Tuesday, October 1, 2013FreedomPop Launches Its Free Mobile Phone ServiceLos Angeles-based FreedomPop said Tuesday that it has extended its free broadband service into mobile phones, and will now offer up free, phone service to users--with up to 500 text messages a month and 200 anytime minutes. The startup--which has been offering up its free, broadband data plans since last year--is launching the service with the HTC Evo Design. As with the company's broadband plans, the company is offering up a premium version of the service, which lifts those text messaging and m (More info...)
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Fandango Inks Movie Info Deal With SamsungLos Angeles-based movie ticketing service Fandango said Tuesday that the company has inked a deal with Samsung, where its information will be features on new Samsung GALAXY devices. Fandango said it will provide movie show times, ticketing, movie trailers and and its movie preview show "Movie Ticket" to Samsung, as part of a new content recommendation service form Samsung. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The announcement of the deal comes in conjunction with a new "Here & Now" (More info...)
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BookingPal Names COOIrvine-based BookingPal, an online travel technology company, said today that it has added travel veteran Eric Mason as its new Chief Operating Officer. Mason joins the company from Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, where he was Vice President of Global Product & Business Development. He also served at NAVIS, SABRE, and other travel technology companies. BookingPal develops cloud-based booking software for vacation rental properties. The company said its customers include vacation rental, campground (More info...)
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Fate Therapeutics Up In IPOSan Diego-bsaed Fate Therapeutics, which is developing biopharmaceuticals base don adult stem cells to treat a number of orphan diseases, is up slightly in trading after its initial public offering this morning. Fate Therapeutics priced at $6.00 per share last night. The company offered up 6,666,667 shares of its common stock in its IPO. The company is now trading as FATE on the NASDAQ Global Market. Fate Therapeutics was trading around $6.86 in afternoon trading, up around 14.33% over its openi (More info...)
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Hulu CEO Rumors: Intel OnCue TV Head A CandidateMore rumors around a who will be the next CEO of Hulu have bubbled up today, as the New York Post says that Intel OnCue TV head Erik Huggers may be considering the job for the top spot at Hulu. Hulu has been looking for a CEO since March, when Jason Kilar left the company, and is currently being run by Andy Forssell. Other candidates named in the report include Lauren Zalaznik, formerly of NBCUniversal, and Mike Hopkins, of Fox Networks Group.
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Recargo Links With SemaConnect On EV Charging Station PaymentsVenice, California-based Recargo, a provider of software and information systems to help electric vehicle (EV) owners find public charging stations, has linked with electric charging systems provider SemaConnect. According to the two, they have launched a new, public charger payment system called "Pay With PlugShare", which will let users of Recargo's mobile apps also pay for charging at SemaConnect stations. Financial details of the link were not announced. SemaConnect says it operates more tha (More info...)
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Experian Buys 41st ParameterCosta Mesa-based Experian, the provider of credit reporting services and related information, announced this morning that it has acquired 41st Parameter, a provider of device identification technology for the cyber security market. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. 41st Parameter's technology uses device fingerprints to identify web fraud. Experian said the acquisition will strengthen its web fraud detection and risk-based identity authentication capabilities. 4st Parameter (More info...)
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Autobytel Buys Automotive Mobile Marketing CompanyIrvine-based online auto information and leads site Autobytel has expanded into the mobile communications market, with the acquisition of Advanced Mobile, LLC, a provider of mobile apps, mobile websites, text messaging, and other mobile communications services for automotive manufacturers and dealers. Autobytel said it would pay $2.5M in cash, plus up to $1.5M in earn out based on revenues and profits for Advanced Mobile. Advanced Mobile was founded in 2006. Autobytel said it will use Advanced M (More info...)
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Broadcom Completes Acquisition of Renesas Electronics' LTE AssetsIrvine-based semiconductor developer Broadcom has completed its acquisition of the LTE assets of Renesas Electronics Corporation, the company said this morning. The deal was worth $164M. Broadcom had announced the deal in early September. Broadcom said the deal is expected to accelerate availability of a multimode, carrier-validated LTE SoC platform from Broadcom.
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Myspace Hails Growth In UsersLos Angeles-based Myspace said today that it has seen its user base, with 36 million people now using the website after the site's big revamp in June. The site--which is now focused on providing users with access to music and videos--said it started with an audience of 24 million prior to relaunching the site. Myspace also detailed some of the demographics of its user base, saying that 70 percent of its users are 35 and younger. Myspace's new site is heavily focused on giving exposure to music a (More info...)
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Ingram Micro Buys CloudBlueSanta Ana-based technology distributor Ingram Micro has acquired IT asset disposition provider CloudBlue, the company announced Monday. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced by the companies. CloudBlue provides enterprise IT asset disposition, data destruction, and e-waste recycling services to large enterprise customers. According to Ingram Micro, CloudBlue will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the firm, and will be headed by Ken Beyer, the former CEO and co-founder of (More info...)
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Amgen Completes Onyx Pharmaceuticals Tender OfferThousand Oaks-based Amgen reported this morning that it has completed its tender offer for Onyx Pharmaceuticals, and now expects its acquisition to complete today. Amgen said the deal is worth $9.7 billion net of estimated cash at Onyx. Amgen is paying $125 per share in cash for publicly held Onyx Pharmaceuticals,
a developer of biopharmaceuticals for treating cancer. The deal had originally been announced in August.
posted on Tuesday, October 1, 2013(Full story)