Shares of Sonus Networks Inc. rose Friday after the Internet Protocol equipment and software maker said it swung to a profit in the first quarter, surprising analysts.

A Citi Investment Research analyst began covering shares of U.S.-based solar power companies Friday, saying First Solar Inc. is one of the few companies that will weather sharp decline in prices.

Google Inc, in talks with Internet portal Yahoo Inc, is hoping that it can strike an advertising deal, according to a report.

RealNetworks Inc, the digital media company, plans to spin-off its fastest growing unit which makes games for various platforms into a separate company.

Graphic chip-maker Nvidia Corp. on Thursday reported a 34 percent jump in first-quarter profit, boosted by stronger sales of its graphics processors, but shares fell as earnings still missed expectations.

Occam Networks Inc., a telecom equipment provider, said Thursday it appointed Jeanne Seeley as its new chief financial officer, effective Monday. Seeley most recently served as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of Japan-based Access Co. Ltd.

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, May 8, from AP Financial News: CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) _ Brooks Automation Inc. said Thursday it swung to fiscal second-quarter loss as revenue fell sharply amid a corporate restructuring.

Shares of network storage company NetApp Inc. climbed Thursday after Citigroup analyst Paul Mansky raised his price target on the company's potential for solid fourth-quarter results.

RealNetworks Inc. said Thursday that it plans to spin off its casual games business into a separate company and distribute its shares to RealNetworks stockholders.

RealNetworks Inc. said Thursday that its board approved a plan to buy back up to $50 million in stock. Shares of RealNetworks, which operates the Rhapsody online music service and provides the RealPlayer media player, rose 62 cents, or 9.6 percent, to $7.10 in after-hours trading. The stock had fini...

RealNetworks Inc. on Thursday predicted second-quarter revenue slightly above analysts views and raised its outlook for the full year. Shares of RealNetworks, which operates the Rhapsody online music service and provides the RealPlayer media player, rose 62 cents, or 9.6 percent, to $7.10 in after-h...

VeriSign Inc., which runs some of the Internet's core systems, said Thursday it swung to a first-quarter profit, hurt by asset impairment and restructuring charges.

Internet software and services stocks rose Thursday along with the overall market, which increased despite record-high oil prices. Here is a look at how key Internet software and services companies performed Thursday:

Microsoft is set to place more emphasis on making mobile phones as one of its strategies to develop the Information Technology infrastructure in developing nations, based partly on a prototype that was developed for Fone+.

Microsoft's satellite imagery project was sued over the "TerraServer" name, by a small North Carolina company alleging that the firm was using its name which is already registered.

Gomez Inc., which provides Web application testing services, said Wednesday it plans an initial public offering, but did not disclose any terms of the IPO in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The executive vice president and chief technology officer of specialty glass and ceramics maker Corning Inc. exercised options for 204,500 shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The chip sector rose higher the wider technology market Thursday, helped by a Citigroup note which found that chip inventory levels look positive across the market.

Semiconductor maker Marvell Technology Group Ltd. on Thursday agreed to pay a $10 million civil fine to settle regulators' allegations of improper backdating of stock options.