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Aiming to unlock value built through a string of successful acquisitions, RealNetworks Inc. has unveiled plans to spin off its lucrative casual games business and possibly take the unit public. The Seattle-based company, best known for its Rhapsody music service and RealPlayer audio and video …

Blinkx [BLNX.L] shares shot up in earlier London trade today amid new speculation that both Google Inc. [GOOG] and News Corp. [NWS] could be interested in buying the Internet video search engine. The stock lost some ground in later trading when Blinkx issued a statement saying it was not aware of any bids. …

Shares of RealNetworks Inc. [RNWK] were up 13% early in Friday's session after the company reported earnings Thursday night. In addition to besting earnings estimates, the company said it would spin off its casual games business and most likely taking the unit public. …

negotiations and whether the first quarter and outsourcing search to Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) are enough of a trump card to raise the bid,” stated RBC Capital Markets analyst Ross Sandler. “Or Microsoft can select not to and go hostile.” Continue reading at TechConfidential.com. Share This Share This

while Sequoia Capital owns 11.6%. Chairman and former CEO Graham Weston is the largest shareholder, with 23.9% of the company’s equity. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch & Co. and W.R. Hambrecht & Co. are underwriting the offering. Continue reading at TechConfidential.com. Share This

Meanwhile, much ensued over the first few months of 2008: The company was hit with a lawsuit over its executive compensation package as its two largest shareholders slashed their stakes, and Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter pegged EA's chances of winning Take-Two at 80%. Take-Two said Feb. 28 other suitors were interested, but no offers have yet surfaced. All the while, pressure was mounting. The Feb. 24 rejection was made for the second bid EA had put forth for the target,

exchange for a minority stake in the combined company and a chance to close the door on one of the dumbest mergers in current memory. AOL would get a lifeline. Beyond escaping Microsoft Corp.’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) $42 billion headlock, in AOL Yahoo! would get what remains a premier player in internet advertising and a company that retains massive on the internet audiences for financial, entertainment and other content. The hardest thing to figure here is what

earnings tonight, stories will flow about how the numbers could modify the price Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) may eventually pay to acquire the Internet portal. Apparently Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer won

while Sequoia Capital owns 11.6%. Chairman and former CEO Graham Weston is the largest shareholder, with 23.9% of the company’s equity. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch & Co. and W.R. Hambrecht & Co. are underwriting the offering. Continue reading at TechConfidential.com. Share This Share This

arguably has more leverage than it has during the entire saga, which means it can better dictate terms. Microsoft can let Yahoo! sweat it out until the Internet company’s annual meeting in July, when shareholders are likely to be in a lather. Continue reading at TechConfidential.com. Share This

In the clearest sign yet that Microsoft Corp. [MSFT] meant what it said when it said it was no longer interested in buying Yahoo! Inc., [YHOO], the software company on Thursday released potential proxy members from their agreements to serve in the event of a hostile takeover battle. In the four days since Microsoft dropped its $47.5

their second child. While admired as an Internet icon, Yang is widely blamed for not acting more quickly and more decisively since re-taking the CEO job last June. Among other issues, some argue that Yahoo! should have been much more aggressive about social networking. Until now, Yang's life has certainly been the stuff that American dreams are made of. Yet it's unlikely that Yahoo! is about to come to Microsoft's table and negotiate a deal amicably by tomorrow. Many view a hostile -- and eventually successful --

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