Monday, July 30, 2007ThisNext Expands BoardLos Angeles-based ThisNext, the venture funded shopping discovery and recommendations site, said Monday morning that it has appointed Rob Goldman to the firm's board of directors. Goldman was most recently at Shopping.com, where he served as General Manager and other executive positions at the company. Goldman has also served at Digital Jones, Dash.com, and NeverMissASale.com. ThisNext provides an online product recommendation and discovery site based on user reviews; the firm is funded by Anthe (More info...)
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)
Eyeonics Files For IPOAliso Viejo-based Eyeonics, a developer of intraocular lenses, has filed for an IPO. In a filing with the SEC Friday, Eyeonics said that it is looking to raise up to $86.25M in an IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market as "EYON". The IPO is being underwritten by Piper Jaffray, Banc of America Securities, Canaccord Adams, and BMO Capital Markets. Eyeonics is venture backed by Brentwood Venture Capital, ABS Healthcare Ventures, Versant Ventures, and others.
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)
Gateway Inks Retail Deal In Eastern EuropeIrvine-based PC maker Gateway said this morning that it has inked a new, retail distribution deal in Eastern Europe. Thef irm said that Tesco, a major retailer in Europe, will make its product line available in Tesco stores in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. Details of the deal were not disclosed, however the expansion into Eastern Europe follows an existing relationship the two firms have in the UK. Gateway said it will support the additional customers through its existing European (More info...)
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)
Networks In Motion Powers New Navigation ToolChicago-based U.S. Cellular, a cellular service provider, said today that it has rolled out a new navigation system for cell phone users. The new system is powered by Aliso Viejo-based Networks In Motion, and provides turn-by-turn directions for GPS enabled cell phones. Networks In Motion develops location-based services (LBS) used to provide services to cell phone users. Details of the deal were not disclosed. U.S. Cellular said that the navigation service will be available for $9.99 per month (More info...)
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)
FastSoft Announces Internet Acceleration ApplianceMonrovia-based FastSoft announced a new Internet acceleration device today, saying that it has introduced a new product called the Aria 2000. The product accelerates data transfers over the Internet, and supports line speeds of up to 1 Gbps. FastSoft said that it is targeting the $80,000 device at companies that depend on the transfer of large files, such as video and design files. According to FastSoft, the appliance provides a 2x to 32x speed up of Internet transfers. FastSoft is a Caltech spi (More info...)
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j2 Global Adds DirectorsLos Angeles-based J2 Global Communications announced today that it has added two new board members. j2 said that it has appointed William Brian Kretzmer and Stephen Ross to its board of directors. Kretzmer is an investor, and was most recently CEO of MAI Systems Corporation; Ross is a consultant, and was most recently at Warner Bros. where he was an Executive Vice President. j2 Global Communciations is a provider of electronic fax, voicemail, and other communications services.
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)
IOGEAR Ships HDMI SwitchIrvine-based IOGEAR has rolled out a new switch device for the home entertainment and media segment, announcing today that it has started shipping a new, 4-port, automatic HDMI switch. The new electronic device switches between video sources connected to a HDTV display. According to IOGEAR, the firm's HDMI switch allows up to four HD devices to be connected to a HDTV, and automatically switches between A/V inputs. IOGEAR said that the $189.95 device is designed to link devices such as DVD player (More info...)
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Spark Networks Loses DirectorsBeverly Hills-based online dating and personals firm Spark Networks announced today that it has lost two of its directors. Spark Networks said that Laura Lauder and Scott Sassa have voluntarily resigned from the company's board of directors. Spark Networks cited increased other business commitments as the reason for the resignations. Spark Networks said that it is shrinking its number of directors to seven. In a released statement, Adam Berger, Spark Networks' CEO, said that the firm believes th (More info...)
posted on Monday, July 30, 2007(Full story)