Tuesday, November 25, 2008comScore: eCommerce Spending DowncomScore, which monitors ecommerce sites and Internet traffic, is reporting today that for the first 23 days of the November-December 2008 holiday season, there has been a 4 percent decline versus last year in spending. comScore said that $8.2 billion has been spent online since last year, down from $8.51 billion last year. comScore speculated that the drop in spending came because of the depressed and volatile stock market, declining housing prices, inflation and the weak job market. The firm i (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
High Tower Software Shuts DownAliso Viejo-based High Tower Software, a venture-backed developer of security, compliance, and log management software, has shut down. A spokesperson at the firm told socalTECH that the shutdown occurred yesterday, and that the firm is now in the process of looking for buyers of its technology. High Tower was backed by Falcon Fund, Hallador Venture Fund, INROADS Capital Partners, J.F. Shea, Kinship Partners, Liberty Partners, Merrill Lynch Ventures, and the Tech Coast Angels. The firm had raised (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Vical Cuts 20 PercentSan Diego-based Vical Incorporated, a biopharmaceuticals firm focused on immunotherapeutics for cancer and DNA vaccines for infectious diseases, said Friday that it has cut 29 employees, or approximately 20 percent of the firm. According to the company, it has also accelerated closure of a research facility. The firm said that the moves are expected to reduce the firm's cash burn by approximately $4M annually. The firm now has 120 employees.
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Jacked Inks Deal With NBASanta Monica-based Jacked, a provider of second screen information for sports broadcasts, said Monday that the firm has inked a deal with the NBA. According to Jacked, it will provide an interactive, second screen companion to a number of NBA teams. The deal calls for local and regional television broadcasters to integrate its SportsTop product into their web sites. The deal also will have participating NBA teams. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jacked provides sports information (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Userplane Extends Chat AppSanta Monica-based Userplan has extended the firm's chat applications, saying Tuesday that the firm will connect users of its chat application across different web sites, regardless of where they are on the web. According to Userplane, users of its Userplane Chat App can chat with other users logged in anywhere on the chat application, which previously only offered chatting within a specific web site. Userplane said that those sites include MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Ning, Flux, and Bebo, as (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Interview with Jason Howe, CEO of AwarepointSan Diego-based Awarepoint (www.awarepoint.com) is a developer of systems for tracking hospital assets, patients, and doctors, using RFID tags. The firm is announcing a substantial Series D funding round today, so we spoke with the firm's CEO, Jason Howe, to get the details on the company and what it's doing.
Congrats on funding. Explain what your products do?
Jason Howe: What we do at Awarepoint is, at the 10,000 foot level, is RTLS - Real Time Location Services. What we are is an indoor (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Awarepoint Raises $13.3MSan Diego-based Awarepoint, a developer of systems for tracking assets and patients in hospitals, has raised $13.3M in a Series D funding. The firm said the round was led by Cardinal partners, and also included Venrock and prior investor Avalon Ventures. Awarepoint said the funding will go towards expansion of its product in both domestic and international markets. Awarepoint develops real-time location systems (RTLS), which uses wireless RFID technology to monitor the location of hospital equip (More info...)
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Power-One In Patent License With Linear TechnologyCamarillo-based power supply manufacturer Power-One has inked a patent license deal with analog circuit maker Linear Technology, the firm disclosed today. According to the firms, Linear Technology has entered into a non-exclusive license to Power-One's digital power technology patents. Financial impact of the patent deal was not disclosed. Linear Technology is a major supplier of analog integrated circuits used in power supplies and related components; Power-One is a supplier of power suppliers (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
AWR Inks Japanese DealEl Segundo-based AWR, a developer of software for high frequency electronics design, announced this morning that it has inked a deal with the Japanese arm of test and measurement manufacturer Rohde & Schwarz. According to the firm, the companies will work together to deliver customized hardware and software solutions. Rohde & Schwarz Japan will offer AWR's products bundled with its test and measurement equipment. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. AWR's software is used for electron (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
Abraxis BioScience Buys Back RightsLos Angeles-based Abraxis BioScience, a biotechnology firm focused on compounds for treating cancer, said this morning that it has reached an agreement with AstraZeneca UK Limited to re-acquire rights to market the firm's ABRAXANE treatment in the United States. According to AstraZeneca, the move will result in the payment of $268M to the firm from Abraxis. AstraZeneca paid $200M in 2006 for the rights to the compound, which is used for treating breast cancer.
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)
FatTail Names Product Management VPWoodland Hills-based FatTail, a developer of software for online advertising management, said today that it has appointed Ali Bohra as Vice President of Product Management. Fattail, which is venture backed by Velocity Interactive Group, Ted Meisel, and others, said that Bohra joins the firm from IAC. Bohra was Directof Operations at IAC. He has also served at United Online. FatTail is developing advertising optimization software to help publishers automate the process of buying and selling onlin (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008(Full story)