Thursday, November 5, 2009Eucalyptus Updates Cloud SoftwareSanta Barbara-based Eucalpytus Systems, the venture funded startup developing open source, private cloud management software, said Thursday that it has released its first major update of its software. According to the firm, the updated software now includes multi-cluster support, better scaling, and new monitoring capabilities. Eucalpytus is venture backed by Benchmark Capital and BV Capital, and is a spinout of UC Santa Barbara.
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Report: E-Commerce Spending Down 2 PercentThe latest retail e-commerce numbers from comScore came out today, with the measurement firm saying that U.S. online retail spending was down 2 percent, to $29.6 billion, from the same quarter a year ago. comScore said this is the first time on record that there has been consecutive quarters of negative e-commerce spending growth from the prior year. Last quarter, e-commerce sales were down 1% from prior year numbers.
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United Online Cuts StaffWoodland Hills-based United Online disclosed on its quarterly earnings call late Wednesday that it is cutting 96 employees, as part of a move to increase efficiency and streamline operations at the firm. According to the firm, 71 of the employees are being cut from Classmates Media Segment, which includes Classmates.com, with the remaining 25 from its Communications Segment, which includes its dialup service. The cuts are equal to five percent of the firm's overall workforce. The firm said the r (More info...)
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Abraxis Health Expands In ArizonaLos Angeles-based Abraxis Health, the personalized healthcare division of Abraxis BioScience, said this morning that it is expanding in Arizona, and will open up a new biopharmaceuticals manufacturing plant in Phoenix. Abraxis said the plant will manufacture ABRAXANE, the firm's chemotherapy treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Abraxis said it will invest $70M in the new factory, which it acquired by Watson Pharmaceuticals in 2007. The new factory is expected to employ 200.
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Smith Micro Completes Core Mobility Buy, Cuts OutlookAliso Viejo-based Smith Micro Software said late Wednesday that it has completed its acquisition of Core Mobility, a developer of wireless handset software. Smith Micro had earlier said the deal was worth approximately $18.6M. Smith Micro said the buy will help it provide customers with embedded mobile software solutions focused on the handset. The announcement came along with Smith Micro's Q3 results, where the firm said it is lowering its guidance for full fiscal year 2009 revenues to $105-110 (More info...)
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Clicker.com Adds Blake Krikorian To Board, InvestorsLos Angeles-based Clicker Media, which operates an online service to index Internet television, said today that it has added Blake Krikorian, founder and former CEO of Sling Media, to its board of directors. Krikorian is also investing in the firm. Amount of the investment was not disclosed. Clicker is venture backed by Benchmark Capital and Redpoint Ventures, and was founded by former Ask.com CEO Jim Lanzone. Kirkorian joins Bill Gurley of Benchmark Capital and Geoff Yang of Redpoint on Clicker (More info...)
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Verve Wireless, AP Roll Out Mobile Publishing ToolSan Diego-based Verve Wireless and the Associated Press are announcing today that they have created a new product which will allow publishers to create their own, mobile applications based on AP Mobile. According to Verve and the AP, the white-label products will run on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia, Palm Pre, and Windows Mobile phones. Cost of the new solution was not announced. The new application will help AP member news outlets to build their own mobile branded application. The firms sa (More info...)
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Funny or Die Hits YouTubeLos Angeles-based Funny or Die, the online comedy video site started by Will Ferrell, said today that it has launched its own, branded YouTube channel. The firm said the channel will feature videos from the firm's own site. According to Funny or Die, videos features on YouTube will continue to premiere on its own site, and will only be featured on Funny or Die's YouTube channel for a limited time. As part of the launch of the branded channel, Funny or Die said taht Will Ferrell and Adam McKay ar (More info...)
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