Wednesday, September 1, 2010Sonos Links With SpotifySanta Barbara-based Sonos, which develops a wireless music streaming system, said Wednesday afternoon that it has linked with European music streaming firm Spotify. According to the two firms, they will begin streaming music from Spotify to Sonos users in Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Sonos said that the access to Spotify will be available via an updated version of its software, which will be available later this month. Sonos develops user-friendly music pla (More info...)
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Two Local Firms Make World Economic Forum ListTwo local area firms have made a list of firms that the World Economic Forum feels are using technology to address society's problems. According to the World Economic Forum, it selected 31 startups for the list, including San Diego-based On Ramp Wireless and Camarillo-based Transonic Combustion. On Ramp Wireless develops smart grid monitoring systems, and Transonic Combusion is developing new fuel injection systems to improve the fuel economy of new cars and trucks. Also on the list was Ion Torr (More info...)
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Rubicon Project: Q2 Advertising GrowsLos Angeles-based Rubicon Project, the online advertising firm which helps web publishers optimize their ad network revenues, reported this week on the latest online ad spending, saying that ad spending tracked at its customers grew 47 percent in the first half of the year. Rubicon, which has been issuing quarterly reports on ad trends, said that it believes that 2010 is "shaping up to be the strongest year yet" for online ad spending. The firm develops its report from tracking a group of twenty (More info...)
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SocialVest Combines Shopping, CharityLos Angeles- and Atlanta-based SocialVest, a developer of a caused-driven shopping site, said today that it has launched a new service which allows users to raise and give money to non-profit organizations, through shopping. The startup, which has its team split between Atlanta and Los Angeles, said it will rebate 1 percent to 15 percent of purchases made by its users with participating retailers to a "Giving Account", which users can then redirect to the non-profit of their choice. The firm sai (More info...)
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Mobile-XL Expands Sports Score PartnershipLos Angeles-based Mobile-XL, the mobile information provider for Africa backed by the Tech Coast Angels, said this week that it has expanded a partnership with XScores, a provider of sports content, to deliver scores to sports fan through its XLBrowser product. Mobile-XL provides news and information to emerging markets in Africa via SMS, reaching a market which has little to no Internet access. Mobile-XL said the partnership extends sports scores to national and global tournaments in soccer, te (More info...)
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Active Network Signs Twin Cities, Eyeing IPO?San Diego-based Active Network said this week that it has signed the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, the two largest parks and recreation organizations in Minnesota, as a customer. According to Active, the two organizations are using its software to manage and automate their daily operations. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. The news comes as ventureWire reports that Active Network is serious about an IPO. Active Network is backed (More info...)
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GameFly Looks To Spur Signups With GiveawayLos Angeles-based GameFly, the provider of online video game rentals, is looking to spur subscriber signups, saying today that it is looking to give away one year, free memberships to a new subscriber every day this month. The firm said it is looking to reward new members of its community with the promotion. Gamefly offers a videogame rental service which allows users to rent one or more video games concurrently via mail, using a similar model to Netflix. The promotion comes a day after the firm (More info...)
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Lunch.com Adds Personalized RSS FeedsLos Angeles-based Lunch.com, the online social media and networking site run by J.R. Johnson, told its users today that it has unveiled a new, personal RSS feed feature to the site. According to Lunch.com, the new feed can be added to blogs, personal sites, or elsewhere to help users promote their content. Lunch.com allows users to find and share recommendations on products and other topics with other users, and find others who share similar interests. Johnson was the founder of VirtualTourist, (More info...)
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Accumetrics Closes On $24M In FundingSan Diego-based Accumetrics, a developer of medical devices used to measure antiplatelet therapy, a technique used to prevent heart attack and stroke, said this morning that it has closed on a $24M funding round. The firm said the funding came from existing investors, including Arnerich Massena, BBT Fund/Apothecary Capital, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Rivervest and Kaiser Permanente. Of that funding, $7M was raised recently, with the remainder having been received in the Fall of 2009. The f (More info...)
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OpenX Expands In JapanLos Angeles-based OpenX, the developer of ad serving technology, said late last night that it has launched a new effort in Japan called OpenX Market Japan. OpenX said it has entered into a multi-year partnership with cyber communications inc. (cci), a media representative company owned by Dentsu, to launch the effort. According to the firms, under the terms of the exclusive partnership, cci will bring OpenX's global ad marketplace to Japanese publishers, advertisers, and agencies. Financial deta (More info...)
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WD Names Lauer To BoardLake Forest-based disk drive maker Western Digital Corp. reported this morning that it has added Len Lauer, currently President, CEO, and director of Memjet, to its board of directors. Lauer was also EVP and COO of Qualcomm. Lauer has has served at Sprint, Bell Atlantic, and IBM, and sits on the board of H&R Block. WD said Lauer has deep experience with large, multi-national public technology companies and consumer products markets.
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