Google has launched a preview of Google Voice, which is an application that lets you manage voice communications by converting voicemails to text. Google Voice is the new version of GrandCentral, which Google acquired back in 2007. For now, GrandCentral users are the only ones that get Google Voice.
Angelsoft Launches An Investor Search Engine
Angelsoft, a company that connects startups with investors, has launched an Investor Search Engine.
The Investor Search Engine contains profiles on over 1,000 venture capital firms and angel investment groups. It has a variety of filters similar to Web 2.0 travel search engine Kayak.com
Amazon Launches Used Video Game Trade-In Program
Amazon.com has announced it will allow customers to trade-in used videogames for credit on its site, a move that will challenge game retailer GameStop.
The company has launched Amazon Video Games Trade-In in beta. "Our video game trade-in process is easy. Go to www.amazon.com/tradeingames and discover games that you want to trade among hundreds of titles," the Amazon Game Room’s Blog states.
EveryZing Launches Cloud-Based Video SEO Tool
Video SEO firm EveryZing has launched what it’s referring to as "the Internet’s first cloud-based metadata service" called MediaCloud. As online video plays a bigger role in marketing, lots of businesses are looking for better ways to get their videos found.
Skype Launches 4.0 For Windows
Skype has launched version 4.0 for Windows that now includes full-screen video calling and improved call quality.
"Video calling has emerged as a very popular way for people to communicate online," said Mike Bartlett, director of product strategy for Skype.
LinkedIn Launches Set of HR Tools
LinkedIn has introduced a new set of tools for HR professionals called LinkedIn Talent Advantage. The release reflects LinkedIn’s mentality that the best job candidates aren’t always actively seeking new jobs, although job posting responses on LinkedIn have doubled over the last six months.
Washington Post Launches Political Database
The Washington Post has launched a new site called WhoRunsGov.com that consists of comprehensive profiles of people in politics and the government.Currently the site is focused on people involved in the government and politics on a national level but plans are in the works to expand it to include state officials, experts at think tanks and interest groups.
Google News Launches for Singapore
Today Google announced the addition of Google News Singapore to the Google News family. This is the first new version of Google News since October, when they announced Google News in the Telugu language, and at the end of September when they announced the Polish version.
Google Maps Launches Transit Layer for Over 50 Cities
Google has introduced the Transit Layer on Google Maps for over 50 cities around the world. The goal is to make finding public transportation info easier for citizens and tourists. When viewing applicable cities in Google Maps, if you want to access the Transit Layer, simply click the More button and select the Transit tab.
AOL Launches MediaGlow
AOL announced today the creation of a new business unit, MediaGlow that will centralize the company’s publishing efforts, with the goal of expanding its global reach in 2009.MediaGlow joins AOL’s advertising platform, Platform-A along with its social media effort, Peoples Networks to become the third core business of the company.AOL says over the past year its page views have increased 40 percent, engagement increased 20 percent and its audience grew to 70 million monthly visitors.