International Business News - Online http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said Kevin Johnson, the executive in charge of its Windows and Web operations and an instrumental player in the company's failed $47.5 billion bid to buy Yahoo Inc., is leaving the company. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080723/top-online-windows-exec-to-depart-microsoft.htm Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:26:18 EDT A Chinese dissident who wrote politically sensitive articles including some criticizing the government's handling of a devastating earthquake was formally arrested Friday on charges of allegedly possessing state secrets, a human rights group said. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080718/group-says-chinese-internet-dissident-is-arrested.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:13:34 EDT United Online Inc. said it has revised the terms of its takeover of FTD Group Inc. so that FTD shareholders will receive $10.15 in cash and 0.4087 shares of United Online for every FTD share. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/ftd-group-holders-to-get-more-cash-in-buyout.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:00:40 EDT Retired AOL executive Ted Leonsis is turning his passion for documentaries into an Internet service meant to give independent filmmakers broader viewership. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/aol-exec-leonsis-turns-film-passion-into-business.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:28:41 EDT Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. told lawmakers Wednesday that Congress should pass basic privacy legislation to protect information about consumers, such as the data being gathered about people's Web surfing habits in order to pinpoint Internet advertising. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/microsoft-google-back-broad-privacy-legislation.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:51:27 EDT More than three-quarters of Web sites that sell highly addictive medications do not require customers to provide a prescription, according to a study released Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/study-finds-addictive-drugs-easily-ordered-online.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:40:45 EDT Laurel Ranticelli considered driving 40 miles round-trip to take education classes at the University of Massachusetts campus in Amherst. Then she realized she could take the same courses from her computer at home and save on fuel costs. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88698-online-classes-gas-prices.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/high-gas-prices-fuel-boom-in-online-classes.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/high-gas-prices-fuel-boom-in-online-classes.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:08:09 EDT Among the sector activity stories for Wednesday, July 9, from the AP Financial News: NEW YORK (AP)--Online retail stocks traded mixed Wednesday, with shares of MercadoLibre Inc. leading the gainers after the company's chief executive ended a prearranged trading plan--a move an analyst said could boost the shares. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/sector-roundup-online-retail-bottlers.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:15:48 EDT Microsoft Corp. is strengthening its early-stage push to fend off competition by offering more Internet-based software, a change from its traditional method of selling programs that run on individual desktops or corporate servers. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87990-microsoft.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/microsoft-expands-its-response-hosted-software.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/microsoft-expands-its-response-hosted-software.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:40:44 EDT The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb and other European music composers warned Thursday that standardizing music royalties across Europe could hurt musicians and the songs they write. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080703/eu-musicians-oppose-europe-wide-online-licensing.htm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:22:51 EDT Among the sector activity stories for Monday, June 30, from AP Financial News: NEW YORK (AP)--Most online travel stocks fell Monday after an analyst lowered his price targets for Expedia Inc., Orbitz Worldwide Inc. and Priceline.com Inc., citing weakening European leisure travel trends and rising search ad competition. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/sector-roundup-online-travel-automakers.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:17:23 EDT Hoping to persuade more people to store their medical records online, Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and a hodgepodge of health care providers and insurers have agreed on ground rules for protecting the privacy of the sensitive information. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080625/prescription-for-protecting-online-health-records.htm Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:19:59 EDT European shoppers should get a clear set of rules to shield them from sharp practices online, the EU's consumer chief said Friday. EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said she would later this year propose new laws to "cut back the current jungle of complex laws" that she said deters many Europeans from buying on the Internet. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080620/eu-official-wants-online-shopping-rules.htm Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:43:02 EDT Government regulators said Thursday they are preparing to allow highly addictive medications, including powerful painkillers, to be prescribed online, a goal long-sought by health insurers and large employers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/doctors-may-soon-prescribe-addictive-drugs-online.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:14:43 EDT Greenfield Online Inc., which provides marketing companies with Internet surveys, said Monday it agreed to be bought by private investment firm Quadrangle Group LLC for $15.50 per share, or about $426 million in cash. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080616/greenfield-online-to-be-sold-for-426-million.htm Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:33:44 EDT A Chinese dissident who posted essays on the Internet that criticized communist authorities has disappeared and may have been abducted by the security services, an advocacy group said Friday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080613/chinese-dissident-huang-qi-said-missing.htm Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:54:28 EDT AOL is revamping its popular online radio service Tuesday, adding streams from all 140 CBS Corp.-owned radio stations and upgrading its player to add more functions and expand the service's reach. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/67868-an-aol-radio-screen.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080610/aol-revamps-online-radio-cbs-stations.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080610/aol-revamps-online-radio-cbs-stations.htm Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:04:13 EDT A Roth Capital Partners analyst on Tuesday initiated coverage of Giant Interactive Group Inc. and Perfect World Co., saying a recent sell-off in the Chinese online game operator's stock after the Sichaun province earthquake presents a buying opportunity for investors. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080603/ahead-of-the-bell-chinese-online-gaming.htm Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:15:21 EDT While most forms of advertising are getting better at targeting likely customers, coupons rarely hit the mark. To wit: U.S. consumers redeemed less than 1 percent of the estimated 285 billion coupons issued last year for groceries and various packaged goods. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080602/ad-network-strives-to-make-coupons-more-meaningful.htm Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:02:19 EDT While most forms of advertising are getting better at targeting likely customers, coupons rarely hit the mark. To wit: U.S. consumers redeemed less than 1 percent of the estimated 285 billion coupons issued last year for groceries and various packaged goods. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080602/ad-network-strives-to-make-coupons-more-meaningful.htm Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:29:33 EDT