Wednesday, June 23, 2010MySpace Ties Into Windows Live Messenger, HotmailLos Angeles-based social networking site MySpace announced Wednesday afternoon that it has integrated the site into Windows Live Messenger and Hotmail. According to the firm, the integration allows users of Messenger and Hotmail to sync status updates between MySpace and Messenger, see MySpace contacts within Messenger's dashboard, comment on MySpace status updates within Messenger, and email MySpace contacts from Hotmail. MySpace said it will begin rolling out the beta integration of the featur (More info...)
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SmartDrive Bumps Funding PlansSan Diego-based SmartDrive Systems, a firm which develops "black box" technology to record how drivers are performing on the road for fleet managers, has expanded its funding target for its latest equity round to $28.5M, according to a regulatory filing by the firm today. The privately company, which is venture backed by New Enterprise Associates and Oak Investment Partners, along with others, indicated today that it has so far raised $12.0M in the open round. The initial funding was in October (More info...)
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Entrepreneur of the Year LA Award Winners AnnouncedErnst & Young named its LA region Entrepreneur of The Year award winners last night at the Beverly Hilton, including a number of technology executives. Among the winners honored last night were Adam Bernhard, CEO of flash sales site HauteLook, Greg Waldorf, CEO of eHarmony, and Mike Fiore, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Vantage Oncology. Other winners included Alfred Kuehlewind, CEO, Commodity Forwarders; Mike Towbes, Chairman of the Board, Montecito Bank & Trust and The Towbes Group, Inc.; and (More info...)
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San Diego Man Charged With Fraud In Possible Murder Of AngelSan Diego police have charged a man with fraud, and are investigating a possible homicide, in the death of San Diego Tech Coast Angel John G. Watson. According to reports, Kent Keigwin has been charged with unlawfully transferring $7.5M from a Deutsche Bank account of Watson. Watson was found dead by Tech Coast Angels members after failing to appear at a local event, according to Xconomy. The report says that the San Diego police are awaiting reports from the San Diego County Medical Examiner. T (More info...)
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GotCast Powers Video Gaming Reality SeriesLos Angeles-based online talent casting startup GotCast is powering the casting efforts for a video game reality series, The Tester, the firm said today. According to GotCast, it is launching a casting challenge for Sony Computer Entertainment America and 51 Minds Entertainment for the second season of "The Tester", an original reality series which pits video game players against each other for the ultimate prize of becoming a quality assurance game tester for the PlayStation. GotCast, which is (More info...)
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Buy.com Expands Into Household GoodsAliso Viejo-based Internet retailer Buy.com has branched into household goods, the firm said today, in a partnership with Alice.com. The firm said it will offer household essentials such as toothpaste, pet food, baby formula and paper towels through its site and the third party relationship. Details of the deal between Buy.com and Alice.com were not disclosed. Buy.com has been steadily increasing the breadth of products on its site, and now includes such products as musical instruments, toys, pe (More info...)
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Total Immersion Powers New Iron Man 2 AppLos Angeles-based Total Immersion, the developer of augmented reality software, has snagged another win in the entertainment industry with 'Iron Man 2'. The firm said its is providing augmented reality features for a digital promotion around the film, as part of a marketing campaign from LG. Total Immersion said the deal, made with LG Mobile Phones, Alcone Marketing, Marvel Studios, and Paramount, will include augmented reality features as part of a limited edition Iron Man 2 comic book bundled (More info...)
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Break Media Expands Into New Ad VerticalsLos Angeles-based Break Media, the online media and advertising firm run by Keith Richman, announced this morning that it is in a major expansion in its advertising network, and has added 23 new verticals to its network. The firm said the addition of the new verticals and a number of premium partners brings its reach to nearly 110 million people worldwide. Among the new sites joining Break's advertising network are Justin.tv, RedOrbit.com, Spil Games, and WeGame.com. New verticals in its network (More info...)
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Bing Focuses On Entertainment With New FeaturesMicrosoft's search engine, Bing, is enhancing its searches for an area of interest to lots of Southern California firms--entertainment and media content. According to Bing, it has released a new version of its site which focuses on music, gaming, movies, and TV. The search engine said one of the biggest investments is in entertainment, particularly navigating and finding what you are looking for from content on the web.
Among the new features being launched on Bing is the ability to search f (More info...)
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Nereus Pharmaceuticals Rounds Up $20M MoreSan Diego-based Nereus Pharmaceuticals, a firm developing drugs for the treatment of lung cancer, said Tuesday that it has raised another $20M in funding and commitments from its venture backers. The new funding round was led by HBM Bioventures, and also included Alta Partners, Forward Ventures, Gimv, Advent International, Pacific Venture Group, Roche Venture Fund, and Astellas Venture Management. Nereus said the funding came as a result of the completion of enrollment in a randomized, Phase 2 (More info...)
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HireRight Acquires UK FirmIrvine-based HireRight, a provider of on-demand employment screening and drug screening services, announced today that it has acquired Powerchex Limited, a pre-employment screening firm based in the United Kingdom. FInancial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Powerchex provides pre-empoyment screening to companies in the UK, and was founded in 2005. As part of the acquisition, HireRight said that Powerchex managing director and founder Alexandra Kelly will manage the Powerchex business from i (More info...)
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German Thin Film Solar Cell Firm Sets Up Shop In Los AngelesGerman thin-film solar module manufacturer Sulfurcell, in an expansion into the United States, said today that it has established new North American operations out of new offices in Los Angeles. According to Sulfurcell, it is backed by Intel Capital and develops CIS/CIGSe-based thin film solar modules, for rooftop and buliding integrated applications. Sulfurcell did not say how large of an office and how many employees will be based here, but said it will be developing a network of system integr (More info...)
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Interview with Brian McKelvey, WorlizeEarlier this month, Los Angeles-based startup Worlize (www.worlize.com) announced it had received a seed round of funding, and launched a firm to focus on social gaming and chat. The firm's CEO is Brian McKelvey, who we caught up with recently to learn more about his background, the firm, and the market it hopes to serve.
Thanks for the interview. What's the idea behind Worlize?
Brian McKelvey: We're building a virtual world, which attaches to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and all the social (More info...)
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Passenger Wins MicrosoftLos Angeles-based Passenger, which develops private, online communities for brands to help them gain insight into their customers, said today that Microsoft Corp. has tapped the firm for Project KIN, a private online community focused on Generation Y and their use of mobile communications. Passenger said the community, which includes more than 2,000 members, is being used to contribute insight into Microsoft's KIN brand. Microsoft had launched its KIN mobile phone earlier this year. Passenger sa (More info...)
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Music Reports Ties With RdioWoodland Hills-based Music Reports, the provider of music copyright, royalty accounting, and rights administration which is owned by private equity firm ABRY Partners, reported today that it is working with social music service Rdio. Rdio is the the new social music service founded by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, the founders of Skype. According to Music Reports, it is working with Rdio to administer the mechanical licensing and royalty accounting for Rdio's new music subscription service i (More info...)
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Wapple Expands In CarlsbadWapple, a mobile website software provider based in the United Kingdom, announced today that it has expanded its operations and opened up a new North American subsidiary, based in Carlsbad. According to the firm, the new location for Wapple North America will be headed by Ed Hoffman. Hoffman has served at Netbiscuits and iLoop. Wapple said it helps companies create mobile websites, including microsites, custom integration, and other products.
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Local.com Names Product VPIrvine-based Local.com, the operator of a number of local search sites, said this morning that it has appointed Eileen Licitra as its Vice President of Product Management. Licitra joins the company from MediaSpan Online Services, where she was most recently Vice President, Product Management. Licitra has also served at Freedom Communications and the Orange County Register. The firm said that Licitra will report to Mike Plonski, the company's Chief Technology Officer.
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Emulex Selected By HP For Blade AdapterCosta Mesa-based storage area networking equipment firm Emulex said today that its OneConnect Universal Converged Network Adapter technology has been selected by HP. Emulex said that its OneConnect technology will be used in the new HP ProLiant G7 server blade, as part of the HP NC551i Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Adapter, as well as in a new related HP mezzanine card. Expected shipment volumes and financial impact of the win were not announced. The Emulex technology provides 10Gb Ethernet, Fibre C (More info...)
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Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Names Chief Commercial OfficerIrvine-based Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceuticals firm focused on oncology and hematology, said today that it has named James E. Shields as its Chief Commercial Officer. Shields was most recently with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited, and also has served at MGI Pharmaceuticals, Supergen, Centocor, Bristol-Myers Squibb, ICI, and Stuart Pharmaceuticals. Shiels will be responsible for sales and marketing at the firm. The company said the appointment will help maximize the growth po (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010(Full story)