Wednesday, April 20, 2016


FreedomPop Ties With WhatsApp On Launch In Spain
Los Angeles-based free wireless service provider FreedomPop said Wednesday that it has launched its free, wireless service, in a link with popular texting app provider WhatsApp. FreedomPop said it will launch its free service in Spain beginning in the summer, and is initially taking beta applications for users interested in the service. FreedomPop said its service will require the installation of a SIM card from the company in their devices, and will offer up free texting and calling to WhatsApp (More info...)
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Ring Rolls Out Mac App
Santa Monica-based smart doorbell maker Ring said today that it has launched a new Mac app, which lets users monitor and access the Ring Video Doorbell and the Stick Up Cam from Mac OS X El Capitan. The Mac app is free to all users, and has the same functionality as Ring's mobile app. Ring makes a connected doorbell, which lets users see who is at their front door, view recordings, and otherwise monitor their devices. Ring also makes apps for iOS, Android, and Windows 10.
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Snapchat Sets Up Shop In Texas
Venice, California-based Snapchat has set up an a new office in Texas, to help it recruit talent to help develop its software, according to a report Tuesday. The report says that Snapchat has opened up an output in Dallas, in part to tap into that area's local tech startup community and low cost of labor. Snapchat has not announced any details about the new office.
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SkySafe Finds $3M In Funding To Disable Rogue Drones
San Diego-based SkySafe, a developer of technology to disable--and take over--rogue consumer drones, has raised $3M in a seed funding, the company disclosed today. The funding was led by Andreessen Horowitz, and also included Founder Collective and SV Angel. The company, which is targeting the public safety market, says it is developing systems which track and identify drones in airspace, and let public safety agencies either disable a drone--immediately sending it plunging to the ground--or eve (More info...)
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Brighter Picks Up $21M For Dental Marketplace
Santa Monica-based online dental marketplace Brighter, founded by serial entrepreneur Jake Winebaum, has raised $21M in a Series D funding round. The funding was led by General Catalyst, and also included DAG Ventures, Mayfield, Benchmark Capital, and Tenaya. Gabe Ling of General Catalyst join's the company's board with the funding. Brighter's online marketplace lets patients see ratings and reviews of dentists, differences in benefits, upfront pricing, co-pays, and more. Brighter said it will u (More info...)
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OTOY Gets Funding From HBO, Discovery
Los Angeles-based OTOY, a provider of cloud-based graphics rendering technology, has received funding from Home Box Office and Discovery Communications, the company said on Tuesday. Size of the equity investment round was not announced by the company. According to OTOY, the investment will go towards applying its service to develop and distribute original, holographic content. OTOY said it is currently workings with Jon Stewart on upcoming content for HBO, built on its platform. OTOY is led by J (More info...)
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Reel.Date Takes On Internet Dating
San Diego-based Reel.Date has launched another Internet dating site and app, with a new twist--video profiles. According to the startup, it has launched a new dating service which lets users view video introductions from their dates, and which the startup says helps get over problems with untruthful profiles, and better expresses a user's overall appearance and personality. The new startup was founded by Nick Esayian, which the company describes as a divorced father of two with "his own fair sha (More info...)
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Instacart Expands Delivery In LA With H Mart
On-demand delivery service Instacart has further expanded its delivery services in Los Angeles, in a deal with Asian food provider H Mart, the company said Tuesday. According to Instacart, it will start delivering food from the Asianinspired grocery chain H Mart, in downtown Los Angeles, via its app and service. Financial details of the partnership were not announced. Instacart said it has been piloting deliveries from H Mart since June of 2015 at that chain's stores in Boston. Instacart said it (More info...)
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IDrive Launches Wireless Storage Device
Los Angeles-based online cloud backup service provider IDrive said it has launched a new, wireless solid state storage (SSD) device, which it calls the IDrive One. IDrive said the device supports 802.11 b/g/n/a/ac, and comes in 1TB/128Gb SSD for $99.99 or 2Tb/256GB SSD options for $149.99, both bundled with 1TB of its cloud backup services for free for one year.
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Global Eagle Entertainment, SES Expand Ku-Band Coverage
Los Angeles-based Global Eagle Entertainment, which provides in-flight wireless, entertainment systems, and related services to the airline industry, says it has inked an expanded deal with satellite network operator SES, to add satellite capacity over India, Central Asia, the Middle East and North America. The two--which already have been working together on satellite connectivity--said the new agreement provides multiple transponders and Ku-band coverage on the SES SS-12 and AMC-1 satellites. (More info...)
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