business

LinkedIn announced today it has agreed to acquire presentation-sharing Web site SlideShare for $118.8 million.

San Francisco-based SlideShare, which helps professionals discover people through content and vice versa, had nearly 29 million unique visitors in March, according to market analyst ComScore. Since SlideShare's founding in 2006, its users have uploaded more than 9 million presentations.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based business-networking giant is buying the San Francisco-based company in a cash and stock deal that is expected to close in the second quarter.

"Presentations are one of the main ways in which professionals capture and share their … Read more

If you want controversy, forget Coke versus Pepsi, or Ginger vs. Mary Ann. Try Microsoft against Google. Ed Bott and Christopher Dawson are tearing it up in their Great Debate over at ZDNet today, arguing the pros and cons of Microsoft Office 365 versus Google Apps for Business.

The subject du jour is one that's likely to command greater attention throughout the rest of the year now that both Microsoft and Google have competing business software suites in the "cloud." As Bott notes, "Google has done a good job of scaling its free Gmail service into … Read more

LinkedIn for iPad doesn't have all the features you'd find on the business-oriented networking Web site, but a nice layout and new integration with your calendar make it a worthy download.

Formerly just on smaller devices like iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Palm Pre, the new LinkedIn app for iPad has some interesting functionality built in that lets you map out your busy workday.

Upon launch, you can browse three categories: All Updates, You, and your Inbox. Touch You and you can see who has viewed your profile, people you may know (through your connections) and all your current … Read more

Sprint Nextel started off 2012 on a sour note, the company revealed today in its first-quarter earnings release.

During the first three months of 2012, Sprint lost $863 million, or a loss of 29 cents per share. During the same period in 2011, the company posted a net loss of $439 million. Sprint generated $7.2 billion in revenue during the quarter, which was actually up 7 percent year-over-year.

Sprint said today that its loss was due primarily to the accelerated depreciation related to the planned shutdown of Nextel. Discounting those charges, the company said, its operating loss was $255 … Read more

AT&T marked a strong first quarter with smartphones leading the way, the company announced today.

During the three-month period ended March 31, AT&T generated $31.8 billion in revenue, representing a gain of $575 million, or 1.8 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2011. In addition, AT&T posted a profit of $3.6 billion, or 60 cents per share, in the period, up from the $3.4 billion it generated in the first quarter of 2011. Analysts were predicting 57 cents per share for the latest quarter.

A key revenue driver for … Read more

The bad news just keeps coming for HTC.

The company's shares were down 6.19 percent today, closing the day on the Taiwan Stock Exchange at NT$485 ($16.45). At that level, the company's shares have slid nearly 35 percent in the last six months, and they continue to inch their way toward a 52-week low of NT$403. During that time, the company's stock hit a high of NT$1,300.

HTC's most recent troubles reflect investor concern over the company's decision yesterday to replace its chief financial officer, Winston Yung, with former … Read more

Business Services Co has been providing business freeware and low-cost software since the 1980s. Delta60 Accounting Software 6.0 World Version is the latest iteration of its free business accounting solution. It offers Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Invoicing, Inventory, Payroll, and General Ledger features. Among its improvements are a new integrated graphical user interface and better support for international users in its new World Version.

Delta60 opens with its baseline USA Version and the option to run the new World Version. We chose the World Version. Delta60's Stargate Interface is based around a circular command center feature that resembles … Read more

Apple might have sold more than 30 million iPhones during the first quarter, according to an analyst.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote to investors today that Apple likely sold 33 million iPhones during the first quarter. During the same period in 2011, Apple sold 18.65 million iPhones.

Although Munster's estimate easily outpaces that quarter, the figure would be far behind the 37 million iPhones Apple sold during the fourth quarter. Munster didn't address the difference, but fourth-quarter's sales figures were likely higher due to the debut of the iPhone 4s and holiday shopping.

In addition, … Read more

The bad news just keeps coming for Sony.

The company informed investors today that a February forecast indicating the company would lose 220 billion yen ($2.7 billion) during the fiscal year that ended March 31 has been revised downward. Sony now expects to post a loss (PDF) of 520 billion yen ($6.4 billion).

Although the steep loss might worry investors who think things are worse than expected at Sony, the revision will not have an impact on the company's operations or cash flow. Instead, Sony has been forced to write off deferred tax credits due to the … Read more