Monday, January 23, 2006Broadcom Buys Packet Switching Firm For $80MIrvine-based communications semiconductor firm Broadcom has purchased Sandburst, an Andover, Mass based fabless semiconductor company developing packet switching and routing systems-on-a-chip. Broadcom said that it will pay $75M in cash plus up to 100,000 shares of stock for the firm. Sandburst provides switching and routing systems, including packet processors and traffic management capabilities. Broadcom said that it acquired Sandburst to accelerate convergence of triple-play traffic. The acqu (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
VCs Invest $22.1B In Deals in 2005, $2B in Southern CaliforniaVenture capitalists invested a total of $22.13B in 2,239 deals in 2005, according to a report released today by Ernst & Young LLP and VentureOne/VentureSource. The report found that there was a 2% increase over 2004 in capital invested, led by medical device companies and consumer and business-service companies. However, the report also found that information technology investements had a 4% decrease in capital and 8% decrease in deal flow. Southern California ranked as the third most active reg (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
Gemstar-TV Guide Forms New Development GroupLos Angeles-based Gemstar-TV Guide is forming a new group to focus on creating products across multiple media platforms. The firm reports that its new cross-platform Product Development and Technology group will enhance its existing product plans and develop new products and services. Gemstar said that it has hired Steve Shannon as executive vice president and general manager of the group. It also hired Michael Starkenburg as senior vice president, Technology. Shannon was founder of Akimbo Syste (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
SOA Software Reports $29.9M In RevenuesSanta Monica-based SOA Software, a provider of SOA and web services management software and services, reported today that it had revenues of $29.9M in 2005, an increase of 450 percent over 2004. The privately held firm said that it added 74 new customers, including JetBlue, Merrill Lynch, Tyco, and others. SOA Software is a venture-backed firm providing SOA management software used by enterprises. The firm is backed by Redpoint, Mellon Ventures, Palisades Ventures, and Paladin Capital. SOA Softw (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
ReachLocal Signs Deal With FTDEncino-based local search marketing firm ReachLocal announced this morning that it has partnered with FTD. ReachLocal will offer its turnkey, online search marketing solution to FTD florists in the US and Canada. ReachLocal reports that the agreement calls for FTD to implement all of its local search advertising through ReachLocal. Financial terms were not disclosed. ReachLocal provides search marketing services to local businesses, providing a platform for placing pay-per-click and other ads fo (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
Network LIVE Broadcasts Rio EventLos Angeles-based Network LIVE said today that it has secured an exclusive broadcast license to the Rock in Rio Festival. Network LIVE will broadcast the multi-day music event via the Internet, wireless/mobile, satellite, radio, and television. The event is being held at the end of May and beginning of June. Network LIVE is the joint venture of AOL, XM Satellite Radio, and AEG, and is focused on developing live content for digital distribution. The firm is headed by Kevin Wall.
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
Online Consumer Spending Up In 2006comScore Networks, a firm that analyzes Internet traffic trends, is reporting that year to date consumer spending on the Internet is off to a strong start. The firm reports that non-travel related online spending is up 33 percent during the first three weeks of January, versus last year. Spending totaled $5.5B, with the strongest categories being event tickets, consumer electronics, and fitness-related items. Event tickets had sales to date of $193.3M, a 50 percent increase from the similar peri (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)
Interview with Ken Ramberg, Founder, GoodSearch.comI recently ran across Los Angeles-based GoodSearch.com (www.goodsearch.com), a web site that allows you to search the Internet, but with a new twist. The site provides a portion of its proceeds to the charity of your choice. I spoke with Ken Ramberg, founder of GoodSearch.com. Ken is the former founder of JOBTRAK.com. He told me a bit about how GoodSearch is tying together web search and charity donations. BK: What is GoodSearch, and how does your service work? KR: GoodSearch is a search engin (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 23, 2006(Full story)