Hasta La Gadget!

This week the folks at Bump have announced that they’ll be moving to Google, the latter coming having acquired the former in a deal that’ll bring new technology to Android and Chrome (more than likely). The app Bump currently works with Android and iOS devices to provide data transfer from one device o another with […]

Intel is quickly transforming its dream of perceptual computing into reality: the company will soon ship motion control technology, and it acquired the gesture interface firm Omek back in July. The chip giant may not be done yet, as there are reports from Spain that it has acquired Indisys, a small natural language recognition company. Details of the buyout are scarce, but the move would give Intel its own voice control software; it wouldn’t have to license code from third parties like Nuance. We’ve reached out to Intel to confirm the acquisition. If real, the Indisys takeover might have come at just the right time — Intel is swinging its attention to wearables, and voice control is now more of a necessity than a luxury.

Update: Intel just confirmed to us that it acquired Indisys on May 31st, and that the deal has already closed.

Filed under: Software, Intel

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: ABCdesevilla.es (translated)

This article was written on April 02, 2008 by CyberNet.

TechCrunch is reporting that “Something big is brewing between Google and eBay’s Skype.” Whatever is brewing, whether it’s a full-blown acquisition or a partnership, this could be pretty big. Michael Arrington says that for several weeks now, there have been rumors that the two companies were chatting and trying to work out details, and that an announcement regarding what they intend to do will be made in the “near future.” So what could this mean for eBay and for Google should a deal be worked-out?

For eBay this could mean that they are finally able to ‘rid’ themselves of a company that hasn’t done a whole lot of good for them.  You may recall that eBay acquired Skype back in September of 2005 for 2.6 billion. At the time, one of their intentions was to use Skype to help buyers and sellers communicate on eBay, which they tried but it didn’t  go over so well. Not much good has come from the acquisition and eBay even took a $1.4 billion dollar asset-impairment last year during the 4th quarter to help with the promised Skype  shareholder payouts that totaled 530 million. At that point, people were suggesting that eBay should ditch Skype all-together.

What does this mean for Google? Well, we already know that they have big plans for voice communication. They already offer GOOG-411 for free which we know is used for their speech-to-text model, and then they acquired GrandCentral back in June last year. Clearly Google is interested in voice and Skype could help them do big things. Our other thought was that they could integrate Skype into Google Talk.  We’ve already seen a screenshot from a Google presentation which showed a screenshot of Google Talk with a “show dial-pad” link, so that tells us Google wants to help users dial-out and place phone calls right from Google Talk. Skype could help them do just this.

A Google acquisition of Skype makes a lot of sense and we’re thinking Skype would love to be under new leadership with a company who could devote the time and resources to make them profitable. And as for Google, Arrington says, “Skype is the glue that can pull all the nascent Google products together.” This could be interesting…

Source: Thanks for the tip Omar!

Copyright © 2013 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on March 14, 2007 by CyberNet.

The rumor is true! Microsoft has confirmed that they will in fact be acquiring Tellme Networks. Everybody knew it was coming (despite both parties denying it), it was just a matter of when. GigaOm is reporting that the deal is worth over $800 million but below 1 Billion which makes it one of Microsoft’s most expensive purchases!

Tellme is known for their voice services for the phone including providing information to callers on businesses, driving directions, stock quotes, weather, movies show times, etc. And according to the Microsoft Press Release, Microsoft will use this acquisition to improve and expand their speech capabilities.

Recently Tellme has been experimenting with new products that make use of voice by allowing mobile phone users say what they want, and then they get a response back to their phone as data. Another service uses text messaging to allow users to request something and then get a response back as a text message with their options.

With this purchase, Microsoft is also hoping to improve their voice-enabled apps “including Windows Vista operating system, the Microsoft Office system, and mobile applications such as Windows Mobile and Windows Automotive.”

There’s already rumors that Microsoft is working on some type of phone to compete with the Zune, and an obvious step would be to incorporate some of Tellme services into that phone.

Copyright © 2013 CyberNetNews.com

Much like how Google bought Motorola Mobility, Microsoft’s surprising acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business — which is expected to be approved by early 2014 — is no indication that it will cut off ties with other partners in its own little ecosystem. This is emphasized by Terry Myerson, EVP, Operating Systems, on the official Windows blog.

“Acquiring Nokia’s Devices group will help make the market for all Windows Phones, from Microsoft or our OEM partners,” said the exec. “We collaborate with our Microsoft hardware teams in the same way we partner with our external hardware partners… We look forward to building new products together that will provide valuable business opportunity for the ecosystem and enable OEMs.”

In other words, Microsoft will — surprise, surprise — continue to license Windows Phone to other OEMs. Despite this reassurance, we highly doubt the handful of partners left are feeling totally comfortable about the situation.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia

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Via: All Things D

Source: Windows Blog