The online digital media watchers have been all abuzz about the most recent Facebook stock sale, which values the social networking giant at around $70 billion, up from the $50 billion valuation when Goldman Sachs invested in January.
The deal apparently involves some investors who would like to cash out now in the secondary market for Facebook shares.
TechCrunch ran this graphic on the rise of Facebook’s valuation.
Reuters reports the deal is waiting on Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to approve it.
Smartphones top mobile phone sales for first time
Smartphones topped all mobile phone sales for the first time in Q1, according to data from NPD Group, a market research firm. Smartphones accounted for 54 percent of mobile phone sales.
Apple, now the third largest mobile phone maker, grabbed 14 percent of the maket, Samsung, 23 percent and LG, 18 percent, all trailed by HTC, Motorola, and RIM (Blackberry).
Microsoft online services division boosts revenue
Microsoft beat street estimates in its quarterly sales and profits reported Thursday, but still saw its share price dip. The company’s revenue rose 13 percent in the quarter to $16.43 billion, largely driven by a 14 percent increase in its online services division. Microsoft’s Bing search engine saw its market share increase to 13.9 percent in the quarter.
Investors are apparently unhappy that the division that includes the Windows operating system declined from year-over-year figures for two quarters in a row.
Consumers are increasing switching to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Apple Inc., for instance, had trouble keeping up with demand for its iPad.
While Microsoft’s Office 10 and Win 7 operating system got better reviews and earlier adoption than many previous releases, there are just fewer PCs to run them.
Still, $16.43 billion in revenue is nothing to sneer at.
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