Tuesday, January 27, 2009Websense Buys DefensioSan Diego-based Websense said Tuesday that it has acquired Defensio, a provider of technology for dealing with spam on social networking and Web 2.0 web sites. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. WebSense said the buy would extend the firm's capabilities by providing visibility into spam posted on blogs, user forums, and social networking web sites. Defensio's tools are used to stop comment spam in blogs. Defensio founder Carl Mercier joins Websense as Director of Software Dev (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009(Full story)
mobileStorm: Strong Fourth QuarterAdding to the list of local high tech companies reporting a strong fourth quarter, despite the economy, Los Angeles-based mobileStorm said this week that it added more than 200 new clients, and saw "strong" fourth quarter revenues. The privately held firm said that during 2008, it grew it revenues by 63 percent. The firm did not disclose details of its finances, or further detail what drove its fourth quarter results. mobileStorm provides SMS, text-messaging, and email marketing services to comp (More info...)
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Printronix Makes Bid For Printer Technology FirmIrvine-based Printronix, a developer of printing and RFID technology, said Tuesday morning that it is looking to acquire the assets of TallyGenicom LP, a developer of line matrix and serial matrix printers. The firm said it is seeking the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to be named the lead bidder on TalliGenicom, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today. Printronix is owned by private equity firm Vector Capital, which took the firm private last year. Financ (More info...)
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ZyXEL In Win With Chungha TelecomAnaheim-based ZyXEL Communications, a developer of broadband access equipment, said yesterday that the firm has signed on Chungha Telecom, a provider of telecom services in Taiwan, as a customer. According to ZyXEL, it won a procurement tender for Chunghwa's Digital Home project. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. The firm said that the firm recently won a deal to provide equipment 480,000 VDSL2 ports at Chunghwa, but did not detail the size of this latest win. ZyXEL makes powerlin (More info...)
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Break Develops Creative LabLos Angeles-based Break Media, an online video and entertainment site focused on men, said Tuesday that it has tapped a new team of writers, directors, and producers for a new "Creative Lab", which the firm said will create original content for its branded advertisers. Break Media said that the new unit will be headed by Jonathan Small and Tara Leone. Small will be the firm's new Vice President of Creative and Editorial, and Leone will serve as Vice President, Production and Distribution. Exact (More info...)
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WD Ships 2TB DrivesLake Forest-based hard drive maker WD said today that it has shipped what it says are the first, 2 terabyte hard drives. The new drives, which are part of its WD Caviar Green hard drive line, is focused on the consumer market. The new hard drive has a MSRP of $299, and is available in a 3.5-inch platform with a 32 MB cache. The firm's biggest drive previously was 1.5 TB.
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Connect3 Systems Acquired By DemandTecCerritos-based Connect3 Systems, a developer of advertising, merchandising, and promotions software, has been acquired by San Carlos-based DemandTec, DemandTec said Monday. According to DemandTec, it acquired Connect3 in an all-cash transaction, but did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Connect3's software is being used by such companies as Best Buy, The Home Depot, ShopKo, Academy Sports + Outdoors, ACE Hardware, Office Depot, and others. The software helps those retailers manage mercha (More info...)
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SAIC Gets $25M In DARPA Biofuel ContractSan Diego-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) said Monday that the firm has scored a $25M contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, focused on creating alternatives to petroleum-derived jet fuel. SAIC said the prime contract is focused on developing jet fuel from agricultural and aquacultural feedstock materials. The win is part of DARPA's BioFuels program, which is looking to help reduce the military's reliance on traditional fuel.
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Report: Fox Interactive Media Makes CutsFox Interactive Media has reportedly laid off a number of staffers, and is restructing its MySpace unit, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ reports that News Corp's Fox Interactive Media division laid off about 5 percent of its work force, or about 100 people. Details were sketchy, however, MySpace told a number of publications that it is actively hiring and expects to have more employees at the end of the fiscal year than it currently has, despite the restructuring.
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Cisco Buys Santa Barbara FirmSan Jose-based networking giant Cisco said today that it has acquired Richards-Zeta Building Intelligence, a Santa Barbara firm which develops software used for managing building infrastructure. According to Cisco, Richards-Zeta's middleware will be used as part of a solution for allowing customers to maximize operations and energy efficiencies, to create greater energy savings, and to reduce their carbon footprint. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Richards-Zeta Building In (More info...)
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WiSpry Names Marketing, Sales VPIrvine-based WiSpry announced today that it has hired on Lewis Boore as the firm's Vice President of Marketing and Sales. WiSpry, which develops RF semiconductors used for mobile phones, laptops, and other wirelss products, said that Boore joins the firm from Newmerix SA in Switzerland. The firm said that Boore has over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. WiSpry is venture backed by American River Ventures, Arkian, Blueprint Ventures, DoCoMo Capital, Hotung Venture Capital, In- (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009(Full story)