Highlights: Last Week on Philly Tech News (12/12 to 12/18 2011)

I profiled Center City-based virtualization monitoring and backup software provider PHD Virtual Technologies and its CEO, Thomas Charlton.

Philly Startup Leaders took what should be a major step forward by naming Bob Moul, who recently left Dell Boomi, as its President. And Mike Krupit's Bucks County-based business accelerator, Novotorium, which I wrote about in late October prior to its launch, announced a number of partnering organizations and individuals who will provide assistance to its ventures.

Salesforce took a small swipe at SAP's recently annnounced SuccessFactors acquisition by acquiring Cloud HCM player
Rypple, to be run by former SAP exec John Wookey, and promptly announced they would rename it SuccessForce. And SAP made a bold prediction, saying it would be the #2 database vendor by 2015, meaning it would have to pass IBM, Microsoft and Teradata by then.

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts paid a $500,000 fine to the FTC for violating an antitrust provision requiring him to report significant increases in the number of Comcast shares he held; Federal officials say the reporting violation was inadvertent and Roberts reported it as soon as he became aware of it.
Comcast's NBC signed a 9 year extension with the NFL for an estimated $1 billion per year; in addition to retaining its Sunday night slot, it adds a Thanksgiving night game, some better playoff dates, and three Super Bowls. NBC may also bid on an expanded Thursday night package which would air on the soon to be rebranded NBC Sports Network cable channel (now Versus). Reports indicate that the proposed "innovation joint venture" between Comcast, other cable companies and Verizon Wireless would be based in Philadelphia, if the proposed arrangement passes regulatory scrutiny. And Comcast-Spectacor's proposed South Philly entertainent complex, slated to open this spring, will now be called Xfinity Live! rather than Philly Live!, doubling down on the brand name no one understands.

Four Philly area corporate IT execs were named to Comupterworld's 2012 "Premier 100" IT Leaders. And one Philly area resident who runs a small IT consulting firm created a storm with an article he contributed on Forbes titled "If I Were A Poor Black Kid".



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