AT&T seeks telecom rule change

AT&T may now be able to provide television service over phone lines, but it’s a whole different matter when it comes to marketing that line of business to landline customers.

When customers tell AT&T they want to switch to another phone provider, AT&T can’t use its new TV offering – or any of its other services – to try to keep them as phone customers.

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Tis the Season to Shop Safely

Comcast Alerts Consumers to Protect Your Computers and Personal Information Before Shopping Online This Holiday Season

As the holiday shopping season begins, more consumers will be turning to the Internet this year to find special deals and offers in hopes of saving money during this tough economic time. According to Shop.org’s recent eHoliday Study, more than half of online retailers expect their holiday sales to increase at least 15 percent over last year.*

Although online shopping can be convenient and even cost-effective, there are some dangers that lurk on the Web and the anticipated increase in online shopping sales could entice a cyber criminal to look for their next victim. Comcast, the nation’s largest residential broadband Internet service provider, is committed to helping consumers protect themselves from cyber scams and other Internet threats by providing online shopping safety tips for the holiday season.

“In this difficult economy, more people may shop online this holiday season looking for coupons, discounts and better deals so it’s important for them to know how to protect their computers from online threats that can compromise personal information and lead to identity theft,” said Jay Opperman, Senior Director of Security and Privacy for Comcast.

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Comcast Helps Consumers Through Digital Broadcast Transition with Free Basic Cable

Cable is Free When Combined with Economy Internet or Phone Service

Offers Complement Company’s Ongoing Efforts to Help Consumers “Get Ready” for Government’s Digital Transition

Comcast, South Florida’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services, is launching its Get Ready initiative today to encourage consumers to take action and choose their solution to the digital broadcast transition now, before the government mandate goes into effect.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered local TV stations to vacate the frequency locations they have occupied since the 1940’s. The only place viewers will be able to access local channels after February 17, 2009 will be on their new digital frequency locations.

As part of this new initiative, Comcast is offering low-cost solutions, including free basic cable for 12 months to those who sign up for at least one additional Comcast service. New customers who choose not to subscribe to additional Comcast services can get basic cable for just $10 a month for a full year. Current customers can add basic cable to additional TVs at no additional monthly fee.

Comcast Announces More Than 1,000 HD Choices Available – the Most HD Content Anytime, Anywhere

HD Choices Increase Five-Fold This Year

As HD viewing skyrockets, Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced that it now has more than 1,000 high-definition (HD) viewing choices, delivering on the company’s commitment to significantly increase HD programming by year end. This announcement also marks a major milestone for Project Infinity, Comcast’s vision to give consumers the ability to watch any movie, television show, user generated content or other video that a producer wants to make available On Demand.

"Consumers can't get enough HD, so we’re now offering over a thousand HD choices, five times more than last year. However, it's not just about HD volume, but about having the highest-quality content consumers really want, whether they want to watch live or on their schedule," said Derek Harrar, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services for Comcast. "With the best HD movies, top-rated HD shows and the hottest HD music all On Demand ... we're delivering the future of HD television, today."

Slowsky Videos

AOL Money & Finance to Feature BLOOMBERG TELEVISION Video

First Outside Financial Site to Host BLOOMBERG TELEVISION Multi-Media Content

AOL Money & Finance will carry content from BLOOMBERG TELEVISION®, making it the first major site other than Bloomberg.com to host videos from the 24/7 business and financial news network.

Each weekday, AOL Money & Finance, http://money.aol.com, will feature 20 new video clips from BLOOMBERG TELEVISION across the Money & Finance site, including its video site, http://money.aol.com/videos. BLOOMBERG TELEVISION content is created exclusively by the global BLOOMBERG NEWS^® service, with 143 bureaus in 69 countries.

The new relationship also lets advertisers reach across AOL and BLOOMBERG TELEVISION content with a single campaign. Advertising on AOL’s site will be sold by AOL’s digital advertising business, Platform-A, http://www.platform-a.com, which will offer advertising opportunities in display advertising, video advertising and content-targeted links.

AOL Launches New Digital City Website

From Lifestyle to Entertainment, DigitalCity.com Covers Local Trends with a Global Appeal

AOL announced the launch of Digital City, http://www.digitalcity.com, a new, magazine-style site that enables readers to stay on top of the latest entertainment trends and stories from around the world. Digital City takes a new approach to geo-blogging by showcasing original content with a local slant, but global appeal.

In addition to daily posts on topics ranging from the arts to fall festivities, Digital City has weekly features focusing on news and trends in entertainment, concerts, nightlife and dining. The monthly blogazine “Drink World” is devoted to the global culture of drinking.

“We’re excited to launch Digital City and to continue our legacy of providing consumers with compelling local entertainment information,” said Chris Spanos, General Manager of AOL Local. “From the serious to the irreverent, Digital City is sure to inform and entertain readers.”

Digital City, http://www.digitalcity.com, is part of the AOL Local Network, which is the largest online local network with a monthly reach of 60 million unduplicated unique visitors.* The site will be monetized through advertising packages that will be sold exclusively through Platform-A, AOL's digital advertising business.

With 10,000 Online Theaters Open, SnagFilms Will Present Premiere of “Haze” Simultaneously with Hamptons International Film Festival

In a keynote presentation to the IFP’s Independent Film Week Conference, SnagFilms CEO Rick Allen today updated the independent film community on developments since the site’s launch, and announced that Haze, a documentary film introduced by Robin Wright Penn, will premiere simultaneously on SnagFilms and at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

With its focus on the death of a young Colorado University fraternity pledge, Gordie Bailey, due to alcohol poisoning, Haze is a documentary that explores a range of issues regarding youth culture in America and their use of alcohol, such as binge drinking, hazing, the current drinking age and peer pressure. Robin Wright Penn is a Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated actress. The 16^th annual Hamptons International Film Festival takes place October 15^th to 19^th. SnagFilms brings the best nonfiction films to the web audience, promotes viral web distribution through virtual movie theater widgets, and engages viewers to assist charitable and community efforts. The premiere of Haze online simultaneously to its premiere at a festival is the first time there has been such a “dual premiere.”

“We are so thrilled to partner with SnagFilms on this unique opportunity to present Haze to the wide audience that the film deserves. It is a special film, and one that we feel strongly should be shared by both our audiences here in the Hamptons, and to as broad a population as possible. This new initiative will really allow us to fulfill that goal,” said David Nugent, Hamptons International Film Festival, Programming Director.

Bridgevine and Verizon Sign Agreement on FiOS Services

Bridgevine Offers Consumers Both Fiber Optic TV and High Speed Internet

VERO BEACH, Fla. & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bridgevine Inc., the trusted source for consumers to compare and shop for cable TV, fiber optic TV, high speed Internet and other home services, announced the company will now offer to consumers the Verizon FiOS TV and FiOS high speed Internet services.

“These fiber optic TV and high speed internet services are a proven hit with consumers and we’re proud to add them to our suite of offerings,” states Bridgevine’s President and CEO Vinny Olmstead. “We offer three Verizon FiOS TV plans. FiOS Local that includes all local channels. FiOS Premier with more than 200 channels including music and the ability to add premium movie channels and FiOS TV La Connexion, which has 140 channels including 35 English, 25 Spanish-language and additional music channels.”

Verizon FiOS Internet is a broadband service designed to provide Internet access with the fastest download speeds currently available — up to 50 megabits per second. The package includes a suite of services with access to newsgroups, nine email accounts and 10 MB of personal web storage. FiOS is an alternative to DSL and cable, provided on a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network. These services are available directly from the Bridgevine.com website or from Bridgevine’s shopping platform, dslnational.com.

Bridgevine’s consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com, addresses the often daunting task of shopping for services in a marketplace where constantly changing prices, promotions and package offerings can leave consumers unsure if they are getting the best deal, or even the service that best meets their need. Unlike other “comparison” shopping sites, the Bridgevine experience is differentiated by a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers enables the company to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience.

About Bridgevine

Founded in 2003, Bridgevine, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with an office in Atlanta, GA. The company’s consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com, is a trusted source for consumers to compare and shop for the services that shape their lives. From communications to entertainment to security, Bridgevine.com lets consumers choose individual services that are best for them, or create personalized bundles from trusted providers resulting in saved time and money. Unlike other “comparison” shopping websites, Bridgevine’s powerful technology offers a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country — including Comcast, AT&T, D-Link, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, DIRECTV, RealNetworks, Panasonic, GameFly and more — enables Bridgevine to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience. The company’s proprietary ecommerce platform is licensed by leading retailers, websites and Fortune 500 companies, making it possible for them to monetize online, call center and in-store traffic. Bridgevine was ranked 57 on the prestigious 2007 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. For more information, please visit www.bridgevine.com.

Contacts

Bridgevine, Inc., Vero Beach
Mark Ballard, 772-539-0618
mark.ballard@bridgevine.com

AT&T Introduces the AT&T USBConnect Mercury, Delivering 3G Mobile Broadband Speed With Style

AT&T USBConnect Mercury Offers Compact Design and New User-Friendly Features to Access Nation's Fastest 3G Network

AT&T Inc. and Sierra Wireless today announced the availability of the AT&T USBConnect Mercury, the newest and smallest addition to AT&T's High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)-capable lineup of LaptopConnect devices on the nation's fastest third-generation (3G) network.

Designed and manufactured by Sierra Wireless, the AT&T USBConnect Mercury is a convenient, easy-to-use USB device that provides a high speed connection to the AT&T wireless network whenever it's needed. The device provides plug-and-play installation by including a preloaded version of AT&T Communication Manager software for Microsoft Windows Vista, XP and 2000 notebooks and Sierra's Watcher(TM) software for Mac notebooks (versions 10.4.11 or later) so that new customers can get up and running quickly and easily.

Hughes Launches Fastest Ever Satellite Broadband Access Plans for Businesses Throughout the U.S.

New HughesNet Business Internet Plans Bring Affordable and Reliable Broadband Access at Speeds up to 5 Mbps

Hughes Network Systems, LLC the global leader in broadband satellite network solutions and services, today announced the availability of HughesNet Business Internet service plans, the fastest satellite Internet plans ever offered, bringing affordable, reliable, and high-performance broadband access to small- and mid-sized businesses (SMB) throughout the nation.

Starting at only $59.99 per month, HughesNet Business Internet plans have been specifically tailored to the SMB market complete with competitive pricing and flexible billing options. Customers can choose from seven plans, with speeds up to 1 Mbps on the uplink and up to 5 Mbps on the downlink, and are available to SMBs regardless of their location, which may be outside the reach of terrestrial cable and DSL providers.

"We estimate that there are over three million underserved businesses in the U.S.," said Sam Baumel, assistant vice president of SMB at Hughes. "Because of where they're located, these business owners don't have access to DSL, are using a slow dial-up connection, or are paying for costly T-1 service. Our new HughesNet Business Internet plans offer an affordable, nationwide solution that will help any small business stay connected and grow."

Verizon Goes to 'Extremes' in Massachusetts and Rhode Island With New Service Bundles Featuring High-Octane High-Def TV, Ultra-High-Speed Internet and

New FiOS TV Customers Eligible for a Free High-Def DVR for 12 Months and Free Month of HBO and Cinemax

Verizon is bringing its FiOS customers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island the ultimate broadband and home entertainment experiences, with new FiOS Freedom bundles. Bundle options now include a new FiOS TV Extreme service tier with more high-definition (HD) channels than the cable companies in the market, in addition to ultra-high-speed FiOS Internet service that blows cable away, plus reliable, unlimited local and long-distance calling.

Also today, Verizon announced the launch of 75 new channels, including 55 additional high-definition (HD) channels, in the region. FiOS TV customers in the area now have more than 480 HD choices available at any time, with a total of 85 HD channels and more than 400 HD video-on-demand (VOD) titles offered each month. [Note: This announcement and others can be found at Verizon's online news center: http://newscenter.verizon.com/.]

"We've gone all-out with affordable new packages for customers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island," said Bob Driscoll, Verizon vice president of sales and marketing in New England. "They combine the fastest Internet access -- period -- with high-quality, high-def TV picture quality and superior voice service, all delivered over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network."

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Florida, Mass., Consumers Now Have High-Speed Access to the Internet

Verizon Launches Broadband Service in First of 24 New Communities

Consumers and businesses in this tiny western Massachusetts community now have access to the Internet -- at rocket speeds powered by Verizon.

Starting Wednesday (Aug. 13), Verizon High Speed Internet service is being offered throughout Florida, one of 24 western Massachusetts communities where broadband Internet access has been unavailable. Verizon is planning to offer the service to the 23 other communities this year.

The service will give Internet users the ability to download at speeds of 768 Kbps (kilobits per second), 21 times faster than the current dial-up capability in Florida.

"This is a historic day for the town of Florida and for Verizon," said Donna C. Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who declared Verizon High Speed Internet service "open for business" in Florida.

"We are proud to be able to bring the benefits of broadband Internet service to consumers in Florida today and soon to thousands more consumers in western Massachusetts," she said. "Verizon's investments in Massachusetts have and will continue to be a major contributor to growing the state's economy."

Yahoo! Launches Fire Eagle

New Platform Enables Users to Easily Update and Manage Their Location Information Across the Web

Yahoo! Inc. today announced the general availability of Fire Eagle (http://fireeagle.yahoo.net), an open platform that helps users take their location to the Web while giving them the ability to easily control how and where their location data is shared.

Fire Eagle gives users a place to store and manage information about their location, and offers developers clear protocols for updating or accessing that information. Because it’s open, any networked service can use Fire Eagle to respond to a user’s location – to help them find their friends, annotate the world or find nearby services or local information.

“Fire Eagle is about making everything on the Internet more useful, fun or interesting by adding the element of location,” said Tom Coates, head of product at Yahoo! Brickhouse. “We’re here to help people take their location to the Web by giving them the ability to control how much detail about their location they want to share and which applications they want to share it with.”

Microsoft Flops and Loses 7% of the Browser Market in Last 12 Months - Vista Still Only Used by Less Than 15% of all Users, per Janco

Janco and the IT Productivity Center have just released their Browser and Operating System Market Share White Paper. The major findings are: Microsoft's browser market share has continued to erode and has fallen to 58.50% versus 65.48% (loss of 6.96%) in August 2007 and 82.99% (loss of 24.49%) in August 2005; Firefox has maintained its number 2 browser position and now is used by almost 19% (18.94%) of all users; Google Desktop has over 4% (4.01%) of the market; and Time Warner made a strategic error in abandoning Netscape as users continue to use Netscape even though AOL no longer supports it.

The study also finds that on the Operating System front, Microsoft's Vista has just under 15% (14.94%) of the market after almost 20 months since Vista's first release candidate (RC1). Victor Janulaitis, the CEO of Janco, said, "Both Vista and Netscape show that large companies make huge blunders in technology. In the case of Microsoft, they no longer count on moving users to new products as quickly as they want. Time Warner's short-sighted decision to abandon Netscape shows technology decisions are long-term ones, and companies that want to create value in that market need to look beyond quarter-to- quarter earnings. But the real story is the continued erosion of Microsoft's market share."

Qwest Now Offering Verizon Wireless Services

Verizon Wireless’ Voice and High-Speed Data Services Available to New Qwest Residential and Business Customers – Switch Details for Existing Customers to be Announced Soon

Qwest Communications announced today that it is now offering Verizon Wireless services to all new residential and business customers in its residential service area. Through the five-year agent agreement announced earlier this year, new Qwest customers can now purchase Verizon Wireless products and services, including handsets, smartphones and BlackBerry devices, as well as high-speed wireless broadband services for e-mail, Internet access and multimedia services, such as mobile music and video.

Verizon Wireless services may be purchased at Qwest retail outlets and kiosks, online at www.qwest.com and at 1 800-244-1111. New residential and business customers can choose from the full line of Verizon Wireless devices and nationwide plans, which include unlimited national IN Calling to more than 65 million Verizon Wireless customers. Qwest will work with individual customers to help them select the Verizon Wireless handsets and plans that best meet their wireless needs.

Current Qwest Wireless customers will soon be notified directly about all Verizon Wireless plans and handset options, and are not required to do anything at this time.

“New Qwest customers can now experience America's Most Reliable Wireless Network from Verizon Wireless and enjoy the benefits of the wireless industry leader’s latest devices, services and content,” said Dan Yost, executive vice president of IT and product for Qwest. “This is another example of Qwest’s commitment to delivering simplified, integrated solutions to customers through the power of a strategic retail alliance.”

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Esquire Becomes First Magazine to Merge Digital Technology with Printed Pages

Cover of 75^th Anniversary Issue Will Use Electronic Paper Revolutionary October Issue Provides Glimpse into the Future of Media Ford Flex Partners with Esquire to Feature Ground-Breaking Technology

Esquire, one of America’s iconic magazines, is turning 75 this year. As part of the celebration of this milestone, the October issue will be the first magazine ever to embed a revolutionary digital technology – electronic paper – into a mass-produced print product.

In partnership with the all-new Ford Flex Crossover and in collaboration with E Ink Corporation, the world's leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies, Esquire’s groundbreaking cover will make a profound statement about how the print medium can expand its capabilities while continuing to exploit its own unique strengths. Ford will prominently feature its highly anticipated Ford Flex on the inside cover, utilizing the same E Ink Vizplex^TM flexible display technology, in a double-page advertisement.

“This cover is both a breakthrough for magazines and an expression of the theme of our anniversary issue,” said David Granger, editor-in-chief, Esquire. “We’ve spent 16 months making this happen as one of the ways we’re demonstrating that the 21^st century begins this fall. The entire issue is devoted to exploring the ideas, people and issues that will be the foundation of the 21^st century.”

In the summer of 2007, Esquire and Hearst, Esquire’s parent company, contracted E Ink to develop a version of its electronic paper technology (which is used in devices like Amazon’s Kindle and other eBooks/eNewspapers) that could be used in a magazine. Throughout 2008, E Ink and Hearst’s manufacturing division have worked diligently to surmount the myriad manufacturing challenges the project presented. When the cover appears on newsstands in September, words and images will scroll across the flexible electronic paper display.

The team at Ford was made aware of the 75^th Anniversary Edition by Esquire last year, and there was an immediate link to the launch of the daring new Flex Crossover.

Verizon's 'Business Link Rewards' Program Launches Online Mall

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Can Earn Unlimited Bonus Credits With the Verizon Business Links Rewards Online Mall; Shopping Destination Has More Than 350 Retailers Offering Discounts

Verizon's small- and medium-sized business customers participating in the Business Link Rewards program are now eligible for discounts and special promotions every time they shop at the Verizon Business Links Online Mall. Customers will also earn additional Business Link Rewards Bonus Credits for every dollar they spend at the Mall, and they can redeem the credits for a variety of rewards in the program.

The new Business Link Rewards Online Mall is powered by Mall Networks, a leading provider of merchant-funded loyalty shopping programs. Small- and medium-sized business customers who use the Online Mall can get discounts from more than 350 retailers, including Best Buy, Dell Computers, Office Depot, Expedia, eBay and Target.

"We continually look at new ways to add value for our business customers," said Michael McLaughlin, director of mass business marketing for Verizon. "The Business Link Rewards program has been highly appealing to our customers during the past 12 years, and we are constantly creating enhancements to keep it fresh and valued by our members. Adding the Business Links Rewards Online Mall gives our customers a significant way to accelerate their reward-earning opportunities through everyday shopping for their home or business. Plus, they receive savings and other offers from these major merchants."

Yahoo! Announces Ad-Supported Online Gaming

#1 Online Games Site Launches Internet’s Largest Collection of Ad-Supported, Downloadable Games

Partners With Double Fusion and NeoEdge for Technology and Advertising

Yahoo! today announced that Yahoo! Games will offer ad-supported downloadable games from the top casual games publishers. With more than 400 ad-supported games available to users by the end of the year, Yahoo! Games solidifies its commitment to providing the Internet’s best gaming experience, and is creating new opportunities for advertisers to reach an engaged audience. The announcement brings the industry’s largest collection of ad-supported games to the biggest gaming audience on the web and reinforces Yahoo! Games’ overall strategy to be the most comprehensive distribution point for games online.

In-game advertising allows Yahoo! Games and its publisher partners to better monetize its games offering, provide advertisers access to a coveted demographic of gamers and satisfy user demand for casual ad-supported games. Top technology providers, Double Fusion and NeoEdge, will sell and integrate pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll video ads into the Yahoo! Games catalog. Paid downloads without advertising will also be available to users on Yahoo! Games.

“In game advertising is a win-win for Yahoo! Games, our partners and our users,” said Kyle Laughlin, head of games, Yahoo!. “Yahoo! Games will safely and simply monetize our games experience while providing the best and most popular games free to game enthusiasts.”

QuickPlay Media Enjoys Worldwide Success in 2008

Company Adds Customers & Expands Relationships with Key Partners to Extend Leadership in Media Management & Distribution for Mobile TV and Video Services

QuickPlay Media, the leader in mobile TV and video solutions, today announced that it has achieved significant success through the first half of 2008 on the strength of its OpenVideo™ platform. OpenVideo is the industry’s only media management platform that makes it easy and efficient for mobile operators and media companies to centrally manage and distribute video and audio content and advertising that is optimized for a wide variety of devices, networks and services. Key accomplishments over the first half of 2008 include the development and expansion of key customer and partner relationships in North America and Europe, and recognition as a Red Herring 100 North America 2008 award winner.

Mozilla Sets New Guinness World Record With Firefox 3 Downloads

Massive grassroots community effort behind world record for most software downloads in 24 hours

Mozilla today announced it set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of software downloads in 24 hours. The record-setting 8,002,530 downloads coincided with the launch of Firefox 3, Mozilla's major update to its popular and acclaimed free, open source Web browser.

Mozilla enthusiasts worldwide drove more than 1.7 million pledges to download Firefox 3 on Download Day, hosted regional download "fests," and added Download Day buttons to their sites, resulting in more than 40 million impressions. The global Mozilla community has been celebrating the historic goal of establishing a Guinness World Record with parties in more than 25 countries, including a 24-hour long download fest celebration called Camp Firefox at Mozilla's Mountain View headquarters.

Blockbuster and PayPal Provide More Ways to Access Entertainment

PayPal Customers Receive $10 Cash Back on New blockbuster.com Subscriptions this Summer

Starting today, entertainment provider Blockbuster Inc. is accepting PayPal as another safe and convenient way to make purchases on the company's web site, blockbuster.com.
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"Blockbuster.com is the only site that offers customers the flexibility to rent DVDs through the mail, purchase them new or used online and, later this summer with the premiere of our new movie downloading service, the ability to purchase or rent digital entertainment," said Keith Morrow, CIO, Blockbuster Inc. "Now with the addition of PayPal, we're also offering customers even greater flexibility in regards to their payment method."

To celebrate the launch of PayPal, Blockbuster is offering PayPal customers $10 cash back for signing up for a new online rental subscription at blockbuster.com. To take advantage of the cash back offer, PayPal customers should visit www.blockbuster.com/paypal.

$1,000,000 In Prize Money Up For Grabs during DIRECTV’s Broadcast of 2008 Championship Gaming Series

CGS Begins its Second Season of Live HD Broadcasts Starting June 16 Exclusively on DIRECTV’s 101 Network

DIRECTV’s The 101 Network brings gaming back to its summer line up with the broadcast of the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) North America and World Final competitions. The action kicks off on DIRECTV’s original entertainment network Monday, June 16 at 10 p.m. EDT and will broadcast live in HD every Monday and Wednesday night leading up to the North America Final July 7 and the World Final starting July 14.

“This has been a record year for the video game industry and interest in professional video gaming has never been higher,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president DIRECTV Entertainment. “Gaming is the most exciting sport to hit the television industry in years, and we’re dedicating the months of June and July so that our more than 17 million subscribers can take part in all the action, live. With the addition of CGS to our sports line-up, we’ve solidified our placement as the gold standard in programming, providing the most and best sports in HD. No other cable or satellite provider can top our sports offerings.”

Time Warner Cable Prices a $5 Billion Debt Offering

Time Warner Cable Inc. today announced that it has priced a $5 billion underwritten public offering of debt securities, including $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.20% notes due 2013, $2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.75% notes due 2018 and $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.30% debentures due 2038.

The net proceeds from the issuance of the debt securities are expected to be used to finance, in part, a one-time cash dividend to stockholders of Time Warner Cable to be paid just prior to the previously announced separation of Time Warner Cable from its parent company Time Warner Inc. If the separation is not consummated and the special dividend is not paid, Time Warner Cable will use the proceeds from the issuance of the debt securities for general corporate purposes, including repayment of indebtedness. The sale of the debt securities is expected to close on June 19, 2008.

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Sprout Closes $5 Million Series B Led by Polaris Venture Partners

Sprout, the premier platform for easily creating, publishing and managing rich media Web content, has closed a $5 million Series B financing led by Polaris Venture Partners. Mike Hirshland, general partner at Polaris, has joined Sprout's board of directors. Existing investor Global Venture Capital (gvc) and legendary entrepreneur Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development Corporation and designer of Lotus 1-2-3, also participated in the round.

Sprout is a free Web-based authoring platform that enables anyone to quickly and easily build widgets, mashups, mini-sites, banners and other forms of interactive and distributable web content. Users create "sprouts" by dragging and dropping rich media such as video, audio, images, text, shapes, and interactive services such as Twitter, Ribbit, PollDaddy and more. Sprouts can be embedded onto any Web site, blog, or social networking profile, and updates to the sprout are instantly reflected in all copies in circulation. Sprout's customers range from individuals, organizations, and business small and large, including major record labels such as Universal Music Canada.

Qwest Data Networking Services Give Minnesota Vikings' Home Field an Advantage

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced an exclusive two-year agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to connect the team’s stadium, practice field and offices using high-bandwidth data networking and Internet services.

As the Official Communications Provider of the Minnesota Vikings, Qwest already is the exclusive provider of high-speed Internet, DIRECTV® service and Qwest Digital Voice at the team’s training facility. Under this new contract, the Vikings will now connect the Metrodome, Winter Park practice field and the team’s marketing and sales offices using Qwest Metro Optical Ethernet (QMOE) services. With Internet speeds up to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps), this upgrade will maximize the user experience whenever players and staff log-on, tune in and talk over Qwest’s high-speed, secure and reliable network.

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Analog To Digital TV Transition

New Adobe TV Programming Comes Online

Unique Creative Suite 3 Video Content Available Via Adobe Media Player and New Web Destination

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® TV, a free online video resource for expert instruction and inspiration about Adobe products, including the company’s Creative Suite 3 family of world-class creative tools. With multiple channels, original series programming, and content from Adobe, leading training organizations and the world's leading subject matter experts, Adobe TV delivers a virtual library of entertaining and instructional videos. Designers, photographers, video professionals, and developers will find product deep-dives, innovative tips, techniques from luminaries, and behind-the-scenes tours of the hottest creative shops and Adobe product teams.

Designed to educate, inspire, and entertain the creative community, Adobe TV is immediately available online from the Adobe Web site at http://tv.adobe.com, or as a network with multiple shows in the new Adobe® Media Player 1.0 software, also announced today (see separate press release). Adobe Media Player offers a broad range of television programming and entertaining video content from major television broadcasters and leading content publishers, including CBS, MTV Networks, Universal Music Group, PBS, CondéNet, and Scripps Networks.

GrindTV Action Sports Content Now Available on Yahoo!

Agreement Brings Action Sports Channel to the Internet’s #1 Sports Site

GrindTV, the leading online action sports destination, announced an agreement with Yahoo! Sports, the Internet’s leading sports destination, in which GrindTV.com will become a co-branded channel on Yahoo! Sports. The site features videos, photos, and editorial content across the most popular action sports categories, including Skateboarding, Surfing, Snowboarding and Motocross. The new channel will be featured as a primary sports category on Yahoo! Sports, and features will be editorially programmed on the Yahoo! Sports homepage at http://www.sports.yahoo.com. The partnership brings Yahoo! an immediate presence in the action sports category, and will bring 1 million additional users to Yahoo! Sports each month.

“Our partnership with Yahoo! Sports will allow us to more effectively serve the growing action sports community, including enthusiasts, filmmakers, athletes and manufacturers,” said Erik Hawkins, CEO of GrindTV.com. “Working with the number one sports site on the web will help us to take action sports to the next level, and introduce this lifestyle, and these exceptional athletes, to a broader audience.”

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LEEPFrog.tv Launches Comprehensive One-Stop Music Video Discovery Site

First-of-Its-Kind Web 2.0 Resource Delivers, Full-Length Video, Audio Sampling and Digital Purchase

LEEPFrog.tv has launched its unique online environment, featuring a carefully chosen selection of emerging music artists. The site contains full-length music videos, original content, user generated content and comprehensive music sampling, geared toward taste makers looking for what's next in music.

A powerful, intuitive interface enables visitors to view, listen, share and purchase, all from within the LEEPFrog.tv site. With the support of a wide range of labels, including Interscope Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Blu Hammock Music, Epic Records, Epitaph Records, Hollywood Records, Thump Records and more, LEEPFrog.tv will have deep content from which to draw, but will narrowly focus on approximately 50 new releases at a time. Artists featured at LEEPFrog.tv's launch include Soulja Boy Tellem, Alexa Wilkinson, Sara Bareilles, Cary Brothers, The D.E.Y, The Kin, Krazy Bones and many others.

Cox Communications Launches Cox Rhapsody Music Service for High Speed Internet Customers

Premium service offers customers access to millions of songs

Cox Communications has launched the Cox Rhapsody music service to customers throughout Northern Virginia. Cox Rhapsody allows Cox High Speed Internet customers to access millions of songs for about the price of one CD per month.

"Our customers have expressed that music is a big part of their lives, and Cox Rhapsody allows us to make their favorite songs even more accessible," stated Mark Snow, vice president of marketing for Cox Northern Virginia. "Cox Rhapsody provides our customers unlimited access to their music anywhere -- at home, work or while traveling."

The World's Most Wired Airports

By Elizabeth Woyke

Beth Breidenbach calls it the "vulture hover."

It's a maneuver familiar to anyone looking to use a laptop in an airport—the circling, swooping dance to locate and secure access to wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) and power outlets.

Breidenbach, a Spokane, Wash.-based senior data architect for IBM Global Business Services, is on the road an average of 45 weeks a year. To cope, she's memorized plug locations in her favorite airports—she's found them by the main poles in the seating area in Denver International Airport; by the workstations at Chicago's O'Hare and New York's LaGuardia; still others near particular restaurants in Minneapolis, where she can grab a bite while charging her laptop and Palm handheld.

Click here for the entire story.

Bridgevine Appoints Robert Hamilton as Chief Financial Officer

Move supports continued company growth after launch of new direct-to-consumer ecommerce platform

VERO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bridgevine, Inc., the trusted source for consumers to learn about, compare and shop for the services that shape their lives, today announced the appointment of Robert Hamilton as chief financial officer. As CFO, he will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial management including financial reporting, corporate governance, investor relations and compliance-related programs.

“We are pleased to welcome Rob to Bridgevine at such an exciting time in the company’s growth,” said Vinny Olmstead, president and CEO of Bridgevine. “His extensive experience in financial management and business acumen in the industry gives him the background, flexibility and skills to prove invaluable as the company continues its ongoing growth in both our business and direct-to-consumer offerings.”

Hamilton joins Bridgevine with 20 years of executive management experience in the Internet, retail wholesale and manufacturing industries. From November 1999 to January 2008, Hamilton served as CFO and treasurer at eDiets.com (NASDAQ: DIET), where he was a key participant in the successful expansion of the company into a leading online provider of diet services, information and products.

Prior to eDiets.com, Hamilton managed financial reporting for Equinox Systems, Inc., which was acquired by Avocent (NASDAQ: AVCT) in 2001. Before his work in the industry, Hamilton, a certified public accountant, was an audit manager with Arthur Andersen LLP in Boston and South Florida.

Bridgevine recently launched its consumer-facing site, Bridgevine.com, to address the often daunting task of shopping for services in a marketplace where constantly changing prices, promotions and package offerings can leave consumers unsure as to whether they are getting the best deal or even the service that best meets their need. Unlike other “comparison” shopping sites, the Bridgevine experience is differentiated by a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country enables the company to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience.

About Bridgevine

Founded in 2003, Bridgevine, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with an office in Atlanta, GA. The company’s consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com, is a trusted source for consumers to learn about, compare and shop for the services that shape their lives. From communications to entertainment to security, Bridgevine.com lets consumers choose individual services that are best for them or create personalized bundles from trusted providers resulting in saved time and money. Unlike other “comparison” shopping websites, Bridgevine’s powerful technology offers a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country — including Comcast, AT&T, D-Link, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, DIRECTV, RealNetworks, Panasonic, GameFly and more — enables Bridgevine to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience. The company’s proprietary ecommerce platform is licensed by leading retailers, websites and Fortune 500 companies, making it possible for them to monetize online, call center and in-store traffic. Bridgevine was ranked 57 on the prestigious 2007 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. For more information, please visit www.bridgevine.com

Bets.com, CheapSlots.com and Winnings.com Up for Grabs at Moniker.com Live Domain Name Auction at the Casino Affiliate Convention in Amsterdam

Moniker.com, an Oversee.net company and provider of Domain Asset Management(TM) services, today announced that it is bringing its live and online domain name auctions back to the Casino Affiliate Convention (CAC) Amsterdam. The exclusive live auction will take place onsite on Friday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Amsterdam (11:30 a.m. US Eastern time; 8:30 a.m. US Pacific) at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel.

To view the complete auction inventory, visit
http://marketplacepro.moniker.com/auction/detail.html?auction_id=189

At previous casino-related domain auctions held at CAC events, more than 60 domains have been sold, with the sale of Scores.com in 2007 topping the charts at a price tag of $1.18 million. The transaction ranks as one of the year's top five domain sales, according to DNJournal.

Official auction dates, rules and procedures for all Moniker live and
online auctions are at www.moniker.com/liveauction.

Gregory S. Stanger Joins Bridgevine Board of Directors

Former Expedia, Microsoft executive to lend significant business and financial leadership experience to Bridgevine as newest board member

ATLANTA & VERO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bridgevine, Inc., the trusted source for consumers to learn about, compare and shop for the services that shape their lives, today announced the appointment of Gregory S. Stanger to the Bridgevine board of directors. An accomplished investor, venture capitalist, and financial and business leader, Stanger joins a highly accomplished and effective board of directors assembled to help solidify Bridgevine’s leadership in the online marketing and advertising space. The announcement comes on the heels of the company’s public launch of its consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com.

“Through strong partnerships with leading service providers and a powerful technology platform, Bridgevine is well positioned to fill the void in helping consumers educate themselves and select customized bundled services that meet their unique needs,” said Stanger. “Bridgevine stands out as a trusted source for simplifying the buying process for consumers, and I look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow.”

Stanger is a private investor and has served as a venture partner at Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) — a venture capital firm — since June 2005, and was an executive in residence at TCV from December 2003 to June 2005. Previously, Stanger served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and director of Expedia, Inc. from February 2002 to September 2003, and as its chief financial officer from October 1999 to September 2003. Before joining Expedia, he served as senior director, corporate development of Microsoft Corporation and held other positions within Microsoft's finance and corporate development departments since 1991. Stanger serves on the board of directors of Netflix, Drugstore.com, Infovell, and of Global Market Insite.

“Greg’s significant leadership experience with successful consumer-focused Internet companies will be a valuable asset to Bridgevine,” said Vinny Olmstead, president and CEO of Bridgevine. “The Bridgevine leadership team looks forward to tapping Greg’s knowledge and experience as we push forward in presenting the online marketing and advertising platform that revolutionizes the way advertisers market and consumers purchase.”

About Bridgevine

Founded in 2003, Bridgevine, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with an office in Atlanta, GA. The company’s consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com, is a trusted source for consumers to learn about, compare and shop for the services that shape their lives. From communications to entertainment to security, Bridgevine.com lets consumers choose individual services that are best for them, or create personalized bundles from trusted providers resulting in saved time and money. Unlike other “comparison” shopping websites, Bridgevine’s powerful technology offers a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country — including Comcast, AT&T, D-Link, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, DIRECTV, RealNetworks, Panasonic, GameFly and more — enables Bridgevine to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience. The company’s proprietary ecommerce platform is licensed by leading retailers, websites and Fortune 500 companies, making it possible for them to monetize online, call center and in-store traffic. Bridgevine was ranked 57 on the prestigious 2007 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. For more information, please visit www.bridgevine.com.

Time To Make The Donuts!

Dunkin' Donuts and Yahoo! Partner to Help Busy People Start Their Day With the News They Need

Companies Unveil New 'Yahoo! Sports Minute,' 'Good Morning Yahoo!' and 'Dunkin' Donuts Lovers Lounge'

Dunkin' Donuts, the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, today announced a partnership with Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global Internet company, which will allow millions of busy people to get the news they need to get them running throughout the day. Through this partnership, Yahoo! will create two new Dunkin' Donuts-branded video programs, as well as a Dunkin' Donuts community web site. The first program from this partnership is the "Yahoo! Sports Minute," a daily video summary of the biggest sports stories, and is now available to users. "Good Morning Yahoo!," a unique morning video news program, and the "Dunkin' Lounge" social community will launch later this spring. The agreement represents the first time Yahoo! has worked with an advertising partner to develop original content initiatives in multiple categories.

The Team Behind Wallstrip Introduces MOBLOGIC

New Daily Webshow Combines News and Politics with Plenty of Attitude Web Sensation Lindsay Campbell to Host

CBS Interactive today announced that the team that created and produced Wallstrip, an irreverent online program focused on finance, is launching a new daily webshow called MOBLOGIC. Starting tomorrow, the MOBLOGIC team will put the News-Of-The-Day and the latest from the campaign trail into perspective through the witty and insightful People-On-The-Street and People-In-The-Know style interviews that made Wallstrip popular. MOBLOGIC will be viewable daily on moblogic.tv and will be distributed across the CBS Audience Network.

MOBLOGIC officially launches tomorrow but click here for a sneak peak:
http://www.moblogic.tv/cbs.

Are you ready for the analog to digital conversion in 2008?

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Benefitfocus Healthcare Video Portal Merges Community with Credibility

icyou offers a free online healthcare video and information sharing community

Today Benefitfocus announced the release of the next phase on Beta site icyou which merges the healthcare video and virtual communities with credibility. This user-generated health video community provides the ability to post and search healthcare videos, as well as communicate with other users on important healthcare topics. Originally launched in September 2007, icyou already has hundreds of videos posted weekly and has rapidly become one of the most diverse libraries of online healthcare videos.

Built around common health concerns, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, icyou features a blend of amateur and professional video and is quickly growing as patients, caregivers, doctors and experts upload and share their healthcare stories. In addition, high-quality videos are produced and compiled internally by the icyou editorial staff who, to ensure that content is both accurate and reliable, work with medical editors and contributing physicians to review videos posted to the site

BRIDGEVINE.COM PROVIDES CONSUMERS WITH THE CONVENIENCE AND COST SAVINGS OF BUNDLED SERVICES

BRIDGEVINE.COM PROVIDES CONSUMERS WITH THE CONVENIENCE AND
COST SAVINGS OF BUNDLED SERVICES

New site empowers consumers to make smart decisions about the services that best fit their lifestyles

ATLANTA, Georgia and VERO BEACH, Florida — February 27, 2008 — Bridgevine, Inc. today unveiled Bridgevine.com — the trusted source for consumers looking to conveniently compare and shop for the services that shape their lives. From HDTV and VoIP to digital entertainment and home security, Bridgevine.com lets consumers choose individual services or create personalized bundles from the brand name providers they trust to save both time and money.

“Shopping for services can be a daunting task, with constantly changing prices, promotions and package offerings that leave consumers unsure as to whether they are getting the best deal, or even the service that best meets their needs,” said Vinny Olmstead, president and CEO of Bridgevine. “Bridgevine.com represents a new direction in how consumers can learn about, compare and shop for services.”

Bridgevine has partnered with such well-known service providers as Comcast, AT&T, D-Link, Time Warner, Verizon, DIRECTV, RealNetworks, Panasonic and GameFly to offer consumers the services they rely on from the brand names they trust. Unlike other “comparison” shopping websites, the Bridgevine experience is differentiated by a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status updates and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country enables the company to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience.

Additionally, Bridgevine.com visitors can shop with the confidence that the deal they see is the deal they’ll get and Bridgevine customer support will be available through the entire process, from selection and ordering through shipping and installation. Bridgevine.com goes beyond simply repackaging and selling services to provide the information consumers need to choose the best services and supporting products. And because Bridgevine.com offers a wide variety of services, shoppers can quickly and easily select the services that fit their lifestyle from a single, user-friendly source.

Bridgevine.com benefits include:

• The total package — Bridgevine.com not only offers the best prices on services but also access to the products that help make those services part of day-to-day life. From HDTVs to gaming routers, Bridgevine.com offers the total package at a significant discount over buying the service and product separately.
• Unified shopping cart — Bridgevine.com shoppers can select individual services or create personalized bundles from multiple providers and still use a single shopping cart/checkout process. Unlike other sites, consumers can bundle exactly the services that fit their needs without being restricted to a single provider.
• Real-time information — Bridgevine.com has real-time access to its partners’ systems, ensuring shoppers view only the most up-to-date promotions, deals, pricing, etc. Competitors’ sites show static data, meaning confirmation of rates, promotions, etc. must be done manually, often after the order has been placed, which can mean consumers do not always receive the deal they signed up for.
• Unmatched customer service — Bridgevine.com’s live, highly qualified customer service professionals provide no-pressure product and service consulting, and the support continues through the entire process to provide a seamless experience all the way through delivery and installation.

About Bridgevine
Founded in 2003, Bridgevine, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with offices in Atlanta, GA. The company’s consumer-facing website, Bridgevine.com, is a trusted source for consumers to learn about, compare and shop for the services that shape their lives. From communications to entertainment to security, Bridgevine.com lets consumers choose individual services that are best for them, or create personalized bundles from trusted providers resulting in saved time and money. Unlike other “comparison” shopping websites, Bridgevine’s powerful technology offers a unified shopping cart, real-time pricing, order status and scheduling to deliver the best customer experience in the industry. Bridgevine’s deep integration with leading service providers from across the country — including Comcast, AT&T, D-Link, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, DIRECTV, RealNetworks, Panasonic, GameFly and more — enables Bridgevine to deliver the most accurate information on services, pricing and special promotions, adding even more value to the bundled services shopping experience. The company’s proprietary ecommerce platform is licensed by leading retailers, websites and Fortune 500 companies, making it possible for them to monetize online, call center and in-store traffic. Bridgevine was ranked 57 on the prestigious 2007 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. For more information, please visit www.bridgevine.com.

New Solution from Jungo Lets Broadband Operators Deploy a Nationwide Hotspot Service for Subscribers

Jungo Ltd., a leading provider of broadband service solutions, today announced the release of NationZone™, a gateway middleware-based solution that can transform every home gateway into an operator hotspot while fully maintaining the security and bandwidth assurance for the home.

As opposed to other hotspot services that require the rollout of new hardware, Jungo's NationZone enables Operators to “turn on” the wireless network through a simple remote upgrade of the CPE firmware, thereby leveraging their existing CPE infrastructure, and launching a new service that creates a true nationwide “zone” which provides value to subscribers from day one.

"Operators need to acquire new subscribers and expand revenues by offering new services, while minimizing infrastructure and operational costs involved with the rollout of the new service", said Eran Rom, Jungo's CEO. “With Jungo's NationZone™, Operators can introduce new services, create more revenues and increase customer loyalty by utilizing the excess bandwidth and processing the power of millions of CPEs already deployed in the field".

Cleveland Clinic Collaborates with Google

Cleveland Clinic Pilots New Google Offering to Provide Patients Broader Access to Their Medical Records
Cleveland Clinic, a world-class academic medical institution and leader in health information technology, today announced a collaboration with Google, the world's leading Internet search company, to pilot features and services of a new health offering from Google. The Google offering, not yet publicly available, will assist providers like Cleveland Clinic to create a new kind of healthcare experience that puts the patient in charge of his or her own health information.

Today, more than 100,000 Cleveland Clinic patients benefit from Cleveland Clinic's electronic personal health record (PHR) system called eCleveland Clinic MyChart(R). The pilot, an invitation-only opportunity offered to a group of Cleveland Clinic PHR users, plans to enroll between 1,500 and 10,000 patients. It will test secure exchange of patient medical record data such as prescriptions, conditions and allergies between their Cleveland Clinic PHR to a secure Google profile in a live clinical delivery setting. The ultimate goal of this patient-centered and controlled model is to give patients the ability to interact with multiple physicians, healthcare service providers and pharmacies.