Wednesday, June 10, 2009CallWave: Private AgainCallWave, once one of Southern California's heralded technology successing, is going private and voluntarily delisting its stock, putting an end to the public era of the firm's existence. CallWave--which moved its executive team and headquarters to San Francisco in September of last year--said Wednesday that it will delist its stock from the Nasdaq, to try to reduce the expenses associated with the firm's listing and corresponding SEC filing requirements. The move follows the sale of its hallmar (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Illumina Gets Into Personal Genome SequencingSan Diego-based Illumina, which makes gene sequencing and other related life sciences equipment, said Wednesday afternoon that the firm is getting into the personal genome sequencing market. According to Illumina, it will offer complete coverage of the human genome sequence for under $50,000, and will also create a "social community" focused on education and exchange of information for people who have had their genome sequenced. The new service puts Illumina into competition with a number of sta (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Zag: 50,000 Cars SoldSanta Monica-based Zag.com, the online auto buying technology firm headed by Scott Painter, said Wednesday that the firm has sold its 50,000th car through its online auto-buying affinity programs. The firm, which develops technology that allows consumers to fully configure and price autos from affinity groups like credit unions, AAAs, and other groups, claimed that the firm has saved its buyers over $83.5M over MSRP on their autos. Zag's technology provides a level of customization and detail on (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Study: U.S. Venture Capital Industry Needs To ShrinkA study released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation concludes that the U.S. venture capital industry needs to shrink, in order to resuscitate the industry. According to the study, "Right-Sizing the U.S. Venture Capital Industry," the nonprofit foundation, which studies and encourage entrepreneurship, concluded that there has been stagnating and declining returns in the industry due to a "rapid expansion" of venture capital assets under management. The study, which was authored by Pau (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
VIZIO In Patent SetbackIrvine-based VIZIO, a manufacturer of flat panel HDTVs, has been handed a setback in the firm's legal fight with competing TV maker Funai. According to Funai, President Obama has decided not to overrule an ITC order which found that VIZIO violated Funai patents. Funai claimed in a statement that the lack of action from Obama means that Vizio and its associates have been barred from importing and selling infringing digital television products in the U.S. In a response, VIZIO claimed that the pate (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
VivoMetrics Announces New LifeShirtVentura-based VivoMetrics, which develops patient monitoring devices, said this week that it has completed a prototype of the firm's next generation LifeShirt product, which is used for remote monitoring of patient vital signs. According to the firm, the new product simplifies key vital sign data collection and transmission to care providers. VivoMetrics' product is used for monitoring breathing patterns, cardiopulmonary information, and other patient vital signs via wireless connections. VivoMe (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Aperio Sues Olympus, HamamatsuVista-based Aperio Technologies, which develops digital pathology products for the healthcare and life sciences industries, is reporting that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Olympus America, Inc., Hamamatsu Corporation and Hamamatsu Photonics KK. According to Aperio, it alleges that Hamamatsu's digital pathology system, marketed under the name NanoZoomer, infringes on three of the firm's U.S. patents. Olympus America is the distributor for the product. Aperio said that the law (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Novatel Wireless Swaps AuditorsSan Diego-based Novatel Wireless, which develops wireless broadband hardware for connecting PCs to cell phone networks, announced today that it has selected Ernst & Young LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm. E&Y replaces KPMG. No reason for the change was given, however, the publicly held firm said there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Zumbox Partners With Marketing Firm, Names CEOWestlake Village-based Zumbox, which is developing a system which allows organizations to send mail electronically, based on postal addresses, announced this morning that it has partnered withh a marketing services firm, and appointed that firm's Chairman and CEO as its own CEO. Zumbox, which was founded by Maury Friedman, said that Donn Rappaport, Chairman and CEO of marketing services firm ALC, will serve as the firm's CEO, while remaining Chairman of ALC. Details of the partnership with ALC w (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Ixia Cuts 10 Percent Of StaffCalabasas-based Ixia reported this morning that the firm is cutting its staff by 75 to 80 positions, or 9 to 10 percent of its work force, as part of a restructuring initiative. According to Ixia, the moves will save the company approximately $6M. The firm said that the moves came as a result of the current economic downturn, with CEO Atul Bhatnagar saying that the economy has "negative impacted" the firm's revenue and profitability. Ixia said the cuts would be complete by June 30th, except for (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Qualcomm's FLO TV Expands NationwideSan Diego-based FLO TV Incorporated, the subsidiary of Qualcomm which provides live mobile TV service, said this morning that it is expanding its service to 39 new markets. According to FLO TV, the move comes as a result of the move by the U.S. to digital TV on June 12th; the analog to digital transition is freeing up broadband spectrum used by FLO TV's services. FLO said the expansion will brings its services to 60 million additional customers. Initial markets included in the expansion include (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Active.com Chosen to Host Youth Hoops Web Site Active Network, the San Diego-based operator of an online community for sports and recreational activities, revealed Tuesday that Active.com has been named the technology provider for iHoops. As the official youth basketball initiative for the NCAA and NBA, iHoops offers support services and programs for youth basketball players, their parents, coaches, officials and other related personnel. Active explained that, as technology provider, it will host and maintain iHoops.com, which is slated to l (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
OptionEase Ties With Consulting FirmSan Juan Capistrano-based OptionEase, a developer of software-as-a-service for tracking stock option accounting, has tied with a Los Angeles-based management consulting firm, the firms said this week. According to OptionEase and Avant Advisory Group, the two will provide professional services along with web-based accounting and finance tools. Financial details of the alliance were not disclosed. Avant Advisory Group provides CFO, controllership, and other executive and interim management service (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)
Cornerstone OnDemand Trumpets Customer BookingsSanta Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand, which develops software-as-a-service for managing employee learning and other human resources functions, announced today that it had its best, first quarter results in the firm's history. The privately held firm claimed it had an increase of 185 percent in new client bookings in its Q1, which ended March 31st. The firm--which did not release financials--said it had 2.5 million users using its services in March, which it said was a 250 percent jump from 20 (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009(Full story)