Google's App Race: Morning Tech Bytes
NEW YORK (
) --
(GOOG)
is planning on hiring engineers to develop in-house smartphone applications in an attempt to keep up with
Apple
(AAPL)
, according to a report in the
Wall Street Journal
. Android users can access an app marketplace of 100,000 applications, while Apple's app store has more than 350,000 apps.
Shares of Google rose 0.42% in pre-market trading Monday to $603.50.
Verizon
(VZ)
will begin
taking pre-orders for the Apple iPhone
TheStreet Recommends
from existing customers beginning at 3 a.m. ET on Feb. 3, according to the company's Web site. Verizon is calling it an exclusive opportunity for current customers to get a jump on the iPhone supply before it's opened up to everyone else.
The Verizon iPhone officially goes on sale Feb. 10.
Intel
undefined
Capital and
IBM
(IBM)
both announced they had committed funds to President Obama's Startup America campaign, designed to increase the success of American entrepreneurs. Intel Capital will put $200 million towards the project, while IBM will invest $150 million.
Shares of Intel rose 0.7% to $21.61, while shares of IBM were up 0.04%.
KIT Digital
(KITD)
, an online video technology company, has acquired video start-ups
KickApps
,
Kyte
and
Kewego
for a combined $77.2 million. As part of the acquisitions, KickApps CEO Alex Blum will be the company's new chief operating officer.
Shares of KIT Digital rose 4.4% in pre-market trading to $14.14.
ShopKick
, a mobile shopping application, has more than 750,000 users since launching in August, the company announced Monday. The app,
which gives shoppers rewards for entering stores
, has signed retailers like
Sports Authority
,
Best Buy
(BBY)
and
Target
(TGT)
for its service.
Digital reading technology company
LibreDigital
has raised $4 million in venture funding, it announced Monday. The company aggregates reading material for Apple's iBookstore.
--Written by Olivia Oran in New York.
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