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Motorola launches online applications catalog for mobile users

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Motorola Solutions CatalogMotorola launches its first-ever comprehensive solutions catalog, intened to connect developers with consumers to provide them software applications that they can use with their Motorola devices.

With this online catalog, users can download the latest games, customization tools, and other applications to take their Motorola experience to the next level.

“Applications are key to differentiating and enhancing the overall product experience,” said Christy Wyatt, Motorola’s VP of software platforms and ecosystem. “By using our new Motorola Solutions Catalog, developers can easily and quickly bring their innovative applications directly to end users so they can do even more with their Motorola products.”

Not only users are given fast and easy access to the latest applications, the Motorola Solutions Catalog also provides developers a platform that allows them to easily add product descriptions, screen shots, search functionality, and purchase options.

“By featuring our applications on the new Motorola Solutions Catalog, we’re effectively creating additional visibility for our solutions,” said Gonzague de Vallois, VP of publishing of Gameloft, one of Motorola’s providers of game applications. “Leveraging this new channel to market will enable us to build a broader base of users and drive further awareness around hot new Gameloft mobile games like Guitar Legend.”

Originally posted on September 13, 2007 @ 5:26 am

Active Network, online sports and recreational community, raises $65 million funding

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The Active Network has raised a whopping $65 million worth of funds led by the Canaan Partners, backed up by ESPN and four other returning investors.

Based in San Diego, Active Network is an online community designed to reach out to active people whose interests include sports and recreational activities, lifestyle, nutrition, and fitness. It has the largest directory of facilities, venues and classes, and other recreation-related listings, and provides weekly and monthly newsletters, online tools, and related content. Being a social network in itself, members are also allowed to create personal profiles, upload videos, and interact with other members.

PEHub reports that, in an informal talk with Norman Dowling, Active’s CFO, the fund raised will be used to acquire more small niche sites instead of big ones that have already made a name for themselves.

Originally posted on September 10, 2007 @ 10:19 pm

Early iPhone buyers get $100 Apple store credits

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steveweb.jpgThe iPhone craze has just gone crazier.

First, Apple launched a touch-screen wonder phone. Two months later, they dropped the price from $599 to $399 in time for the holidays. And now, about 24 hours later, they announce to give away $100 worth of store credit to early iPhone consumers who were, judging from the thousands of emails that came knocking at Apple’s inbox, upset of the sudden price drop.

“We need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price,” Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, said. “Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.”

Visit Apple’s website (next week) for more credit details.

Originally posted on September 7, 2007 @ 7:13 am

Warner Brothers to launch animated virtual world T-Works

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Joining the web2.0 scene is Warner Bros. Entertainment with its announcement of the new animated virtual world T-works that will come in spring 2008.

This initiative is to bring Warner Brother’s cartoon characters out of the television and movies and into the online community for fans of all ages. It will feature WB’s originally produced online series, games, customizable and personalized tools, comic books, consumer products, sitewide reward system, and more.

“T-Works fits perfectly with our overall digital strategy of creating original content online, as well as developing compelling consumer destinations,” said Bruce Rosenblum, President, Warner Bros. Television Group. “T-Works will not only provide a great collaborative opportunity for projects that bridge a number of divisions at the company, but it will also be an invaluable resource in developing and incubating properties that may transcend their online roots and live in other media.”

“T-Works will offer original entertainment content, social interaction and an intimacy with our beloved and iconic characters like never before in an environment that’s safe and appropriate for all ages,” said Lisa Judson, President, Warner Bros. Animation. “People have literally grown up with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, and we’re building an innovative, creative, cutting-edge home where people of all ages can interact and play with our characters in a compelling entertainment environment.”

Know more about T-Works from WB’s official press release here.

Originally posted on September 7, 2007 @ 5:54 am

Multiply.com raises $16.6 million

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Multiply.comSocial networking slash multi-media sharing site Multiply.com raises $16.6 million in its second round of funding, following its first round of $6 million more than three years ago when it was first launched.

With a slow start in 2003, this Florida-based startup slowly but steadily grew its market at the start of this year. Allowing users to share photos, videos, blogs, music, and other media with their network and with the rest of the world, Multiply was reported to get over 10 million unique visitors in August.

VentureBeat describes Multiply as a social network for 30-somethings, but from my end (being an avid user of the service myself), I can see a lot of young professionals and college students (early twenties) actively participating in the multiply scene. And now with this relatively large amount of VC funding, Multiply aims to expand their borders and enhance Multiply’s platform for better user experience.

Originally posted on September 7, 2007 @ 6:16 am