People News 6/28/09

Phin Barnes, who had previously founded a fitness-oriented video game company, has joined First Round Capital as its third principal, PE Hub reports.

Lovelidge heading PricewaterhouseCoopers in Phila. (Philadelphia Business Journal)


Tyco Electronics patches in Lenovo strategy chief (TheDeal.com: Corporate Dealmaker)

Americas’ SAP Users’ Group Announces Interim CEO
(Business Wire)

ExpertPlan Hires Steven Hart as VP of Sales and Business Development (PR Web)

Nutrisystem Announces the Appointment of Chris Terrill to Chief Marketing Officer (Business Wire)

ShopNBC Board Appoints Randy Ronning as Chairman (Marketwire)

Angelo Masciantonio, CEO and Co-Founder of HTH Worldwide Named Ernst & Young 2009 Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) in Greater Philadelphia (PR Newswire)

Winners for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2009 Awards in New Jersey Announced (PR Newswire)

Gorm Teichert Joins Lighting Science Group as Vice President of Custom Solutions (PR Newswire)

Unisys Center for Innovation in Government Announces Government IT Veterans as Newest Fellows (Business Wire)



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Amazon Shuts Down North Carolina Affiliate Program

Amazon completely shut down its affiliate program in the State of North Carolina yesterday, according to a company email, in anticipation of a compulsory, upfront tax on online sales expected to be implemented by the State shortly.

The email reads:
We are writing from the Amazon Associates Program to notify you that your Associates account has been closed as of June 26, 2009. This is a direct result of the unconstitutional tax collection scheme expected to be passed any day now by the North Carolina state legislature (the General Assembly) and signed by the governor. As a result, we will no longer pay any referral fees for customers referred to Amazon.com or Endless.com after June 26. We were forced to take this unfortunate action in anticipation of actual enactment because of uncertainties surrounding the legislation’s effective date.
Please be assured that all qualifying referral fees earned prior to June 26, 2009 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with our regular referral fee schedule. Based on your account closure date of June 26, 2009, any final payments will be paid by September 1, 2009.
In the event that North Carolina repeals this tax collection scheme, we would certainly be happy to re-open our Associates program to North Carolina residents.
The North Carolina General Assembly’s website is http://www.ncleg.net/, and additional information may be obtained from the Performance Marketing Alliance at http://www.performancemarketingalliance.com/.
We have enjoyed working with you and other North Carolina-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you all the best in your future.

Similar proposals have been defeated or pushed back in some other states, and Amazon is fighting an existing law in New York and a proposed law in California.
The Asheville Citizen-Times quotes one affiliate who says he generates $70,00 to $80,000 per year in income through his Amazon affiliate program and will have no choice to move to another state if that relationship is terminated.

TV Everywhere wants commercials everywhere too (LA Times)

TV Everywhere to Spark Antitrust Concerns? (GigaOM)

Daily Links 6/26/09: SAP, Salesforce at Structure 09

Structure 09: SAP Aims to Glue Together the Hybrid Enterprise Cloud (GigaOM)
Interview with SAP CTO Vishal Sikka.

Structure '09: Real-Time Cloud (The Boomi Blog)

Comcast aims for Net gains
The cable giant will soon offer online content free — to those who subscribe to its cable. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Jeff Bewkes and Brian Roberts discuss the TV Everywhere model and upcoming trial on Comcast (Time Warner Corporation)


Ben Franklin group faces funding drop (Philadelphia Business Journal: Technology Blog)

Genachowski Approved as FCC Chairman (Wired Blogs: Epicenter)

Patient, Heal Thyself in the Digital Future
Electronic Health Records Promise Advantages, but Patients Have a Crucial Role to Play in Care (ABC News)
Written by Robert I. Field, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Public Health at University of the Sciences

Sixth Ave. Lays Groundwork For Major Expansion (Twice)

Smarter Agent's GPS, Real Estate Application now on Android - Still the Only Application for All Mobile Users (Smarter Agent Blog)



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Daily Links 6/25/09: SAP to Stick to Software, Says CEO

Baiada Incubator winners (Philadelphia Business Journal: Technology Blog)

Investment funds tougher to obtain
But investors find funding requests more complete and showing more promise. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

SAP to Stick to Software, Says CEO (Wall Street Journal: Digits)

Climate Corps: Demystifying Energy Bills to Save Companies Money (GreenBiz.com)
Intern tries to decipher PECO bills for SunGard.

Lean times, not cuisine at Boston mag (Boston Herald)

LLR Partners Completes Acquisition of I-many, Inc. (Business Wire)

Medidata shares jump in debut (Reuters)
Medidata has a presence in the area through its acquisition last year of Fast Track Systems of Conshohocken.

Technitrol Completes Divestiture of Medtech Components Business (Business WIre)

Time Warner and Comcast's online video plan faces hurdles (Los Angeles Times)

IDS Scheer introduces process change governance (Software Development Times)

The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News Go Live with the G2 Discovery Marketing Database and Campaign Tools (PR Web)
Marketing G2 is based in Springhouse.

Objections raised to Journal Register's bankruptcy plans (Associated Press via Google News)

Comcast changes ending to FIOS commercial (but it's easy to understand why) (TV Squad)

Lightwave Logic Announces Completion of Private Placement
Supports key initiatives toward commercialization of 'Next generation Electro-Optic Material Platform' (PR Newswire)



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Daily Links 6/24/09: SunGard Expanding in India; Scouting Acquisitions

Comcast, Time Warner Offer ‘Guiding Principles’ for TV Everywhere (paidContent)
Time Warner, Comcast Depart From Hulu Model With ‘TV Everywhere’ (Wired Blogs: Epicenter)

Comcast To Sell Ads For FiOS TV (Multichannel News)

SunGard strengthens India operations (CIOL News)

Oracle revenue, profit fall (San Jose Mercury News)

Oracle Rays of Hope in Market Downturn, OnDemand Strategy (IT Business Edge)

Robotics program a FIRST step toward technology careers (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Tyco Electronics shareholders OK Swiss move (Reuters)
Tyco Electronics' operational headquarters will remain in Berwyn (presumably).

Cover Story: Swim at Your Own Risk
Stations involved in content pools may save money. But they could also jeopardize ratings—and revenue
(Broadcasting & Cable)

TiVo coming to Time Warner Cable, potentially lots of other providers (Engadget)

Vertex® Named IBM Cognos® New OEM Partner Solution of the Year (Business Wire)

Pointroll Rolls Out Rich Media Ad Dev Suite (MediaPost: Online Media Daily)

Evolve IP Makes Tasty Baking’s Headquarters Move a Piece of Cake (Business Wire)

Redlasso SEC
Filing (Securities And Exchange Commision)
As reported yesterday, Redlasso has raised a new round.

Phila. board delays vote on charter school (Philadelphia Inquirer)



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Comcast to sell Advertising for Verizon FiOS TV

The Associated Press reports that Comcast will sell advertising for Verizon's FiOS TV in ten markets, starting in the Fall. Comcast's advertising division, Comcast Spotlight, signed a five and 1/2 year contract with Verizon to sell local and regional advertising for FiOS TV. Comcast already has a contract to sell advertising for Dish Network.

Daily Links 6/23/09: UniRisX, EyeIC, Redlasso Raise Funds

UniRisX, LLC Announces Private Equity Funding and Acquisition of SaaS Insurance Service Provider UniRisX (Business Wire)

EyeIC raises $1.9 million for glaucoma-screening software (Private Equity Week via Reuters)

The Return of Redlasso? (PE Hub)


SAP BusinessObjects integrates into Jive (Internetnews.com)

SAP: In Talks On Large Acquisition? (Barron's: Tech Trader Daily)
Mentions Software AG as possible target, in addition to Tibco as I suggested on Sunday.

Oracle profit, software sales beat forecasts (Reuters)

Comcast, Time Warner Decide To Fight Together (Instead Of Each Other) For TV Everywhere (paidContent)
Press Conference tomorrow.

OmniComm Systems Announces Acquisition of EDC Business of eResearchTechnology
(PR Newswire)

Philly Mag furloughs; a shakeup at Boston Mag (Philly.com: The Insider)

How Sick is Gannett? (Recovering Journalist)

imc2 Launches Healthcare Marketing Agency
Hensley Evans Promoted to imc2 Health & Wellness President (Marketwire)

InvestorForce Introduces Enhanced Insight® Service; Offers Daily Portfolio Monitoring to Institutional Consultants and Investors (Business Wire)

AGI Releases 3D Software Component (PR Newswire)

Battery-maker hopes to add 300 jobs
Stimulus money would be used to add shifts at Upper Macungie plant. (Allentown Morning Call)

NJ bill would ban the use of non-hands-free GPS devices while driving (CrunchGear)

Ruby Use Grows Among U.S. Developers (Internetnews.com)



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Verizon FiOS Announcements

As previously reported, Verizon held a webcast/conference call today to introduce new programming for FiOS TV and some upgrades to FiOS Internet services. The key points were:

Verizon has launched (as of today) local news and information channels on Long Island and in Northern New Jersey under the name FiOS1. In those markets FiOS is competing with Cablevision, which has established local news programming outlets. No stated plans at this time to establish FiOS1 outlets anywhere else, though one already exists in the DC area. FiOS1 will gather and produce content with the help of RNN (Regional News Network) which is apparently already doing some work in Philadelphia though I'm not sure with whom.

Internet Speeds: The 10/2 Mbps entry-level tier will increase to 15/5 Mbps. The 20/5 Mbps jumps to 25/15 Mbps. In New York City and Long Island, entry-level starts at 25/15 Mbps, with mid-tier of 35/20 Mbps (available only in bundles). Verizon is emphasizing the doubling or tripling of upload speeds, which it considers one of its major competitive advantages vs. Cable.
Verizon execs indicated that while they certainly would have the technological capability to do so, they do not see much consumer demand right now for 100 Mbps and are not planning to move towards this, focusing instead on the increased upload speeds.

Customer signing up for various bundles can receive a free or discounted Compaq mini netbook or a free Flip Ultra camcorder, depending on the type of bundle.

Also, Verizon Raises FiOS Prices, But Hardly Mentions It (New York Times: Bits)

Daily Links 6/22/09: Comcast, SAP Losing Share vs. Major Competitors?

DirecTV closing in on Comcast (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Comcast to provide wholesale IPv6 service (ars technica)

SAP Loses Customers to Oracle on Ellison’s Acquisition Binge (Bloomberg)

What really happened with SAP Business ByDesign? (ZDNet Blogs)

Lancaster, Pa., keeps a close eye on itself (Los Angeles Times)

QlikTech CEO Lars Bjork Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Award Winner in Greater Philadelphia (PR Web)

Blood, Sweat & Capital LLC Announces Launch and Calls for Healthcare Business Ideas (Business Wire)
Worth posting for the name, if nothing else.

DSG Announces Record Growth for First Half of 2009 (Business Wire)

ExpertPlan buys service center from ADP
Acquisition will expand firm’s geographic reach (Investment News)

SCTE: Meetings Of The Minds
As Cable Engineering Group Looks Back, It Eyes New Opportunities Ahead (Multichannel News)
The SCTE is based in Exton.

CMS Names NextGen Healthcare a Qualified PQRI Patient Registry for 2009 (Business WIre)

Synygy Introduces Sales Compensation Management Outsourcing Services for Small and Mid-sized Companies (Business Wire)

Channel 6 quadruples signal to improve reception (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Apple rejects a Commodore 64 emulating iPhone app that coulda been a contender (MobileCrunch)



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