Wednesday, September 28, 2011mDialog Finds $5MSanta Monica-based mDialog said Wednesday afternoon that it has raised $5 million in a Series A round of funding. The round was led by the BlackBerry Partners Fund. mDialog said the investment will be used to expand its products across mobile and connected devices such as the iPad and iPhone, as well as Android, Roku and other platforms. mDialog provides targeted video ad insertion services, which can automatically insert pre-, mid-, and post-roll ads, targeted to specific viewers. mDialog was f (More info...)
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RealD Drops As Sony Balks At 3D Glasses CostLos Angeles-based RealD was buffeted in the markets on Wednesday, after it was revealed that Sony is looking to shift the cost of RealD's 3D glasses to theater owners. Sony Pictures Entertainment told theater owners this week that it will no longer pay for 3D glasses made by RealD, due to the high cost of purchasing 3D glasses for its releases. The Hollywood Reporter said studios are paying $5M to $10M per blockbuster release for RealD's glasses. RealD was down more than 15 percent on the news l (More info...)
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GotCast Goes To The DogsSanta Monica-based GotCast is used to connecting wanna-be actors, models, and other talent with producers and other opportunities for fame and fortune. However, the site hasn't spent much time on our four legged friends--until now. The company, which is headed by Alec Shankman, has just launched another contest for a company, but this time, it's looking for dogs, not people. GotCast just launched a contest looking for America's Cutest Canine, its first for non-humans this morning, offering up ca (More info...)
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Boingo Wireless Boosts International Efforts With iOS AppLos Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, the operator of a network of Wi-Fi access points, is extending its international efforts today, saying it has released new iOS app focused on international usage of its services. The firm said the new Wi-Fi Credits app allows users of the Apple iPad, iPhone, and iPad touch outside of the U.S. to purchase Wi-Fi access using iTunes. Boingo has an extensive list of partnerships with international Wi-Fi hotspot providers, who offer up one-hour Wi-Fi access via the (More info...)
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Enevate Expands Battery Efforts In IrvineIrvine-based Enevate, a developer of rechargeable battery technology, is expanding in Irvine, according to reports today. The venture backed firm, which has investments from Mission Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson, is tripling its office space to 22,000 square feet, according to the Orange County Register. Enervate is a spinout of technology from UC Irvine, and is developing batteries aimed at 3G and 4G smartphones and tablets.
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Mission Ventures' Lee Departs For Stealth StartupJeff Lee, a senior associate at San Diego- and Los Angeles-based Mission Ventures, has quietly left the firm to head up a newly founded, stealth startup, according to Lee's LinkedIn profiles and bounced emails to his Mission Ventures address. Lee was helping to provide Mission Ventures with coverage of the Los Angeles area. Lee has not yet announced what he his new startup is up to. Lee was involved in Mission's investments in SodaHead, Access 360 Media, and Active Storage, among other companies (More info...)
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Parking In Motion Raises FundingSanta Monica-based Parking In Motion, a developer of systems to help drivers find open parking space, said this morning that it has raised a Series A round of funding. Size of the funding round was not disclosed. The round was co-led by IDG Ventures and Fontinalis Partners. Parking In Motion is led by Sam Friedman. The company says it has a database of more than 25,000 parking locations in over 500 cities, and is tapping into smart parking meters, sensors, and parking gates to locate parking spa (More info...)
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VOKLE Boots Up Online Singing CompetitionIn an interesting application of a live, streaming video site, Santa Monica-based Vokle, the online, interactive live events service headed by Robert Kiraz, announced today that it is hosting a live singing competition on its site. Vokle said it will feature ten finalists from around the country on a three part singing contest on the site. The competition will be streamed live via webcam to Vokle's viewers. The company said the competition is open to anyone with a webcam, with online auditions o (More info...)
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BP Logix Wins CustomerSan Diego-based BP Logix, a firm providing business process management software, said today that it has signed Rentokil Initial plc, a provider of business services, as a customer. BP Logix said that Rentokil is using its products across its European operations. Financial impact ofthe win was not disclosed. BP Logix said that Rentokil Initial has over 66,000 employees spread out across 58 countries.
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Local.com Powers Local Business Directory NetworkIrvine-based Local.com, the operator of online local business directories, reports today that it is powering 50 local business directors for service HomeTownLocator.com. Local.com said it is supplying its private label local business directory to the site, which is owned by HTL. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Qualcomm, Mindspeed Tie On Video Over Wi-FiQualcomm Atheros, the networking products subsidiary of San Diego-based Qualcomm, along with Mindspeed Technologies, said today that the two have tied together for an embedded, video-over-Wi-Fi solution. The two said they have integrated Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11n chip with Mindspeed's Comcerto 1000 broadband packet processors, in a design aimed at original equipment and design manufacturers. The two said the reference design is aimed at applications like high end, fiber-to-the-home Ethernet gate (More info...)
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THQ Gains Credit FacilityAgoura Hills-based videogame maker THQ today said it has entered into a new credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, worth up to $50M for working capital, plus increases to $75M during peak sales periods. The credit facility replaces an earlier facility it had with Bank of America.
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