TMCnet News
AP Technology NewsBrief at 6:48 p.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Go Daddy, an Internet domain registrar, is soldSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ The parent company of GoDaddy.com, a top registrar of Internet domain names, has been sold to a group of private investment firms for $2.25 billion, a person familiar with the transaction told The Associated Press. Go Daddy Group Inc.'s sale to KKR, Silver Lake and Technology Crossover Ventures comes as the company expects to top $1.1 billion in revenue this year because expanding Internet use has fueled the creation of more websites and the "domains" needed to help find them. Go Daddy announced the sale late Friday. A person close to the transaction, who asked to remain anonymous because of not being authorized to speak publicly, told the AP the sale price. AP Source: Google among firms looking to buy HuluLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Search giant Google Inc. is one of about a dozen companies involved in talks to potentially buy online video site Hulu, a person familiar with the matter said Friday. As the owner of YouTube, it would be a strategic buy for the Silicon Valley technology company, which has had a rocky relationship with Hulu's Hollywood owners. Hulu has begun presenting its financial information to many prospective bidders, but it's too early to declare a front-runner, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are confidential. 'FarmVille' creator Zynga to go publicLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Zynga, the online game maker behind "FarmVille" and other popular Facebook pastimes, is going public, the latest in a crop of high-valued Internet IPOs expected after LinkedIn Corp. showed that the online networking craze is a hot commodity on Wall Street. Zynga Inc. hopes to raise up to $1 billion in an initial public offering that follows LinkedIn's sizzling stock market debut last month. The amount of money Zynga is seeking in its IPO will likely change as its bankers determine how many shares should be sold and at what price. That process typically takes three to four months. Talent show mulled for Timberlake's MyspaceLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Justin Timberlake's longtime manager Johnny Wright said Friday that a talent show or some other way of developing new artists will be core to the revamp of Myspace. The kernel of an idea is what has emerged from a frenzied two weeks of deal-making that brought the former `N Sync pop star into a partnership with new buyers of the ailing website. Review: Sites break down neighborhood traitsLOS ANGELES (AP) _ If you find a home on the market that has the right look, amenities and price, you're still only halfway there. That's because a neighborhood is often as big a consideration as the house itself. Before you buy, you need to know if it's safe. Are the schools nearby any good? Are there parks, shopping centers or public transportation within walking distance? Consortium prevails over Google for Nortel patentsNEW YORK (AP) _ A consortium that includes leading smartphone makers Apple and Research In Motion prevailed over Google this week with a $4.5 billion cash bid for about 6,000 patents and patent applications from bankrupt telecom-equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. The group offered about five times more than Google's initial bid of $900 million. Phones running Google's Android system compete with Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry devices. Reports say FTC investigating TwitterWASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal regulators are looking into the interactions between Twitter and a company called Ubermedia, which develops applications that help users follow and communicate with each other on Twitter's popular online messaging service, according to two published reports. The Federal Trade Commission inquiry is still at a preliminary stage and the focus remains unclear, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Correction: Kodak-Apple PatentsROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) _ In a June 30 story about a patent case, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the U.S. International Trade Commission essentially agreed with a judge who threw out Kodak's patent claims, giving Kodak a partial loss. In fact, the commission kept much of the case open. The commission sided with the judge on issues that Kodak did not dispute. Tests show wireless network could harm GPS systemsWASHINGTON (AP) _ New test results show that a proposed nationwide wireless broadband network would produce significant interference with GPS systems used for everything from aviation to high-precision timing networks to consumer navigation devices. Changes to the proposal could reduce interference, but wouldn't eliminate it. The findings, based on extensive equipment tests conducted in Las Vegas, increase pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to block a Virginia company called LightSquared from launching the network, which is designed to compete with super-fast systems being rolled out by AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Samsung seeks US import ban against Apple productsSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ Samsung Electronics is asking the United States to prohibit Apple from importing key products including the latest iPhone and iPad devices amid an escalating patent dispute. Samsung filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission over what it claims are Apple's violation of five patents held by Samsung, the Suwon, South Korea-based company said Thursday. The complaint was filed Wednesday. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |