BBC websites to get more social

The BBC is planning a radical relaunch of its website portfolio to include more social media features, according to a news report. BBC sources have told MediaGuardian that the new-look site will launch by March next year. The broadcaster also hinted that it will soon...

Google begins testing live editing tool Wave

Google has invited a limited number of people to help it test its new social editing tool, Google Wave. The tool combines email, instant messaging and wiki-style live editing and went on public trial yesterday, with its creators describing it as “how e-mail...

70% of digital publishers plan to charge for online access

Almost three-quarters of digital publishers (70%) intend to charge for online content, with most preferring a flat-rate subscription model ahead of micro-payments, according to a new survey. The annual survey of members of the Association of Online Publishers, which...

Sky Player to run targeted TV commercials

Sky is to launch its new AdSmart service on its Sky Player early next year, giving TV advertisers the chance to target commercials at consumers based on their location and opt-in preferences. The service will combine customer information, for example postcode or...

Reuters pulls plug on financial chatroom

Reuters has dropped its Americas Dealzone chatroom on Reuters Messaging, citing a lack of demand. The company said the servcie didn’t attract enough customers to sign up for the trial. The Reuters messaging service connect clients with reporters and executives for...

Vodafone joins O2 and Orange for iPhone rights

Vodafone is to go head-to-head with O2 and Orange to win iPhone customers after becoming the third mobile company to clinch a deal to sell the device in the UK. The announcement followed yesterday’s news that Apple had broken off its exclusive contract with O2...

Murdoch creates digital research division

News International is setting up a new strategy unit to develop digital products.News International is setting up a new strategy and product development unit, that will look into developing new digital products. The division will develop digital products to support...

UK web adspend overtakes TV

The UK online ad sector grew a healthy 4.6% to £1.75 billion in the first half of this year. Figures out today from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the IAB confirmed online bucked the trend in the recession – with the rest of the advertising economy tumbling almost...

Vodafone 360 takes on Apple’s App Store

Mobile network Vodafone has launched a mobile web store that will let its customers download a range of applications and web-based services to use on their phone. Vodafone 360 will include a cloud-based address book, full-track music downloads, app store, and...

Twitter confirms further funding boost

Twitter has confirmed that it has closed a “significant round of funding”. Co-founder Evan Williams said in a blog post that the site had secured money from five investment firms. The companies are: Insight Venture Partners, T. Rowe Price, Institutional...

US mobile app market ‘worth $4bn by 2013’

The US smartphone app market will be worth $4.2bn by 2013, more than 10 times the $343m it is expected to bring in this year, according to new research. The study, from market researcher Yankee Group, predicts that increasing smartphone adoption and rising app prices...

Internet to take 15% of global ad spend next year

Internet advertising is expected to account for about 15% of global measured advertising spending in 2010, up from an anticipated 13% in 2009, according to new report. The study, from GroupM, found that growth in display ads has fallen over the past several years as...

Nokia buys UK travel start-up Dopplr

Nokia has bought London-based social travel website Dopplr for some €15m (£13.5m), according to a report. Launched in 2007, Dopplr lets frequent travellers keep track of their movements. The company received €1.5m in funding from The Accelerator Group and a number of...

£6-a-year broadband tax ‘to become law’

A controversial broadband tax is set to become law before the next election, charging 50 pence a month to everyone with a fixed line telephone. Speaking at a debate in London, Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms, said the tax will be presented to parliament as...

Twitter rules out ads this year

Twitter has ruled out running ads on its micro-blogging platform this year, and will launch new products relying solely on its recent venture capital fund injections. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone made the announcement in his keynote speech at the company’s two-day...