Inside these posts: Social media

Visit our Filed page for categories. To browse by specific topic, see our Inside page. For a list of companies covered on this site, visit our Companies page.

 
Aug. 30, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Internet, Technology

MySpace users can now sync posts to Facebook

By Associated Press

MySpace, which recently revamped itself to look more like Facebook, is now allowing users to sync their posts to Facebook, too. That means people on Facebook can see their friends’ MySpace items without leaving Facebook. Get the full story »

Aug. 27, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.
44 comments
Filed under: Litigation, Technology

Facebook’s now trying to trademark the word ‘face’

By CNN

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Facebook, which has gone after sites with the word “book” in their names, is also trying to trademark the word “face,” according to court documents.

But the social networking site has met with a familiar foe. As TechCrunch first reported, Aaron Greenspan has asked for an extension of time to file an opposition to Facebook’s attempt. Greenspan is the president and CEO of Think Computer, the developer of a mobile payments app called FaceCash.

Greenspan, also a former Harvard classmate of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, claimed he had a hand in developing the social networking giant. The case was settled last year. Get the full story »

Aug. 27, 2010 at 7:25 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing

Yelp trying daily group coupons

By Associated Press

Review Web site Yelp said it is testing out “Yelp Deals” — large discounts at local businesses that site users can buy on one day only. The move appears patterned after sites such as Groupon have gotten extremely popular by combining social media with the power of group buying, offering shoppers daily deals on products and services in their communities. Get the full story »

Aug. 25, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.
111 comments
Filed under: Internet, Litigation, Technology, Updated

Facebook sues social media site with ‘book’ in name

By Wailin Wong

Facebook employees write on the Facebook "wall" following a news conference at Facebook's headquarters, August 18, 2010. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Teachbook.com has two employees and fewer than 20 users signed up for its free Web community. The site has yet to officially launch.

But the Northbrook, Ill.-based company, which provides tools for teachers to manage their classrooms and share lesson plans and other resources, has been thrust into the spotlight by social networking giant Facebook, which sued the start-up for using “book” in its name.

“We’ve been sitting here scratching our heads for the last couple of days,” Teachbook’s managing director, Greg Shrader, told the Tribune on Wednesday. “We’re trying to understand how Facebook, a multibillion-dollar company, feels this small enterprise in Chicago is any type of threat.” Get the full story »

Aug. 25, 2010 at 7:27 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Internet, Trade

German law forbids employer Facebook checks

By Associated Press

Germany’s government is planning a new law to protect employees’ privacy, including making it illegal for employers to check on job candidates’ private Facebook postings. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Wednesday the law would make it illegal for future bosses to ask applicants to become their Facebook friend in order to check out details they would otherwise keep private. Get the full story »

Aug. 20, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Internet, Retail

Groupon pulls in $11 million with Gap voucher

By Wailin Wong

Daily deal site Groupon reported Friday that it sold 445,000 vouchers for retailer Gap, bringing in $11 million in revenue for the Chicago-based company’s first-ever nationwide promotion.

Groupon typically splits revenue down the middle with its participating merchants. The company declined to disclose how it divided the $11 million from Thursday’s sale. The coupon offered $50 in Gap merchandise for $25, and demand was so high that Groupon’s servers experienced technical difficulties on Thursday morning. Get the full story »

Aug. 19, 2010 at 9:28 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Technology

Facebook joins location frenzy with Places

By Associated Press

Facebook users carrying their smart phones will soon be able to “check in” to real-world locations such as bars, parks and live concerts as the social network makes its first foray into the location services craze.

With the much-anticipated launch of Facebook Places late Wednesday, the world’s largest social network joins a growing number of services that let users find coupons, earn quirky merit badges or simply share with friends where they are.

Aug. 17, 2010 at 3:52 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: International, Internet, M&A

Groupon expands into Japan, Russia

By Wailin Wong

Daily deal site Groupon is continuing its international expansion with acquisitions of similar companies in Japan and Russia.

Chicago-based Groupon said it has bought Qpod of Japan and Darberry of Russia. Terms  were not disclosed. Both sites were launched this year, and their founders will stay on, with the sites being redesigned to be consistent with Groupon’s brand name over the next several months, Groupon said in a release. Get the full story »

Aug. 13, 2010 at 2:17 p.m.
24 comments
Filed under: Airlines, Updated

JetBlue: Passenger accounts differ from Slater’s

By Associated Press

A rogue JetBlue flight attendant’s explanation that an uncooperative passenger caused him to melt down and slide down a parked plane’s emergency chute may not hold water, the airline says in an internal memo.

And even if it’s true, a bad day at work is no excuse for flight attendant Steven Slater’s behavior, JetBlue says in the memo obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

Slater went onto the public address system Monday on a plane at New York’s Kennedy Airport after a JetBlue flight from Pittsburgh. He cursed out a passenger he said had treated him rudely, and then slid off the plane. Get the full story »

Aug. 13, 2010 at 8:02 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Airlines, Tourism, Travel

Delta selling plane tickets on Facebook

By Associated Press

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Thursday it’s launched a new “Ticket Window” on Facebook that will allow passengers to book directly on the social media site.

It’s the first time an airline has allowed customers to reserve flights on Facebook, although nearly all major U.S. airlines use Facebook and Twitter to promote sales. Get the full story »

Aug. 5, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Cell phones, Consumer electronics, Technology, Telecommunications

Vonage app calls Facebook friends for free

From The New York Times | Vonage has introduced two apps that allow you to make free phone calls to your Facebook friends nationally and internationally. The apps, called Vonage Mobile for Facebook, are available free for the iPhone and Android phones.

Aug. 5, 2010 at 9:28 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Restaurants, Retail, Technology

Local businesses turn to social media to boost sales

When Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park was featured on Groupon, Assistant General Manager Michelle Dirks thought it would be a good chance to offer discounts to current customers while trying to get a few new ones.

But she didn’t expect the explosion of interest that started Wednesday morning.

“It’s been a little overwhelming,” Dirks said. “Well, wonderfully overwhelming.” Get the full story »

Aug. 4, 2010 at 12:58 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: M&A, Technology

LinkedIn makes its first acquisition

By Reuters

LinkedIn is making its first acquisition, a company that sifts through large amounts of data to try to determine relevant information, the business social networking site said on Wednesday. Get the full story »

July 26, 2010 at 4:46 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Technology, Telecommunications

Forrester: Most marketers should forgo Foursquare

From Ad Age | Forrester Research has released a new study stating that only 4 percent of online adults in the U.S. have ever used location-based mobile apps such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Loopt. — and only 1 percent update these services more than once per week. So despite the marketing world obsessing over these applications in recent months, the vast majority of Americans online are still in the dark about location-based apps.

July 20, 2010 at 10:50 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Consumer news, Internet, Technology

Facebook scores low on customer satisfaction

From The Wall Street Journal | The American Customer Satisfaction Index, developed by the University of Michigan’s Business School, reported that Facebook has one of the lowest scores in its regular survey of consumer satisfaction with companies. Facebook scored in the bottom 5 percent of all private sector companies, in the same range as the IRS tax e-filing system, airlines and cable companies. Among social websites, Wikipedia led the survey with a 77, followed by YouTube at 73.

« Newer Entries
Older Entries »