Articles from Rafat Ali

1-25 of 91 // 1 2 3 4 »
Categories:
Markets: Bollywood, Gaming, Maps/Local, Mobile, Outsourcing, Social Networking, Telecom, Travel, Video
Financing: Acquisition, Funding

  1. DoCoMo Takes 26 Percent Stake in India's Tata Teleservices

    contentSutra.com (Nov 12 2008) Explore Article

    In a major move and a first by a Japanese telco into India, NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) is taking a 26 percent stake in local telco giant Tata Teleservices, for a price of $2.7 billion. This is surely to spur more rivalry with other local giants like Reliance, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) and Airtel, and help DoCoMo expand beyond its sluggish home market as well as try and redo its disastrous ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Tata Teleservices   Reliance Industries Limited   Vodafone

  2. Yahoo Launches New Social Network SpotM, Only in India

    contentSutra.com (Sep 19 2008) Mobile , Social Networking Explore Article

    In one of those local experiments that Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) keeps doing from time to time, it has launched a new social networking service called SpotM in India. This is Yahoo's third or fourth attempt at entering social networking space, which has been a weak spot for it for it all along. For now, the service is in closed beta, and aimed, of course, at the youth market. From Pluggd.in, ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Yahoo

  3. Tata Comm Invests $11.5 Million In Content Delivery Network BitGravity

    contentSutra.com (Sep 8 2008) Explore Article

    Tata Communications, the telecom arm of the Tata Group, has invested $11.5 million in Burlingame, CA-based content delivery network BitGravity. Also Tata has announced the launch of its global CDN service using BitGravity's technology. Just earlier last month, BitGravity announced it closed a $2.5 million "seed" round, from Allen & Co. and Sling founder and CEO Blake Krikorian. The company launched its service last year, and focuses on high resolution ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   BitGravity   Tatas   TATA Comm

  4. Reliance Buys Majority Stake in Cricket Video Webcasting Site Willow.tv

    contentSutra.com (Sep 7 2008) Explore Article

    Reliance ADA Group, the Indian telecom and media conglomerate, has bought a 70 percent stake in Willow.tv, the Cricket webcasting site based in Sunnyvale, CA. The price was undisclosed, but according to Rajesh Sawhney, president of Reliance Entertainment, the company will spend about $60 million to $70 million in this acquisition and expansion together, quoted in WSJ. Willow TV has been around for about five years, and named after the ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Rajesh Sawhney   Reliance Industries Limited   Reliance ADAG

  5. Virgin Radio To Be Rebranded As Absolute Radio After Sale To Indian Group

    contentSutra.com (Sep 1 2008) Explore Article

    Virgin Radio is going to be rebranded as Absolute Radio on 28 September, as part of its change since Indian media group Times of India bought it for about $106 million from SMG in June. This rebranding follows TOIs decision not to user Virgin brand, which reverts back to its owner Virgin Enterprises. The station is run by the three executives who founded radio consultancy Absolute Radio International: CEO Donnach ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Virgin Radio   Times of India Group

  6. Social Net Parent BuzzCity Gets $10 Million For Africa Partnership

    contentSutra.com (Aug 28 2008) Social Networking Explore Article

    Mobile social network myGamma's parent BuzzCity is getting a $10 million funding from South African media group Naspers, with the aim of investing in applications that can leverage partnership opportunities. The Singapore-based network offers blogging, messaging, games etc and claims 2.7 million users across 70 countries and 1.7 billion ad impressions per month. It's particularly popular in South Asia, but also South Africa. BuzzCity CEO KF Lai: "The common footprints ... (Read Full Article)

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  7. Venture Investment in India Rising Fast; Ad/Marketing Sector Biggest; Second Round Deals Increase

    contentSutra.com (Aug 21 2008) Acquisition Explore Article

    Indian venture capital scene is heating up, and total amount of deals has risen 120 percent in second quarter of 2008, compared to the year-ago quarter, according to data from Dow Jones (NYSE: NWS) VentureSource. India attracted $238 million in venture investment with 17 deals closed in the second quarter, a 120 percent increase over the $108 million invested in 12 deals during the same period in 2007. Out of ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Blackberry

  8. Online DVD Rental Service Seventymm Raises $12 Million In Third Round

    contentSutra.com (Aug 21 2008) Acquisition Explore Article

    Bangalore-based online DVD rental company Seventymm has received $12.5 million (Rs 50 crore) from NEA Indo US Ventures. This will be the third round of funding for Seventymm, which now has a total capital of around $22 million. While DFJ with ePlanet Ventures had invested $2 million in 2005, the rest was raised from Matrix Partners in 2006. NEA Indo-US Ventures' MD Ms Vani Kola will be joining the Seventymm ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Showtime   SeventyMM   Matrix Partners

  9. Reliance (Still) Scouting For Mobile Content Acquisitions In U.s.; How About Yahoo?

    contentSutra.com (Aug 20 2008) Mobile Explore Article

    Reliance ADA, which is already making strides in Hollywood through its Dreamworks deal, has been looking for mobile content deals in U.S. for some time now, and WSJ helps with the scouting with a longish story on its ambitions. It is looking at mobile game publishers and other kinds of mobile entertainment firms, with the intent to "exploit its expertise in telecom and get exposure to a segment of the ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Google   Reliance Industries Limited   Disney

  10. Reliance Launches Its Satellite TV Venture Big Tv; Wil Launch IPTV By Year End

    contentSutra.com (Aug 20 2008) Mobile , Acquisition Explore Article

    Reliance ADA Group has launched its DTH/satellite TV venture BIG TV, with 202 channels including 50 subscription VOD channels. The company says it is targeting 40 percent of the market within a year of launch, a very ambitious target, but will use all its muscle to promote it, including broadband Internet, mobile phones, home video, film production and the Adlabs cinema chain, reports Variety. Hindu: Reliance Big DTH would be ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Reliance ADAG   Reliance Industries Limited   ADA Group

  11. Vodafone To Launch iPhone 3G In India On Friday For A Whopping $715 And $830

    contentSutra.com (Aug 19 2008) Mobile , Telecom Explore Article

    So much for the iPhone reaching any scale in India. Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), through its Vodafone Essar joint venture, is gearing up to launch the iPhone 3G in India beginning August 22, but the device will cost almost $715 for the 8-gigabit model, PC World reports. The 16-gigabit model will sell for $830. Those price points are even higher than what the first iPhone sold for in the U.S. and ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Vodafone Store   PC World   Airtel

  12. Our Newest Report: Online Advertising VC and M&A Deals In The Last Year

    contentSutra.com (Aug 19 2008) Acquisition Explore Article

    Following our analysis of Social Media Deals, we've pleased to announce our first Online Advertising Deals Report, charting activity in venture capital and mergers & acquisitions from Q107 to Q208. This sector continues to drive online content, reaching annual revenues of $600-800 billion. The report breaks down these investments and acquisitions into major categories and contains industry analysis from: -- A future trends piece by Lauren Rich Fine, Practitioner-in-residence at ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Merrill Lynch   Blackberry   Draper Fisher Jurvetson

  13. Mobile Ad Firm Rhythm New Media Pulls Out of UK And India

    contentSutra.com (Aug 18 2008) Mobile Explore Article

    Heavily-backed mobile advertising firm Rhythm New Media, based in Mountain View, CA, has pulled out of UK, and closed its offices there, according to NMA, citing sources. The pull out is surprising considering the company is UK's largest supplier of pre-roll mobile video advertising and handles ad sales for operators 3, Orange and T-Mobile...it has also been touting its deals with these UK operators for the last year or so. ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Lightspeed Venture Partners   Orange

  14. Online Photo Picsquare Gets Investment From Bhola Digital Lab

    contentSutra.com (Aug 18 2008) Explore Article

    Bangalore-based online photo printing service Picsquare has received an undisclosed amount of investment from Bhola Digital Lab, a photo/printing company with branches across Karnataka. This follows the $75,000 angel investment it raised in 2006. The two had been working together for some time: Picquare has been using Bhola's printing services for fulfillment. Picsquare allows uploaded digital photos to be printed and delivered anywhere in India. They can also be used ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Bhola Digital Lab   Picsquare   Blackberry

  15. Social Diary Firm Lifeblob Gets $1 Million Funding From Seedfund

    contentSutra.com (Aug 18 2008) Explore Article

    Bangalore-based social diary/networking site Lifeblob has received $1 million in funding from Google-backed angel fund Seedfund, reports Mint. The site, founded last year, allows users to develop a diary of events, though blog posts, images and videos using a "timeline" of events. Venturebeat: Lifeblob joins an increasing number of start-ups doing variations on this theme. These include Dandelife, Dipity, AllofMe and, in some ways, Plurk. Check out the best business ... (Read Full Article)

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  16. Social Books Site Site Ugenie Bought By U.S. Company Lulu

    contentSutra.com (Aug 18 2008) Acquisition Explore Article

    Indians-founded Ugenie, a books-focused social-shopping site using Web 2.0 tools and features, and primarily-based in Bangalore, has been bought by U.S.-based self-publishing site Lulu, reports Venturebeat, confirming rumors that came out earlier in the month. UGenie received $5 million from venture capital firms Blue Run Ventures and Sierra Ventures in 2006. The company was founded in May 2006 by two ex-Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) engineers—Krishna Motukuri and Harish Abbot. The company ... (Read Full Article)

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  17. This Mobile Life: Roeding's World Travels: India

    contentSutra.com (Aug 17 2008) Mobile Explore Article

    Our dear friend Cyriac Roeding, the former EVP of mobile at CBS, is on a world tour of about 10 countries in seven weeks. After leaving CBS earlier this year, he is on to the next new thing, and for inspiration-- and to unwind-- and at our request, he is documenting the mobile lifestyle across the countries he is touring. His this "postcard" for us from India...check out his pictures ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Nokia   Vodafone

  18. Earnings: Live Current Media Grows Revs 27 Percent In Q2; Net Loss Balloons

    contentSutra.com (Aug 15 2008) Explore Article

    Live Current Media, the Canada-based domainer and owner of Cricket.com (and who also recently bagged the right to develop the IPL online portal IPL20), has reported Q2 revenue of $1.93 million, up 27 percent year over year. Almost all of the company's revenue comes from Perfume.com, the domain-driven e-commerce site. Net losses grew to over $2 million, from about $200,000, due to a major spike in management fees and employee ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Geoffrey Hampson

  19. Indiatimes Relaunches Site; Integrates Virgin Radio and Digg-Like Site

    contentSutra.com (Aug 13 2008) Social Networking Explore Article

    Indiatimes, the portal owned by Times of India Group, has redesigned its website after many years of their circa-1999 design. They have added a showcase tab in place of the daily news content, which has been shifted below. Besides other features it has integrated its iTimes social networking site in it. Also, new, it has integrated Virgin Radio to the navigation scheme, effectively integrating the UK live radio service which ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Virgin Radio   Times of India Group

  20. Early Bird Sales Now Open: EconMusic: Sept. 23, London; Confirmed Speakers

    contentSutra.com (Aug 8 2008) Explore Article

    Early bird ticket sales are now open for EconMusic, our half-day conference on Sept. 23 exploring the emerging economics of the digital music business. We'll resist the "dinosaurs" comparison, but EconMusic will be held at London's Natural History Museum—an impressive venue in Kensington, right in the heart of the district occupied by many of the major labels. In the wake of UK ISPs' agreement with the British Phonographic Industry, we ... (Read Full Article)

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  21. Friendster Closes $20 Million Round; Focuses On Asia Now; New CEO

    contentSutra.com (Aug 5 2008) Social Networking , Acquisition Explore Article

    Friendster has closed its new round of funding, in progress for most of this year, and it is a big one: it has raised $20 million in a new round, and the pioneer is now shifting its focus, wisely, to where it is strongest: in Asia. The round was led by IDG Ventures, which has a lot of experience investing in Asian countries, and included previous investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Google   IDG Ventures India   Richard Kimber

  22. Airtel Live To Be Embedded With Nokia Handsets?

    contentSutra.com (Aug 3 2008) Mobile , Social Networking Explore Article

    So says this ET story, citing talks that Airtel is having with handset players such as Nokia...Airtel Live, the mobile VAs app, may be embedded in Nokia (NYSE: NOK), and irrespective of whether users are on Airtel network or not. "The icon will be available in all handsets and hence will remain inactive if the consumer is not using an Airtel connection. It then also serves as a huge branding ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Airtel Live   Nokia   Airtel

  23. Bsnl's Iptv launch Delayed By Another Year

    contentSutra.com (Aug 2 2008) Explore Article

    BSNL's already delayed IPTV service is now delayed, again: it will take another year for the full rollout of its IPTV services in Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bangalore, reports ET. BSNL had previously been working with a third party, IOL broadband, to get agreements doe with main content/TV channel, but that didn't work..now BSNL will do these deals directly. The pilot project rollout had been going on for awhile, but didn't ... (Read Full Article)

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  24. Times Internet Takes 50 Percent Stake In Online Books Site A1Books

    contentSutra.com (Jul 31 2008) Explore Article

    Times Internet, the online arm of BCCL/Times Group, has taken a 50 percent stake in Webnotions Books India, the parent company of online books site A1books.co.in. No details on how much is being invested into Webnotion with this deal. Webnotions USA was founded in 1995, and the India branch based in Noida, started in December last year. A1Books will power the books section on Indiatimes.com...possibly the first thing Times can ... (Read Full Article)

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  25. Nokia Investing $150M More In Direct Venture Arm; India and China Priority

    contentSutra.com (Jul 31 2008) Mobile Explore Article

    Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is investing about $150 million more in its direct venture arm, Nokia Growth Partners, more than doubling the size of its current fund. The priority for the new money: India and China, it says. It will start venture arm in those countries soon. Menlo Park, CA-based Nokia Growth Partners was set up in 2004 to directly manage $100 million of Nokia's money. Its investments include mobile/online streaming ... (Read Full Article)

    Comment on Article Mentions:   Google   Nokia Growth Partners   BlueRun Ventures

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