Tokoni gives marketers social networking tools to build customer loyalty
Tokoni launched its new Community Platform today, providing companies with the tools they need to create branded social networks and online communities for their customers. The Cupertino, Calif. company says that providing consumers with a social, interactive channel to offer feedback will inspire greater brand… Continue Reading
Skype founders sue eBay for copyright violations
Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis filed suit today against eBay, the owner of their the intenet telephone technology since 2005, alleging that the auction site violated a copyright agreement that it wouldn’t share the proprietary code powering the service.
The suit is officially being… Continue Reading
Joost removes Volpi as chairman, complicating eBay’s Skype sale
Mike Volpi, the former chief executive officer of online video site Joost who stepped down in July, has now been removed as chairman by the company’s shareholders, and is under investigation for his activities during his leadership.
Many are questioning Volpi’s dual roles at Joost and Index… Continue Reading
PayPal blackout hits e-commerce
EBay-owned payments service PayPal has said that its vision is to become the “electricity” for e-commerce, i.e., the underlying technology for all payments on the web. So I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that, as happens once in a while with electricity, PayPal experienced a… Continue Reading
Roundup: CalPERS nosedives, eBay beats the street, Hollywood picks World of Warcraft director
Ebay whups analysts with $327M profit – Bloomberg reports that the most-visited U.S. e-commerce website has reported sales and profit that beat analysts’ estimates. The San Jose, Calif., company reported second-quarter net income of $327.3 million, or 25 cents a share, on $2.1 billion in… Continue Reading
Roundup: Twitter’s ready for its close-up, Apple says yes to the Kama Sutra, and more
Here’s the latest action:
Twitter on the tube – More producers are turning to the micro-blogging service for television-based projects, and the site is only too happy to go Hollywood.
Auctions on the way down for eBay — The site is frantically trying to reinvent as its core… Continue Reading
Can eBay rebrand itself as the Web’s Wal-Mart?
Ebay has a problem: It’s viewed as a quirky second-hand bazaar. That has stunted the company’s growth, as shoppers in search of instant bargains bypass eBay in favor of Amazon or Google.
eBay’s Buy It Now button, in theory, lets shoppers instantly consummate a purchase. In… Continue Reading
Roundup: Street View blinded, curtain to rise on new PS3 and more
Here’s the latest action:
It’s a pirate’s life for Asia — A new study indicates that software piracy is growing rapidly in Asia where the number of computer owners continues to skyrocket.
Street View’s prying eyes — Google must reshoot footage for its maps Street View tool in Japan… Continue Reading
eBay’s Q1 earnings dip despite Skype, Paypal boost
eBay has just released its first quarter financials for 2009, beating analyst estimates. But, like many other tech companies, the online auctioneer wasn’t exactly immune to the lagging economy.
By the numbers, the San Jose, Calif.-based company cleared $2.02 billion in revenue for the quarter, representing a $171… Continue Reading
In a surprise, eBay announces Skype will have an IPO in 2010
Contradicting rumors that it would sell Skype back to its founders, eBay announced today that it would separate the Internet calling business from eBay’s core auction business through an initial public offering in the first half of 2010.
A lot can happen between now and then,… Continue Reading
StumbleUpon leaves eBay, starting up again on own two feet
Social news discovery site StumbleUpon can be a great way to find interesting stories, which is why some of us wondered why auction site eBay bought it for $75 million in late 2007. Perhaps it was going to offer ways for news readers to buy… Continue Reading
eBay allows third-party developers to add apps to site
Massive auction website eBay has opened its platform to accept applications from third-party developers, adding to the range of tools for the site’s professional and casual sellers. This summer, the site will essentially open an app store filled with widgets and apps (for free or… Continue Reading
Tekarma centralizes product reviews, customer support (invites)
Tekarma, a web site that compiles user-generated product reviews and tips in one place, launched its private beta last week. For now, the site is focused primarily on electronics, household items, cars, video games and sporting goods. Users have the ability to upload a product,… Continue Reading
Former eBay CEO Whitman eyes governor’s office
Meg Whitman, former chief executive of ecommerce giant eBay, has taken her first step in a run for the California governor’s office. Whitman announced on her new campaign website today the formation of an “exploratory committee” to seek the Republican nomination.
Despite never having held elected… Continue Reading
EBay: PayPal and Skype can’t save declining marketplace
E-commerce giant eBay just announced its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenue is down, but the San Jose, Calif. company did manage to beat analysts’ earnings expectations. It reported revenue of $2.04 billion, down $145 million from the same period in 2007, earning… Continue Reading
Roundup: Meg Whitman for governor?, Sling Player for the iPhone, Picasa for Mac and more
Here’s the latest action:
Meg Whitman, governor of California? — That’s the rumor following Whitman’s resignation from the boards of eBay, Procter & Gamble and Dreamworks SKG. Current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (yes, the Governator) will leave office in 2010, and term limits prevent him from seeking re-election…. Continue Reading
Online holiday shopping drops 3 percent
Surprising no one, online shoppers cut back on their gift-buying this year. Web sales during the holiday season dropped three percent compared to the same period last year, according to data from comScore. This is the first time online holiday sales have dropped since comScore… Continue Reading
How Amazon stole Christmas?
Online retailer Amazon is hawking its holiday sales traffic today, claiming a single-day company record of 6.3 million items ordered on December 15. But the report lacks hard numbers, and another new report points to hard times for all retailers – including those online. Amazon… Continue Reading
The Grinch pays a visit to eBay
The holiday season hasn’t brought its usual good tidings to auction-based marketplace eBay this year, reports the Wall Street Journal. Site traffic for November and December fell off 16 percent from last year; transaction revenue has slipped 28 percent to $1.44 billion; and some users… Continue Reading
Facebook recruits a new director (or two) from eBay
Daniel Levy is the new director of risk management at social network Facebook. He has formerly held senior leadership positions at eBay-owned online payment company Paypal. In his new role, Levy (pictured) will be working with the Facebook operations team to figure out how to… Continue Reading