Entrepreneuring
Retail Giant Target Corp launches App Challenge: Target Corp. today announced plans for the Co.Labs & Target Retail Accelerator, where developers will vie to create a new mobile experience for Target and claim a $75,000 grand prize. Fast Company will chronicle the developers’ efforts on its new technology vertical Co.Labs. Fast Company’s new Co.Labs vertical will cover the $75,000 Co.Labs & Target Retail Accelerator. More here.
HardCode
Global Google+ Sign-In Bootcamps: Google is wooing developers to integrate Google+ sign in. The company said on a blogpost: Since our launch of Google+ Sign-In with trusted authentication, over-the-air installs, app customization, interactive posts, and app activities on February 26th, we have received huge interest from the developer community about integrating the new features. The interest was so significant, in fact, that we thought a better way to enable as many developers as possible would be a series of Google+ Sign-In bootcamps. More here.
Inc.
Dell Said to Draw Interest From Blackstone to Lenovo: Dell Inc. attracted interest from Blackstone Group LP (BX) as well as computer makers Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and Lenovo Group Ltd. (992) as its board seeks bids higher than the $24.4 billion offer from Michael Dell and Silver Lake Management LLC, according to people familiar with the matter. More here.
Carl Icahn Takes Up to a 6% Stake in Dell: Carl Icahn appears set to enter the fray over the leveraged buyout of Dell. Trading sources said they were confident that Icahn had amassed a position in Dell that may approach 100 million shares, and would bring him to a roughly 6 percent ownership. Icahn is expected to file a 13D on Dell very soon and purchased his shares over the last two weeks as Dell’s stock has traded near $14. More here.
Big layoffs at T-Mobile headquarters, ahead of merger: A significant round of layoffs is happening at the Bellevue headquarters of T-Mobile USA just ahead of its merger with MetroPCS, according to people inside the company. Employees are expecting the cuts, which may affect more than 100 people in marketing and other groups, to happen Thursday, when conference rooms at the company are reserved for “integration” meetings. More here.
Misc
Time Warner Boss Wonders If Press Knows What They’re Talking About — Including His Own Reporters: If Time Warner Inc. CEO Jeffrey Bewkes isn’t aware of all the media he controls, give him a break. After all, he has a lot on his plate: CNN, HBO, Warner Bros. film studios, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network … and oh, Time Inc., the magazine publisher. More here.
Oracle’s Ellison Purchases Hawaiian Carrier Island Air: Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison has acquired Island Air, gaining a regional carrier in Hawaii where he owns most of the island of Lanai. The airline, which had been undergoing a restructuring, said today it doesn’t plan any staff changes for its 245 employees. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. More here.
.Gov
Megaupload founder can sue NZ spy agency – court: A court ruled on Thursday that Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can sue New Zealand’s spy agency for illegal surveillance, opening the government up to more scrutiny over its role in an unlawful 2011 police raid on the internet entrepreneur’s home. More here.
Google not liable for vanity search results – U.S. court: A Wisconsin woman trying to protect her “wholesome” image failed to persuade a federal appeals court to hold Google Inc (GOOG.O) liable because searches for her name could lead people to advertisements for drugs to treat sexual dysfunction. More here.
Commission fines Microsoft for non-compliance with browser choice commitments: The European Commission has imposed a €561 million fine on Microsoft for failing to comply with its commitments to offer users a browser choice screen enabling them to easily choose their preferred web browser. In 2009, the Commission had made these commitments legally binding on Microsoft until 2014 . In today’s decision, the Commission finds that Microsoft failed to roll out the browser choice screen with its Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from May 2011 until July 2012. 15 million Windows users in the EU therefore did not see the choice screen during this period. Microsoft has acknowledged that the choice screen was not displayed during that time. More here.
