News Byte

BlackBerry’s BBM Chat Software to Come Preloaded on Some LG Phones

Struggling phone maker BlackBerry said on Wednesday that its BBM instant messaging software will soon come preloaded on a phone from Korea’s LG Electronics. BlackBerry, which recently made BBM freely available for iOS and Android, said that the software will also come preinstalled on the LG G Pro Lite phone in various markets around the world.

Voices

Tomorrow’s Internet: More Than More of the Same

I dream of an Internet where my email address is the same as my Skype ID, my Jabber name, my Facebook ID and my telephone number.

Oracle Shares Down on Word of Sales Shake-Up

Did longtime head of North American sales get fired for saying Sun “baaaalllllooooooows”?

Imo.im Tries to Turn Instant Messaging Utility Into Instant Social Discovery Network (Video)

Meet brothers Ralph and Georges Harik, who run the Imo messaging service and are trying to extend it into a non-creepy serendipitous discussion platform.

Samsung Gets Its ChatON

The Korean electronics giant announces its answer to Apple’s iMessage and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry Messenger.

Samsung’s ChatON Service Due by September, with iOS and BlackBerry Versions by Year’s End

The first version Samsung’s IM service will support Android and Bada; by year’s end it should work on all major devices.

Samsung Getting Its Chat On With Siloed IM Service

Following Apple and Research In Motion, Samsung says that it, too, will offer a dedicated messaging service available for Samsung device owners to easily message one another.

Mac vs. Windows

Walt answers a reader’s question on the pros and cons of a Mac for a small-business owner.

Groupon Poised to Strike Partnership With China's Tencent, in Key Global Expansion Move

Groupon is in talks with Chinese Internet giant Tencent to form a partnership to accelerate its effort in the critical Asian arena, said several sources with knowledge of the situation. Terms of the deal are unclear, but sources said that it is likely to involve some sort of co-branded joint venture effort between the two–a key strategic move for Groupon, given the hard-to-penetrate-if-you’re-not-Chinese Chinese market.

Myspace Modernizes Mobile Site and App

RIM Denies Deal With India Over Access

Skype and Avaya Sign Enterprise Deal