Irrepressible widget-maker RockYou targets Asia, raises $17M

Irrepressible widget-maker RockYou targets Asia, raises $17M

RockYou, a company that started out two years ago making simple slideshow widgets for MySpace, and, more recently, applications for social networks including Facebook, is now invading Asia.

It has taken on strategic funding and sweet deals from big regional partners: $14 million from Japanese carrier… Continue Reading

Virgin Mobile buys (once) high-flying Helio for $50M, as mobile consolidation begins

Virgin Mobile buys (once) high-flying Helio for $50M, as mobile consolidation begins

Virgin Mobile USA has agreed to acquire Helio mobile phone division from SK Telecom and Earthlink for an investment that totals $50 million.

The deal is part of a consolidation trend in mobile. Nokia this week agreed to buy Symbian, the mobile phone software maker, for… Continue Reading

Roundup: Virgin Mobile acquires Helio, Starbucks to stop music sales and more

Roundup: Virgin Mobile acquires Helio, Starbucks to stop music sales and more

Here’s the latest action:

New partnership brings Helio to Virgin Mobile — Virgin Mobile USA will acquire the U.S. arm of South korea-based SK Telecom, namely, a mobile operator called Helio, according to the Financial Times. Both mobile operators have been struggling to make money by piggybacking… Continue Reading

Fix8, for animated avatars, takes $2M

Fix8, a division of another startup called Mobinex, has taken a $2 million addition to its first round of funding for a total of $5 million.

The company makes interactive, animated avatars that can be used on the Internet or mobile phones, for video, instant messaging… Continue Reading

Rumor: Helio to announce firings this week

Rumor: Helio to announce firings this week

updated
Helio, the mobile phone service provider, is getting ready to announce a new round of firings this week, a source close to the matter tells us. These layoffs are expected to include senior level officials within the company.

[Update: Spokeswoman Brooke Hammerling has responded, saying the… Continue Reading