Tuesday, February 24, 2009


Guidance Software Sees Record Q4
Pasadena-based Guidance Software joins the list of Southern California firms who had a good quarter, saying Tuesday that it had revenues of $25.2M in its fiscal fourth quarter, growth of over 22 percent versus its similar quarter in 2007. According to the firm--which develops electronic discovery and digital forensics tools--the revenue was a record for the firm, and brought its total yearly revenue to $91.5M, or a 16% increase over the firm's prior year revenues.
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Internet Brands Sees Quarterly Boost, Buys Three Websites
Los Angeles-based Internet Brands announced its fourth quarter and fiscal 2008 results, reporting that--despite the recession--the firm saw an increase in its fourth quarter revenues of 8%, or $27.0M versus $24.9M a year ago. The company also disclosed that it has acquired three more websites, as the firm continues to acquire web properties in various vertical markets. In its earnings release, Internet Brands said it has acquired CVtips.com, an online job search site; Steves-digicams.com, a web (More info...)
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Hitachi Buys Fabrik
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has acquired Fabrik, the San Mateo-based data storage firm which owns the G-Technology and SimpleTech data storage brands. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Fabrik is a provider of data storage hardware, flash memory, USB hard drives, and memory upgrades, along with an online backup service. According to Hitachi, Fabrik will become part of Hitachi GST's new external storage business. Fabrik itself acquired Santa Monica-based Mac RAID stora (More info...)
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Networks In Motion Gets Patent
Aliso Viejo-based Networks In Motion, which develops wireless navigation software, announced Tuesday that the firm has scored a new patent on its technology. The firm said the patent covers technology used to keep its online director of businesses and entertainment venues up to date. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent--number 7,486,958--was granted on February 3rd, and names Michael A. Sheha, Angie Sheha, and Stephen Petilli as inventors. The patent was originally file (More info...)
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Big Stage Hires VP
Pasadena-based Big Stage Entertainment, which is developing technology for creating 3D avatars, said Tuesday that the firm has hired on Patrick Barry as the firm's Vice President of Content Alliances. Big Stage said that Barry joins the firm from SK Telecom, where he was Senior Director of Corporate Development and Strategy. Barry has also served at Brilliant Digital, Warner Bros., and Intel Corp. Big Stage Entertainment is venture backed by Mission Ventures, Selby Ventures, and the Tech Coast A (More info...)
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SAIC Gets $115M Contract
San Diego-based SAIC said today that the firm has scored a $115M contract, part of a U.S. Army biometrics project. SAIC said that the subcontract, from Sensor Technologies Incorporated (STI) has a term of one year, with three one-year options, and covers operations and user maintenance support of the army's Tactical Biometrics Systems (TBS). That system uses biometric data--fingerprints, iris scans, facial photos, an dother information--to identify wanted or dangerous persons for the military.
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Gumiyo Adds Customer
Woodland Hills-based Gumiyo, which develops tools for enabling mobile web sites, has scored a new customer. According to accounting and advisory firm CNM LLP, it has partnered with Gumiyo to deliver collateral, advertisements, business cards, and other media via SMS from its web sites. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. CNM LLP's Executive Director is Tony Radaich, who was formerly a partner at Ernst & Young in Southern California. Gumiyo develops tools which helps businesses delive (More info...)
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HireRight Inks Deal With SAP
Irvine-based HireRight, a provider of online employment screening and job applicant tracking software, said today that the firm has inked a joint marketing agreement with software publisher SAP America. According to HireRight, the agreement calls for HireRight and SAP America to deliver HireRight's screening services through an integration with SAP's E-Recruiting software. SAP's e-recruiting software is used by human resources companies to manage the recruiting process. HireRight's services will (More info...)
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Zumbox Signs Newspaper Publisher
Westlake Village-based Zumbox, a startup looking to help companies distribute their content digitially using postal addresses, said today that it has inked a distribution partnership with local newspaper publisher 22nd Century Media. According to Zumbox, it will deliver digital editions of 22nd Century Media's local newspapers. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed. According to Zumbox, it will deliver digital editions of papers, to every street address that 22nd Century Media' (More info...)
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Reunion.com Relaunches As MyLife
Los Angeles-based MyLife, the latest effort of former GreatDomains.com and Reunion.com CEO Jeffrey Tinsley, said today that it has launched its new people search service. The firm--which is the result of the merger of Reunion.com and Wink in November--said it will provide a source for people search, including searching of social networking sites and other online sites. Among features of the new people search service is a "unified profile" which keeps track of social networking web site profiles (More info...)
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DailyFill Takes On Celebrity News
Santa Monica-based Slingshot Labs, the startup incubator headed by MySpace co-founders Josh Berman and Colin Digiaro, officially rolled out its first web site this morning, DailyFill. According to the firm, which is a division of News Corporation, the new site will cater to "celebrity-obsessed" audiences and provide celebrity news, fashion, and pop-culture information. The new site is the latest in what seems to be a surge of celebrity-focused content sites. Similar sites include Wonderwall, a s (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009(Full story)