Linux News: Deals

PS3 Gets Power-Up From Netflix
October 26, 2009

Coming soon to a Sony PlayStation 3 near you: the ability to shoot aliens and bad guys in a video game, then watch your favorite action movie star shoot aliens and bad guys in a videogame-like blockbuster film streamed via Netflix. The movie rental service announced Monday that it had partnered with Sony to allow PS3 users the chance to rent movies online via their gaming console.

Weighing Windows 7's Wallop
October 23, 2009

So how's your head after that wild Windows 7 launch party with the Stepford crew? Still got the spins? OK, if you really did throw or attend an official Windows 7 launch party, then that's ... interesting. I sincerely hope you had a good time. For the rest of us, the official introduction of Windows 7 was a pretty austere affair.

Bing and Google Fight Search Battle in Real-Time
October 22, 2009

Facebook and Twitter must have felt like the belles of the social media ball Wednesday. Both companies announced agreements with search engine suitors Google and Microsoft's Bing to integrate their status updates and tweets into search results, bringing with them the likelihood of more real-time results to search queries and conjuring up visions of next-level information gathering on the Internet.

Oracle's Acquisition of Ailing Sun Stuck in Mire
October 21, 2009

Oracle's $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun Microsystems appears threatened by recent developments, starting with difficulties in gaining regulatory approval in the EU and ending with a startlingly decline at Sun Microsystems -- a company that was on a downward trajectory long before Oracle made its play for it.

Sprint's iPCS Buy Means More Customers, Fewer Legal Headaches
October 19, 2009

Sprint Nextel is acquiring iPCS, an affiliate that sells its branded products, in a deal that will put an end to a number of legal clashes between the two. It will also bring an additional 710,000 subscribers under the Sprint Nextel corporate umbrella. The acquisition means that Sprint will not have to divest its iDEN network in certain iPCS territories in the Midwest.

Good News From Google Fuels Tech-Sector Optimism
October 16, 2009

The tech industry is getting a boost from Google's 7 percent revenue jump from the year-ago quarter, as well as from better-than-expected earnings reports from IBM and, earlier this week, Intel. Google is apparently feeling confident enough about the economy and its own near-term prospects that it's contemplating one or more acquisitions.

Sidekick Snafu: The Data Saved and the Damage Done
October 16, 2009

T-Mobile's Sidekick users had a pretty rough time this week thanks to a mistake that first looked enormous but eventually was pretty much fixed, though with no small amount of worry and strife in between. An unfortunate series of events caused a major inconvenience for users of the smartphone.

Ciena Gets Green Light to Bid on Nortel's Optical Unit
October 16, 2009

Ciena won court approval Thursday to start bidding on Nortel Network's optical and Ethernet division with an offer valued at more than $532 million. The optical networking business includes some of Nortel's most sought-after businesses units, intellectual properties and employees.

Google, Microsoft and Twitter's Golden Egg
October 09, 2009

Google and Microsoft are reportedly in separate talks with Twitter with the goal of licensing the microblogging site's rich store of data. The potential deal structures could be anything from up-front payments to revenue-sharing schemes. Whatever form it might take, a deal would represent Twitter's first significant source of revenue since its inception.

Ciena Opens Bidding for Nortel Optical, Ethernet Units
October 07, 2009

Ciena is offering cash and stock worth $521 million to acquire some of Nortel's most-prized remaining business units as the fallen telecommunications company continues to liquidate. The deal announced Wednesday covers the Nortel Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet businesses.

Comcast Mulls Stake in Ailing NBC
October 02, 2009

Comcast might spend billions for a stake in NBC Universal, a deal that would transform the nation's largest cable TV provider into one of the most prominent owners of TV shows, movies and other programming as well. General Electric, which owns 80 percent of NBC Universal, reportedly has been in talks with Comcast to unload part of the entertainment unit.

ICANN Cuts the Apron Strings
October 02, 2009

According to ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush, nobody but nobody controls the Internet. Not China, not Comcast, not your IT guy, not Clippy, nobody. The Final Boss of the Internet does not exist. But there does exist a nonprofit that governs Web addresses, and that's Dengate Thrush's organization, the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Cisco to Expand Its Video-Conference Room With $3B Tandberg Buy
October 01, 2009

Cisco Systems has made a huge play in the video-conferencing industry, acquiring one of the world's largest makers of such equipment for close to $3 billion. Cisco is acquiring Tandberg for about $26.37 a share in cash -- an 11 percent premium over Tandberg's closing price on the Oslo exchange. The proposal was recommended unanimously by Tandberg's board of directors.

ViaSat to Pocket Wild Blue for $568M
October 01, 2009

ViaSat is acquiring Wild Blue Communications, a provider of high-speed Internet access via satellite, for US$568 million in cash and stock, the companies said Thursday. Privately held Wild Blue, in which Liberty Media holds a 37 percent stake, will become an operating subsidiary of ViaSat, which makes satellite communications equipment for defense and consumer markets.

Group Asks DoJ to Nix Diebold's Voting Machine Sale
September 30, 2009

A voter advocacy organization asked the U.S. Justice Department Tuesday to undo the sale by Diebold of its voting machine business, saying the transaction promotes a monopoly. Voter Action, based in Washington, D.C., said in a letter to the department's antitrust division that the transaction is a grab for market share.

Warner, YouTube Dance to New Music Deal
September 29, 2009

Warner Music Group and Google have come to terms on a revenue-sharing agreement that will allow content from Warner's full music catalog to be used in YouTube videos, according to a blog post by Chris Maxcy, director of YouTube partner development. Warner will be able to sell its own ad inventory and use YouTube's Content ID technology to monetize videos incorporating its content.