What you should know about Twitter's data sales
(REUTERS) - Twitter users are about to become major marketing fodder, as two research companies get set to release information to clients who will pay for the privilege of mining the data. Boulder, Colorado-based Gnip Inc and DataSift Inc, based in the U.K. and San Francisco, are licensed by Twitter to analyze archived tweets and basic information about users, like geographic location. DataSift announced this week that it will release Twitter data in packages that will encompass the last two years of activity for its customers to mine, while Gnip can go back only 30 days.
U.S. court approves warrantless searches of cell phones
(Reuters) - U.S. police can search a cell phone for its number without having a warrant, according to a federal appeals court ruling. Officers in Indiana found a number of cell phones at the scene of a drug bust, and searched each phone for its telephone number. Having the numbers allowed the government to subpoena the owners' call histories, linking them to the drug-selling scheme.
Monster considering "strategic alternatives": CEO
(Reuters) - Online recruitment company Monster Worldwide Inc Chief Executive Sal Iannuzzi told investors on Thursday the company was considering all "strategic alternatives," and its shares rose 16.6 percent. "Our shareholders deserve a better return," Iannuzzi told an investor conference. "The board and the management is also focused on pursuing all strategic alternatives to increase shareholder value."
EU agencies say Google breaking law: commissioner
LONDON (Reuters) - Data protection agencies in European countries have concluded Google Inc's new privacy policy is in breach of European law, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said Thursday. France's data protection watchdog, the CNIL, has also cast doubt on the legality of the policy and informed Google it would lead a European-wide investigation into this.
Cartier recalls its heritage with first film
LONDON (Reuters) - French jeweler Cartier launched its first film on Thursday to set itself apart in an increasingly crowded luxury market by highlighting its 165-year heritage. L'Odyssee de Cartier, which will be streamed on Facebook on March 2, followed a panther, Cartier's symbol since the 1930s, travelling across Russia, China and India and coming across some of the brand's most famous historical pieces.
Conservative activist Andrew Breitbart dead at 43
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative activist Andrew Breitbart, an influential voice in U.S. Republican politics known for his attacks on liberals and Democrats, died unexpectedly of natural causes in Los Angeles early on Thursday, his family said. He was 43. The brash and outspoken blogger and commentator, who published politically inspired photos and undercover videos, was the center of several major news websites, including www.Breitbart.tv, www.breitbart.com and www.biggovernment.com.
Facebook woos Madison Ave in pre-IPO mobile push
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook has unveiled new ways for businesses to reach its 845 million users directly across all devices, including mobile, as it races toward a multibillion dollar IPO. With new "Premium on Facebook" ads, marketers can expand their reach on the social network by paying for a video, a coupon or other message to appear on the homepages of Facebook users, on the log-out screen and even within users' newsfeeds. Until now the newsfeed had been free of paid marketing messages.
The battle's on for control of the video dial tone
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc's attempt to convince a European court to impose tougher conditions on Microsoft Corp's acquisition of Skype signals that technology companies are gearing up to battle for control of what some say is the next big thing: videoconferencing. As the networking giant scrambles to safeguard its market leadership and ownership of a technology that is crossing over from business into the consumer world, rival players like Polycom Inc and Citrix Systems Inc are devising their own user-friendly solutions.
LightSquared eyes ex-Nextel head for CEO job: source
NEW YORK (Reuters) - LightSquared, the beleaguered telecom startup founded by hedge fund manager Philip Falcone, is considering hiring telecommunications veteran Timothy Donahue as chief executive officer, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The company said on Tuesday it was searching for a new CEO after Sanjiv Ahuja resigned from the job, but it did not name any candidates.
China's top Tibet official orders tighter control of Internet
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top official in Tibet has urged authorities to tighten their grip on the Internet and mobile phones, state media reported on Thursday, reflecting the government's fears about unrest ahead of its annual parliamentary session. The move is the latest in a series of measures the government says are intended to maintain stability, and comes after a spate of self-immolations and protests against Chinese control in the country's Tibetan-populated areas.
