In This Update:
• Report Shows Google Ad Viewership Flattening
• Microsoft Prepares ‘Albany’ Productivity Software to Compete with Google
• Comcast, BitTorrent To Work Together On Network Traffic
• CNET Cutting 120 Jobs
• Adobe Launching Free Version of Photoshop Online
• YouTube Releases Analytics tool
• Verizon Asks FCC to Help Consumers Move from Cable
• BeInSync Acquired by Phoenix Technologies for $25 Million
• Super 3G Successfully Tested at 250Mbps
• Researchers Discover Rootkit Variation
• Qualcomm CEO Laments Sluggish Adoption of MediaFLO
• Software Turns Smart Phone Into WiFi Hotspot
• RichFX Salvaged By Channel Advisor for $3.1 Million
• Voice SMS Service Bubble Motion Raises $14 Million Series B
• Prediction Site Predictify Raises $4.3 Million First Round
• Amadesa Raises $5.4 Million First Round for Web Sales Optimization

Report Shows Google Ad Viewership Flattening
REUTERS
Google Inc showed modest growth during February in a closely watched report released on Wednesday on how search sites like Google get paid by advertisers, and its shares fell 3.2 percent. Web measurement firm comScore Inc issued a monthly report on “paid clicks” — a key measure of how Web searchers are converted into ad viewers — that showed Google’s paid click rate grew 3.1 percent year-to-year in February, sources said. Flat year-over-year growth by Google on the same basis in comScore’s January report, which was released in late February, led to an 8 percent one-day drop in Google’s stock the day afterward and a fierce Wall Street debate on whether revenue growth is slowing or if Google’s own actions are to blame.
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Microsoft Prepares ‘Albany’ Productivity Software to Compete with Google
PC WORLD
Facing pressure from hosted productivity suites such as Google Docs and Google Apps, Microsoft is planning a new package of low-end productivity software and hosted services through a secretive project code-named Albany. Project Albany puts together a combination of Office, Office Live Workspaces, Windows Live OneCare and the Windows Live suite of services in one package that eventually is expected to be available in retail outlets such as Best Buy, sources familiar with the company’s plans said Wednesday
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Comcast, BitTorrent To Work Together On Network Traffic
WALL STREET JOURNAL
Long at loggerheads, cable provider Comcast Corp. and popular file-sharing company BitTorrent Inc. now are working together. The deal comes as BitTorrent, which became known for developing software technology widely used to illegally share files, is trying to reinvent itself. The companies are in talks to collaborate on ways to run BitTorrent’s technology more smoothly on Comcast’s broadband network, and allow Comcast to transport video files more effectively over its own network in the future, said Tony Warner, Comcast’s chief technology officer.
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CNET Cutting 120 Jobs
REUTERS
Online media company CNET Networks Inc said on Wednesday it will eliminate 120 jobs, or about 10 percent of its staff, in a restructuring to help it focus on long-term growth amid complaints from some investors. CNET expected pre-tax restructuring charges from the job cuts to run between $3.5 million and $4 million, most of which will be taken in the first quarter of 2008. The job cuts are effective immediately. The moves come after hedge fund Jana Partners LLC won a key court ruling earlier this month that could help it take control of CNET’s board.
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Adobe Launching Free Version of Photoshop Online
CNET
Adobe Systems opened up Photoshop Express today, its long-anticipated Web-based image editor aimed at the millions of consumers that want a simple way to touch up, share, and store photos. Photoshop Express, available for free with 2 gigabytes of storage at www.photoshop.com/express, is a significant departure from Adobe’s desktop software business and a big bet that it can make money offering Web services directly to consumers. The application, which needs Flash Player 9 to run, pushes the limits of browser-based applications and will likely ratchet up the competition on the dozens of free and online photo-editing products available now.
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YouTube Releases Analytics tool
SEARCH ENGINE JOURNAL
YouTube has just launched its new Insight analytics tools. Available for YouTube users, partners and advertisers, YouTube Insight displays statistical figures about videos uploaded into YouTube. YouTube Insight gives users two categories of video usage data – page views and popularity. Page views for videos can be displayed by 5 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and one year. Page views can be further categorized by country.
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Verizon Asks FCC to Help Consumers Move from Cable
REUTERS
Verizon Communications Inc has asked the Federal Communications Commission to make it easier for consumers to switch from cable television to the video services offered by telephone companies, as rivalry grows between the cable and telecommunications industries. Verizon said consumers should be able to switch from cable as easily as they can change phone companies. Phone companies accept cancellations from rival providers, but many cable companies require consumers to submit disconnection orders themselves.
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BeInSync Acquired by Phoenix Technologies for $25 Million
TECHCRUNCH
BeInSync , an Israeli startup that provides software for the synchronization of files across computers and access them while on the road, has been acquired by Phoenix Technologies for an undisclosed amount although sources say that it went for $25M. The four and a half year old startup had previously raised $8M in two rounds from Alta Berkeley Venture Partners, Aviv Venture Capital Fund, and Eurofund. The three founders – Tal Barnoach, Sharon Carmel, and Adi Ruppin – are said to be serial entrepreneurs. BeInSync competes with the likes of FolderShare and Sharpcast , as well as many other file backup and sharing services.
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Super 3G Successfully Tested at 250Mbps
GIZMODO
NTT DoCoMo has just announced that they’ve successfully field tested a Super 3G wireless network that reached downlink speeds of 250Mbps (the technology’s theoretical maximums are a 300Mbps downlink and a 75Mbps uplink). Unfortunately, DoCoMo doesn’t plan on having the technology finalized until 2009.
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Researchers Discover Rootkit Variation
CHANNEL WEB
While there might not be new malicious threats under the sun, there are plenty of new ways to spin old virus attacks. Trend Micro researchers discovered last weekend a new variation of a MBR rootkit released in the wild, which contains new technology to prevent detection. When combined with Web threats, the new rootkit is proving to be both a destructive and prolific combination, security experts say. The rootkit models a similar virus from several years ago but with one added twist — the ability to circumvent a lot of anti-rootkit software and remain undetected.
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Qualcomm CEO Laments Sluggish Adoption of MediaFLO
RCR WIRELESS NEWS
Qualcomm Inc.’s push into the broadcast mobile TV space has been going slower than the company would like, CEO Paul Jacobs said in a keynote at the Tech Policy Summit here this morning. Qualcomm’s subsidiary MediaFLO USA Inc. introduced services with Verizon Wireless more than a year ago and has plans to launch through AT&T Mobility, although that rollout has suffered multiple delays. “(The carriers) haven’t spent a lot of advertising on it to this point,” Jacobs said, adding that they may be waiting for MediaFLO to increase its coverage. “It’s not as nationwide as we would have liked,” he said. “We’re really waiting for February 2009 to get the real digital transition done.” TV broadcasters, some of which operate in the same spectrum that MediaFLO is waiting to launch services in, are to retire analog broadcasts by February and move off the spectrum.
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Software Turns Smart Phone Into WiFi Hotspot
AP via PHYSORG
Here’s a cool use for a phone that has both cellular broadband and Wi-Fi: Turn it into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot so your friends can surf the Internet on their laptops. A couple startups have created and made available software like this in the last year. But a more established software maker said Wednesday that it has created a package for carriers to offer their customers. TapRoot Systems Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said it was talking with carriers about providing their customers with the software, which would let up to five Wi-Fi users connect to a phone. A possible free trial version would let only one Wi-Fi user connect to the phone at a time. The software works on phones with Windows Mobile or Symbian S60 software.
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RichFX Salvaged By Channel Advisor for $3.1 Million
ALARM:CLOCK
RichFX was bought for $3.1M by rival ChannelAdvisor. RichFX had raised $60M from venture capital funds. To some extent this is a win for the startup as it had filed for Chapter 11 last year. ChannelAdvisor is also well funded, having raised $50M. RichFX has rolled through any number of business plans. It currently hosts rich media assets, primarily for eCommerce companies. RichFX was founded in 1998. At one time, the company had 130 employees and was bank-rolled by 18 firms, a list which includes RealNetworks, Itochu, and Israeli tech giant Yossi Vardi.
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Voice SMS Service Bubble Motion Raises $14 Million Series B
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE
Bubble Motion, the developer of a platform for voice messaging and advanced voice content applications, said on Wednesday that it has raised $14 million in a new round of funding. Participants included previous investors Sequoia Capital and Sequoia Capital India, as well as new investors Comcast Interactive Capital and NCD Investors. The company said that more than 135 million consumers currently use its BubbleTALK service, a “click, talk and send” short voice messaging service that works on any mobile phone. “This new capital will enable us to accelerate even more aggressively on our global expansion goals,” said Tom Clayton, the CEO of Bubble Motion.
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Prediction Site Predictify Raises $4.3 Million First Round
MASHABLE
Predictify, the community-driven prediction market that pays users for their accuracy, has closed a $4.3 million round of funding, from Sierra Ventures and Sherpalo Ventures. Mark Fernandes, a managing director at Sierra Ventures, will be joining the Predictify board. This most recent round of funding comes after Predictify’s seed/angel round, nearly a year ago. Having taken on the prediction market with the unique approach of rewarding accurate users with money, Predictify has emerged with a new way to tap into the wisdom of the crowds, which could be beneficial for the users as well as market researchers and even brands.
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Amadesa Raises $5.4 Million First Round for Web Sales Optimization
ALARM:CLOCK
Amadesa Inc. has raised $5.4M in Series A from Carmel Ventures. Amadesa sells software that does behavioral targeting, product recommendations, shopping cart/billing form optimization, data collection optimization, and multivariate testing. Customers get a choice of higher end managed service or self-service options.
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Tags: 3G, Adobe, Best Buy, BitTorrent, Brand, ESA, FCC, File-sharing, Google, ISP, Microsoft, Office Live, RealNetworks, RIM, Seed, Sequoia Capital, Series A, SMS, Turn, Venture Capital, Verizon, Video, Wi-Fi, YouTube