E-Commerce Times: Because E-Business Means Business

House Democrats Dig Up Decades-Old Antitrust Law in New Net Neutrality Fight

Friday - May 9, 2008

The long-running debate over net neutrality took another turn Thursday when two lawmakers introduced a bill that would make it a violation of antitrust law for broadband providers to discriminate against different types of content in routing traffic on their networks. John Conyers Jr., a Democrat from Michigan who is also chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, introduced the "Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2008." [More...]

Blockbuster Takes a Gander at Circuit City Books

Friday - May 9, 2008

Electronics retailer Circuit City Stores will allow Blockbuster and its largest shareholder, Carl Icahn, to look into the company's finances in connection with the video rental company's proposed buyout offer. Circuit City also revealed that it has hired Goldman Sachs to help the company look into strategic alternatives to build its shareholder value. [More...]

Will Microsoft Ask Facebook to Dance?

Friday - May 9, 2008

The long list of companies Microsoft might acquire post-Microhoo includes such outré possibilities as Netflix, Cisco and Salesforce.com. Facebook is also on that list -- but its potential as a Microsoft acquisition target is beginning to look less unlikely. In fact, it's looking downright plausible. Rumor has it Microsoft has already approached the social networking site about a possible sale. [More...]

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'GTA' Sells, Yahoo Doesn't

Friday - May 9, 2008

Gas prices are setting record highs, homeowners are facing foreclosure, the dollar's slipping further down a black hole, and the credit industry is collapsing. These are frustrating times -- and perhaps that's partly why "Grand Theft Auto IV" just set some new records for video game sales. [More...]

B2B in a Web 2.0 World, Part 1: Digital Media Relations

Friday - May 9, 2008

Attention! We're listening! Seeking competitive advantage and profitability through good relations with the social media, the B2B world has energetically embraced the grand online colloquy known as the two-way talk-back "conversation." Online social media platforms are now in play in the B2B relationships that organizations have with their vendors, suppliers, partners and contractors. [More...]

Speak to Me: Natural Language and CRM Applications

Friday - May 9, 2008

If you could clone your best agent hundreds or thousands of times over, you could ensure that each and every customer calling your contact center receives the same high-quality, friendly and informed response. In reality, natural language speech self-service is probably the closest and best alternative to delivering cost-effective and customer-friendly service. [More...]

Google Butters Up Yahoo

Friday - May 9, 2008

Google's top executives on Thursday expressed hope that the Internet search leader will be able to form a potentially lucrative advertising partnership with Yahoo -- a deal that would lower the odds of Microsoft renewing its attempts to buy Yahoo. "We have been talking to Yahoo, and we are very excited to be working with them," Google cofounder Sergey Brin told reporters before the company's annual shareholders meeting. [More...]

Clear Channel Profit Soars but Doesn't Meet Expectations

Friday - May 9, 2008

Clear Channel Communications, a major radio and outdoor advertising company, reported higher first-quarter earnings Friday on asset sales but operating results were flat, reflecting weak demand for radio advertising. The San Antonio, Texas-based company is battling its lenders in court as it tries to go private, and says it's not sure when the $19.5 billion deal will close, if at all. [More...]

Facebook Fences Off Bullies, Predators

Friday - May 9, 2008

Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, is adding more than 40 new safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyber-bullies under an agreement with officials nationwide that was announced Thursday. The measures include banning convicted sex offenders from the site and limiting older users' ability to contact subscribers under 18. [More...]

Comcast Considers Pinching Pipes on Broadband Plans

Thursday - May 8, 2008

In a move sure to renew debate over how broadband access should be sold, Comcast is reportedly mulling a cap on how much data a customer buying its basic high-speed Internet access package can use each month. Comcast, the No. 2 provider of high-speed Web access in the U.S., would establish a preset monthly data usage level and then charge a fee for users who exceed that level. [More...]

Internet Archive Wins David-and-Goliath Privacy Tussle With FBI

Thursday - May 8, 2008

The Internet Archive revealed Wednesday that the FBI dropped an effort to secretly obtain information about the online activities of one of the digital library's users. The Archive revealed that it had been served a National Security Letter by the FBI last year about one of its patrons. [More...]

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