Omar Hamoui

Ex-AdMob Employees Make Paying for Things on the Phone a Snap

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on June 23, 2011 at 9:00 am PT

A company founded by two former AdMob employees, and funded in part by AdMob’s Founder Omar Hamoui, is coming out of stealth mode today to unveil a new way to make paying for things inside applications much easier.

Clovr Raises More Cash for New Ad Units That Link Coupons to Credit Cards

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 10, 2011 at 2:26 pm PT

Clovr Media has raised $8.3 million in funding to compete in a burgeoning new category of coupon and loyalty programs that link a user’s credit card to an offer that is then redeemed automatically at a register.

Susan Wojcicki, Google SVP and Advertising Chief, Live at Dive Into Mobile

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 7, 2010 at 8:25 am PT

You’d have to search a long time to find someone who’s been closer to the evolution of Google than Susan Wojcicki. It was in her rented garage that Sergey Brin and Larry Page launched the company, which she joined in 1999. Now, as one of only eight senior vice presidents, she runs Google’s most important businesses units.

Google on Apple’s AdMob Ban: Hey! Don’t Do That!

Peter Kafka in Media on June 9, 2010 at 9:59 am PT

Still haven’t heard back from Apple about its new data-collection policy, which basically shuts Google out of the display-ad market for its iPhone and iPad apps. But Google’s AdMob has now mustered a response: It doesn’t like it! Also unhappy: Investors in mobile ad companies that might have contemplated a sale to Apple rivals.

Breaking: FTC Greenlights Google-AdMob Deal–A Giant Bouquet of Flowers Immediately Sent to One Infinite Loop

Kara Swisher in News on May 21, 2010 at 9:27 am PT

In the regulatory equivalent of a surprise switcheroo, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had officially closed its investigation of the $750 million AdMob deal with Google, which had been at risk over the past months, citing adequate competition in the mobile advertising market, especially from Apple. After the unanimous 5-0 decision, the FTC said in a statement: “The Commission said that although the combination of the two leading mobile advertising networks raised serious antitrust issues, the agency’s concerns ultimately were overshadowed by recent developments in the market, most notably a move by Apple Computer Inc.–the maker of the iPhone–to launch its own, competing mobile ad network.”

Close Encounters of the Regulatory Kind: Google-AdMob Brace for the Worst

Kara Swisher in News on May 3, 2010 at 6:12 am PT

While executives at both AdMob and Google are pulling out all the stops to convince federal government regulators otherwise, multiple sources close to the situation said that the pair now expect the Federal Trade Commission to try to block the acquisition of the small mobile advertising start-up by the search giant. While the situation could change, of course, sources said that the lack of any kind of indication of clear direction of the inquiry this late in the game by FTC staff–which recommends action to its five commissioners–is a bad sign.

Groupon Grabs $135 Million From DST and Battery–Valuation Above $1 Billion for Social Buying Site

Kara Swisher in News on April 18, 2010 at 7:07 pm PT

Groupon, the social buying site that has become one of the hotter start-ups of late, has gotten a giant round of funding from the same Russian investors that backed social networking powerhouse Facebook and game phenom Zynga. Digital Sky Technologies is the main funder of the round for the Chicago-based Groupon, but Battery Ventures is also participating. The money, the company said, will be used to grow the business–and to speed far ahead of numerous rivals–as well as cash out employees and early investors.

Groupon's Andrew Mason Speaks!

Kara Swisher in News on March 4, 2010 at 9:00 am PT

My 2010 start-up that passes the slightly-less-raised-eyebrow test is Groupon, a group-based social buying service that nabbed another $30 million in funding in December. So earlier this week, I sat down with Groupon’s Midwesternly-nice Andrew Mason, 29, to talk about where the start-up is headed with its pile of dough and growing base of consumers who want to make a deal.