It’s a massive sum for a company that doesn’t turn a profit, but could internet phone company Skype finally get the step-change it needs? Microsoft’s dominance in Office could see Skype integrated into the operating systems of hundreds of millions of PCs, as well as the growing Windows Mobile platforms. This could be game changing, … [Read more…]

Ford takes the lead as the most searched for Automotive brand in the UK, accounting for just over 11% of all branded searches between January 2011 and March 2011, according to new research.

Business-based social network LinkedIn plans to sell stock at $32 to $35 per share in an initial public offering that would value the professional social-networking firm at more than $3bn, the company said in a government document.

JiWire has raised $20 million in Series C funding as the company expands it location-based mobile media across both apps and public wi-fi.

The countdown is underway to the launch of a major global play for music by the world’s largest online media property. At the I/O developer conference there was intensive talk of the long awaited Google music platform. More on what to expect as the testing goes mainstream…

LoveFilm, iTunes and Amazon are bracing themselves for a major launch from Google-owned YouTube into the online movie business. A global deal with key Hollywood studios will give YouTube access to 3,000 online movie titles to rent in its movie store. This is a major step in the battle for long-form content and the ownership … [Read more…]

Sony has further delayed the relaunch of the PlayStation Network following a security breach which led to the theft of personal data from 100 million online accounts.

Want to see a tipping point as it happens? Look at global smartphone penetration this year… Latest data on smartphones from Canalys uncovers a global leap in smartphone use as sales of smartphones rise 83% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2011 over 100m mobiles with smartphone capabilities were sold. Android’s market share leapt from … [Read more…]

The regulation of online content and businesses has proved a difficult challenge for all countries. Latest to change their approach is China, with the government this week announcing a new agency to oversee internet regulation in China. This comes as big Chinese firms float in the US and investors are looking for clearer guidance about … [Read more…]

There is a misalignment between the objectives of marketing departments and CEOs, according to the results of a new survey.