Time Mag in Web Promo
Time and BlackPlanet.com last week announced a partnership under which Time will provide content to the African-America portal throughout February, which is Black History Month. Time, owned by AOL Time Warner, said the deal is the first “multicultural marketing outreach” partnership intended to raise its profile among minorities. New York-based BlackPlanet.com will offer its members trial subscriptions to Time.
Secure the Phones!
Mobile phone maker Nokia signed an agreement with InterTrust Technologies, which develops digital rights management software, to license InterTrust?s DRM technology to handle secured content in future Nokia products. Nokia also invested about $20 million in InterTrust, which represents a 5 percent stake. Separately, InterTrust acquired PublishOne, a provider of online publishing services, for an undisclosed amount.
Sonicblue Buys Two
Sonicblue this month said it will acquire ReplayTV, a pioneering start-up that sold a digital “personal video recorder” before falling into financial difficulties last fall, in a stock deal worth about $120 million. In addition, Sonicblue said it will buy Sensory Science, a maker of digital audio and video products, in a stock deal valued at $8 million.
EMusic, HP Team Up
EMusic.com and Hewlett-Packard last week announced a partnership that will give people who buy new HP Pavilion home computers a free 25-song trial subscription to EMusic Unlimited. EMusic, one of the first companies to sell downloadable music on the Web, has struggled lately; last month the company laid off one-third of its staff.
Ifilm Reels In $10M
Ifilm last week said it received $10 million from investors that included Yahoo!, former Global Crossing Chief Executive Leo Hindery and Falcon Cable founder Marc Nathanson. Existing investors who also gave to Ifilms latest funding round were Axiom Ventures, Eastman Kodak, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Vulcan Ventures and GeoCities founder David Bohnetts Baroda Ventures.
MSN Kills PC Rebate
Microsoft said it would end the $400 rebate promotion it offered PC buyers who signed up for three years of MSN Internet access service. The MSN rebate offers, which have been available through consumer electronics retailers including Best Buy, OfficeMax and Staples, will end the first week of March. Instead, Microsoft will offer one year of free MSN access on certain retailer-specified PC models.