Articles of the Day
Nokia to take stake in Facebook and build integrated handset app - Rumour - Nokia is rumoured to be poised to take a stake in Facebook as part of a partnership between it and the mobile phone maker where the social network will be integrated into Nokia’s handsets. A report on tech blog, PaidContent claims that the “the Facebook placement could be as prominent as the YouTube button on the main screen of iPhone.” The site also cites “sources” who say the “early stage talks” involve the possibility of Nokia purchasing a stake in the company. Spokespersons from either side failed to comment, although a Nokia exec reportedly admits: “There is talk of a partnership in the works.”
EU Continues To Scrutinize Google-DoubleClick Deal - The sole Federal Trade Commission member who voted against approving Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick and a leading privacy advocate are among the witnesses slated to testify today at a European Union hearing about the privacy implications of the pending merger.
Study: Internet Ads Will More Than Double By 2011 - Yankee Group forecasts that Internet advertising will more than double to $50.3 billion in 2011 from $21.7 billion last year, driven by technology investments that will boost online ad performance. While the size of the U.S. Internet audience will level off in the next few years, ad dollars have yet to catch up with the growth in online media consumption.
Social Network Marketing Affected By New Technologies - To stay ahead of the social networking curve in 2008, interactive marketers should put brand monitoring in place, focus on objectives over technologies, and go for speed over perfection in applications deployment. That’s the advice from Forrester Research analysts collected in a new report.
Yahoo Needs Shake Up - Floundering Internet giant Yahoo is ripe for a shakeup. “Yahoo is navigating the waters of Internet advertising like a goldfish evading a shark, in the form of Google,” the Journal says, adding that its strategy of trying to become a start page isn’t enough to challenge Google and the deep-pocketed Microsoft.
Yahoo Could Lay-off Thousands - There’s more bad news on the Yahoo front. An anonymous tip claims the company has created a list of between 1,500 and 2,500 jobs that could eliminated in the next few weeks. Apparently, Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang will make a final decision about the move this week, with a public announcement coming either at or before earnings on Jan. 29. The floundering Web giant should cut at least 1,000 the tech blog believes, if not 2,000. The question is whether Yang, described as “a good guy unwilling to make hard-ass decisions,” has the nerve to do so.
Slide’s “Crazy” $550 Million Valuation - Widget maker Slide made waves last week after a new investment round inflated the company’s valuation to $550 million. The San Francisco-based startup, founded by PayPal alum Max Levchin, creates widgets, or Web-based software applications that can be embedded on user-controlled pages, like social networking profiles. Slide creates some of the most popular widgets on Facebook and MySpace. Fidelity and T. Rowe Price have purchased a 9% stake in the company worth $50 million. Allen & Co., a NY-based Slide investor, helped raise the funds, but did not, conspicuously, add to their investment due to the “crazy” valuation.
Joost Needs A Spark - Joost is in hot water. The company last week fired its Chief Technology Officer under mysterious circumstances. Usage of the P2P-powered TV service has underwhelmed, and the content deals have dried up. But all is not lost. A few savvy distribution agreements could save the online video provider. One of the biggest complaints about Joost is its lack of quality content. Hulu, the ad-supported content distribution effort from NBC Universal and News Corp., would make the perfect addition.
The Video Game May Be Free, but to Be a Winner Can Cost Money - In a major departure from its traditional business model, E.A. plans to announce Monday that it is developing a new installment in its hit Battlefield series that will be distributed on the Internet as a free download. Rather than being sold at retail, the game is meant to generate revenue through advertising and small in-game transactions that allow players to spend a few dollars on new outfits, weapons and other virtual gear.
HBO to let subscribers download TV shows, movies - Time Warner Inc pay TV channel HBO will launch a service on Tuesday to let subscribers download movies and television shows over the Web, joining a crowded market for video on the Internet. The service, HBO on Broadband, will make its debut with a much larger library than its cable-based on-demand service in a stab at satisfying increasingly mobile and choosy viewers.
Media M&A Outlook For ‘08: Prognostications From Berkery Noyes, Petsky Prunier & AdMediaPartners - Three media and marketing investment banks have come out with their 2007 review and 2008 prognostications on the M&A.
