Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)
Apple Said to Plan First Tokyo Retail Store Since 2005 (Bloomberg)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) plans to open a store in Tokyo’s upscale Omotesando shopping district as early as March, according to a person familiar with the plans. Construction is scheduled to be completed by February, the person said, asking not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak for Apple. The store would be Apple’s first opening in Tokyo since August 2005, according to the company’s website, which is advertising jobs for a new store in the city.
Google Names Carlsbad ‘Digital Capital’ of California (SDBJ)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has named the city of Carlsbad as the “digital capital” of California in its annual eCity Awards program, analyzing the online strength of the small-business communities of all 50 states. Working with the research firm Ipsos, Google scored cities’ small businesses on factors including use of company websites, blogs, social media, ecommerce and mobile technology. The top-scoring city from each state was named a digital capital, according to Google.
Microsoft: The insiders who could be CEO (Dawn)
After Ballmer’s surprise announcement on Friday that he would retire within a year, the board’s lead independent director John Thompson, who heads the search for the new CEO, said the planned transformation of the software giant into a fast-moving ‘devices and services’ company is still on track. “It does seem like if they are going to continue down the path of this devices and services strategy that they probably get somebody who was part of formulating this strategy or who can stand fully behind it. I don’t know if most outside candidates would be willing to do that,” said Sid Parakh, an analyst at fund firm McAdams Wright Ragen.
Can Apple Inc Succeed in Grabbing a Sizeable Market Share in China? (IBTimes)
When Google was aggressive in its efforts to boost traffic and advertising sales in China several years ago, one of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s competitors had a brilliant idea. The company had reportedly compiled a list of censorship laws that Google had allegedly violated in China and turned over the list to the Chinese authorities. Internet users who were visiting Google’s google.cn Web site were for some reason being redirected to a rival search engine, Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU). This is according to a source of a USA Today report. The said source is an expert in media and technology companies.
New Google initiative for Africa (ScreenAfrica)
In a new initiative called Africa Connected, search engine giant and content aggregator Google is calling on Africans to share their stories about how their lives have been positively influenced by the internet. Five successful entrants will win $25,000 each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is looking for young, spirited entrepreneurial web adopters who are using the web and technology to do things to rise about their circumstances and achieve success.
Microsoft’s useful life may be nearing its end; that’s OK (LiveMint)
Steve Ballmer’s announcement last week of his retirement from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) after 13 years at the helm leaves some puzzling questions for his successor—about Microsoft’s epic decline, its uncertain future and the ultimate purpose of a public company. Resolving them may well prove impossible. And that’s OK. Under Ballmer, who succeeded Bill Gates as chief executive officer in 2000, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) failed to anticipate or adequately respond to almost every technological innovation that came along, from Web search to music to social networking to mobile phones to tablet computers
