Makkad G's 10101 | 02.18 | Sept 16-30, 2008

Makkad G's 10101

1nformation 0n 1ndian 0nline 1ndustry

(Beta…, Beti, Bhai, Behen. Every1's invited!)

Version 02.18

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Hello,

Here's your issue of Makkad G's 10101 for Sept 16–30, 2008.

Happy Reading!

Makkad G

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Talk of the Town

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World Wide Web Foundation to certify if a website is trustworthy

Internet creator Sir Tim Berners-Lee has helped created World Wide Web Foundation that will vet websites, and certify whether they have been found to be trustworthy and a reliable source of information.

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Google India's internet safety campaign 'Be NetSmart' moves to Delhi

Google India, in association with IAMAI, the government and local law enforcement authorities, has launched the second leg of its nationwide internet safety campaign, Be NetSmart, which was first introduced in Mumbai on 18th February 2008 and focused on school children in sixth standard and above.

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Pressmart says NO to acquisition move by Google

Hyderabad-based Pressmart Media , which owns patented technology for digitizing newspapers and making them searchable on internet while preserving the same-as-in-print feel, has turned down an acquisition bid by Google. The internet search giant is already working on an initiative to make old newspapers accessible and searchable online.

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Yahoo India launches brand campaign to promote its search engine

Yahoo India has launched a brand campaign to promote its search engine, which according to the company would now be more engaging and relevant to the users. The brand campaign is expected to run on leading TV channels for about a month. The company also plans to launch similar campaigns on other mediums including internet and radio.

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Google allocates $10 million fund to support ideas that could improve people`s lives

As part of its tenth birthday celebration, Google has launched Project 10^100 (pronounced Project 10 to the 100th), under which the company has invited users to send exciting ideas for ways to improve people`s lives. Google has also committed $10 million fund to turn up to five of the best ideas into reality. The last date for submitting ideas to Google is 20th October 2008.

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Yahoo testing its new home page with users in US, UK, France, India

Yahoo has begun testing a new home page with randomly selected users in US, UK, France and India who will give feedback to the company about the different ways that information and applications can be presented to regular users.

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HTC to launch Google Android-powered phone in India by Dec 2008

Taiwan-based cellphone major HTC (High Tech Computer) is planning to launch Google Android-powered phone in India by the end of December 2008. HTC's G1 (the Google phone model) is a 3G phone and is specially designed to offer high-speed internet surfing. It has a touch-screen, computer-like keyboard, GPS, WiFi and a 3 megapixel camera.

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LaunchPad-Just Born Online (I just love the Betas!)

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Guruji.com launches Image Search

Internet search company Guruji.com has launched image search feature at Guruji.com/Image Guruji.com also allows users to explore online images in six categories -- Actors, Actresses , Bikes/Cars, Nature, Sports and Places to Visit.

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360 Sports Media launches cricket site Cricket360.com

360 Sports Media Group has launched Cricket360.com , a cricket website that seeks to foster an online community of cricket lovers and provide them an opportunity to share and contribute rather than just passively read news content.

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Shoppers Stop launches online store with delivery across cities in India

Shoppers Stop, one of the largest retail chains in India, has launched its e-store with delivery across major cities in India. ShoppersStop.com will retail all the products including apparel, cosmetics and accessories available at Shoppers Stop stores.

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TutorVista allows students to connect to a tutor for live, on-demand tutoring

Online tutoring company TutorVista.com has launched TutorVista Connect Now with Talk2aTutor, a new generation of tutoring technology that allows students to instantly connect to a tutor for live, on-demand tutoring and speak instantly with their tutor, without having to download complicated software application.

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Yahoo India launches social networking site SpotM in limited Beta

Yahoo India has introduced SpotM , a social networking site currently available by invitation only. SpotM would offer two exclusive services -- the concept of a secret friend and SMS integration of anonymity to chat. The latter option will allow private conversations among users without revealing their mobile number.

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Expedia launches flight booking service on its India site Expedia.co.in

Online travel company Expedia has launched flight booking service for Indian travellers. According to the company, Expedia.co.in , with access to nearly 80,000 hotels, 3,000 attractions and 70 airlines worldwide, will now allow Indian travellers to book their entire trip – flight tickets, hotels, attractions and activities – in one place.

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Travel search engine Sprice launches hotel comparison site Sprice.co.in for India

France-based travel search engine Sprice.com has launched Sprice.co.in , a hotel comparison site for India. The website allows users to search for hotel rooms and check the quality of a hotel relying on ratings, reviews and photos posted by other users.

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LearnHub launches online CAT community for IIM aspirants

Social learning network LearnHub.com has added a CAT (Common Admission Test) community to help IIM (Indian Institute of Management) aspirants prepare for the test online. CAT, one of the most competitive exams in the world, is the gateway to IIMs, and is taken annually by over 230,000 students.

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SabseBolo.com launches local access number in Bangalore

Audio conferencing service SabseBolo.com has launched its Bangalore local access number (080 6722 4444). SabseBolo was launched in Mumbai (022 3980 4444) early this year by its co-founders Sabeer Bhatia and Yogesh Patel. The company is also testing its audio conferencing service in Delhi (011 6619 4444). SabseBolo.com claims to have registered over one lakh customers since its inception in January 2008.

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BCCI (Indian Cricket Board) launches its official website BCCI.tv

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has gone online with the launch of its official website BCCI.tv . The website will offer deferred streaming video and mobile content, live scoreboard, official photographs, player interviews, profiles, schedules, statistics, user interaction and newsletters.

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PositiveSaathi.com seeks to help HIV/AIDS sufferers find life partner

Anil Kumar Valiv, a government employee, has launched PositiveSaathi.com , a matrimonial site that seeks to help HIV/AIDS sufferers find life partners. Valiv lost a close friend to AIDS and it was this friend`s desire for a relatively normal life that inspired the website, reports Reuters .

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MouthShut launches new section to allow employees review their companies

User-generated reviews site MouthShut.com , which claims to have about 2.4 million registered users and reviews of over one lakh products and services, has launched an online platform, called Employers , that enables employees to review the companies they are working in currently or have served in the past.

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BharatMatrimony launches its matrimony services on Airtel WAP portal

BharatMatrimony.com , a part of Consim Info, has made its matrimony services available on Airtel's WAP portal, Airtel Live. The move will enable Airtel subscribers across India to access BharatMatrimony services on their GPRS enabled handsets.

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OpenVideoPlayer.com launched to promote standards around video player development

Akamai Technologies has launched OpenVideoPlayer.com which seeks to facilitate the development and sharing of open standards and best practices for video player applications that support a wide range of advertising technologies.

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Yahoo launches display ad platform APT

Yahoo has launched APT , an automated display advertising platform that gives advertisers a range of tools to control where ads should appear, what kind of Web surfers the ads should be shown to, and how much they are willing to pay.

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Nexus-Link.Un.Link

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Yahoo India consolidates its field sales organisation under Debadutta Upadhyaya

Yahoo India is consolidating its entire field sales organisation under Debadutta Upadhyaya. Prior to this consolidation, she was driving sales for Yahoo India for Brand and Multi-Objective accounts. Debadutta Upadhyaya will be reporting to Pearl Uppal, director, ad sales, Yahoo India.

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Tushar Burman joins Infomedia as Head of Internet

Infomedia India has appointed Tushar Burman as head of internet properties. Prior to joining Infomedia, Burman was associate editor at Indian Express. In his new role, Tushar Burman will report to Lakshmi Narasimhan, CEO of Infomedia's magazine publishing business.

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MySpace partners with RIM to launch social networking service on BlackBerry

Social networking site MySpace and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion have joined hands to develop an integrated MySpace Mobile experience customized for BlackBerry smartphones. RIM has also created a BlackBerry community page on MySpace for users to access the latest BlackBerry smartphone news, content, videos, games, ringtones, skins and other features.

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Hemant Sachdev joins Microsoft India as JMD for Consumer & Online Business

Microsoft India has appointed Hemant Sachdev as joint managing director for its consumer and online business which includes consumer software, windows mobile, MSN and the online services and search businesses. Prior to joining Microsoft India, Hemant Sachdev was group director at Bharti Group.

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Mandar Natekar joins BigAdda as National Head – Sales

BigAdda.com , a social networking site owned by Reliance Big Entertainment, has appointed Mandar Natekar as national head – sales. Prior to joining BigAdda, Natekar was regional head, West and North for HBO at Turner International. He has also worked in ad sales at SET Max and The Times of India.

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Vijay Jung Thapa joins Hindustan Times as Editor - New Media

HT Media, publisher of Hindustan Times, has appointed Vijay Jung Thapa as editor - new media and head of business development content for HindustanTimes.com . Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Thapa was executive editor at Star News.

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Subhash Ghai's Mukta Arts acquires 51% stake in MVAS company Coruscant Tec

Mukta Arts , promoted by filmmaker Subhash Ghai, has acquired 51 per cent controlling stake in Chennai-based mobile value added services company Coruscant Tec . According to Mukta Arts, it also has an option of acquiring the balance 49 per cent stake in Coruscant

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Airtel partners with Affle to launch SMS-based search service

Bharti Airtel in association with Affle has introduced search through SMS service that will allow Airtel customers to Search - Airtel Live, Internet, Local search, Jobs and Property listings, from their SMS screen. The companies also hope that the SMS-based search service would open up a huge revenue model driven around delivering contextual advertising on the search results.

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Cleartrip partners with IRCTC to launch train booking facility

Travel portal Cleartrip.com has launched online train bookings in partnership with IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation). "Over 17 million passengers travel daily by train, and Cleartrip is proud to be India`s first online travel agency to offer a new way to book Indian Railways trains online," Hrush Bhatt, founder, Cleartrip, has said.

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Reliance Entertainment's BigAdda joins Jivox video ad network

Reliance Big Entertainment's social networking site BigAdda has joined Jivox video ad network, which enables publishers to monetize their video assets with its online video ad service that connects publishers with advertisers.

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That's all for now folks!

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Makkad-G

Makkad G's 10101 | 02.17 | Sept 1-15, 2008

Makkad G's 10101

1nformation 0n 1ndian 0nline 1ndustry

(Beta…, Beti, Bhai, Behen. Every1's invited!)

Version 02.17

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Hello,

Here's your issue of Makkad G's 10101 for Sept 1–15, 2008.

Happy Reading!

Makkad G

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Talk of the Town

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Indiatimes plans to launch mobile advertising service AdRingles

Indiatimes.com is planning to launch AdRingles, an AdRBT (ad ring back tone) service that will provide an advertising platform on mobiles for advertisers. With AdRBTs, each time a person calls an AdRingles customer he will hear an ad or a movie dialogue instead of a ring tone.

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Sulekha.com makes its services available in 28 cities in India

Online classifieds and yellow pages portal Sulekha.com, which was earlier present in eight metro cities in India, has now launched its services in 20 non-metro cities in the country. Besides these 28 cities, Sulekha.com is also present in 15 cities in US and Canada.

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Google to launch web browser called Google Chrome

Google plans to launch the beta version of its open source web browser called Google Chrome.

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eBay launches marketing campaign for its price challenge activity

eBay India has launched a marketing campaign to promote its Price Challenge activity in which consumers are challenged to find prices lower than those advertised by eBay India.

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Google to host Developer Day on 18 October in Bangalore

Google India is organising Google Developer Day on 18 October 2008 in Bangalore. The event aims to provide a platform for developers to share knowledge about Google`s tools and about web application development in general

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Zapak to represent Indian online gaming industry at Casual Connect

Zapak Digital Entertainment has been invited to represent the Indian online gaming industry at Casual Connect Kyiv 2008, a premiere event for the casual games professionals. The event will take place on 22-24 October 2008 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

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Google to enable businesses share videos internally

Google is adding YouTube-like video communications features to its business application suite, Google Apps Premier Edition, which costs $50 a user per year for a package of business software, email, scheduling and website design capabilities.

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Search marketing spends to reach $225 million by 2009-10

The size of the SEM (search engine marketing) industry in India is expected to grow from $112.5 million in 2007-08 to $175 million in 2008-09 and $225 million in 2009-10

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Pressmart raises $6 million from DFJ, NEA IndoUS Ventures

Pressmart Media , a print-to-digital delivery service, has secured $6 million VC fund from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and NEA IndoUS Ventures. The investment is expected to help Pressmart accelerate its global footprint and expand its global sales, marketing and customer-support presence across 35 countries where it currently serves over 350 print media customers.

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Google to scan old newspapers to make them searchable online

Google has launched a new initiative to make old newspapers accessible and searchable online by partnering with newspaper publishers to scan and digitize millions of pages of news archives. The company also plans to later blend these archives into its main search results so that when someone searches Google.com, he would be searching the full text of these newspapers as well.

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Tata Communications invests $11.5 million in BitGravity

Tata Communications has invested $11.5 million in BitGravity, a next-generation Content Delivery Network for interactive broadcasting. The company has also announced the launch of a global CDN service which is powered by BitGravity and is available on single ASN global IP network throughout Europe, Asia, North America and India.

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Dennis Publishing to launch magazines, websites targeted at urban males in India

UK-based magazine company Dennis Publishing has formed a joint venture with Media Transasia to launch a slew of niche magazine titles and websites targeted at urban male readers in India

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ApnaLoan.com is now ApnaPaisa

ApnaLoan.com Services, an online market place for loans and credit cards, has changed the company name to ApnaPaisa . The new name reflects its expanded offerings, which now include empowering insurance consumers and retail investors apart from loan consumers.

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Morpheus Venture Partners selects 7 startups for mentoring

Morpheus Venture Partners , founded by Sameer Guglani and Nandini Hirianniah, has selected seven startups for its Second Batch of 2008. MVP team will now work closely with these startups for the next 4-6 months on areas like product development and launch, customer traction, B2b deals, team building and revenue models.

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LaunchPad-Just Born Online (I just love the Betas!)

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Google India launches Got the `App'titude Challenge for colleges

Google in partnership with Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi has launched Got the 'App'titude Challenge that aims to identify student, faculty, and alumni leaders across India to implement Google Apps within their colleges.

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Indiatimes launches QnA service

Times Internet Limited has launched qna.indiatimes.com , a question and answer site that allows users to ask and answer questions and also get rewarded for the same.

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LifeInLines.com allows users to chronicle little moments of their life online

OneLife Knowledge Services, a startup founded by an IIT Bombay and IIM Calcutta graduate who opted out of his campus placements to start his own venture, has launched LifeInLines.com , an online chronicle that allows users to capture little moments, thoughts and experiences of their life through phone calls, SMSs, MMSs, emails or Google Talk messages. Users can also login to LifeInLines.com and post texts, images, voices and videos on their page.

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ApnaLoan launches home loan, personal loan comparators

Personal finance company ApnaLoan.com has launched home loan and personal loan comparators which would allow salaried as well as self-employed customers to compare data for both fixed and floating interest rates. One can also get to know about an approximate loan amount he is eligible for and the EMI he will have to pay for the seeking loan amount.

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TeachersofIndia.org launched to enable teachers share best practices

Azim Premji Foundation , with support from the National Knowledge Commission, has developed TeachersofIndia.org that will provide an online platform for teachers to share best practices and generate discussion in the teaching community.

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Google launches voice-based local search service in Delhi

Google India has launched its voice-based local search service in Delhi / NCR where users can call a toll free number (1 800 41 999 999) and get information about restaurants, movies and other local businesses. The company had earlier introduced this service in Hyderabad.

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Amazon Video On Demand allows customers to watch movies within web browser

Amazon.com has launched Amazon Video On Demand , digital video service which allows customers to watch ad-free movies and television shows within their web browser. Previously, customers could only download titles and watch them on a PC or on their TiVo box.

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Carazoo launches virtual car showroom for NBS International

Carazoo.com , a division of US-based Logix Microsystems, has launched a virtual online car-dealer showroom NbsMahindra.com for NBS International, a Mahindra & Mahindra subsidiary.

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iXiGO launches online bus tickets search service

Travel search company iXiGO.com has partnered with online bus booking sites redBus , Ticketvala and TicketGoose to enable its users to search , compare and book bus tickets from multiple bus operators and bus booking sites in India.

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NIIT creates online version of Preeti Technani

NIIT, an IT education company, has created an online version of Preeti Technani, a virtual character whose print avatar was introduced in 2006. While the print presence of Preeti is managed by a team at NIIT and Contract Advertising, Delhi, the online presence is looked after by a digital agency, Interactive Avenues.

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Nexus-Link.Un.Link

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WPP appoints Neal Prescott as CEO of its new digital production unit, Deliver

WPP Digital has created a digital production unit called Deliver that will offer clients the ability to match digital briefs to the most suitably resourced and cost-effective agency involved with the company. WPP Digital has also appointed Neal Prescott, former executive vice president of Publicis-owned Digitas, as chief executive officer of Deliver.

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Cyber Media ties-up with MyToday Dailies to launch Technology News on mobile

Cyber Media has partnered with MyToday Dailies, an initiative of Rajesh Jain's Netcore Solutions, to launch Technology News on the mobile, an opt-in SMS service that will offer tech news, with a focus on IT and telecom.

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Mohit Hira bids adieu to Times Internet Ltd (Indiatimes.com)

Mohit Hira, director in charge of marketing, website usability, incubation of new projects, and group integration at Times Internet Ltd (Indiatimes.com), has put in his papers. He is currently serving his notice period in the company.

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Ramakrishnan Laxman joins MCCS (Star News) as Head of New Media

Media Content & Communications Services India has appointed Ramakrishnan Laxman as head of new media. MCCS, a joint venture between ABP TV and Star Group, runs three news channels - Star News, Star Ananda and Star Majha. Prior to joining MCSS, Ramakrishnan Laxman was vice president, business development and media assets at Publicitas Digital.

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Times Internet partners with Onyomo to launch SMS-based local search service ASK

Times Internet Limited has partnered with Onyomo to launch a mobile value added service called ASK that offers information on local listings across various categories including ATMs, restaurants, cafes, flower shops and chemist, to mobile phone users. The service is available on SMS (58888) and WAP platform of Indiatimes.

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CNBC to broadcast content generated by LinkedIn community

Business news channel CNBC and professional networking site LinkedIn have signed a deal under which CNBC content will be distributed across the LinkedIn network, while LinkedIn functionality will be integrated into CNBC.com. The two companies will also work together to include community-generated content from the LinkedIn community for broadcast on CNBC.

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Maya Hari quits MSN India as Head of Consumer Marketing; launches Stylkist.com

Maya Hari has left MSN India where she was head of consumer marketing. Hari has now launched a lifestyle e-commerce site Stylkist.com which markets stylish decor and gifts online. Prior to joining MSN India, Hari was senior marketing manager at Google India.

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Reliance Entertainment acquires majority stake in cricket webcasting site Willow.TV

Reliance Big Entertainment, a part of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), has acquired a majority stake in the US-based cricket webcasting portal, Willow TV . The Anil Ambani company plans to invest Rs 300 crore in the portal over the next two years and the amount includes the acquisition price.

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PerceptKnorigin appointed online agency for real estate portal NoBrokerage.in

Surf & Fish Internet Solutions has appointed PerceptKnorigin , the digital arm of Percept Holdings, as its online agency to promote its website NoBrokerage.in that seeks to connect property owners, buyers and tenants directly, eliminating payment of brokerage in the real estate business.

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Info Edge selects Akamai to optimize search application of its job site Naukri.com

Info Edge India has selected Akamai Technologies India's Web Application Accelerator service to optimize the search application of its job site Naukri.com. Akamai's Web Application Accelerator service is expected to enable faster accessibility of relevant jobs to Naukri.com's customers.

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Naresh Ajwani elected as member of Number Resource Organization

Naresh Ajwani, president, consumer infrastructure and operations, Sify Technologies Limited, has been elected as a member of Number Resource Organization – Number Council (NRO-NC), a global policy formulation body for internet.

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Kalli Purie to head India Today Digital (Digital Today)

Kalli Purie, former COO of India Today Group Online and daughter of India Today founder and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie, will be heading India Today Digital (Digital Today). India Today Group Online owns a portfolio of sites including India Today, Business Today, Money Today, ITGO, Woman, Prevention and Men's Health.

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Anuj Dahiya joins NDTV Media as National Head, Digital Ad Sales

NDTV Media, an independent ad sales arm of NDTV Group, has appointed Anuj Dahiya as national head, digital ad sales. Prior to joining NDTV Media, Dahiya was country head, business development at ValueFirst, a mobile data services company. He has also worked at JobsAhead.com, Rediff, Mediaturf and Group M`s Mindshare Interaction.

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BuzzInTown partners with MyToday Dailies to offer events related information on mobile

Events-oriented social networking site BuzzInTown.com has partnered with MyToday Dailies , an opt-in SMS service of Rajesh Jain's Netcore Solutions, to provide its users events related information on the mobile.

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Google, HSBC back initiative to provide internet access to 'other 3 billion' people

Google has joined hands with HSBC and cable operator Liberty Global to support a group called O3b Networks, which stands for the 'other 3 billion' people who do not have internet access.

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Cleartrip names Stuart Crighton as its new CEO; Sandeep Murthy is now Chairman

Online travel company Cleartrip.com has laid off 42 people, about 15 per cent of its total staff of 300, over the past couple of months. Crighton, a co-founder of Cleartrip who was till now COO of the company, has taken over from Sandeep Murthy who has now become chairman of Cleartrip.

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Rammohan Sundaram quits Yahoo India as National Sales Head - Performance Accounts

Rammohan Sundaram, national sales head - performance accounts at Yahoo India, is believed to have put in his papers. Sundaram is expected to launch his own venture, possibly an ad network, in early November 2008.

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That's all for now folks!

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Makkad-G