Monday, May 16, 2011Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Ramps Outreach To Small BusinessesLos Angeles-based Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp., the provider of business credit information which was acquired last year in a private equity deal, and shifted to Malibu, looks to be ramping its outreach to small businesses. The firm--previously a staid, hundreds year old company which had been plodding along as a nondescript credit rating service for business-to-businss finance types--said Monday that it has launched a new "small business starter" kit for its services. The new package no (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Aerovironment Wins TXU Energy In EV Charging DealMonrovia-based Aerovironment has scored a win in Texas, with TXU Energy, to deploy a network of electric vehicle chargers. According to AeroVironment, TXU Energy has selected the firm to deploy EV charging stations in the Dallas Metro-plex area. Size of network was not announced. According to Aerovironment, the first units were installed at the McKinney Public Library. The resurgence in interest in electric vehicles has revived Aerovironment's electric vehicle charging outlook; the firm is curre (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Cyber-Rain Launching New ProductEncino-based Cyber-Rain, the venture backed developer of smart irrigation controllers, is launching a new product this week for remote management of those controllers. The new product, the XCI Cloud, is geared at owners and managers of residential and commercial properties, allowing them to monitor and control watering remotely from the Internet. Cyber-Rain has also released a free, iPhone app which allows customers to control their systems via their smartphone. Cyber-Rain makes smart irrigation (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Arcturus Get Exit At PliantPasadena-based venture capital firm Arcturus Capital has scored an exit out of its portfolio this morning, as Milpitas, California-based Pliant Technology was acquired by SanDisk in a deal worth $327M. SanDisk said it would pay $327M in cash, plus equity-based incentives for Pliant, a developer of enterprise solid state disk drives (SSDs). SanDisk is a major manufacturer of flash memory. Arcturus first invested in Pliant in 2007.
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Miramax, Netflix Ink Streaming DealSanta Monica-based Miramax and video rental service Netflix said today that the two have inked a multi-year agreement, which will allow Netflix members to instantly stream motion pictures from the Miramax film library. Financial details of the streaming deal were not disclosed. According to the two, the deal is the first time Miramax titles have become available through a digital subscription service. The Miramax titles will begin to be available in June.
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
RealD Inks Technology Deal With SamsungLos Angeles-based 3D technology provider RealD reported today along with Samsung Electronics, that the two have entered into a license agreement to develop full resolution, 3D panels for the PC and TV market. Financial details of the joint effort were not announced. the two said they will deliver panels featuring a new, jointly developed 3D display technology which use RealD 3D glasses. The panels will be aimed at 23-inch and 27-inch PC monitors, and 55-inch TVs. The two said that the technology (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
SG Biofuels Gains CustomersSan Diego-based SG Biofuels, the developer of specialized seed crops for biofuels, said today that it has inked a number of customers for its hybrid Jatropha seed. The firm said it has deals to deploy 250,000 acres ofits crop, which is designed to provide large volumes of oil to be used to develop biodiesel, bio jet fuel, and specialty chemicals. Names and financial impact of the customer deals was not disclosed. SG Biofuels is backed by Life Technologies and others. The firm claims its hybrid s (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Demand Media Names Kirby As Mobile HeadSanta Monica-based Demand Media announced today that it has named Michael Kirby as head of its mobile efforts. Kirby has been appointed SVP & GM, Mobile, to lead the company's mobile strategy. Kirby joins Demand Media from GOGII, where he was Chief Revenue Officer. He also has served at Activision, FOX Sports Interactive, Fox interactive Media, and Intermix Media.
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
Sony Online Entertainment Restarts Game ServicesSan Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment said over the weekend that it has begun restoring its online game services, after the massive hack of the firm's services. Sony said Saturday that it has begun returning "nearly all" of its portfolio of online games, its game forums, and websites. The company also said that it will require its players to reset their passwords after the cyber-attack on the site. Sony reported that it has also increased security measures on the site, after engaging "severa (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)
NTS Expands In Silicon ValleyCalabasas-based National Technical Systems, the provider of engineering services, said this morning that it has extensively expanded its operations in Silicon Valley. The firm said it has added a new, 30,0000 square foot environmental testing lab in Newark. The new lab will help serve customers with EMC and wireless testing.
posted on Monday, May 16, 2011(Full story)