Google Streamlining: Morning Tech Bytes

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Google(GOOG) shares were trending upward by $3.50 in pre-market trading Friday, following new CEO Larry Page's moves to reorganize management at the search giant.

Late Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported that Page, in an effort to streamline Google's product and engineering structures, promoted at least a half dozen senior managers to allow them to act more autonomously. Included in the promotions was Android co-founder Andy Rubin, who now controls Google's mobile initiatives.

Page also reportedly tied 25% of all Google employees' bonuses to the success of Google's social strategy this year, calling it a "joint effort" in a company memo. Google's efforts in social media have, so far, been pretty lackluster when compared to those of smaller firms like Facebook.

Expedia(EXPE) said Thursday it is spinning off travel media company TripAdvisor, pushing shares up almost 15% to $25.75 in pre-market trading Friday. The deal could be valued at as much as $4 billion, according to analysts.

The New York Times(NYT) is investing in About.com, its network of how-to websites, by adding 200 topic sites, creating a Spanish version and launching a new hompage Friday. The move comes as competitors like Demand Media(DMD) continue to grow their audience.

Online gaming company Zynga said Thursday it has hired Cisco(CSCO) exec Debra Chrapaty as its chief information officer, as Internet start-ups continue their talent grab from large tech companies. Chrapaty has also worked as an exec at Microsoft(MSFT) and ETrade.

Facebook said Thursday it is sharing its server technology as part of the company's "Open Compute Project." The social networking site also shared its data center designs to help other start-ups build their infrastructure in a way that is energy efficient.

--Written by Olivia Oran in New York.

>To follow the writer on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/Ozoran.

>To submit a news tip, send an email to: [e-mail].

>To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints