MICROSOFT responded to YAHOO‘s rejection of its takeover bid with a statement calling its offer “full and fair” and promising to pursue any steps necessary to close the deal at the original offer price. In related news, Microsoft will acquire DANGER INC., the company behind the popular Sidekick mobile phone. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but the NY Times reports that Microsoft doubled its original offer to prevent Google from making the acquisition.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON will focus its efforts on web advertising in a new campaign for Johnson’s Baby Lotion. The campaign will offer animated cartoons that are designed for new mothers that increasingly seek parenting information online. The cartoons will launch this week on TouchingBond.com and be advertised on popular parenting sites.
NIELSEN will add the measurement of online TV to its traditional ratings panel by the end of 2008. The company will also increase its measured homes from 14,000 to 20,000 before the end of 2009. Both improvements are intended to gather more detailed and accurate data about current media consumption.
THE FCC officially released its order to establish a 30% ownership cap on cable operators. The new rule will directly limit Comcast, who currently has about 27% of multichannel-video subscribers.
STARBUCKS has dropped T-MOBILE and will use AT&T to supply WiFi to its coffee shops. Customers will be given free access when making purchases on a Starbucks card. In addition, AT&T’s 12 million broadband subscribers will have free access to the networks. AT&T has promised to add future support for its mobile customers, which could extend the free access to iPhone users.
NETFLIX and BEST BUY have both chosen to support Blu-ray and terminate support for HD DVD. The moves may hasten the speed with which other retailers drop support for HD DVD.