Xobni launches an enterprise version of its improved email inbox

Xobni launches an enterprise version of its improved email inbox

Xobni, the company that improves Microsoft’s email application Outlook by showing you more data about your contacts, is aiming for bigger and bigger customers — it just announced an enterprise version, which includes new features like integration with Salesforce.com’s sales application and Microsoft’s SharePoint collaboration… Continue Reading

The battle for your address book: Will souped up contact apps monetize the data explosion?

The battle for your address book: Will souped up contact apps monetize the data explosion?

[Editor's Note: Below, MobileBeat advisory board member Jason Devitt explains why we should care about new innovative address books. Not only are they key to a much better user experience, but they may greatly impact the way we pay to use our phones. He also... Continue Reading

Xobni brings Facebook streams into Outlook

Xobni brings Facebook streams into Outlook

More and more communication is moving to social networking services like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. The migration is so pronounced that Facebook Era author Clara Shih and many others argue these sites are becoming our new email inboxes. But startup Xobni has been trying to move… Continue Reading

12seconds crowd-sources commercials for a business model on top of Twitter

12seconds crowd-sources commercials for a business model on top of Twitter

While Twitter itself may not have a final business model yet, the hot thing these days is for third-parties to use the service to create their own business models. Short-form video startup 12seconds is the latest to do this, rolling its users’ likelihood of tweeting… Continue Reading

Email startup Xobni leaves beta, raises $3.2M

Email startup Xobni leaves beta, raises $3.2M

Updated

Xobni is finally launching the “official” version of its plug-in that improves organization in Microsoft’s email program Outlook — in other words, it’s finally taking off the beta testing label it’s used for the past 10 months. It’s also announcing a $3.2 million addition to… Continue Reading

Xobni raises $7M to battle Outlook’s email overload

Xobni raises $7M to battle Outlook’s email overload

Xobni, a plug-in that tries to improve email organization in Microsoft Outlook, has raised $7 million in a second round of venture financing.

Xobni’s most prominent feature is an inbox sidebar that shows profiles of people you’re corresponding with. By making related content (phone numbers, past… Continue Reading

Microsoft’s BizSpark initiative offers free servers and software to startups

Microsoft’s BizSpark initiative offers free servers and software to startups

Updated

With an initiative called BizSpark, software giant Microsoft is making a new pitch for startups to run their business on Microsoft’s tools.

It’s an enticing free upfront three-year package, bundling together software, support and promotion for no upfront cost — requiring merely a $100 payment when… Continue Reading

How big an opportunity is the external memory?

How big an opportunity is the external memory?

Before the advent of the written word, the story goes, humans had to either store all their memories in their own heads, or by oral tradition passed down through designated members of their tribes. With trade came notation of facts and figures, and later alphabets,… Continue Reading

Roundup: Executives leave, hackers move in, robots invade

Roundup: Executives leave, hackers move in, robots invade

Microsoft’s Kevin Johnson moves to Juniper Networks — Microsoft’s lead on the failed Yahoo acquisition has called it quits, heading for the top post at software and device firm Juniper Networks. Johnson was the president of Platforms and Services, which meant he oversaw most of Microsoft’s… Continue Reading

Roundup: Facebook’s big profile changes, MySpace misses revenue targets, and more

Roundup: Facebook’s big profile changes, MySpace misses revenue targets, and more

Big Facebook profile changes are coming, sure to impact developers — Facebook has been experimenting with a ground-up redesign of its user interface for months, that it hopes will improve communication among users. Now, the company is providing Facebook application developers with more details on the… Continue Reading

Xobni launches email organizer for Outlook

Xobni launches email organizer for Outlook

updated

Xobni, the San Francisco company we raved about last year that offers a way to better organize your email from Outlook, is launching publicly with its test version.

Its key feature is a sidebar in your inbox that shows you profiles of the people you’re corresponding… Continue Reading

Email service Xobni to bring Yahoo and Microsoft together at last

Email service Xobni to bring Yahoo and Microsoft together at last

Xobni, the email service whose fans include Bill Gates, is getting ready to expand beyond its current Microsoft Outlook-only product. That’s a smart and obvious move, and the startup’s new service is particularly juicy for Internet rumormongers –Xobni plans to add compatibility with Yahoo Mail,… Continue Reading

Roundup: Six Apart launches ad network, Microsoft acquires Xobni…maybe and more

Roundup: Six Apart launches ad network, Microsoft acquires Xobni…maybe and more

Here’s the latest action:

Six Apart evolves into an ad network — The blogging company behind MovableType, TypePad and Vox is offering a new advertising program which will give publishers more control over ads and revenue from their sites. The company claims its ad network will be… Continue Reading

Roundup: Amazon S3, VentureBeat go down, Montalvo’s mobile chip and more

Roundup: Amazon S3, VentureBeat go down, Montalvo’s mobile chip and more

1. Amazon S3, VentureBeat go down
2. Montalvo Systems vs. Intel, with chip for handheld devices
3. Fox Interactive to introduce “music Hulu for MySpace”
4. Yahoo’s board moving against Yang
5. Google searchers are wealthier, buy more online
6. Xobni hires Jeff Bonforte away from Yahoo, to be its… Continue Reading

Roundup: Floating data centers, Xobni, Jaffe, Lanzone, Revver & more

Roundup: Floating data centers, Xobni, Jaffe, Lanzone, Revver & more

Here’s the latest action:
1. Data centers floating in the SF Bay?
2. CEO of search engine Ask goes to Redpoint
3. Xobni’s Outlook plugin enhanced
4. Microsoft dealmaker Bruce Jaffe to join startup life
5. Yahoo’s browser-based player now public
6. Readburner lets you see what’s shared on Google Reader
7…. Continue Reading

Four startups ready to change the face of email

Four startups ready to change the face of email

In ten years, an internet eternity, web-based email has only made token improvements, moving from Hotmail to Gmail. Meanwhile, instant messaging and social networks have rapidly developed.

Four new startups, all of which came out of secrecy this year, point toward a bright new future for… Continue Reading

Email company Xobni launches, may steal Techcrunch prize

Email company Xobni launches, may steal Techcrunch prize

(Update: CEO Matt Brezina tell us the response has been so strong that he’s closing open access and will make it invite-only this evening.)

Xobni Insight, a new email service that sits on top of your Outlook, launches today at Techcrunch40.

It’s extremely useful and we’ll make… Continue Reading

Roundup: Singularity hype, Xobni, Rapleaf selling your data, Vudu, Seedcamp and more

Roundup: Singularity hype, Xobni, Rapleaf selling your data, Vudu, Seedcamp and more

Here’s the latest action:

Singularity Institute, the quirky group that thinks machines will take over – Peter Thiel, the former CEO of PayPal, and leader of the Founders Fund, graces the pages of the Mercury News and the SF Chron today with his views about how… Continue Reading

Xobni launches “email me instead” on Facebook

Xobni launches “email me instead” on Facebook

Xobni, a company working in stealth mode with the intriguing claim “we are going to increase your email happiness factor by 98%,” may have done so for Facebook users.

“Email me instead” allows you to send Facebook messages directly to people’s inboxes, saving the extra step… Continue Reading

Xobni raises $4.26M to let you improve your email habits

Xobni, a San Francisco company that seeks to improve your productivity in email usage, has raised $4.26 million in a first round of funding from Khosla Ventures, according to PE Wire, citing regulatory filings.

Xobni is yet to launch. Its name is “inbox” spelled backwards, referring… Continue Reading