Microsoft: It’s Official, We’re Buying TellMe

In a statement today, Microsoft has confirmed its intentions to purchase TellMe, a provider of multiple different types of voice information services. Specific terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed as of yet. It looks like you can chalk this one up as gossip that actually came to fruition. The last week has been rife with speculation that Microsoft would be purchasing TellMe. It…

Raising Startup Funding Without A Plan Or A PowerPoint

Before we get too deep into this, let me clarify two things.  When I say without a “plan”, I mean without a formally written business plan – not that you should be clueless about what you want to do.  And, when I say startup funding, I’m talking more about early stage seed funding via angels (though most of these tips should apply to VCs as…

MySpace Competitor Visits On The Rise

Sites like Buzznet and iMeem have been moving fast as social networking sites not named MySpace continue to make gains as they pull in users looking for alternatives online.

When Good Companies Go Public

This is what happens when good companies go public: the principles that made them good, even necessary, to the point of inspiring a romantic loyalty among their customers, are whittled away at until only those principles which are profitable remain. If it's true that Google is reconsidering its view of Network Neutrality, let it be said that this is the reason why. Google says it's…

AOL Steers Toward Local Search

Not to be outdone by big Internet players and smaller local-focused search companies, AOL has quietly opened up beta testing for AOL Local, its local search product.