox 360 Drive Add-on in Japan

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Redmond, Wash.
– Microsoft plans to release a 250B hard drive accessory for the Xbox 360 next
month in Japan,
IDG News Service reported. The company told IDG it currently has no plans for
the add-on device outside of Japan,
where it will sell for about $172 from March 11. The largest on-board drive
currently available for the Xbox 360 is 120GB on the Xbox 360 Elite.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8v5m
(IDG News Service)

Bravo TV Teams with Foursquare on Location-based Game

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

New York
– NBC Universal’s Bravo TV network has partnered with location-based social
network and reviews service Foursquare, with Bravo to offer Foursquare users game
"badges" for visiting locations seen on Bravo’s programs. Bravo will
promote the Foursquare service and the 500 Bravo-specific locations in on-air
segments, and plans to offer a sweepstakes and other awards to entice users to
play the game on Foursquare.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8v3z
(N.Y. Times)

http://foursquare.com

Google to Release Nexus One for AT&T 3G Network

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

San Francisco
– Google (NASD: GOOG) will release a version of its Nexus One smartphone for use on
AT&T’s (NYSE: T) 3G network, CNET News.com reported, citing a filing with the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). CNET notes that this version of the device
will likely work on most European 3G networks, as well. Google has already
announced plans to offer a version of the Nexus One for Verizon’s and Sprint’s
networks.  


 

Related Links:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10444986-266.html

Asian Music Streaming Service KKBOX Plans U.S. Launch

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Taipei, Taiwan – KKBOX, a "freemium" streaming
music service operating in Asia, plans to launch a U.S.
version that focuses on providing Chinese-language music to Chinese language
speakers in the U.S.
The company currently counts 6 million users, some 200,000 of whom pay for a
premium version of the service, which costs about $5 per month. KKBOX is aiming
for a third quarter U.S.
launch, and said it will charge U.S.-based users no more than $10 per month.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u8v8x
(GigaOM)

http://www.kkbox.com

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